Christmas
Our guide to Festive
Family Fun Seek out Santa It’s a busy season for Santa, even before Christmas Eve! His elves are already preparing his enchanted woodland at Odds Farm Park from 25 November. Children can visit the elves’ Cuddle Creation workshop to make their own soft toy or teddy bear, or head to the Christmas toyshop, where younger visitors can choose a Christmas gift. Join Rudy the reindeer for his interactive Reindeer Flying School show or turn your hand to some festive crafts. Add to this the chance to write to Father Christmas, make food for his reindeer as well as the park’s usual attractions - 30 different breeds of animals, an adventure playground, go-karts, pedal tractors and a giant Indoor Playbarn, and there’s plenty for everyone! Tickets for the Christmas Spectacular cost from £25.20 for members and £43.95 for non-members. The extravaganza runs on selected dates from November 25 until Christmas Eve. See oddsfarm.co.uk for more details. Book early to avoid disappointment. centre:mk presents the magical story of The Snowman, for families visiting Santa’s grotto. Brought to life by actors portraying the well-loved characters from the original story, a snowy landscape provides the perfect backdrop to view some of the most memorable and magical moments from the original animated film. Children will be given the opportunity to decorate a Christmas biscuit before meeting with Santa in his woodland cabin and receiving a lovely
gift. It will be open from 17 November to 24 December and tickets are on sale at centremk.com A VR sleigh ride, train and carousel are also at the centre, along with a breath-taking array of Christmas decorations, selfie points and cabins with independent traders selling unique gifts. Santa and his elves are visiting Amersham Field Centre to train a new generation of elf helpers. Santa’s Winter Woodland will be open in December. Explore the enchanted woodland with Father Christmas’ top elves, learn important elf skills, make a Christmas decoration and help find Santa’s missing code. Children will also get the chance to meet Santa in his grotto and receive an Elf graduation certificate, hat and gift. The event runs from 10am-4pm on 10, 16, 17 and 20 December. Tickets cost £12 for children and £6 for adults. Babies are free. To book, see field-studies-council. org. If you’re looking for something different, how about setting off to see Santa by steam? Bucks Rail Centre is offering a Panto Express on select dates from November. Jump aboard a steam train, take a seat and Santa will come to you, accompanied by one of his elves with a present. Enjoy a 25-minute train ride, then, on returning to the platform, take a seat for a mini family pantomime, performed by a professional touring theatre company. The Visitor Centre will
Storytelling Trails Crafts
be hung with decorations, there will be festive music and a Christmas tree. The Panto Express runs on November 25 and 26 and on select dates in December. Tickets are limited so pre-booking is essential. Prices from £17.50. see bucksrailcentre.org for more details. Jump aboard one of his special carriages (all named after his favourite reindeers) at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough railway for a trip from Princes Risborough to North Pole station (aka Chinnor). Weekend Santa Steam Specials are running from November 25. The experience includes refreshments and a present. See chinnorrailway.co.uk. for more details. You can also find Santa at Bletchley Park’s Vintage Christmas Grotto on select dates in December, with a Relaxed Grotto for families with additional needs on December 2. The park’s mansion, used by codebreakers in WW2, will be decorated with toys and Christmas trees, and elves will be on hand to take photos. See bletchleypark. org.uk for more.
Winter Wonderlands Bekonscot Model Village and Railway is the oldest, original model village, and during the festive season it takes on a truly magical feel. Open at weekends only between 4 November and 10 December, the models are illuminated at dusk and specially created festive scenes appear around the village. The train ride is decorated with snowflakes and hundreds of twinkling lights and
Santa’s Winter Woodland 10th, 16th, 17th & 20th Dec
roalddahlmuseum.org Great Missenden HP16 0AL Open Thurs to Sun year round Xmas: 21-23 & 27-30 Dec
Our Wonka-themed Christmas begins on 2 December 6 Families Chiltern
Amersham Field Centre, HP7 0QR
Book Online www.field-studies-council.org/families
Familiesonline.co.uk
