The best things to do: Christmas 2024

Winter Wonderland is a must see festive attraction to do in London. Not only is there an immersive Alice in Wonderland experience in the Magical Ice Kingdom but the UK's largest outdoor ice rink, Justin Fletcher's Christmas Singalong and of course, the giant observation wheel are all returning.

When? You can visit Winter Wonderland from Thursday 21 November until Sunday 5 January between 10am and 10pm.

Where? Hyde Park, London

How much? Off-peak tickets are free but during peak hours they'll cost between £5 and £7.50. You can buy tickets on their website.

The Great Christmas Feast

Sure, you know the story but - believe us - you've never seen it told like this. Dickens' A Christmas Carol comes to life in a truly gasp-inducing setting, in a one-man show by one-to-watch Alex Phelps. Between chapters, you'll get a Victorian style, three-course, Christmas feast. Make sure you save room for pudding is our hot tip. And, if alcohol is your thing, the smoking bishop cocktail ( as referenced in the book) is FIT.

When? From 1 November 2024 - 12 January 2025.

Where? West Kensington, London

How much? Tickets start at £135. Book tickets for The Great Christmas Feast.

There’s so much to do on a visit to Tullys Farm at Christmas but the star of the show has to be Santa’s sleigh ride. You and your little ones (or just you - no judgement), will be taken on a sleigh ride through the forest to visit the big guy in red who reads a story and presents the kids with a gift. Cute. 

When? From 23 November until 24 December 2024.

Where? Tulleys Farm is located in Crawley in West Sussex. 

How much? Adults £29.95 - £39.95, children aged from one to 13 are £49.95 - £69.95, and children under one pay £15.95 - £19.95, depending on the date of your visit.

Treat the kids to a seriously cute day out at Chessington World of Adventure's new Winter's Tail attraction. My little one loved her encounter with Father Christmas ('the real one', as she told her brother later) and the toy she got after a walk through the elves' workshop even more. Lots of rides are open too, so you can enjoy The Gruffalo River Ride, World of Jumanji and 15 more.

When? From Saturday 23 November 2024 now until Tuesday 31 December.

Where? Kingston upon Thames, Greater London.

How much? From £25.

Fed up of getting the same old board game out at Christmas? Upgrade your Monopoly playing by booking a trip to Monopoly Lifesized in London.

When? All day, every day.

Where? London.

How much? Tickets are available from £59. You can get your tickets here.

Have a Christmas movie marathon. From 90s fabulous The Santa Clause to the Muppet's A Christmas Carol – introduce your kids to the best festive films.

If your kids are a fan of Peppa Pig then they'll absolutely love Paultons Park, a family theme park that's the home of Peppa Pig World. During your time there, your little ones can visit Santa's Grotto, meet some magical characters including the Snow Princess and go on some rides in Lost Kingdom, Critter Creek and Little Africa.

When? From Friday 6 December until Monday 23 December.

Where? New Forest in Hampshire.

How much? Tickets cost £39.75 but kids under one metre are free.

If you're a fan of the famous green ogre then Shrek's Adventure! London is definitely one to visit this Christmas. You'll step into Far Far Away, journey through Shrek's swamp and all children get to meet Santa, get a photo with him and receive a candy treat from the elves.

When? From Saturday 30 November until Tuesday 24 December.

Where? South Bank. The closest stations are Waterloo and Westminster.

How much? Adult prices start from £21 (online) and carers and kids under two go for free.

It's a Christmas tradition for many so why not sit down around the TV and watch the EastEnders Christmas Day 2024 episode.

For the third year in a row, Winter Wonderland Norwich is back with an ice rink, over 20 rides and Santa's Enchanted Grotto. Not only that but kids can post their Christmas list through Santa's letter box and they can meet Santa.

When? From 22 November 2024 until 5 January 2025.

Where? Norfolk Showground, Norwich.

How much? Kids start from £9 and adults start from £12.50.

Rainy afternoon? No problem. Download a free Christmas activity pack full of puzzles and mazes – it'll keep kids amused for an afternoon.

Amuse older kids with a competition to see who can bake the most delicious Christmas biscuits or cake. Give them bottles of food colouring and edible decorations and let their imagination run wild.

Forget getting competitive over Monopoly this Christmas and spice up the festive season with a trip to The Curling Club on London's Southbank. They've got shuffleboard, live performers and all the booze and food you could desire. What's not to love?

When? The Curling Club is open daily from 11:30am-11pm.

Where? London's Southbank Centre and Vinegar Yard - in London

How much? Prices start at £24pp. You can check out all of The Curling Club's available packages here.

Who doesn't love a spot of colouring in? Download a series of Christmas themed colouring pages and print them out for an afternoon's peace and quiet. Offer a prize for the best colouring.

Get crafty. From making penguins out of egg boxes to toilet roll snowmen. Start saving bits now and have a day that would make Blue Peter proud. For free crafty ideas head to Net Mums.

Love the idea of Christmas at Kew but can't make it to the capital? The Royal Botanical Gardens own another site, Wakehurst in Sussex, and the grounds are equally spectacular with ginormous light installations and the prettiest light show on the house itself. Awe-inspiring for the kids and the grown ups alike.

When? Selected evenings from Thursday 28 November until Wednesday 1 January.

Where? Wakehurst.

How much? Prices start from £13 and kids under four are free.

Really get into art with Frameless, the immersive art exhibition in London that features work from Monet, Van Gogh and Delaunay.

When? Every day from 10am to 9pm

Where? Marble Arch, London

How much? Tickets start at £32. Book them here.

Disney on Ice is back across the UK and kids (and adults) can see their favourite characters whizzing around the ice. At Christmas it's even more special than usual too and fans will be able to see the adventures of Toy Story 4, Incredibles 2, Moana and many more.

When? From Wednesday 30 October 2024 until Sunday 5 January 2025.

Where? Birmingham, Nottingham, Newcastle, Belfast, Manchester, Sheffield and London.

How much? Tickets start from £18.

Boom Battle Bar is the ideal place for a mate date, an ACTUAL date or even a Christmas work social (we know, we gave it a whirl ourselves.) From darts and beer pong-or prosecco pong if ya feeling fancy- to karaoke and shuffleboard, Boom Battle Bar is brimming with fun activities for you and your crew to enjoy.
It IS for strictly over 18s and is therefore the perfect place for adults to take a break during the chaos of Christmas season. 

When? Whenever. Although perfect for a festive outing it’s also ideal for stag birthdays, dates and everything in between. 

Where? There are a few dotted around the country but we had the best time at the Oxford Street branch.

How much? Prices vary with different packages available. You can check it out here.

Fancy seeing some Panto this Christmas? You can join Dick as he searches for fame, fortune and new beginnings. Tracey Beaker fans will be buzzing to know that Duke (the loveable Duke) will be taking centre stage.

When? From Saturday 23 November 2024 until Sunday 5 January 2025.

Where? Hackney Empire.

How much? From £24.20.

If you're a Harry Potter fan then Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is definitely one to visit especially during Christmas time. The Warner Bros. Studio tour undergoes a magical makeover for Hogwarts in the Snow so you'll get to see their iconic set decorated for festive scenes.

When? From 16 Saturday November 2024 now until Sunday 19 January 2025.

Where? Studio Tour Drive, Watford, WD25 7LR

How much? From £56 but children four and under are free.

Okay, so shopping during Christmas isn't the best thing in the world and things can definitely get hectic but you'll definitely bag a bargain in the Boxing Day sales and in the dead space between Christmas and New Year when you've got nothing else to do except digest food.

Why not have a night in and make your little ones a Christmas Eve box? It'll definitely get them excited for Christmas day too.