Christmas in West London / Home Counties

[Realfastfoodie]

I am seeing lots of suggestions for booking lovely things to do over Christmas, but I’m struggling to find things local to me (West London and Home Counties - Berks/Bucks/Hants)

Please share with me your favourite Christmas activities with small kids (and elderlies to be included in some too).

So far I have

Father Christmas at the lyric Hammersmith

Christmas at Kew

They don’t all have to be paid for, but recommendations hugely appreciated!

If anyone has Halloween/ half term activities to recommend I’ll take those too!

The lights at Blenheim palace are beautiful

Our favourites last year were Bekonscot, Hobbledown Heath, Stowe Gardens and Cliveden.

Thanks - these are good ones and not all on my list!

What is Christmas at Hobbledown like? And what age is it good for? I assume it’s Hobbledown, not Hobbledown Heath?

Thank you!

Crockford farm? Next to Weybridge garden centre do a Halloween thing

I am going to Blenheim this year but I find £78 a ticket a joke . How are families supposed to afford that .

We did this one at Hobbledown Heath https://www.hobbledown.com/hounslow/whats-on/santas-grotto/ I feel it’s aimed at children aged 3-7.

Thanks so much! This looks great!

Has anyone done odds farm Christmas?

I have a look… goodness yes that’s absolutely insane price wise!

I don’t know if it’s still the same Santa but the Wetlands Centre in Barnes has/had the real McCoy. In a log cabin! And husky sleigh rides. ( or they used to - check it out).

Always look out for a Christmas Tree festival at local churches.

Kew may well be sold out already. I think their tickets sell out early in the year.

The market and lights at Waddesden are good and a bit cheaper I think

They still have tickets available, but there is less choice of date/time/gate.

Both Hampton Court and Kew put on great events for Halloween and Christmas. We also like to visit Duke of York Square/ Sloane Square at Christmas as they always have beautiful decorations and stuff going on. You could also do Santa at Peter Jones at the same time (tickets must be purchased in advance).

I’ve heard good things about the events put on at Chiswick House but not been personally.

There's pantomime every year at Hounslow run by the same production team. I always choose it above the glitzier productions with the star names - it's not only cheaper but it's a lot funnier!
https://theartscentre.co.uk/whats-on/aladdin

You can do this Chelsea treasure hunt which starts at Sloane Square and goes through Duke of York Square through to the riverside. It's as many people as you like for £35 and you just go whenever you want.
https://treasuredays.com/treasure-hunts/chelsea-london-treasure-hunt

Waddesdon xmas lights aren’t happening this year, Ashridge house near Tring is good if not too far.