Family Days Out Round-up: The build up to Christmas

Christmas is looming and I feel so disorganised this year, although we have been lucky enough to go on some fantastic Christmas themed days out in the last few weeks.

This months round-up is full to the brim with fun days out with the kids, with some festive offerings as well as good old family fun.

Theme Parks are great for offering a full day of festive fun and we had fun with Billy the Elf, Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman at the revamped Christmas Wonderland at Paultons Park. One place I had never thought of taking the kids to at Christmas is Legoland, but their Christmas Bricktacular event looks like great fun and was shared by Blog Bay-Bee and In the Playroom and for Thomas the Tank Engine loving children, Drayton Manor has all the fun of Christmas including regular snowfall and Boo, Roo and Tigger Too had fun at a Christmas Tail, Chessington.

This year it seems that Aquariums and Wildlife Parks want to get in on some festive action and we headed for Weymouth Sea Life Centre to see Santa, whilst Finding Our Feet headed to London Sea Life, Plutonium Sox to the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham and Being Mrs C headed for Paradise Wildlife Park.

Carrying on the train theme, Blog Bay-Bee also visited the Santa Special on the Watercress Line in Hampshire whilst First Tooth boarded the Santa train at Tenterden. On a more traditional note, Little Hearts, Big Love went back in time with Christmas at Chiltern Open Air Museum, Giving Up Normal enjoyed a Victorian Christmas at Osborne House, Wishful Wonderings had an audience with Father Christmas at Bolsover Castle, Fashion Mommy enjoyed a trip to Hatton Country World and both Cardiff Mummy Says and Teddy Bears and Cardigans loved the 12 Days of Christmas at Dyffryn Gardens.

One of the most popular Christmas themed day out is Lapland UK, which we thoroughly enjoyed last year. I have been inundated with posts with about the magical day out and some of my favourite posts that capture the magic are from Podcast Dove, Play Learn Everyday and Mrs Shilts.

I love quirky days out and Travel Loving Family enjoyed some festive cave exploring at Clearwell Caves in Gloucestershire, whilst Mini Travellers went on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at Erdigg with the National Trust, In the Playroom enjoyed some spy catching at Si5 Spy Missions, Lesbemums headed for Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Over 40 Mum to One got into the festive spirit at Warwick Castle, Happy Handley enjoyed learning fun at Winchester Science Centre and Yorkshire Wonders got to fly a Falcon and enjoy some festive fun at Stockeld Park.

Breakfast with Santa has also been a popular activity with the Charliemoos gang visiting John Brown’s Garden Centre and Mini Travellers found him at Erdigg, National Trust property. MummySphere enjoyed a hot chocolate and marshmallows and met Peter Rabbit at Willow’s Farm

I love taking the kids ice skating in the open air and Emily and Indiana almost had the ice rink to themselves when they visited Calverly Grounds Ice Rink before heading off to see Father Christmas at Intu Lakeside whilst North East Family Fun saw Santa for free at the Intu Metrocentre.

With the nights drawing in I am fed up with it being dark by 4pm, so seeing Christmas Lights lighting up the night sky really cheers me up. BubbaBlue and Me headed for Blenheim Palaces Light Fantastic which looked stunning, Everything Mummy took her girls to see the Festival of Light at Longleat and Over 40 Mum to One and Bubba Blue and Me enjoyed the spectacular light show at Waddesdon Manor.