Best Xmas shows/days out within driving distance of Stoke/Manchester/Birmingham please?

[WilfSell]

We like to take our kids to a show/play at Xmas and they are 9, 4 and 1. Quite difficult to accommodate all of them so we might have to do two!

What I like: magical plays in proper theatres or outdoors with glitter and smoke and fairy dust and wonderful stories...

What I hate: bad pantos and anything far too loud and commercial (Tweenies, Wiggles, Thomas on Ice with unknowns from Emmerdale. you get the picture...)

And I'm too lazy to do the research myself

Any ideas what's on?

ooooh Wilf I haven't seen you on for aaages.
Sorry I'm too lazy to look as well.

Hello cornsilk. I have been RLing for a while. How has it been on MN lately?

It's been a bit boring TBH Wilf. Lots of people seem to be RL ing at the moment I think.

Santa Claus is coming to town is on at the Victoria Hall in stoke - 21/12 only though. Remember seeing the flyer saying it had snow and flying santa. Doesn't look like a tradtional panto and sounds good.

Birmingham Rep are doing The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - and there is the Christmas market complete with carousel too. That's what we're doing, although our children are older than yours. I haven't seen if they will also be doing the outdoor icerink too this year - but that would add to the occasion if they are.

What about Warwick castle - looks really good andds would love it!! [www.warwick-castle.co.uk]] I'm thinking about lunching with the great man in red myself! Well, with the DCs too obviously!

this is where I got Warwick castle info from Not all B'ham/Staffs but some of ti might be useful!

Thanks all - great suggestions. I like the look of Lion Witch and Wardrobe but fear one of us may have to sit out with the baby (and possibly easily spooked 4 yo)

Severn Valley railway trip to see Santa.

Warwick Arts Centre doing Beauty and the Beast (not Disney).

The Stoke Panto is always a good one.
Or you could go to the Snowdome at Tamworth, which is doing a santa/snowplay package thingy..depending on how old your children are? Or just do tobagganing or the donut things. I love it there, just wish we didn't live 150 miles away or I'd be there all the time!

oops sorry, hadn't read it properly. I now see how old your DCs are. Think they'd all love the snowdome, for different reasons.