Get Out This Christmas: great things to do this festive season
Bingo, brunch, grottos, pantomimes, gigs, raves, musicals, ice skating - we’ve got it all and a lot more.
Last updated: 19th Dec 2025
Originally published: 9th Dec 2025
Christmas is coming, and we all deserve a break, right?
Between the massive food shop (and trying not to have just a little bite of the chocolate we’re saving for the big day), trying to buy a present for that really awkward person that doesn’t like anything, and the sun going down before 4pm… Yeah, we definitely deserve some fun.
So let us give you a hand with that.
There are loads of incredible, fun, and occasionally zany Christmas events across the UK this year, and we’re going to spotlight some of the best.
Christmas drive-through? We’ve got it. A massive R&B gig? Done. Musicals, doggy grottos, bottomless brunches, boozy bingo, ice skating, even a rave or two, you can find all of that and a lot more here. (And, spoiler alert, we’ll be sharing even more with you soon, so keep an eye out for that!)
Right, let’s go, 'tis the season to get out, have a laugh, and make some memories.
Ice Skating and more at Clydeside Christmas Village
When: Friday 28th November 2025 - Sunday 4th January 2026
Where: Clydeside South Street in Glasgow
With bars, food, and a covered ice rink, Clydeside Christmas Village challenges you to eat your body weight in festive scran, down a few mulled wines, and test your skills on the ice. Will you be Bambi or a champion figure skater? Only one way to find out!
There’s also entertainment and rides, and you can book your ice skating tickets right here (and add on some goodies like a Ferris wheel ride, a deluxe hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows, and churros with Nutella) to avoid disappointment - they’ll also have an additional support needs session for anyone who needs it on Sunday 14th December.
Find tickets for Ice Skating at Clydeside Christmas Village
When: Sunday 14th December 2025
Where: Co Op Arena in Manchester
Ah, the golden era of R&B, it can’t be beaten. While it’s cold outside, you can cosy up with the warm, caramel sonics of the genre’s legends, with performances from Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton, Joe, Dru Hill, and UK support acts. We can already picture the ‘90s music video trope of yearning in the rain with this one.
Find tickets for RnB Xmas Ball 2025
The Enchanted Adventures - Himley Hall Christmas Light Trail
When: Friday 28th November - Monday 29th December 2025
Where: Himley Hall in Dudley
Bigger, brighter, and more magical, Himley Hall Christmas Light Trail is back for a second year. Wander through a wonderland of sparkling lights and immersive installations at this Christmas-themed light trail, escaping into another world of festive glow - and you can bring your dog along!
But of course it’s a lot more than just ethereal light displays - grab some seasonal treats (calories aren’t real in December), get the kids stuck into creative workshops, and snap some pics to look back on for years to come.
Find tickets for Himley Hall Christmas Light Trail
When: Friday 21st November - Wednesday 24th December 2025
Where: Sunderland Live in Houghton-le-Spring
Featuring the holy festive trinity - The Grinch, naughty elves, and Santa - this new Christmas drive-through does things differently. You’ll drive through twinkling Christmas light displays, witness a live nativity scene with real donkeys you can feed, and say hello to the naughty elf, share a laugh with The Grinch, and meet Santa himself, who'll be dishing out prezzies for the littluns.
Find tickets for Santa's Christmas Drive Thru
When: Tuesday 28th October 2025 - Saturday 3rd January 2026
Where: Aldwych Theatre in London
You can't beat Elf, can you? Easily one of the best Christmas films of all time, the stage production of the iconic film lands in London with festive vibes, huge tunes, laughs, and that signature Elf charm.
Find tickets for Elf The Musical
Bingo Lingo - Christmas Specials
When: multiple dates in December 2025
Where: Birmingham, Swansea, Manchester, Watford, Bath, Bristol, Oxford, Liverpool, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil
Truly honouring the chaos of the season, Bingo Lingo touches down all over England and Wales with Xmas specials. Join a bunch of other bingo ravers and get stuck into the maddest game of bingo you've ever played.
There are rave rounds, confetti drops, ridiculous rounds, on-stage battles, and prizes that you’ll never forget - maybe you’ll win a present and get out of buying one for that relative that gets on your nerves (but maybe don’t hold your breath, previous prizes have included vibrators and life-sized cardboard cut-outs).
Find tickets for Bingo Lingo’s Christmas Specials
Pink Coconut Reunion (Boxing Day Special) 2025
When: Friday 26th December 2025
Where: The Palais Nightclub in Nottingham
Fancy some spirited sophistication? Head to Pink Coconut Reunion for a fancy party complete with four rooms of music, across flavours of house, reggae, dancehall, R&B, funk, soul, hip-hop, slow jams, and more. Don your best ‘fit and hit the dancefloor as the old school DJs take over. You can grab your tickets below!
Tickets for Pink Coconut Reunion (Boxing Day Special) 2025
When: Sunday 21st December 2025
Pups are family, and Christmas is for the whole family to enjoy! At the Doggy Grotto, your little fluff ball can meet Santa in the grotto, snap plenty of photos, and of course take home a canine-friendly present - and that’s a guarantee, as we all know that every dog is a good dog.
Tickets for Doggy Grotto
When: Saturday 13th December 2025
Get silly and messy for one last time before debating politics with the family at the table: STREETrave closes out an incredible year with a serious bang. Boasting sets from Danny Rampling, Julie McKnight (live), Jon Mancini, Allister Whitehead, Iain 'Boney' Clark, and more, this one kicks off at 4pm and runs until 11pm.
Tickets for STREETrave x The Last Dance
Christmas Events at Astley Hall in Chorley
When: multiple dates and events in December 2025
Where: Astley Hall Coach House And Park in Chorley
The stunning Astley Hall will host some lovely, heartwarming Christmas events this year. Naturally, they had to go with a classic - the Santa grotto - but also a Sleeping Beauty pantomime (another Xmas classic, to be fair).
Meet Santa, tell him what you've been up to this year and what you'd like to find under the tree on Christmas morning, and take home a present! Or, check out Sleeping Beauty for a fun-filled festive adventure.
Find tickets for all Christmas Events at Astley Hall in Chorley
Christmas - The Candlelight Concert
When: Saturday 13th, Sunday 14th, and Thursday 18th December 2025
Where: tickets remaining for Southampton, Cheltenham, Leicester
Warm your heart with these festive concerts with super cosy atmospheres. Expect elegant performances of iconic Christmas songs like 'It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas', 'White Christmas', 'Santa Baby', 'Winter Wonderland', and many more, amongst the candlelight.
Find tickets for Christmas - The Candlelight Concert
Naughty or Nice: Bottomless Brunch with Bad Santa
When: Saturday 20th December 2025
Where: The Bentley in Liverpool
Getting a little cheeky now, Bad Santa’s coming to Liverpool. Here, you’ll get 90 minutes of bottomless prosecco, wine, or beer, plus festive afternoon tea, a high-energy show that’ll keep you on your feet, with a DJ, live sax, and bongos. Forget the quiet, polite Christmas; this is a straight-up riot.
Tickets for Naughty or Nice: Bottomless Brunch with Bad Santa
Get out this Christmas! Search Skiddle now to find loads of Christmas events near you, from comedy to raves, brunches to sport, and so much more.
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