December is an especially magical time for little ones. Whether it’s waiting to see what their resident Elf on the Shelf has been up to at night, excitedly opening their advent calendar or writing letters to Santa, the countdown to Christmas is certainly action-packed.
If you and your family are planning a stay with us (or even if you live locally and are looking for some festive family inspiration), we’ve rounded up five of the best Christmas experiences within 30 minutes of our hotel.
Christmas at Parkway Shopping, Newbury
Parkway Shopping is Newbury’s premier shopping district. Boasting spectacular Christmas lights and a range of yuletide activities, it’s the perfect place to get your Christmas shopping wrapped up and enjoy some festive family entertainment. From 14th – 23rd December, Santa’s Grotto is open for business and it’s completely free! At John Lewis at Home, there’ll also be an elf station where children can make their own Christmas cards. On 20th December, Anna and Elsa from Disney’s Frozen will be hosting a live sing-along that all the family can take part in.
Sleeping Beauty at The Corn Exchange
Panto may not be for everyone (oh yes it is!) but plenty of kids and even adults love it! The Corn Exchange in Newbury’s town centre is less than ten minutes away and is renowned locally for it’s entertaining pantomime season.
Santa’s Grotto at Millets Farm Centre
Children get the chance to become an elf apprentice at Santa’s Grotto, where they’ll have a go at making their very own teddy bears (every elf needs to learn how to make toys after all!) before meeting Santa himself to hear some magical Christmas tales. Afterwards, they’ll learn the art of making perfect reindeer food to sprinkle at home on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Experience at 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park
An immersive, two-hour Christmas storytelling journey awaits at 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park. On arrival, children receive their very own Christmas Passport before boarding Santa’s Sleigh to the North Pole. There’s plenty to do when the sleigh lands, from enjoying a musical elf light show to exploring Santa’s workshop, making their very own Christmas cookies and more.
