Christmas Season Events 2018
Tickets now on sale for unique Christmas Event experience at Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium
Santa and his elves Christmas Events at Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium includes Jack and the beanstalk! Live science show an elf-led activity, Christmas planetarium show and meet Santa.
The Santa and the Elves Christmas Experience promises a fun-filled family day out. An hour-long Santa and science experience – live science show, elf-led children’s activity and chance to meet Santa – and a 30-minute Reindeer Round-up in Space planetarium show.
Jack and the Beanstalk, investigates different forces. The audience tries to help Jack reach the top. The elf-led workshop has children take part in a themed activity and meet Santa, who gives each child a wrapped gift. Reindeer Round-up in Space is a fun presenter-led planetarium show taking the audience on a journey through the Solar System in search of Rudolph and his furry friends to help save Christmas.
Winchester Science Centre’s Kids’ Christmas Cinema programme includes the likes of Elf, The Polar Express, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Arthur Christmas. £2 per person with General Admission; film-only tickets cost £5.
To find out more about Christmas events and book tickets visit: www.winchestersciencecentre.org
Twitter: @WinSciCentre Facebook: facebook.com/winchestersciencecentre Instagram: winchestersciencecentre
An illuminated Christmas Events trail for all the family at Beaulieu
A new magical illuminated Christmas Events trail is at Beaulieu. The medieval grounds of the abbey and Palace House are transformed from 23 November – 30 December 2018 at the New Forest attraction.
Christmas at Beaulieu features a mile-long illuminated path with festive installations.
The Tunnel of Light is a canopy festooned with over 100,000 twinkling pea-lights. The tree-tops glisten and the gardens and buildings shimmer with seasonal sparkle. The ancestral Montagu home of Palace House will be aglow with beams of light which dance in time to much-loved Christmas classics. From the roof of Beaulieu’s veteran bus, you may catch a glimpse of Father Christmas and his elves greeting visitors.
Along the Icicle Walk, larger-than-life gleaming shards will guide visitors towards the Meadow of Light. Thousands of
fibre optic lights sway in unison. There are hidden surprises too – watch out for frosty snowflakes, shimmering stars and gigantic baubles where least expected. Hear mesmerising voices of giant Singing Trees. Rising high into the night sky, visitors will finish the breathtaking trail with a cheerful Christmas blast of colour and light.
Finish the stroll under the stars with spiced cider, mulled wine or hot chocolate. The aroma of roasting chestnuts fills the air. Toast marshmallows at one of the fire pits, ride the vintage Carousel or Ferris Wheel. Pick up a Christmas gift or two at Beaulieu’s shop.
Admission: Advanced from: Adult £14.50, Child £8.00, Family £40.00 Under 5’s & carers free
beaulieu.co.uk/christmas Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire SO42 7ZN
Gatton Park Events November 2018
Christmas Events pre-booking required for all activities except where indicated. Children under eight must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday 24th November Family Christmas Decoration-Making
Create Christmas wreaths and other decorations from the natural materials found at Gatton Park. 10am-12.30pm or 1.30-4pm. Cost: adults £10 children £10
Sunday 2nd and Sunday 9th December Santa’s Grotto
Enjoy a buggy ride to meet Santa in his grotto. Explore the grounds and follow a trail of clues before returning to Gatton Hall to make a Christmas decoration. Tea and cake available to purchase. 1-3.30pm. Cost: £7 per child. Book a timeslot online.
Guided Tours If you have a group interested in a guided tour of Gatton Park, please get in touch.
Cost: £7 per person or £9 with tea and cake.
Gatton Park, Rocky Lane, Reigate, RH2 0TW 01737 649068. events@gatton-park.org.uk
Book online at: www.gattonpark.com
The Little Prince
The beloved tale of a child navigating the baffling world of grown-ups adapted into a dance theatre production in time for Christmas Events.
1 Dec The Point Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9DE 7.30pm | £12 (£10 concs)
www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk | 023 8065 2333
12 – 16 Dec Jerwood DanceHouse, DanceEast Foundry Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1DW From £10 (£7 concs),
www.danceeast.co.uk | 01473 295230
22 Dec AMATA, Falmouth University Treliever Road, Penryn TR10 9LX 11am & 3pm | £15 (£12 concs), family tickets
2019 (dates TBC) Gulbenkian, Dance City, Warwick Arts Centre, Theatre Royal Norwich, The Place
Loved by children and adults around the world for generations. A distinctive blend of dance, humour, words and music. Audiences join the Little Prince as he journeys through a weird and wonderful universe, meeting fascinating characters along the way whilst learning about the value of friendship and love.
Stranded in the desert where he’s crashed his plane, a pilot meets an inquisitive boy who tells him a remarkable story of how he left his own tiny asteroid and journeyed through the universe. On this journey, the Little Prince comes face to face with the baffling world of grown-ups. He meets a king who reigns over nothing to a businessman obsessively counting stars, from a mysterious snake to a truly wise and friendly fox. With an original score by Frank Moon, design by Yann Seabra and lighting by Jackie Shemesh, Protein’s new show invites us to look at the world through one’s heart and to reconnect with our inner child.
@ProteinDance | #TheLittlePrince | www.proteindance.co.uk
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch announces immersive festive adventure Sparky the Elf and the Secret Toyshop to be performed at a secret location in Romford
Christmas Events at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch with a new immersive festive show, Sparky the Elf and the Secret Toyshop. There is a Specia venue at a top secret location at Romford’s The Mercury Mall Shopping Centre.
The special venue is transformed into Santa’s enchanted workshop, and running from 15 – 30 December. Trusted head elf Sparky Tinselbottom is frantically working away repairing abandoned toys. Families with children aged 7 – 11 can join in as one of Sparky’s friends and discover fantastic adventures of unloved toys from around the world.
Families must arrive 15 minutes before the advertised start time by the Grotto on the ground floor of the The Mercury Mall Shopping Centre, where they will be met and led to Sparky’s secret toyshop, which will be a short walk away.
Sparky the Elf and the Secret Toyshop runs from 15 – 30 December. Tickets are £7.50 for all weekday performances and £10 at weekends. Performances are at 11am, 2pm, 4.30pm, 3pm and 6pm (varies each day). To book, call the Queen’s Theatre’s Box Office on 01708 443333 or go online at queens-theatre.co.uk
THE ULTIMATE LEGO® CHRISTMAS AT THE LEGOLAND® WINDSOR RESORT
SELECT DATES IN DECEMBER 2018
Festive fun is back at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort this Christmas Events season. On 1-2, 8-9 and 15-23 December 2018 families can meet Father Christmas and discover over 30 rides, attractions and LEGO Christmas activities. Tickets are £36 per person or £26 per person for Annual Passholders and can be pre-booked online in advance only.
In Miniland, Christmas comes to life with miniature LEGO festive additions to London and Scotland, from a bustling Christmas market in Covent Garden to Father Christmas flying over Big Ben in his sleigh.
See the video: www.legoland.co.uk/explore-the-resort/special-events/legoland-at-christmas/
Father Christmas’ elves will be on the lookout for little helpers to write letters to Father Christmas and build LEGO candy canes and festive decorations. Families can take part in a LEGO scavenger hunt and marvel at the stunning 8 metre high LEGO Christmas Tree before heading to Mrs. Christmas’ Toy Shop where they can build their very own LEGO decoration to take home. Plus, costume characters Ollie the Dragon and LEGO Santa will be on hand to spread the festive cheer.
With so much to see and do, families can extend their festive stay with a Santa Sleepover at the magical LEGOLAND Castle 
Hotel with packages from £359 and LEGOLAND Hotel with packages from £289 including access to LEGOLAND at Christmas, breakfast and a jam-packed schedule of festive evening entertainment. LEGOLAND at Christmas tickets are limited so guests are advised to book, online in advance at www.legoland.co.uk/christmas
SANTA SLEEPOVERS
- Santa Sleepovers available 30 November, 1, 7, 8, 14 – 23 December 2018.
- LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
- Premium themed family rooms (2 adults/ 2 children) available from £359. Including breakfast and tickets to LEGOLAND at Christmas, plus special exclusive benefits including drinks vessels, swim bags, factory bricks and exclusive pop badges.
- LEGOLAND Hotel
- Themed family rooms at LEGOLAND Resort Hotel (2 adults/2 children) from £289. Price includes breakfast and tickets to LEGOLAND at Christmas.
Book here www.legolandholidays.co.uk/legoland-windsor-events/santa-sleepover.html
HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND OPEN DAILY: 10AM – 10PM
22 NOVEMBER 2018 – 6 JANUARY 2019
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FROM ONLY £9.95 FOR ADULTS / £6.95 FOR CHILDREN
Copyright © Snowman Enterprises Limited 2018. The Snowman™ is a trademark of Snowman Enterprises Limited.
40th anniversary of Raymond Briggs’ , The Snowman, has Hyde Park Winter Wonderland bring The Snowman™ Experience to the capital. Explore the multi-roomed, multi-sensory, cinematic adventure guaranteed to delight the entire family with Christmas cheer and childlike wonder.
Spread out over 5,000 sq ft and nestled within the UK’s largest festive celebrations, the IMG-produced Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Backyard Cinema will push the boundaries of traditional screenings. See a section of the winter classic play out on a giant 10-metre-wide curved, LED screen. The experience is completed with the Snowman himself making an appearance, as audiences explore what is set to be Backyard Cinema’s biggest and most festive experience to date.
Tickets for The Snowman™ Experience are priced from £9.95 for an adult ticket, £6.95 for a child and £27.80 for a family ticket (subject to a booking fee) and can be purchased from http://hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/attraction/the-snowman-experience/. Sessions are every 20 minutes from 10.00 – 21.20.
HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND OPENING TIMES
- Opens: Thursday 22 November 4pm – 10pm
- Then: 23 November 2018 – 6 January 2019 10am – 10pm every day
- Closed on Christmas Day
The top Christmas Events in the South East
Hever Castle will be playing homage to traditional Christmas tales and rooms of the Castle will be decorated and themed around stories including the Nutcracker, The Tailor of Gloucester and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Outside visitors explore a festive interactive trail themed around Charles Dickens’ classic novel A Christmas Carol. After dusk the gardens will be illuminated with up-lighting and colour washes. Visitors will be able to visit Father Christmas in his snow-dusted grotto, ride the carousel, enjoy vintage fairground stalls (£1 per go) and roast chestnuts, and pose for a picture with a husky (suggested £2 donation towards Siberian Husky Welfare Association). Daytime prices: adult £17.25, child £9.75. (Wednesday’s to Sunday’s from 24 November and daily from 10 to 24 December). Father Christmas visits £11.95 (pre-booking only). www.hevercastle.co.uk
Victorian Christmas at Osborne, Isle of Wight, will feature traditional games, a traditional carousel, jovial entertainers, a Victorian falconer and toy making workshops . Visitors can meet Father Christmas and some familiar Dickensian characters in the festively dressed rooms. NEW magical festival lights will light up the grounds. Tickets adult £15.90 child £9.50. Additional charge applies to see Father Christmas. (1 and 2 December). www.english-heritage.org.uk
The Watercress Line. The festive Santa Special steam train carriage offers a magical trip on The Watercress Line in Hampshire. Santa and his jolly helpers will visit children in their seat with a gift. Grown-ups will be treated to white wine and mince pies, whilst children enjoy a soft drink and a gingerbread man. Each child will also receive an activity pack to keep them entertained on an enchanting one hour journey and everyone is encouraged to join in with favourite Christmas songs. Advanced booking essential (1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 19 to 24 December). Prices from adult £18, baby under 1 year £10. www.watercressline.co.uk
Gilbert White’s House Museum at Selborne in Hampshire for a Mulled Wine Weekend and enjoy the house dressed for Christmas cheer with live entertainment, wassailing, children’s crafts, Christmas shopping. (1 December). FREE gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk
A Christmas Carol celebrating the 175th anniversary (Saturday 24 November to Sunday 23 December) Eastgate House, Rochester. Adults £5.50, Under 5s Free. www.visitmedway.org/eastgate-house
Festivals
The Dickens Festival of Christmas at the Historic Dockyard Portsmouth is back this year bigger and better than before, with the return of all the family favourites too. Fagin’s Tavern is back in the Spiegeltent, our traditional Father Christmas dressed in green and street performers galore. This year there is a NEW Gin & Prosecco Parlour for the grown-ups. Adult £15.50, child £13.50. Concessions available. (30 November to 2 December). www.historicdockyard.co.uk
A Christmas Festival in Southampton city will be themed around a traditional German market with stalls selling festive gifts and treats and daily entertainment including a ‘Flying Santa’. FREE entry (16 November to 23 December). The Grade I Listed Tudor House offers a step back in time to meet the Victorian-costumed staff, meet Father Christmas and take a cellar light tour. Children will be able to enjoy a craft workshop and complete a festive mini-trail. (8 to 9 December). FREE entrance, charges apply for some activities. www.tudorhouseandgarden.com.
The Biggest Christmas Ever at Blenheim Palace runs from 23 November to 6 January. The programme includes a NEW 
Christmas Market in the Great Court (23 November to 16 December). During the day a NEW Cinderella: The Fairytale Experience will take over the Palace State Rooms dressed to depict the Stepmother’s drawing room, the Ugly Sisters’ room, and Cinderella’s room, the crystal world of the Fairy Godmother, the Prince’s charmingly grand room and on to the Long Library, transformed into a glass-inspired Ballroom. In the evening, The Illuminated Trail will light the Capability Brown landscaped parkland with, NEW for 2018, over a million pea-lights, lasers and projections (23 November to 1 January). Prices: The Cinderella Experience admission is from Advance adult £27.00, child £15.50. The Illuminated Trail £18 Adult, £12.50 Child. Combined tickets are available. blenheimpalace.com/christmas
Kick-start the festive period at Cholderton Farm near Salisbury. The Christmas Craft Fair will feature stallholders displaying a range of beautifully handcrafted goods. Tickets £2.50 per person by online advance booking only (24 November). Breakfast with Santa in the Ewe Tree Cafe with a tasty breakfast served by the elves, a small wrapped gift per child. Join the elves after breakfast for an animal handling session. Children must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult, free of charge, with adult breakfasts available to purchase from the café on the day. (15 to 23 December) £9.95 per child. Santa’s Grotto (15 to 23 December) £8.50 per child to include a small gift and craft activities in the Grotto & Activity Barn. Book a timed slot at choldertoncharliesfarm.com.
Christmas Events ICE RINKS
A NEW winter attraction, Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland will provide a festive trail featuring spectacular Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes from around the world. The illuminated trees will run throughout the historic Victorian gardens and onto the award-winning seafront. A 60ft feature tree will host light and sound shows throughout the festive period. Further entertainment will include live music around the resort, as well as an alpine market, ice skating under the stars and Santa’s Grotto. (16 November to 2 January). christmastreewonderland.co.uk.
Windsor On Ice at the Alexander Gardens will feature two ice rinks one fully covered and a smaller open air rink (17 November to 6 January). Adult £12.50, child £10.50 www.windsoronice.com
The Royal Pavilion Ice Rink in its atmospheric setting at Brighton. (3 November to 13 January) royalpavilionicerink.co.uk
Tunbridge Wells Ice Rink takes place in the natural amphitheatre at Calverly Grounds (16 November to– 1 January, closed Christmas Day). Pre-book tickets at www.tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com.
The Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market and Ice Rink situated in the historic Inner Close, is widely regarded as one of the best Christmas Markets in the UK (Christmas Market 17 November to 3 January). Ticket bookings from 1 September. www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk
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