Home > Culture > Life > Reviewed By Us > Reviewed by Us: Festive Experiences Post author By The Mum Club Post date 9 December 2024 Reviewed by Us: Festive Experiences The Mum Club9 December 2024 This time of year is so busy, and big festive events are often £100+ for a whole family. But are they worth it? The TMC team shares their favourites and the best age to go. A Light Trail To Save For Older Children Windsor Great Park Illuminated “We were given tickets to this by MIL for Christmas, and we went there just before New Year. They have the most incredible light display and a disco in the forest. There are small stalls where you can get delicious food and mulled wine and an area where you toast marshmallows. There are also rides and a carousel. I’d say this experience is suited to ages 4+ as older children will get more out of it and can withstand colder, darker evenings and walks.” TMC Style and Content Creator, Luzaan Shaw Best age to go: 4+ Find out more The One That Pleases All Ages Hever Castle & Gardens, Kent “Hever Castle is one of the best places for families and I never tire of visiting. Their playground is huge, and our kids love it. And at Christmas, the historic venue transforms into a magical wonderland, with a carousel and toddler-friendly rides just outside the castle. The usually adult interior is decorated with dazzling Christmas trees and if you get an expensive sell-out ticket to see Santa, it is worth it, as they go all out. The grounds are also decorated with incredible lights and there really is something for everyone.” TMC Editor, Lydia House Best age to go: 2+ (You can go before, but I’d go in the day for a nice walk and skip seeing the big man) Find Out More A Magnificent Light Show and Safari Experience Longleat, The Festival of Light “I love it here. And this year’s spectacular lantern trail is bigger than ever before. We made our visit extra magical by taking a trip to the enchanting snow-covered North Pole on the Santa Train, where Father Christmas was waiting in his grotto with a present. Our almost 2-year-old loved the train journey and when he finally saw Father Christmas. However, we queued for over 40 minutes to see him in the cold. So, I’d say that trip is best for slightly older children as trying to entertain a small child in a queue for that long wasn’t easy. Plus, if you want to see the animals in the safari park, you must enter before 2pm, and we were shocked that not all the festival lights were on until around 5pm. So, I’d say it’s not ideal to do with tiny kids that start bedtime around six and will inevitably be tired.” TMC Email Marketing & CRM Co-Ordinator, Andi Venardos Best age to go: 3/4+ Find Out More The Most Magical Christmas Experience Tulleys Christmas Santa Experience “We’ve been to this for the last four years. It’s mainly outside, but many activities are inside, like making reindeer food, decorating cookies with Mother Christmas, and going to a 3D cinema. Our favourite thing is that you take a tractor ride to Santa’s Grotto, which drives you through a magical Christmas Forest, where characters greet you. It is expensive, but I’d say it’s so worth it and we don’t spend a lot of money on presents for the children as they get so many from relatives, so really this is our treat to our kids.” TMC Style and Content Creator, Luzaan Shaw Best age to go: 3+ Find Out More A Very Festive Train Ride The Polar Express, Spa Valley Railway, Tunbridge Wells “This is a costly train ride and while our children loved it and it was magical, I would say you can save this one for when they’re a little older. I’d say it suits 3/4+ (maybe even older). You don’t have to watch the film (which tbh, I think is a bit scary for little ones) but it does help it make sense. You are encouraged to board the train ride in pjs, and there is constant entertainment right from the get-go. For someone who doesn’t like musicals, I didn’t love all the singing, but the kids seemed to. Everyone is given rich hot chocolate and a large cookie the size of my 3-year-old’s head. And I was a bit scared about a sugar overload, but amazingly, the children still fell asleep on the way home and we avoided any meltdowns. All in all, we liked it but I’m not sure if we’d go again.” TMC Editor, Lydia House Best age to go: 4+ Find out more Our Verdict… We spent a lot of money taking our children to festive experiences when they were little. And most of us endured tantrums because our children were overwhelmed, cold, tired, or confused. Young children find minuscule things magical, from seeing Christmas lights on other people’s houses to the twinkling naffness of a garden centre. You don’t need to do much to impress them. So release pressure on yourself. Do whatever makes you feel good. Whether that’s booking experiences, or not! It’s your festive season, and however that looks, is just great. The Mum Club9 December 2024 ← Chocolate Crispy Christmas Puddings → The Best Places to Book for 2025
