Last 12 months I went all out with Christmas occasions and we did so many. I really like Christmas however I don’t benefit from the commercialism and the over-buying it usually entails. So, slightly 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 12 months the place everybody needs to guide their Christmas occasions I assumed I’d share our ideas on those we did final 12 months.
Here are the Christmas occasions in North Wales and Cheshire we did final 12 months.
Table of Contents
Christmas at Gulliver’s Theme Park, Warrington
Best for: Best worth for a full time out
Christmas at Gulliver’s Theme Park in Warrington stunned me by being our favorite Christmas exercise out of all of the actions we did.
I assumed it was nice worth for cash as a result of we spent all day there.
They have 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 unbelievable.
The child’s all acquired a toy (and it was genuinely a fantastic toy!) after which we had a full afternoon within the theme park.
Gulliver’s World was undoubtedly a Christmas exercise for the youngsters however in case you’ve acquired little ones (anybody beneath 10) then they’re going to find it irresistible.
It’s additionally price noting that they’ve Twixmas at Gulliver’s which might be a fantastic reward and a beautiful exercise to proceed the festive enjoyable in that awkward, inbetween part.
There are Gulliver’s Theme Parks in 4 areas across the UK; Warrington, Matlock Bath, Milton Keynes and Rother Valley so I think about it might be a really related expertise in any respect 4 parks.
Find out extra concerning the North Pole Express Experience at Gulliver’s World right here.
The Polar Express from Telford
Best for: Younger 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 Express we watched the movie at residence and it was so thrilling and magical. And then we advised the children we have been happening the actual one the following night time. Excitement was by way of the roof!
The Polar Express is a brief steam practice journey the place Santa and the elves sing songs and also you get sizzling sweets 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 Express and he was upset to discover a pop-up marquee ready on the station, a tiny sprinkling of faux snow and a rickety outdated practice. He stated the Santa didn’t look actual and one of many elves was miming slightly 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 little bit 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 significantly take pleasure in it.
I assumed it was costly for what it was and it didn’t assist that Telford is kind of a protracted drive for us so everybody was a bit fed up by the point we acquired there.
Find out extra concerning the Telford Polar Express right here.
Zipmas at ZipWorld
Best for: Something completely different
This was a very enjoyable one. We’ve achieved a variety of Christmas actions over time so it was good to do one thing fully completely different.
I’ve acquired a full Zipmas evaluation right here.
Zipmas is held on the ZipWorld slate cavern at Llechwedd. You start your journey with mince pies and sizzling sweets 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 embellished with Christmas lights as you creek down into the mine. The youngsters cherished this half so we began on a excessive.
You then have about half-hour to wander across the chambers of the mine that are embellished with fairy lights and Christmas decor. You ultimately come to Santa’s grotto the place an unbelievable Santa (my youngsters all agreed he was undoubtedly the actual Santa) awaits for a festive chat in his cosy residence.
When you get again to the highest you go right into a crafting space the place you’ll be able to beautify 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 baby.
This is a superb Christmas exercise in North Wales in case you’ve already achieved a variety of the opposite actions and need to attempt one thing new. It’s additionally enjoyable for older youngsters and I feel adults will genuinely take pleasure in this simply as a lot as the children do.
Find out extra about Zipmas right here.
Chester Zoo Lanterns
Best 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 12 months to 12 months. We discovered 2018 was one of the best 12 months by far and, whereas it has at all times been wonderful, it’s by no means been fairly nearly as good because it was that 12 months and that’s at all times been a bit disappointing.
But in case you’ve by no means been to the Lanterns you then’ll don’t have anything to check it to and also you’ll find it irresistible!
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 types of performers and the big, vibrant lantern animals look spectacular. There are additionally teepees serving food and drinks and every baby has a little bit 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 traditional zoo throughout daytime opening hours too. You don’t see any actual animals after darkish and this is perhaps disappointing for some youngsters.
Find out extra about Chester Zoo Lanterns right here.
Christmas at Bolesworth
Best for: Multi-generation/a number of adults
This was the primary time I visited Bolesworth Castle and I’ve since realised they’ve so many unbelievable occasions all 12 months spherical. This stunning nation home is close to Tattenhall and is well-known for his or her equestrian occasions.
They host an unbelievable Christmas occasion which is big with a lot happening. There’s a grotto, an ice rink, a light-weight present, an enchanted mild path by way of the forest, fairground rides, a water show on the lake, reindeer, food and drinks, interactive experiences, festive video games and even a lakeside champagne bar.
This is a very good Christmas occasion in case you’re visiting with a number of adults as I really feel like there are simply as many grownup actions as there are kids’s actions.
Travel Hack Tip: It acquired muddy right here final 12 months so put on wellies or boots. If you’re taking a pushchair, simply remember that you simply may must ditch it every now and then and are available again for it later.
Find out extra about Christmas at Bolesworth right here.
Magical Woodland at Delamere Forest
Best for: A magical night
This was the second 12 months we visited Magical Woodland at Delamere Forest. It actually is magical and in case you’ve by no means visited a forest lightshow like this earlier than you then’re in for an actual deal with.
We cherished it a lot the primary time we visited that I wrote a whole weblog submit about it: Magical Woodland Review: An unbelievable out of doors expertise in Cheshire
But I’ve acquired 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 in case you’ve by no means been earlier than, however I wouldn’t advocate going two years on the run.
Find out extra about Magical Woodland right here.
North Hills Farm, Ruthin
Best for: Buy your Christmas tree and have a Christmas expertise
North Hills Farm is likely 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 fairly little farm has reindeer you’ll be able to feed at set occasions, a small store, a restaurant and little fires the place you’ll be able to roast marshmallows.
I wouldn’t go a great distance out of your solution to go to the farm however in case you’re within the space then it’s a really cute afternoon out.Find out extra about North Hills Farm.
Christmas at Chirk Castle
Best for: National Trust Members
If you’re already a National Trust member then I extremely advocate a go to to Chirk Castle at Christmas time. While this isn’t a giant, flashy or noisy Christmas occasion like most of the others, it’s a phenomenal and extra refined affair!
Chirk Castle has a beautiful mild path by way of the gardens after which the fortress inside is embellished so fantastically. Enormous timber are embellished in every room, however I’ve to warn you that you’ll go residence with Christmas tree envy!Find out extra about Christmas at Chirk Castle.
Other Christmas occasions in Cheshire and North Wales I’d prefer to attempt:
- Dunham Massey
- Heaton Park Lightopia
- Knowsley Safari Park
- Greenwood Family Park
- Llandudo 5k Santa Dash