Christmas events for families 2026
Santa experiences, light trails, switch-ons, markets and pantos. 115 events listed, 32 of them free. Each one shows dates, times, prices and tips, and we check them against the organisers' websites.
Santa and Christmas experiences (32)
- Fenwick Christmas Window
1 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Reveal Sunday 1 November, 6.30pm (live online); windows open to everyone from Monday 2 November
Fenwick, Northumberland Street, Newcastle · Free - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, Churnet Valley Railway
7 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Churnet Valley Railway, Cheddleton · Adult £28.95 · Child £28.95 - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, Spa Valley Railway
7 Nov 2026 to 30 Dec 2026
Tunbridge Wells West station · See event website - Walking with The Snowman at Belsay
7 Nov 2026 to 10 Jan 2027 · 10am-4pm
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens · See event website - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, Wensleydale Railway
13 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Leeming Bar station, Wensleydale Railway · See event website - A Christmas Carousel at Bamburgh Castle
14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · 10am-4pm (closed 25-26 Dec)
Bamburgh Castle · See event website - Edinburgh's Christmas
14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Usually 10am-10pm; closed 25 Dec
Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh · Free - Kielder Winter Wonderland
14 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Kielder Forest · See event website - Raby Castle at Christmas
14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Raby Castle, Staindrop · Adult £25 · Family £70 - Christmas Village, Old Eldon Square
19 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Old Eldon Square, Newcastle · See event website - Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
19 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Usually 10am-10pm (some later openings); closed Christmas Day
Hyde Park, London · Adult £1 · Child £1 - Newcastle Christmas Market
19 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Grey's Monument and Grey Street, Newcastle · Free - Father Christmas at Lilidorei
20 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Lilidorei, The Alnwick Garden · See event website - Christmas at Beamish
21 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026 · 10am-4pm; closed 25-26 Dec
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North · See event website - Christmas at Gibside
21 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Gibside, Rowlands Gill · See event website - Christmas at Wallington
21 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Wallington, Cambo · See event website - Father Christmas at Raby Castle
21 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Raby Castle, Staindrop · Family £32 - Santa's Enchanted Elf Journey, Whitehouse Farm
21 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Whitehouse Farm Centre, near Morpeth · See event website - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, Birmingham Moor Street
22 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Birmingham Moor Street station · See event website - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, South Devon Railway
27 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Buckfastleigh station · See event website - Christmas at Abbotsford
28 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Abbotsford, Melrose · See event website - Christmas at Seaton Delaval Hall
28 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Seaton Delaval Hall NE26 4QR · Adult £15 · Child £7.50 · Family £37.50 - North Pole Express, Tanfield Railway
28 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026 · Hourly departures 10.25am-4.25pm; about 2 hours in total
East Tanfield Station, DH9 9UY · Adult £24 · Child £24 - Santa Express, Weardale Railway
28 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Weardale Railway · Adult £33 · Child £33 - Traquair Christmas Opening
28 Nov 2026 to 29 Nov 2026 · 10am-4pm
Traquair House, Innerleithen EH44 6PW · See event website - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, Edinburgh Waverley
29 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Edinburgh Waverley station (Platform 2) · See event website - Father Christmas: Tales and Treats at Ushaw
1 Dec 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Ushaw Historic House, Durham DH7 7DW · See event website - Santa at Paxton House
1 Dec 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Paxton House, near Berwick · See event website - Santa's Grotto at Bowhill
1 Dec 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Bowhill House, near Selkirk · See event website - Father Christmas at Belsay
5 Dec 2026 to 22 Dec 2026
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens · Child £12 - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, London Euston
5 Dec 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
London Euston station · See event website - Mr and Mrs Claus in the Yuletide Yurt, Raby
6 Dec 2026 to 20 Dec 2026
Raby Castle, Staindrop · See event website
Christmas light trails (32)
- On now The Enchanted Forest
8 Oct 2026 to 8 Nov 2026
Faskally Wood, Pitlochry · See event website - On now Land of Lights: Wonderwild (Gulliver's World)
24 Oct 2026 to 30 Jan 2027
Gulliver's World, Warrington · Adult £20 · Child £20 - Festival of Light: Legendary Worlds
7 Nov 2026 to 10 Jan 2027
Longleat, Warminster · Adult £34.95 · Child £34.95 - Land of Lights at Gulliver's Valley
8 Nov 2026 to 23 Jan 2027
Gulliver's Valley, Rotherham · See event website - Scarborough Lights
11 Nov 2026 to 20 Dec 2026
Scarborough · See event website - Christmas at Blenheim Palace
13 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Usually 10am-8pm
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock · Adult £25 · Child £18 - Christmas at Kew
13 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · 4.20pm-10pm (timed entry)
Kew Gardens, Richmond · Adult £25.23 · Child £20 - Giant Lanterns at Edinburgh Zoo
13 Nov 2026 to 21 Feb 2027
Edinburgh Zoo · Adult £14 - Lanterns and Light at Chester Zoo
13 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Chester Zoo · Adult £19.50 · Child £12 - Lights of Lowther
14 Nov 2026 to 30 Dec 2026
Lowther Castle, Penrith · Adult £20 · Child £15 · Family £65 - The Plotters' Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail
14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Raby Castle, Staindrop · Child £14 - Winter Illuminations: Polar Bear Express
14 Nov 2026 to 9 Jan 2027
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster · See event website - Yuletide at Tatton Park
14 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Tatton Park, Knutsford · Adult £19.50 · Child £11.50 - Christmas at Bute Park
19 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026 · 4.15pm-8.30pm
Bute Park, Cardiff CF10 3DX · Adult £19.50 · Child £13.50 - Christmas at the Botanics
19 Nov 2026 to 30 Dec 2026
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh · Adult £26 - Northern Lights at Heaton Park
19 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Heaton Park, Manchester · Adult £17 · Child £12 - AGLOW Light Trail at Auckland Palace
20 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Auckland Palace, Bishop Auckland · Adult £23.50 - Bedgebury Pinetum Light Trail
20 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Bedgebury Pinetum, Goudhurst · Adult £27.50 · Child £19 - Christmas at Dunham Massey
20 Nov 2026 to 2 Jan 2027
Dunham Massey, Altrincham · Adult £19.50 · Child £13 - Enchanted at Knowsley Safari
20 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Knowsley Safari, Prescot · Adult £9.95 · Child £9.95 - Northern Lights Leeds
20 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Temple Newsam, Leeds · See event website - Trentham Gardens Light Trail
20 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Trentham Estate, Stoke-on-Trent · Adult £17 · Child £12.50 - Winter Lights at The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei
20 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick · See event website - Winter at Sizergh
20 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Sizergh, Kendal · Adult £13 · Child £9.75 - Christmas at Cragside: A Journey Through Fairyland
21 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Cragside, Rothbury · See event website - Glow at RHS Harlow Carr
26 Nov 2026 to 30 Dec 2026
RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate · See event website - Hillier Gardens Light Trail
26 Nov 2026 to 1 Jan 2027
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey · Adult £22 · Child £14 - Northern Lights Newcastle
26 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Leazes Park, Newcastle · Adult £12 · Child £12 - Lightwaves, MediaCity
27 Nov 2026 to 13 Dec 2026 · 5pm-10pm
MediaCityUK, Salford Quays · Free - Noel at Liverpool Cathedral
27 Nov 2026 to 5 Dec 2026
Liverpool Cathedral · Adult £10.50 · Child £8.50 · Family £29.50 - Wild Lights at Bristol Zoo Project
27 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Bristol Zoo Project, Blackhorse Hill · Adult £20.50 · Child £15.99 - Winterlight: The Tudor Glow
3 Dec 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Burton Constable Hall, Skirlaugh · See event website
Christmas light switch-ons (13)
- Dalton Park Christmas Lights and Fireworks
7 Nov 2026 · Festivities from 4.30pm; lights and fireworks 6.30pm
Dalton Park, Murton SR7 9HU · Free - Newcastle Christmas Lights Switch-On
12 Nov 2026
Newcastle city centre · Free - Morpeth Christmas Lights Switch-On
14 Nov 2026 · Activities from noon; countdown time to be announced
Bridge Street, Morpeth · Free - Darlington Christmas Lights Switch-On
15 Nov 2026 · From 4pm; lights on about 5:30pm, then fireworks
Darlington town centre · Free - Spanish City Christmas Tree Lights
15 Nov 2026 · 4pm-6pm; tree lights 5pm
Spanish City, Whitley Bay · Adult £5 · Child £5 - Sunderland Christmas Light Switch-On
19 Nov 2026
Keel Square, Sunderland · Free - Alnwick Christmas Lights Switch-On
20 Nov 2026 · 7pm
Bondgate Within, Alnwick · Free - Blyth Christmas Lights Switch-On
21 Nov 2026 · 10am-6pm; countdown time to be announced
Market Place, Blyth · Free - Amble Christmas Lights Switch-On
22 Nov 2026 · 5pm-7pm
Amble Town Square · Free - Bamburgh Christmas Lights
28 Nov 2026 · Church service 5.30pm; lights 6.15pm
St Aidan's Church and village green, Bamburgh · Free - Bedlington Christmas Lights Switch-On
28 Nov 2026 · 2pm-6pm; lights 5pm
Market Place, Bedlington · Free - Middleton-in-Teesdale Christmas Lights
28 Nov 2026 · Christmas fair 11am-3pm at the Auction Mart; switch-on 4pm
Middleton-in-Teesdale village · Free - Durham Christmas Sparkle
29 Nov 2026 · From 5pm
Durham city centre · Free
Christmas markets and fairs (23)
- Newcastle Quays Christmas Market
7 Nov 2026 to 8 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Newcastle Quays, North Shields · Free - Brocksbushes Christmas Fayre
12 Nov 2026 to 15 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Brocksbushes Farm, near Corbridge · Free - Beamish Hall Christmas Fair
13 Nov 2026 to 15 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Beamish Hall, near Stanley · Free - Gateshead Stadium Christmas Market
15 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Gateshead International Stadium · Free - Spanish City Christmas Fayre
20 Nov 2026 to 22 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Spanish City, Whitley Bay · Free - Wynyard Hall Christmas Fayre
20 Nov 2026 to 22 Nov 2026 · Fri-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm (entry slots 10am and 1pm)
Wynyard Hall, near Billingham · Adult £8 · Child £7 - Alnwick Garden Christmas Fayre
21 Nov 2026 to 22 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick · Free - Blanchland Christmas Artisan Market
21 Nov 2026 to 22 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Blanchland village · Free - Christmas Craft Fair at Belsay
21 Nov 2026 to 22 Nov 2026 · 10am-4pm
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens · See event website - Witton Castle Christmas Market
21 Nov 2026 to 22 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Witton Castle, Witton-le-Wear · Free - Alnwick Castle Christmas Fair
24 Nov 2026 to 25 Nov 2026
Guest Hall, Alnwick Castle NE66 1NQ · See event website - Raby Castle Christmas Market
27 Nov 2026 to 29 Nov 2026
Raby Castle, Staindrop · Adult £2.50 - Ford & Etal Christmas Market
28 Nov 2026 to 29 Nov 2026 · 10am-4pm
Ford, Etal and Heatherslaw TD12 4TJ · See event website - Hexham Abbey Christmas Market
28 Nov 2026 to 29 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Hexham Abbey, Hexham · Free - Northumberlandia Christmas Craft Market
29 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Northumberlandia, near Cramlington · Free - Stockton Sparkles
1 Dec 2026 to 20 Dec 2026
Stockton High Street · Free - Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town
3 Dec 2026 to 6 Dec 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Bishop Auckland town centre · Free - Durham Christmas Festival
4 Dec 2026 to 6 Dec 2026 · Fri-Sat 9am-5:30pm, Sun 9am-4:30pm
Palace Green, Durham · See event website - Consett Christmas Market
5 Dec 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Consett town centre · Free - North Shields Christmas Market
5 Dec 2026 to 6 Dec 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
North Shields · Free - The Luna Night Christmas Market
5 Dec 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Middlesbrough Town Hall · Free - The Winter Market at The Bowes Museum
11 Dec 2026 to 13 Dec 2026 · 10am-4pm
The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle · Adult £7.50 · Child £0 - Hexham Christmas Markets
12 Dec 2026
Hexham Abbey, Abbey Flags and Market Place · Free
Pantomimes and Christmas shows (14)
- Rapunzel (Gala Durham)
19 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Gala Theatre, Durham · See event website - Sleeping Beauty (Customs House panto)
20 Nov 2026 to 2 Jan 2027
The Customs House, South Shields · See event website - Jack and the Beanstalk (Theatre Royal panto)
24 Nov 2026 to 17 Jan 2027
Theatre Royal, Grey Street, Newcastle · See event website - Beauty and the Beast (Empire Consett)
27 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Empire Theatre, Consett · See event website - Sleeping Beauty (Forum Theatre)
2 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Forum Theatre, Billingham · See event website - The Snow Queen (Northern Stage)
3 Dec 2026 to 2 Jan 2027
Northern Stage, Barras Bridge, Newcastle · See event website - Aladdin (Tyne Theatre panto)
4 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Westgate Road, Newcastle · See event website - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
4 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Playhouse Whitley Bay · See event website - Aladdin (Middlesbrough Theatre)
5 Dec 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Middlesbrough Theatre, The Avenue · Adult £26 · Child £25 · Family £96 - Cinderella (Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre)
10 Dec 2026 to 27 Dec 2026
Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre · Adult £16 · Child £14 - Beauty and the Beast (Darlington Hippodrome)
11 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Darlington Hippodrome · See event website - Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook
11 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Sunderland Empire, High Street West · See event website - Jack and the Beanstalk (Majestic Theatre)
12 Dec 2026 to 28 Dec 2026
The Majestic Theatre, Bondgate, Darlington DL3 7JT · See event website - Christmas at The Glasshouse with Matt Baker
17 Dec 2026 · 7:30pm (about 2 hours)
The Glasshouse, Gateshead Quays · Adult £5
Ice skating (1)
- Newcastle's Outdoor Ice Rink
7 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Hour-long sessions (about 45 minutes on the ice)
Times Square, Life Science Centre, Newcastle · Adult £15.75 · Child £14.50 · Family £49.50
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