UK events: December 2017
South East and London
Winter Wonderland
17 November to 1 January 2018
Hyde Park, London
Get into the Christmas spirit as Winter Wonderland returns to London’s Hyde Park for the 11th year.
This free-to-enter family event includes a host of festive fun and activities, including ice skating, big top shows, an observation wheel and a huge Christmas market.
Hogwarts in the snow
18 November to 28 January
Warner Bros Studio, Watford
Winter has arrived at Hogwarts. Glittering Christmas trees line the Great Hall and a replica festive feast including flaming Christmas puddings is laid out on the long tables; while for the first time this year, the top section of the hall is transformed for the Yule Ball with snow, icicles and an orchestra of magical instruments.
Get up close to props, costumes and models used in the Harry Potter films; take a look around the studio’s famous movie sets decorated as they were for the festive scenes; and find out how different types of artificial snow and ice were created and used in the films. And you can even stay for dinner in the Great Hall on 11, 12, and 13 December.
South West
Sunday Cinema at Bristol Zoo Gardens
3, 10, and 17 December
Bristol Zoo
Bring your family and friends to the zoo for some festive family film favourites!
This Christmas Bristol Zoo Gardens will be showing Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Home Alone and The Nightmare Before Christmas. When it’s finished, enjoy exploring all the amazing animals the zoo has to offer, included in your ticket price!
North East and Yorkshire
The Magical Lantern Festival
24 November to 1 January 2018
Roundhay Park, Leeds
See Christmas Illuminated!
This year’s Christmas-themed lantern festival will illuminate Roundhay Park, turning it into a spectacular fusion of dual culture, vibrant colours, and artistic sculptures! Prepare to enter a magical experience and discover life-sized and large-than-life lanterns in all shapes and forms, from ‘Polar Bears on Ice’ to a magnificent giant ‘Chinese Temple of Heaven’ lantern recreation.
We promise visitors a truly amazing experience, a visual feast of light and illumination, hidden amongst the grandeur of Europe’s largest city park, which lends itself perfectly to the layout of the lanterns with its combination of lakes, woodland, gardens and pathways.
Get Down Rolladisco
Boiler Shop, Stephenson Quarter
Newcastle
Get your skates on Newcastle! Boiler Shop will host 80s themed Rolladisco accompanied by a soundtrack of Funk, Disco and Soul music.
Scotland
Santa Dash
10 December
Glasgow City Centre
Run the fun, festive 5K! The Santa Dash is a Christmas spectacle you won’t want to miss as the city centre transforms in to a sea of Santa suits, all running for charity. Ready, set, go ho ho!
Applications for the Glasgow Santa Dash 2017 are open now!
Ice Adventure: A Journey Through Frozen Scotland
17 November to 24 December
George Street, Edinburgh
Come explore our immersive walk-through experience and travel through Scotland’s rich and magical history, all filled to the brim with ice and snow sculptures to take your breath away!
From mythical creatures to historical figures, and of course with a whisky barrel or two along the way, you’ll be astounded by the life-like ice sculptures in the ice adventure.
With a setting of -10 C, be sure to wrap up!
North West
The Nightmare Before Christmas
9,13 December
Manchester
Based on a Tim Burton story and characters, Henry Selick’s brilliant animated film sees Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, discovering Christmas Town. When he attempts to bring Christmas to his hometown confusion and chaos ensues.
Go DJ at Go Air Trampoline Park
Riverpark Trading Estate
Manchester
Get ready for after dark jumping with laser lights, smoke machine and bouncing beats! Fabulously frenetic fun with your friends!
Winter Arts Market
Saturday, 2 December, 10:00 to 19:00
Liverpool Cathedral
This Christmas, the Winter Arts Market returns to the stunning Liverpool Cathedral for a festive shopping experience like no other; transforming the space into a bustling bazaar of artists, designers and makers. If you’re stuck for the perfect Christmas gift for that hard-to-buy for friend or family member (or even yourself!), you’ll find it at the Winter Arts Market with everything from photography and homewares to illustration, paintings, clothing and handcrafted beauty products available to buy directly from the maker.
As well as over 200 arts and crafts stalls, the market also features a Vintage Fair and Food Fair, chock full of unique festive party wear and tasty treats. There’s also live music throughout the day.
Wales
A Penrhyn Christmas
2 to 3 December
Penrhyn Castle, Llandegai, Bangor
Join us for a Christmas filled with music, traditional wreath-making workshops, Christmas cooking in the Victorian kitchens and even an appearance from the big man in red!