Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<p>Is there anywhere more magical than <a href="https://www.shakespeares-england.co.uk">Shakespeare&#8217;s England</a> to celebrate Christmas? I might be bias, but I&#8217;m saying no. Here&#8217;s all you need to get in your diaries this festive season. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-castles">Castles</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1620.jpg" alt="Warwick Castle Christmas" class="wp-image-55647" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1620.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1620-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1620-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1620-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>A twinkling light trail, outdoor ice rink and stories from Mr and Mrs Claus &#8211; you can&#8217;t get much more festive than <a href="https://www.warwick-castle.com/explore/events/christmas/">Christmas at Warwick Castle</a>. It&#8217;s best visited after dark so you can really take in those dazzling decorations and festive flourishes around every corner. Wrap up in your snuggliest coat, and make sure you stop by the Christmas market for a boozy hot chocolate, or six. </p>



<p>Pretty <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/Father-Christmas-at-Kenilworth-Castle/">Kenilworth Castle</a> is also getting a visit from the big man, who&#8217;s going to tell tales around the Christmas tree from 2-23 Dec. Pop by the grotto afterwards for a meet and greet, and to pick up a gift (not for you mum, sorry). Make sure you leave time to explore the castle&#8217;s stunning grounds and let the kids blow off some steam.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Magical train rides</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1248-1.jpg" alt="Polar express Birmingham" class="wp-image-55648" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1248-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1248-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1248-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1248-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>What’s Christmas without a pack (or two) of mince pies watching children’s classic Polar Express™? Now’s your chance for the movie to come to life – on a vintage steam train no less.&nbsp;<a href="https://vintagetrains.co.uk/train-rides/polar-express/">The Polar Express</a>™ train ride runs from Birmingham Moor Street Station to the North Pole four times a day between 24 Nov and 23 Dec. Actors bring the story to life on board one of Vintage Trains’ luxury heritage carriages as you roll across swathes of gorgeous countryside sipping hot chocolates and munching on cookies. Pure festive bliss.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Step back in time</h2>



<p>If 700-year-old <a href="https://www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk/christmas-at-st-marys-guildhall/">St Mary&#8217;s Guildhall</a>, dripping in Christmassy splendour, doesn&#8217;t give you the festive feels then I give up. There&#8217;s a trail to follow around the Guildhall, story sessions with Santa in the Great Hall, gingerbread decorating in the&nbsp;medieval kitchen and children&#8217;s crafts. Make a day of it and book in for a festive afternoon tea in the Tales of Tea restaurant. Go on, you deserve it. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1613-1.jpg" alt="Santa Shakespeare's Schoolroom and guildhall" class="wp-image-55646" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1613-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1613-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1613-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1613-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>It might be the school holidays between 22 and 24 Dec, but don&#8217;t let that stop you sending the kids back! <a href="https://www.shakespearesschoolroom.org/">Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall</a>, where the Bard studied some 460 years, ago will be open with a special puzzle trail, chance to meet Santa (I know, busy man!) and a family gameshow hosted by Charles Dickens no less &#8211; the original brains behind everyone&#8217;s favourite festive villain Ebenezer Scrooge. Bah Humbug!</p>



<p>If that&#8217;s not enough Shakespeare for you, then how does exploring <a href="https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit/whats-on/christmas-at-shakespeares-birthplace/">Shakespeare&#8217;s Birthplace</a> by candlelight sound? Grab a glass of mulled wine (sorry kids, not for you) and your LED candle and follow the costumed guide around the historic property. Learn about how festive traditions have changed since Shakespeare&#8217;s time, and round off your evening with some Christmas shopping of local goodies like gin, jams and chutneys.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Theatre</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1612.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-55597" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1612.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1612-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1612-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1612-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The Box of Delights is a brand new, magical festive production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre which Muddy absolutely loved on a recent visit (<a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/spotlight/rsc-review-the-box-of-delights/">review here</a>). It’s about orphaned schoolboy Kay Harker who is caught in a battle between two powerful magicians. But can he save Christmas? <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/">Book</a> you and the family tickets and find out! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tropical escape</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1611-1.jpg" alt="Christmas butterfly Stratford citrus snowball" class="wp-image-55644" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1611-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1611-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1611-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1611-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Not feeling the cold? I hear ya. Head on over to <a href="https://www.butterflyfarm.co.uk/attraction/">Stratford Butterfly Farm</a> from 27 Nov to 7 Dec to warm up in the tropical surroundings and learn about the lifecycle of a butterfly. There&#8217;s also chance to hold mini beasts (or just take pics of your kids if they feel brave enough) and meet the striking yellow and black coloured Christmas Butterfly – also known as the ‘Citrus Snowball’.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meet Krampus</h2>



<p>Christmas&#8230; but make it spooky. Stratford-upon-Avon isn&#8217;t being visited by the big man this year &#8211; instead the Krampus has come to town, and Mrs Claus has disappeared. You&#8217;ll find the Krampus&#8217; realm at <a href="https://magicalleystratford.com/">Magic Alley</a>, where you need to solve puzzles and riddles to survive the formidable creature and find out what really happened. For over 12s only. If you have little ones (or not so brave big ones!) then fear not there&#8217;s plenty of festive fun to be had by visiting Santa and taking part in a quest through the Crystal Kingdom!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Visit Fairytale Farm</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1612-1.jpg" alt="Fairytale farm Fairydell" class="wp-image-55645" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1612-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1612-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1612-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/11/Untitled-design-1612-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re not one for scares then head to a real life fairytale at <a href="https://www.fairytalefarm.co.uk/events/christmas-fairytale-2023/">Fairytale Farm</a>. Kids can visit a gingerbread house, decorate Santa&#8217;s Christmas tree, make reindeer food, visit the Grotto, make a start on that all-important wish list and there&#8217;s some pretty illuminations to boot.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Christmas Tree Festival</h2>



<p>What&#8217;s more festive than swooning over perfectly decorated Christmas trees? The festival at <a href="http://www.stmaryswarwick.org.uk/index.php?/stmarysredesign/events">St Mary&#8217;s Church</a> in Warwick showcases trees all donated and decorated by local groups and businesses. It&#8217;s open every day until Sunday 3 December. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Let it shine</h2>



<p>Head to one of South Warwickshire&#8217;s pretty towns or villages to catch the Christmas lights being turned on, tuck into some delicious street food and some even have fun fairs and a Christmas market. Kenilworth High Street is first on 24 Nov, followed by Warwick Road on 26 Nov. Head over to Shipston on 1 Dec to catch the Victorian Evening, and Whitnash on 3 Dec. In Stratford there&#8217;s a <em>huge</em> Victorian Market (300 stalls no less!) from 7-10 Dec so you can stock up on gifts and plenty of artisan foods for the Christmas table.</p>



<p><strong>If that&#8217;s not enough (who needs a day off!) visit the <a href="https://www.shakespeares-england.co.uk/whats-on/christmas/">Shakespeare&#8217;s England</a> website for more festive fun ideas.</strong></p>


Festive family things to do in Warwickshire this Christmas

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