I like to do lots of Christmas activities with my children who are of a similar age. We definitely splurge on Christmas experiences rather than gifts, so they make memories rather than just accumulating clutter. Things we’ve done over the years (not all the same year!)
Winter Wonderland Hyde Park: we always go on a weekday morning. The children love it. We tend to do some of the rides, the ice skating and the ice sculptures. A little pricey but we go when it opens, leave around 3/4- just as it’s starting to get busy. We then go for a walk down regent street and Oxford street and they have a look at all the Christmas lights.
Watercress Line railway: they do an event where the train is all decked out in lights and you sing Christmas songs. It lasts a couple of hours and is really lovely and atmospheric.
Light trail: There are various different ones, just nice to soak in the atmosphere and toast marshmallows etc
Center Parcs: again, very atmospheric, can do as little or as much as you want. We paid for a Christmas tree in the lodge and lit the real fire and it was so Christmassy.
Pottery: Go to a pottery studio and paint Christmas ornaments. We have done various Christmas ornaments including a plate for Father Christmas, tree ornaments, larger family decorations.
Theme parks: Chessington/Legoland/Paultons all do Christmas events.
Christmas tree farm: we’ve gone and cut down our own tree. Was really lovely and the children picked a small one each for their rooms.
Panto: I think they sound the perfect age for the panto, my children absolutely love it and it’s become an annual tradition.
Baking: we do home made mince pies every year, the house smells lovely and we drop some off to family with their Christmas presents.
Disneyland: in my opinion the best time of year to go in my
opinion, but not on Christmas Day- it’s too busy and just like any other day.
Drive around and grab a hot chocolate from Costa/starbucks drive thru. Put Christmas music on and admire all of the Christmas lights people have put on the outside of their houses.
Winchester Christmas Market: I don’t really rate it to be honest. Went once and was disappointed, went a second time and still didn’t. Rammed, overpriced stuff and was done in an hour.
Cinema: go and see a Christmas film, go to a slightly later showing and let the kids go in their PJs, with blankets etc.
I might think of other things but that’s the main things over the years. Done Lapland UK as well as Fortnum and Mason Christmas stories with Father Christmas and Hamleys Father Christmas but they would be too old for those now. I think the only thing I haven’t done that I would like to do is perhaps the Polar Express.