18 Great Ideas For Family Days Out This Christmas

Few settings capture the magic of Christmas quite like Hampton Court Palace. This year, a brand-new ice rink promises smoother sessions, with upgraded skates designed for comfort, and daily 10am Quiet & Calm sessions, featuring calmer music and reduced capacity – ideal for toddlers. Afterwards, warm up with mulled wine or hot chocolate while little ones explore the twinkling stalls nearby. This year, the palace is hosting a programme of festive events, including traditional carols and family trails through the historic courtyards, as well as a new Festive Fayre (5-7th and 12-14th December), featuring artisan producers, tastings and live cooking demos. 

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An hour from London, Audley End offers a dose of old-fashioned festive fun. Each year, its Christmas adventure gets a little more magical, and 2025 introduces an expanded illuminated trail that transforms the Fulfen Forest into a glowing, storybook world, complete with new theatrical scenes and dazzling displays. The adventure begins as Holly the Christmas Fairy welcomes families aboard the miniature train, which glides past woodland creatures, the Nutcracker and more, before reaching Father Christmas’ workshop. Back in the forest, little ones can make reindeer food, write letters to the North pole or explore the new Fairy & Elf Walk, before toasting marshmallows by the fire.

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Every December, Holkham Hall transforms into a candlelit wonderland, and this year’s edition has a new twist – Family Day, a dedicated day on 20th December, designed to make the experience even more magical for children. Expect playful moments with Father and Mother Christmas, visits from the Jingle Elves and plenty of interactive touches throughout the house. The rest of the festive season will be as impressive as ever, with each room in the Palladian mansion telling its own story – from a sugar-dusted Hansel & Gretel forest to a chocolate banquet. Families will also appreciate the artisan Christmas market (12th-14th December), carols in the courtyard on 11th December and winter walks along Holkham beach. 

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If you’re after a Christmas experience that’s stylish but still family friendly, Pan Pacific London’s children’s festive afternoon tea is an insider pick. The menu has something for everyone – adults can feast on festive finger sandwiches, gingerbread scones and patisserie-style sweets, while the children’s tea takes a more playful turn with Christmas pudding-shaped macarons, snowball cake pops and gingerbread biscuits ready to decorate. Each child is given their own kit – piping bags, icing and toppings – to design their own creations at the table. Head into the plaza afterwards to admire London's tallest Christmas tree.

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If you like your skating scene with atmosphere, the Queen’s House rink in Greenwich is unbeatable. Set against a UNESCO World Heritage backdrop, it offers sweeping views of the river and city skyline – and is especially beautiful at sunset. The weekday toddler sessions – where the ice is quieter and the pace slower – are a clever touch, offering an hour for little ones to find their balance. Afterwards, warm up with a walk through Greenwich Market for mince pies, or explore the nearby Cutty Sark.

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If you’re looking for something a little different, Port Lympne has you covered. Just 90 minutes from London, the wildlife reserve is launching its first Illuminated light trail, which will see the 600-acre park come alive with holographic tigers, fairies made of light and 3D projections across the trees. Children can wander through glowing pathways, visit Santa’s grotto – complete with premium gifts and elf-led storytelling – and enjoy the vintage fairground. Stay overnight in one of the park’s lodges to get after-dark access and the chance to wake up to giraffes at sunrise.

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For families who love a proper pantomime, Greenwich Theatre’s Peter Pan should be top of your list. Written by and starring Anthony Spargo, the award-winning name behind last year’s Dick Whittington, this production balances humour with all the traditional panto energy. Expect sharp one-liners for the adults, plenty of audience participation for the kids and a few creative surprises involving pirates, mermaids and an ever-ticking crocodile. The intimate setting at Greenwich Theatre means you’re close enough to see every raised eyebrow and sword swipe, yet it still has the scale and energy of a West End show. 

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Leave it to Anya Hindmarch to reimagine Santa’s Grotto with her signature sense of wit and craft. Tucked inside Anya’s Village in Chelsea, Anya’s Grotto is an immersive experience. Families are led through candy-cane forests, glittering bauble tunnels and softly crunching snow before settling by the fire for a story with Father Christmas himself. Each child leaves with a thoughtful gift, and those who book the optional festive afternoon tea can continue the experience next door with mulled wine and seasonal cakes.

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A newcomer to the London festive scene, Wundrful World of Christmas arrives fresh from its success in Australia – and it’s already being billed as a next-generation grotto. The 50-minute experience invites families to step behind the scenes of Santa HQ, travelling through themed rooms filled with light, scent and sound. Expect high production values rather than glitter overload – think softly glowing snow chambers, interactive elf workshops and Mrs Claus’s kitchen in full swing. The finale, of course, is meeting Father Christmas himself for a private photo. Conveniently located a short walk from London Bridge, it’s perfect for those living outside of the city, too.

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