20 Things to Do this Christmas 🎄
Ready to get in the festive mood? Here's a round-up of the best things we think you won't want to miss over the festive season. Christmas jumpers and Santa hats optional…
⛸️ #1 Visit Winter Wonderland for Ice Skating, Fair Ground Rides and Festive Treats
Until 04/01. Hold hands with your beau or hire a penguin skate aid to help the kids get to grips with skating at the real ice rink at Winter Wonderland (from £13.50; skate hire included; SAVE 20% WITH CODE ICE20); there are also funfair rides and rollercoasters (purchase ride tokens online or opt for a wristband for unlimited riding from £22.50). Prefer to take it easy? Check out the festive food and drink options at the Wild Boar Bavarian Bar, including mulled wine and hot chocolates.
🎅 #2 Meet Santa at World of Wedgwood, Trentham, Middleport & The Potteries Centre
Have breakfast with Santa and his elves at World of Wedgwood’s tea room, which is followed by a trip to his grotto for a meet-and-greet (06/12, 07/12, 13/12, 14/12, 19/12, 20/12, 21/12, 22/12, 23/12 & 24/12 under 3: £8; age 4-12: £25; adult £35). You can also catch him at Trentham Gardens (now until 24/12, 9am-6pm; from £17 per child, from £16 for members; adults go free with a paying child), where kids can have a photo on the sleigh and explore the igloo as they wait for Santa. Middleport Pottery‘s Meet Santa Experience features 10-minute slots for children to see Santa, have photos taken, and receive a gift. The Potteries Centre is hosting Santa’s Ice Palace grotto. Visits to the grotto cost £3, with some proceeds going to Dougie Mac.
🏮 #3 Winter Light Trails At Trentham & Biddulph Grange
This year’s trail at Trentham takes new twists and turns over a mile long, with never-before-seen displays, new soundscapes and plenty of interactive installations (until 04/01; tickets from £17.00 per adult, £12.50 child/senior and £50.00 family when super off-peak). The Festive Lights at Biddulph Grange Garden (06/12, 12/12, 13/12, 14/12, 19/12, 20/12, 21/12, 22/12, 23/12, 27/12 and 28/12; time slots are available from 5pm until 7:30pm; tickets £15 adults, £10 children including hot drink) is another option for some twinkly fun; check out their other festive events here.
🎁 #4 Shop For Artisan Gifts at the Best Maker’s Markets
Swing by Middleport (06/12 & 07/12, 10am-4pm; admission free) for locally produced gifts. Trentham is also holding its Christmas Maker’s Market on the same weekend at the same time. If you’re still looking for gift ideas a week later, then check out the World of Wedgwood Artisan Market Festive Edition (13/12 & 14/12).
🎍 #5 Wreaths and More: Christmas Crafting Opps
Join the Christmas Wreath Workshop at Wedgwood, run by Victoria Wright, which uses real foliage to build wreaths (06/12 & 07/12; 10.30am & 2:30pm; tickets £60). There’s also a Christmas Table Arrangement Workshop (21/12, times & prices as above). For crafting with a non-festive theme, try Yellow by Keep it Local’s Bangle Stamping Workshop by Sparkle By Faith (06/12, 1pm, tickets £15) or the Highland Cow Workshops by HSL Pottery (07/12, 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm; tickets £10).
🎭 #6 Go Watch Panto and See Other Festive Shows
Catch Jonny Wilkes as Buttons in Cinderella at the Regent (12/12-04/01; tickets from £15). Other festive productions at the Regent include Nativity! The Musical (03/12-06/12; tickets from £16.34), while over at Stafford Gatehouse, Sleeping Beauty is the panto of choice (05/12-04/01; tickets from £21). Aladdin is on at the Repertory Theatre (27/12-04/01, tickets £10 adult, £8 child). At Victoria Hall, we’ve got comedy sketches and songs at That’ll Be Christmas! (09/12; tickets from £15) and Mitchell Arts Centre is showing a recording of a live stream by the Royal Ballet of The Nutcracker (17/12; tickets from £17.50). For something a bit less trad, try the Dickensian spoof Bleak Expectations at the Stoke Rep (09/12-13/12; tickets from £17.25). The New Vic has a circus theatre adaptation of The Little Mermaid (until 24/01), traditional English Christmas music with The Albion Christmas Band (17/12; tickets from £32) and the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir (20/12; tickets from £24).
🦃 #7 Engage in Some Festive Feasting
There’s still time to book seasonal offerings at Lunar, which include a festive three- course lunch (until 17/12; £50 per person). The Upper House in Barlaston still has spaces left for its party nights on 05/12, 06/12, 12/12 & 18/12, which include a three-course meal, drink and dancing until midnight (£52 per person). Support local breweries by dining in a Joules or Titanic Pub; Crown Wharf in Stone has a Turkey Dinner for £18, or keep it simple with cheeses, cold meats and nibbles at the Glebe.
📸 #8 Strike a Pose at the Festive Family Photobooth at Middleport
Visit the festive Family Photobooth at Middleport Pottery (06/12 & 07/12, 10am-4pm; tickets £10), where a 15-minute slot allows you to capture fun memories in a Christmas grotto with props, a photo keepsake, and festive backdrop. You will receive one print (additional prints charged at £4 each) and a digital copy of your image.
🎶 #9 O Silent Night! Hear the Christmas Carollers
At the Victoria Hall, there’s City Voices at Christmas (03/12, 6.45pm; admission free) while at Biddulph Town Hall, you can catch the Rode Hall Silver Band Christmas Concert,(13/12, 7.30pm, tickets £10). Don’t miss, too Hanley’s Carols @ The Town Hall, (19/12, 6pm, admission free) and community carol concert Together for Christmas at Longton URC Church (16/12, 8pm; admission free).
🚂#10 Catch the Apedale Valley Light Railway or Foxfield’s North Pole Express and meet Santa
Choo choo! Catch the Apedale Valley Light Railway and meet Santa (13/12, 14/12, 20/12, and 21/12; trains at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm & 4:30pm; children £13, adults £9.75). While the Polar Express at Churnet Valley has now sold out, there are still spaces aboard Foxfield’s North Pole Express (06/12, 07/12, 13/12, 14/12, 20/12-24/12; times vary by day; table for up to four people from £80).
🎄#12 See the Wind in the Willows at Ford Green Hall
Smallthorne’s much-loved 17th-century farmhouse always looks spectacular at Christmas time, and you can catch the characters from Wind in the Willows (07/12 & 14/12, 11am-3.30pm; check Facebook page for prices), with refreshments available in the tea room.
🍸#13 Bottoms Up to Festive Cocktails & Ales
Always a lovely spot for a celebratory meal, The Orange Tree Bar & Grill has a dedicated Festive Cocktail Menu (Rum Rum Rudolph, anyone?) on its menu. Over in Burslem, the Moorland Inn is offering festive shots including Chocolate Orange, Jammy Santa, Strawberry Cream and Jingle Jack. If you’re more of a real ale drinker, sup on a Titanic Cherry Porter at venues including the Bull’s Head in Burslem, the White Star in Stoke, or at bod cafe bars at Stoke Railway Station and Trentham.
🛷🥕14 Meet the Reindeer at Amerton and Oakley Farm
As part of A Magical Christmas at Amerton, the kids will not only see reindeer but also meet Santa and make gingerbread (tickets £24.50 per child; £10.99 per adult; ticket includes access to the Playbarn). Over in Dilhorne at Oakleys Farm, kids can join Santa’s Secret Reindeer Training Camp for the festive season (06/12-24/12; tickets £15 for children, £11 adults).
⛪︎ #15 Attend Midnight Mass
Step into Christmas with candlelight and carols at Stoke Minster’s Midnight Mass, which starts at 11.30pm; there’s a cristingle and crib service for all the family at 5pm, and activities for children at 3pm. Other good options include Trentham’s St Mary & All Saints, and Christ Church in Fenton, both of which also start at 11.30pm.
🎄#16 Have a Festive Theme Park Experience
Alton Towers’ Santa Sleepover (05/12-07/12 & 12/12-24/12; from £91 per person) is back, and the theme park is also hosting a panto, The Tale of Cinderella and Prince Charming, for resort guests. At Christmas Wonderland at Drayton Manor (selected dates from now until 24/12; £32 per person aged 4 and up, £25 2-3 years, £5 0-23 months), you can hop aboard the Twinkle Express and visit the world of Elftonia.
🍿#17 Catch a Christmas Film or Two…
Watch Frank Capra’s classic tearjerker It’s A Wonderful Life (09/12, 11am, Mitchell Arts Centre; tickets £3.50) or join Stoke Cult Film Club for a showing of The Muppet Christmas Carol (12/12, 7pm, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery; tickets £5). In addition to these two classics, Cineworld is showing The Polar Express, Home Alone, Elf and The Nightmare Before Christmas; check the website for details.
🎄# 18 Hit the Boxing Day Sales
You can’t escape the family by shopping online, but you can hit your local high street or retail park to check out deals from stores including Currys and Argos, which usually feature major discounts on electronics, appliances, and homeware.
🧑🍳 # 19 Cook up a Festive Storm
Artisan butchers Perrys Field To Fork in Eccleshall is offering Christmas Cooking with Steph Chubb (19/12; £96), where you’ll prepare a Pork and Pistachio Wellington instead of the usual turkey. Other options include Christmas Sausage Crafting and Pork Tenderloin (12/12, £115). Alternatively, make festive breads including Stollen and Panettone at Live Love Loaf, an artisan bakery in Leek (14/12; £180).
🎅# 20 Walk the Stick Man Trail At Cannock Chase
Perfect for little legs, this mile-long trail follows Stick Man on his journey as he tries to get back to the family tree. Kids will complete fun stick-based activities, discover some tree-mendous facts and learn about forest wildlife. Activity packs for £4 are available from the Visitor Welcome Point.
Got something you’d like to add? Tell us in the comments!