Final yr I went all out with Christmas occasions and we did so many. I like Christmas however I don’t benefit from the commercialism and the over-buying it typically entails. So, reasonably than spending a fortune on cheesy Christmas presents for my youngsters, I made a decision to deal with them to some festive days out and Christmas occasions.
We reside on the border of Wrexham and Chester so we have a tendency to stay to Christmas occasions in North Wales and Cheshire.
As we’re attending to that point of yr the place everybody needs to e book their Christmas occasions I believed I’d share our ideas on those we did final yr.
Listed below are the Christmas occasions in North Wales and Cheshire we did final yr.
Desk of Contents
Christmas at Gulliver’s Theme Park, Warrington
Greatest for: Greatest worth for a full time out
Christmas at Gulliver’s Theme Park in Warrington shocked me by being our favorite Christmas exercise out of all of the actions we did.
I believed it was nice worth for cash as a result of we spent all day there.
They’ve a North Pole practice which takes you on a trip across the winter wonderland theme park, with stops at Santa’s workshop and a go to to Santa’s Grotto which was unimaginable.
The child’s all obtained a toy (and it was genuinely a terrific toy!) after which we had a full afternoon within the theme park.
Gulliver’s World was undoubtedly a Christmas exercise for the kids however if you happen to’ve obtained little ones (anybody beneath 10) then they’re going to adore it.
It’s additionally price noting that they’ve Twixmas at Gulliver’s which could possibly be a terrific present and a beautiful exercise to proceed the festive enjoyable in that awkward, inbetween section.
There are Gulliver’s Theme Parks in 4 areas across the UK; Warrington, Matlock Tub, Milton Keynes and Rother Valley so I think about it will be a really related expertise in any respect 4 parks.
Discover out extra concerning the North Pole Categorical Expertise at Gulliver’s World right here.
The Polar Categorical from Telford
Greatest for: Youthful households
OK, so this one was a little bit of a let down for us and it wasn’t fairly as magical as I used to be anticipating.
The night earlier than we went on the Polar Categorical we watched the movie at house and it was so thrilling and magical. After which we instructed the youngsters we have been happening the actual one the following night time. Pleasure was via the roof!
The Polar Categorical is a brief steam practice journey the place Santa and the elves sing songs and also you get sizzling candies and cookies like on the movie.
It has the potential to be actually magical but it surely simply wasn’t fairly there.
Our center son, Joseph (he’d simply turned 5), was not impressed. I feel he genuinely thought we have been happening the actual Polar Categorical and he was disenchanted to discover a pop-up marquee ready on the station, a tiny sprinkling of pretend snow and a rickety outdated practice. He stated the Santa didn’t look actual and one of many elves was miming reasonably than singing.
The practice additionally didn’t really go wherever. It went forwards for 2-3 minutes after which went backwards for 2-3 minutes. This additionally made my eldest son, George, really feel sick (however he’s a bit of sweetie and sat there quietly and performed alongside for the advantage of his child sister).
So I’ll be trustworthy right here – this might have been actually magical however Joseph was in such a temper I didn’t notably get pleasure from it.
I believed it was costly for what it was and it didn’t assist that Telford is kind of an extended drive for us so everybody was a bit fed up by the point we obtained there.
Discover out extra concerning the Telford Polar Categorical right here.
Zipmas at ZipWorld
Greatest for: One thing completely different
This was a extremely enjoyable one. We’ve executed lots of Christmas actions over time so it was good to do one thing fully completely different.
I’ve obtained a full Zipmas assessment right here.
Zipmas is held on the ZipWorld slate cavern at Llechwedd. You start your journey with mince pies and sizzling candies after which journey 500ft down into the mine on an outdated and rickety practice. It’s Europe’s steepest cable railway and the tunnel is adorned with Christmas lights as you creek down into the mine. The children beloved this half so we began on a excessive.
You then have about half-hour to wander across the chambers of the mine that are adorned with fairy lights and Christmas decor. You finally come to Santa’s grotto the place an unimaginable Santa (my youngsters all agreed he was undoubtedly the actual Santa) awaits for a festive chat in his cosy house.
Whenever you get again to the highest you go right into a crafting space the place you possibly can embellish slate Christmas tree decorations. This half was additionally surprisingly enjoyable and it’ll be good to have these decorations on our tree every year. There was additionally an age-appropriate toy for every youngster.
This can be a nice Christmas exercise in North Wales if you happen to’ve already executed lots of the opposite actions and wish to attempt one thing new. It’s additionally enjoyable for older kids and I feel adults will genuinely get pleasure from this simply as a lot as the youngsters do.
Discover out extra about Zipmas right here.
Chester Zoo Lanterns
Greatest for: Combining with a day on the zoo for a full time out
Chester Zoo Lanterns is a traditional Christmas occasion in Cheshire. We reside near the zoo so that is one thing everybody in our space does!
I’ve discovered the standard of Chester Zoo Lanterns varies from yr to yr. We discovered 2018 was the perfect yr by far and, whereas it has all the time been wonderful, it’s by no means been fairly nearly as good because it was that yr and that’s all the time been a bit disappointing.
However if you happen to’ve by no means been to the Lanterns then you definately’ll don’t have anything to match it to and also you’ll adore it!
You enter the zoo after darkish and also you observe a magical path across the zoo the place lanterns and performers are ready at each flip. There are dancers and puppets and all kinds of performers and the big, vibrant lantern animals look spectacular. There are additionally teepees serving foods and drinks and every youngster has a bit of lantern to hold with them and this provides to the magic.
If Chester Zoo is a little bit of a drive for you then I’d advocate spending the entire day and getting tickets to go to the conventional zoo throughout daytime opening hours too. You don’t see any actual animals after darkish and this may be disappointing for some kids.
Discover out extra about Chester Zoo Lanterns right here.
Christmas at Bolesworth
Greatest for: Multi-generation/a lot of adults
This was the primary time I visited Bolesworth Citadel and I’ve since realised they’ve so many unimaginable occasions all yr spherical. This lovely nation home is close to Tattenhall and is well-known for his or her equestrian occasions.
They host an unimaginable Christmas occasion which is big with a lot happening. There’s a grotto, an ice rink, a lightweight present, an enchanted gentle path via the forest, fairground rides, a water show on the lake, reindeer, foods and drinks, interactive experiences, festive video games and even a lakeside champagne bar.
This can be a actually good Christmas occasion if you happen to’re visiting with a lot of adults as I really feel like there are simply as many grownup actions as there are kids’s actions.
Journey Hack Tip: It obtained muddy right here final yr so put on wellies or boots. In case you’re taking a pushchair, simply bear in mind that you just may must ditch it on occasion and are available again for it later.
Discover out extra about Christmas at Bolesworth right here.
Magical Woodland at Delamere Forest
Greatest for: A magical night
This was the second yr we visited Magical Woodland at Delamere Forest. It truly is magical and if you happen to’ve by no means visited a forest lightshow like this earlier than then you definately’re in for an actual deal with.
We beloved it a lot the primary time we visited that I wrote a complete weblog put up about it: Magical Woodland Evaluation: An unimaginable out of doors expertise in Cheshire
However I’ve obtained to be trustworthy and say that it wasn’t fairly so magical the second time round. It was just about the identical Christmas expertise so, for the adults who remembered all of it, it was a bit samey.
I 100% advocate going right here if you happen to’ve by no means been earlier than, however I wouldn’t advocate going two years on the run.
Discover out extra about Magical Woodland right here.
North Hills Farm, Ruthin
Greatest for: Purchase your Christmas tree and have a Christmas expertise
North Hills Farm is without doubt one of the smaller Christmas occasions and can in all probability hold you busy for an hour, but it surely’s a beautiful one to mix with shopping for your Christmas tree.
This gorgeous little farm has reindeer you possibly can feed at set occasions, a small store, a restaurant and little fires the place you possibly can roast marshmallows.
I wouldn’t go a great distance out of your option to go to the farm however if you happen to’re within the space then it’s a really cute afternoon out.Discover out extra about North Hills Farm.
Christmas at Chirk Citadel
Greatest for: Nationwide Belief Members
In case you’re already a Nationwide Belief member then I extremely advocate a go to to Chirk Citadel at Christmas time. Whereas this isn’t an enormous, flashy or noisy Christmas occasion like lots of the others, it’s a good looking and extra subtle affair!
Chirk Citadel has a beautiful gentle path via the gardens after which the fortress inside is adorned so superbly. Huge bushes are adorned in every room, however I’ve to warn you that you’ll go house with Christmas tree envy!Discover out extra about Christmas at Chirk Citadel.
Different Christmas occasions in Cheshire and North Wales I’d prefer to attempt:
- Dunham Massey
- Heaton Park Lightopia
- Knowsley Safari Park
- Greenwood Household Park
- Llandudo 5k Santa Sprint