Along with Christmas and the advent of a new year comes the school holidays. With most children now off for at least a fortnight, you may be wondering what on Earth to do to keep the kids entertained, especially during the colder weather. Here are some ideas for festive – and cultural – days out in the North West this yuletide.
Lyme, Cheshire
At Lyme, the whole family can discover Christmas memories and tales from bygone days. Inside, you can see various room displays, decorated as they would have been for a ball, Christmas wedding or yuletide feast – including a variety of dishes those who formerly lived at Lyme might have eaten.
Speke Hall, Liverpool
The staff at Speke have brought the outside in for Christmas, making the historic hall an ideal destination for wet, windy or even snowy days. The festive decor features oversized decorations that have been handcrafted from greenery, plus a huge tree that reaches the ceiling. Activities on offer include making sugar mice, singing carols or following the Christmas trail.
Quarry Bank, Cheshire
You can experience something of Christmases gone by at Quarry Bank. Wrap up warmly, and you can follow an outdoor reindeer trail. Alternatively, find out what the festive season brought the young apprentices who used to toil in the mill.
Dunham Massey, Greater Manchester
At Dunham Massey, you can be entertained by the festive stories of Percy the Park Keeper while enjoying hot chocolate and cookies. Percy will even give a gift to the little ones. By night, explore the illuminated trail, which returns for its third year.
