Best Christmas Days Out for Families 2023

We love to get out and about, especially on the days our children are off school! During the holiday season, there are a lot of lovely, themed places to visit in and around Essex, that can make the holidays shine even more than ever! Some of these places have options to meet Santa himself, others are just fun activities that are only available during the Christmas months. Either way, I am sure you will find an activity you and your family enjoy.

Enjoy a play at Stick Man at Leicester Square Theatre

If you are interested in theatre performances, Leicester Square Theatre is doing a fun, interactive version of Stick Man – a holiday classic. Your family will be able to see the book come to life as Stick Man goes on adventures, trying to find his way back home. There are bits of audience participation, lots of singing, and it’s an entertaining nod to the book itself. Santa is seen appearing at the end of this performance, which is always nice around the holidays! This performance is aimed at younger children, but our whole family does enjoy the theatre, so it worked well for us too!

Book your tickets on their website.

Build at Legoland at Christmas

If you have follow any of our social media, you know we spend a lot of time at Legoland. At Christmastime, Legoland pulls out all the stops! The park is decorated with tons of Lego Christmas decorations, you can see Santa in the holiday parade, there are little holiday food stalls (think German sausages, hot chocolate, etc), and you can spend some time creating holiday themed Lego inside the Brick Building. There are also special Holiday themed events going on (like the parade) to check out. Some of the rides are closed, due to the cold weather this time of year, but there is plenty to keep everyone busy.

You can find out more about Legoland at Christmas on their website.

Explore at Wonderland at Adventure Island

Wonderland at Adventure Island is a seasonal event that has a special ticket price. This sort of ticket includes so much! At Adventure Island itself, there are tons of Christmas decorations, as well as loads of rides to take part in. They actually bring in a special Christmas themed ride. You can meet with Santa (though this is optional and hidden), pick out a gift from the workshop, and take part in activities like face painting, dancing with elfs, and making reindeer food. With the ticket price, you do also get a discount on food, as well as free tickets to their mini-golf area and their sea life centre. We actually used these additional tickets on another day in the new year, which worked well for our family, as there was so much to see and do at Adventure Island.

You can book your tickets for Wonderland at Adventure Island on their website.

Make a new Tradition at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland is a massive event, featuring so much to do all packed into one place. It is worth researching what you want to do before heading to Winter Wonderland, as the base entrance price does not include rides, ice skating, going into the ice carving area, the circus etc. With so much to do, you will want to research and grab tickets for the things that your family will most enjoy. Without all of the add ons, you can still meet Santa, check out various food stalls, view the Christmas market, and have a fun day out walking around. We go twice a year, once as a couple and again as a family – it’s always a fun event!

Book your tickets and select your add-ons on the Winter Wonderland website.

Visit Santa at Winter’s Tail at Chessington World of Adventure

Chessington World of Adventure puts together a Christmas event called Winter’s Tail that’s aimed at younger children. There is a lot to do at Winter’s Tail, but it is worth noting that it’s only in a portional of the park. There are a bunch of rides that you can ride, as well as the Sea Life centre and animals that you can see. This event has a big focus on interactive activities and performances – there are a few different stage shows to watch, an interactive Christmas Kitchen, and the Christmas forest where you can meet Santa and get a gift.

Find out more about Winter’s Tail on their website.

Learn about Christmas at Horrible Histories Christmas Car Panto

If you’ve got children who are fans of history, the Horrible Histories Christmas Car Panto allows you to view a life drive-in cinema show, where actors are going through Christmas throughout the ages. From the comfort of our own car, with our own snacks, we were able to keep warm and enjoy this performance. The stage itself is quite small, but there are big screens so that you can see it from your car, so it’s a win-win for all. Santa does make a guest appearance in this performance too.

See if this Panto is coming to a site near you on Fever.

Take a cozy walk at Belhus Woods Country Park

If you are looking for a low cost Christmas activity and want to get out into nature, Belhus Woods Country Park puts on a little scavenger hunt each year. We’ve gone when it’s reindeer and also when it was holiday gnomes. You can walk around and explore the trail for free, or pay 1£ for a little booklet that will give each child a prize at the end of the hunt. The decorations themselves are quite nice and at the end of the trail, you will find yourself at a lovely play park and near a nice walk around a pond. It’s a great way to explore!

Learn more about Belhus Woods Country Park on the Explore Essex Website.

If you are looking for even more wintertime activities for your family, we have a lovely list of the best wintertime light trails for you to enjoy!