School Holidays Scarborough & Whitby

Before we know it, winter will be here and Castle Howard is all set to help make magical memories this Christmas. The entire Estate will be transformed into a winter wonderland as Tinkerbell sprinkles fairy dust over the Castle and Grounds, creating a Christmas day out like no other. The main House will be transformed into a Peter Pan-themed odyssey, with beautiful decorations, installations, and projections.

Christmas in Neverland

Take the second star to the right, and straight on to Castle Howard! This Christmas, get lost on a magical adventure in Neverland as we invite you to a Christmas experience like no other.

Father Christmas in the Castle – House Show

Make magical memories, and meet Father Christmas, Mrs Claus and jolly WonderPhil at Castle Howard this Christmas. Watch a joyful performance bursting with jingle bells and Christmas spirit, sing Christmas songs together, and enjoy a special, individual moment with Father Christmas himself.

Santa’s Grotto – in the Courtyard

Share a laugh and photograph with Santa in our Courtyard Grotto this Christmas. Enjoy a short show bursting with puppetry, energy, and Christmas joy, before that all-important meeting with the man himself.

Castle Howard, York YO60 7DA

With over 8,000 acres of forest to explore, Dalby Forest is the perfect place to spend some quality family time in the great outdoors. The team at Dalby have put together some fun-filled activities to keep the whole family entertained.

So, pack up your picnic and enjoy a low-cost day in nature!

1. Easter Scavenger Hunt – Collect your sheet from the Visitor Centre information point, then head into the play area to see how many eggs the Easter Bunny has hidden around the forest. Return your sheet for an Easter treat!
2. Easter Egg Ornament Craft – Pop into our Visitor Centre, visit the crafting table and follow our handy guide to make your very own Easter Egg Ornament.
3. Women in Forestry Exhibition – Learn about the history of Women in Forestry and how their efforts shaped the future of our forests. Entry to the exhibition is free. Find the art space in the Courtyard, Low Dalby. Open daily from 8am – 4pm
4. Gruffalo Party Trail – Join in the celebrations! The Gruffalo is celebrating his 25^th birthday this year. Can you us help find his missing party items? Pick up your pack for just £4 from our Visitor Centre information point, packed with fun things to do on your party adventure. Inside you’ll find:
   • kraft bag to colour in
   • party headband to wear
   • party trail activity leaflet
   • stickers
   • pencil and crayon
   • keepsake sew-on Gruffalo Party patch
5. Gruffalo orienteering trail – try our fun, navigational challenge at Dalby Forest using a simple map to find twelve Gruffalo markers hidden in the deep, dark wood. Bonus if you spot the Gruffalo hiding in the trees!
6. Grandfather Oak playground – Swing, climb, hide and spark their imaginations at the Grandfather Oak playground! Test your climbing skills on this fun playground with so much for the mind to explore. Hide away in our wooden teepees, clamber on the climbing frame or make your way round the playground and find your joy in the wildplay area.
7. Go Ape Treetop Adventure – Built for the whole family, this is the ultimate tree top experience of wobbly bridges, intricate crossings and an awesome zip wire finale in Dalby Forest. The perfect high ropes course for kids as well as mum, dad and the grandparents!
8. Life on two wheels – Get started or tune up those cycling skills with training courses for little legs, hosted by our Bike Hire partner, Dalby Forest Cycle Hub!

With themed trails, adventure play areas, natural play, safe off-road cycling and lots of space to create your own woodland palace, your local woods and forests are the perfect place for a family day out, fit for a king!

Please note that barbeques and fires are not currently allowed anywhere in the forest.

Dalby Forest, YO18 7LT

Merry Mouse Christmas Trail – Saturday 11 November 2023 to Friday 5 January 2024

Join us for our annual Merry Mouse Children’s Christmas Trail. The creatures of the wood are feeling sleepy as it is time for them to hibernate through the winter. Help Merry Mouse discover the story that will put the woodland to sleep.

No booking required, please check visitor centre opening hours.
Children to be accompanied by an adult.
Sorry no dogs, wheelchair accessible.

£5 per child
Danby Lodge National Park Centre, YO21 2NB
01439 772737

The highly-anticipated Harrogate Ice Rink returns to Crescent Gardens for the second year in a row; running alongside the Harrogate Christmas Fayre from 1st December and remaining open until 7th January 2024.

This festive favourite will be bigger and better than ever before, hosting not only a bigger ice rink, but an outdoor bar, a cosy sheltered tipi, funfair rides including a carousel and bungee trampolines, and a Yorkshire Wrap food stall – vegetarian and vegan options available.

Immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas with this family-friendly and affordable attraction coming to the centre of Harrogate from December to January.

Harrogate Ice Rink is open from 11am every day until 19:30 on weekdays and 20:45 on weekends. You can book a one-hour session for a reduced price of £10 per ticket (plus booking fee) this year, and each ticket purchased will also grant 50% off any hot drink at the bar on site; including mulled wine and hot chocolate.

Adults and children aged 4+ are welcome at Harrogate Ice Rink. Free skate hire is available on site and there are skate aids available on a first come first served basis, these are available for £5 per user.

During your visit to Crescent Gardens, be sure to visit the Harrogate Christmas Fayre, ride on the Candy Cane Express road train, or experience the open top bus, which stops at the Ice Rink too!

For  20% discount code for Mumblers use discount code: mumbler20

More details about session times, bar opening hours, and terms and conditions can be found online

Stockeld Park, off the A661 Wetherby Road, LS22 4AN.

24th to 27th January 2024 (2.30pm and 7.30pm options).

Direct from The London Palladium, the sensational new production of one of the world’s most beloved musicals comes to Hull.

Starring RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner and Dancing On Ice star The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch Of The West, this spectacular production will be truly magical for all the family.

Featuring the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film including Over The Rainbow, Follow The Yellow Brick Road and We’re Off To See The Wizard with additional songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Join Dorothy, Toto, and friends on an unforgettable adventure down the yellow brick road to the merry old land of Oz.

There’s no place like Hull New Theatre this January. Book online here or call the box office on 01482 300306.

Friday 17th November 2023 to Sunday 7th January 2024

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland will be returning to McArthurGlen Designer Outlet York.

The Ice Factor – the North of England’s largest outdoor ice rink at 975 sq m – will have a 30ft high sparkling Christmas tree as its centrepiece, surrounded by illuminated trees, log cabins, the rink side cafe and a viewing platform.

This year the funfair will be bigger and better, with new modern rides including an exciting Twist and Waltzer.  There will be 5 children’s rides and game stalls offering prizes every time.

Also new this year is a terrace overlooking the ice rink.  Inside the alpine-themed café, tasty food and drinks will be available to purchase, and private parties can be arranged.

The Winter Garden with its heated covered picnic tables offers an alternative outdoor eating area, with The Dog Haus cabin selling a range of hot dogs and festive drinks.

Christmas would not be the same without a visit to Santa and his elves, and this year visitors can enjoy an extended snowy woodland walk to his cosy log cabin grotto where a warm welcome and a special gift for children awaits.