Christmas is now just over a month away – can you believe it?! Which means we’re all wandering around the shops weighed down by bags filled with gifts, or adding item after item to our online carts.
With Christmas so close, there’s something else to consider: family activities. After all, schools will soon be broken up for the holidays, which means several weeks you need to fill.
As we live in the north-west, I’ve put together a list of festive indoor activities, so you can have some fun and keep the kids entertained while staying warm.
Enjoy Festive Afternoon Tea
Kids love cake and Christmas, so putting them together could be a brilliant way to spend a day. There’s quite a few festive afternoon teas to choose from this year, including Muncaster Castle in the Lake District. The admission price covers afternoon tea in a decorated stately home, as well as entrance to the castle and birds of prey display. You can also wrap up warm and explore the grounds, including the woodlands which are perfect for a walk.
Go to Visit Santa Claus
Christmas just wouldn’t be complete without a trip to see Santa and there’s loads of places to catch him around Manchester this Christmas. There’s the Peter Rabbit grotto in the Trafford Centre, the little log cabins in Arndale and Lowry Outlet, as well as Cockfields Farm where your kids can hold animals and Lancaster Park where they can write and post their letters to Santa!
Head to a Pantomime
Pantos used to be a huge part of Christmas – who doesn’t have memories of shouting “It’s behind you!” – but they’re not as popular nowadays. This year, why not bring this fun tradition back and take the whole family to a show? There’s a huge choice of pantos in Lancashire this December, from Beauty and the Beast and Snow White, to Peter Pan and Hercules.
Get Active Together
We can all over indulge at Christmas. With so many delicious festive treats, it can be hard to resist. So, when you’re looking for things to do, getting active could be a good idea. Let them run off their energy riding their new scooters at a local indoor skatepark (there’s loads to choose from in the Greater Manchester area), or try something new and spend the afternoon at a climbing centre.
If you’re feeling stuck for ideas, hopefully this list will help you keep your kids entertained this Christmas.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.