Christmassy things to do around the Birmingham area?

[mmmmmchocolate]

I was just browsing through the Manchester thread and with DD being 3 and a half this year she's at the age to know what's going on.
Does anyone have any recommendations of places to go this year?

[twinklytoes]

visiting santa at hatton country world (between solihull and warwick) is worth a trip for a 3.5yr old. if you go on one of the shopping weekends they also do nativity and carols.

but if you are not south birmingham, I wouldn't drive down for it.

[mmmmmchocolate]

Thanks twinkly! Hatton is only about an hour on the train so I will look into that. Is the santa good and do the children get a gift? We were going to go there this week actually but have heard mixed reviews about it. We went to wonderland in Telford last year which was lovely but would be a bit of a pain to get to this year as I dont drive and would have to rely on DH who doesnt have much time off in the run up to christmas.

[domesticsluttery]

Frankfurt Christmas market

[mmmmmchocolate]

Thats a given domestic, there are not many opportunities to spend a day eating

[twinklytoes]

mine like it. santa sits in one of the pens with his reindeer and you queue to see. It's part of the petting barn and all the other pens have pigs, geese etc and they decorate the whole space akin to the 12 days of christmas. no rush, can take photos and get a reasonable present. they've got enough undercover to keep you busy if weather bad. they're also going to open a new indoor soft play area in november which looks pretty good too.

I might just be bias though. we've had a season ticket for five years now and the dcs are yet to pull the "oh,not there again"

[Ineedsomesleep]

Thomasland at Drayton Manor. We went last Christmas and had a brilliant time but it was so cold there were people wearing ski suits!

[lissieloucifer]

we are going to blists hill christmas weekend

[oldhagsheadless]

We used to go to the severn valley railway as kids for their Santa special steam trains. Usually depart from kiddiminster but it might be a bit far.

[LunarSea]

Severn Valley Railway is a good idea if you need to get there by train.

[mmmmmchocolate]

Do Drayton manor make an effort for Christmas 'ineedsome? It was very cold last year I bet there was no queue for the log flume :D
Where is blists hill lissie?
Yes I've thought about Severn valley railway, it's not far from me. Is it hard to do with a baby/buggy?

[ohnoherewego]

WE've had fab times at Telford Wonderland. Their Santa's brill.

[TimothyWerewolfTuppennyTail]

Severn Valley is fine with a buggy, but you do need to fold it to get on the trains.

[mmmmmchocolate]

We went there last year ohnoherewego but I need DP to drive us there. We were actually talking about this over dinner tonight and agreed we would go on Christmas Eve as we both have a rare one off and I thought it would be a lovely thing to do on the day before Xmas but I've just checked the site and It's closed after the 23rd :(
I agree that their santa experience is fantastic!

[lissieloucifer]

blists hill is in ironbridge, its a victorian village and over xmas they have carol singers etc and of course, santa!

[CaptainNancy]

We have been on SVR lots of times, and never needed to fold the buggy, which is useful as it always seemed to be departing as baby fell asleep! Might be different at busy times though?

West midlands safari park is nice at christmas too- dd loved it when she was 3.

Going on a bear hunt is on at the Town Hall- seeing a show is always christmassy... we saw gruffalo last year which was fantastic. TH is city centre so easy to get to by public transport.

[mmmmmchocolate]

I found it lissie thanks! It looks really fab but seems to say on the site that it's only open on weekends? Me and DP don't get weekends off over Christmas (were both retail managers)
We have decided to do SVR on Xmas eve :)
I'll look into the bear hunt thank you!

[LunarSea]

There's also a Santa's Winter Wonderland at the Tamworth snowdome if snow and real reindeers are what you're after.

[Ineedsomesleep]

They do make an effort for Christmas yes, but only Thomasland is open, the log flume will be shut sorry [hgrin]

When we went last year there was a Christmassy film on in the 4D cinema {good for a warm}. Lots of heaters everywhere and Santa, Thomas and the Fat Controller did a show. Each child got a present from Santa too. Mine absolutely loved it and I'd recommed it to anyone.

It was cold, and there were people in ski suits but it'll be cold everywhere at that time of year [hsmile]

[TidyBush]

We did this santa hunt at the Black Country Museum when ours were little - we all enjoyed it.

[BelligerentGhoul]

We usually go to the Christmas production at the REP - tis The Secret Garden this year.