Final 12 months 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 usually entails. So, reasonably than spending a fortune on cheesy Christmas presents for my children, 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 desires to guide their Christmas occasions I believed I’d share our ideas on those we did final 12 months.
Listed below are the Christmas occasions in North Wales and Cheshire we did final 12 months.
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 prepare which takes you on a journey 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 bought a toy (and it was genuinely an amazing toy!) after which we had a full afternoon within the theme park.
Gulliver’s World was positively a Christmas exercise for the youngsters however if you happen to’ve bought 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 may very well be an amazing present and a stunning 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 Tub, Milton Keynes and Rother Valley so I think about it might be a really related expertise in any respect 4 parks.
Discover out extra concerning the North Pole Specific Expertise at Gulliver’s World right here.
The Polar Specific 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 Specific we watched the movie at house and it was so thrilling and magical. After which we informed the youngsters we have been occurring the actual one the following evening. Pleasure was by the roof!
The Polar Specific is a brief steam prepare 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 however it 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 occurring the actual Polar Specific and he was dissatisfied to discover a pop-up marquee ready on the station, a tiny sprinkling of faux snow and a rickety outdated prepare. He mentioned the Santa didn’t look actual and one of many elves was miming reasonably than singing.
The prepare 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 somewhat 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 take pleasure in it.
I believed it was costly for what it was and it didn’t assist that Telford is sort of a protracted drive for us so everybody was a bit fed up by the point we bought there.
Discover out extra concerning the Telford Polar Specific right here.
Zipmas at ZipWorld
Greatest for: One thing totally different
This was a extremely enjoyable one. We’ve completed loads of Christmas actions through the years so it was good to do one thing utterly totally different.
I’ve bought 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 candies after which journey 500ft down into the mine on an outdated and rickety prepare. It’s Europe’s steepest cable railway and the tunnel is embellished with Christmas lights as you creek down into the mine. The children 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 finally come to Santa’s grotto the place an unimaginable Santa (my children all agreed he was positively 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 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 little one.
This can be a nice Christmas exercise in North Wales if you happen to’ve already completed loads of the opposite actions and wish to strive one thing new. It’s additionally enjoyable for older kids and I feel adults will genuinely take pleasure in 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 basic 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 the very best 12 months by far and, whereas it has all the time been superb, it’s by no means been fairly nearly as good because it was that 12 months and that’s all the time been a bit disappointing.
However if you happen to’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 comply with 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 little one has somewhat lantern to hold with them and this provides to the magic.Â
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 kids.
Discover out extra about Chester Zoo Lanterns right here.
Christmas at Bolesworth
Greatest for: Multi-generation/plenty of adults
This was the primary time I visited Bolesworth Fort and I’ve since realised they’ve so many unimaginable 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 unimaginable Christmas occasion which is gigantic with a lot occurring. There’s a grotto, an ice rink, a light-weight present, an enchanted mild path by 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 plenty of adults as I really feel like there are simply as many grownup actions as there are kids’s actions.
Journey Hack Tip: It bought muddy right here final 12 months so put on wellies or boots. In the event you’re taking a pushchair, simply remember that you just may must ditch it once in a while and are available again for it later. Â
Discover out extra about Christmas at Bolesworth right here.
Magical Woodland at Delamere Forest
Greatest for: A magical night
This was the second 12 months 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 you then’re in for an actual deal with.
We cherished it a lot the primary time we visited that I wrote a complete weblog submit about it: Magical Woodland Assessment: An unimaginable out of doors expertise in Cheshire
However I’ve bought 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 likely one of the smaller Christmas occasions and can most likely hold you busy for an hour, however it’s a stunning one to mix with shopping for your Christmas tree.
This beautiful 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 good 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 Fort
Greatest for: Nationwide Belief Members
In the event you’re already a Nationwide Belief member then I extremely advocate a go to to Chirk Fort at Christmas time. Whereas this isn’t a giant, flashy or noisy Christmas occasion like lots of the others, it’s a stupendous and extra subtle affair!
Chirk Fort has a stunning mild path by the gardens after which the fort inside is embellished so fantastically. Huge timber are embellished 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 Fort.
Different Christmas occasions in Cheshire and North Wales I’d prefer to strive:
- Dunham Massey
- Heaton Park Lightopia
- Knowsley Safari Park
- Greenwood Household Park
- Llandudo 5k Santa Sprint