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The 10 best places to spend Christmas in the UK
When Santa flies over our skies every Christmas, he must sprinkle plenty of his magic across the UK! With cinnamon-scented Christmas markets and snowglobe-level scenery, the UK is home to some of the best places to spend Christmas.
At Away Resorts, we’ve bottled up some of that Christmas magic to create the perfect places to escape and make memories with the family this festive season. Whether you’re looking for a festive getaway, a seasonal weekend break or a day trip, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best places to spend Christmas in the UK.
The best places to go on holiday this Christmas
Whitby, North Yorkshire
In North Yorkshire, Whitby transforms into a winter wonderland during the festive season. Check out the town’s famous Christmas Festival, with mulled wine for Mum and Dad, chocolate waffles for happy little tummies, and plenty of artisan gift stalls for some last-minute Christmas shopping.
Find out moreEnjoy the twinkling lights reflecting off the harbour, the Whitby Krampus Run, or ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway's Santa Special for a festive journey through the countryside with Father Christmas himself on board!
Discover our holiday parks in Yorkshire, and get ready for festive fun this season.
Conwy, North Wales
The medieval walled town of Conwy is sure to offer a picture-perfect backdrop for your festivities, making it one of the best places to spend Christmas in the UK. The Conwy Winterfest, usually held in mid-December, is something you won’t want to miss: explore the Christmas market and enjoy street entertainers, musicians, choirs… and even a torch-lit procession with armoured knights!
Find out moreConwy Castle is lit up like a Christmas tree during the festive season, making it a must-see stop on your 12 Days of Christmas itinerary. For family Christmas breaks, the nearby Bodnant Garden organises a magical Christmas trail where the little ones can spot festive decorations and even catch a glimpse of Santa!
Get ready for a magical Christmas: explore our holiday parks in North Wales.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Always wanted to spend Christmas in the wizarding world? Edinburgh might not be Christmas at Hogwarts, but it’s pretty close! Edinburgh's Christmas celebrations are legendary, transforming the city into one of the best places for Christmas in the UK. The heart of the festivities is Edinburgh's Christmas market in Princes Street Gardens, where you’ll also find live events and fairground rides, including a big wheel where you’ll be able to spot every Christmas tree in the city.
Find out moreVisit the Street of Light festival, where archways of lights synchronise with your favourite Christmas tunes for an eye-catching, foot-tapping display. For a uniquely Scottish experience (that isn’t haggis), join the Torchlight Procession on December 30th, part of the city's Hogmanay celebrations.
Ready for a magical Scottish Christmas with all the family? Take a look at our holiday parks in Scotland.
Mousehole, Cornwall
This tiny fishing village becomes a beacon of Christmas cheer with its famous Mousehole Harbour Lights. From mid-December to early January, the harbour is illuminated with floating displays depicting Christmas scenes and Cornish traditions. Floating, illuminated Christmas pasties? Only in Cornwall!
Find out moreBusy Christmas markets not really your thing? In Mousehole, the village's small shops and galleries offer unique, locally made gifts, so you can still do your Christmas shopping, without the sensory overload!
Food lovers: check out the traditional Tom Bawcock's Eve feast on December 23rd, where locals celebrate with Star Gazey Pie, a Cornish speciality.
Always wanted to spend Christmas by the seaside? Check out our holiday parks in Cornwall to start planning today!
Llandudno, North Wales
Llandudno is right at the top of the nice-list: another of the best places to spend Christmas in North Wales! Embracing the festive spirit, the town’s Victorian Christmas Extravaganza (held in mid-November) kicks off the festive season. The street quickly transforms into a scene from “A Christmas Carol” with stallholders in period costumes selling traditional crafts and foods.
Find out moreThroughout December, Llandudno's promenade and pier are sprinkled with a flurry of festive lights. And, for a unique experience, you could take a tram ride up the Great Orme, where you might be lucky enough to spot some wild mountain goats in their winter coats!
Got your heart set on a Christmas break in Wales? Explore our holiday parks in North Wales and get ready for a Christmas to remember.
Nottingham
Nottingham is another one of our top picks for Christmas breaks in the UK. The city truly comes alive during the Christmas season with Winter Wonderland: one of the largest Christmas markets in the UK! Picture ice rinks, ferris wheels, and a whole load of hot chocolate.
Find out moreNottingham Castle offers a touch of history, often hosting special Christmas events. The nearby Elizabethan mansion, Wollaton Hall, is also transformed during the festive season, with a magical, illuminated trail offering a breathtaking light show set against the historical backdrop.
Get ready to spend Christmas in one of the UK’s most historic and scenic spots: discover our holiday parks in Nottinghamshire today!
Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Scarborough is a great place to go for Christmas in the UK, especially if you’re partial to a festive fish and chips. The town's Christmas light switch-on event kicks off the festive season, with a small Christmas market, arts and crafts (plenty of glitter and glue), and entertainment to keep little ones busy on frosty mornings. At this time of year, the Joseph Theatre puts on a popular Christmas show, perfect for a festive family outing.
Find out moreThe SEA LIFE Sanctuary often has special Christmas-themed events, and the nearby North York Moors Railway also runs Santa Specials, offering a magical journey through the winter landscape with Father Christmas and his helpers on board.
Ready to start planning this season’s festive fun! Check out our holiday parks in Yorkshire.
Swanage, Dorset
Swanage makes a charming Christmas escape on the Dorset coast, where seaside magic is topped up with plenty of festive sparkle. The town’s Christmas lights bring on the Christmas cheer, while local shops and markets offer one-of-a-kind gifts and tasty seasonal treats.
Families can enjoy wintry strolls along the beach (mulled wine in hand, of course) before warming up in a local pub. For little ones, the Swanage Railway Father Christmas Yuletide Express is a must, offering a magical steam-train ride with Father Christmas himself.
Ready to start planning your seaside seasonal break? Check out our holiday parks in Dorset.
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is one of our top picks for places to spend Christmas in the UK. With plenty of Christmas fun all on the island, the 12 days of Christmas might not even be enough to do it all! Osborne House (Queen Victoria's former holiday home)is particularly magical during the festive season: beautifully decorated, all the family can join in with guided tours that reveal how the royal family celebrated Christmas in Victorian times.
Find out moreAcross the island, you’ll find lots of shops, pantomimes, and Christmas fairs, perfect for enjoying with the family.
You could even visit the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, which runs special Santa trains through the island's wintery wonderland.
Get ready for Christmas, island-style! Explore our holiday parks in the Isle of Wight to book your perfect Christmas break today.
Winchester, Hampshire
Winchester Cathedral's Christmas Market is widely regarded as one of the best in Europe. Set in the cathedral's historic Inner Close, the market has over 100 chalets selling gifts, festive foods, and warming drinks- perfect for some last-minute Christmas shopping! A real highlight is the open-air ice rink, where you can glide (or shuffle!) around, all whilst enjoying the stunning backdrop of the cathedral.
Find out moreBeyond the market, Winchester's historic streets are beautifully decorated, with local restaurants serving up special Christmas menus and events for you to sink your teeth into. For a truly magical experience, you won’t want to miss the special Christmas services and concerts held in the cathedral itself.
Best places to spend Christmas with Away Resorts
At Away Resorts, we offer a range of festive breaks around the UK. You’ll find unique activities, events, entertainment and even visits from Santa on-site. And with many ways to stay, from chalets and lodges to caravans and glamping, you can find the perfect place for all the family! .
Don’t miss out. Book now!
Best places to spend Christmas in the UK- FAQs
Where are the best places to visit during Christmas in the UK?
If you’re dreaming of a festive getaway, the UK has plenty of sparkling options. Cornwall brings cosy cottages and dramatic winter coastlines, perfect for a sea-sonal escape. Dorset charms with pretty villages and frosty countryside walks, while Hampshire offers plenty of Christmas markets, stately homes and roaring fires in country pubs. And of course, Scotland knows how to turn up the festive spirit, with whisky warmth, and snow-dusted highlands.
Where to go on holiday this Christmas?
We get it: with so many tree-mendous spots right here in the UK, it can be hard to choose! Remember: Christmas is all about having fun with the whole family, so think about what everyone likes to get up to during the Christmas holidays. Snow a must for your crimbo-loving teen? Scotland is likely to deliver. Looking for a quieter couple's Christmas break with just the two of you? We’d recommend visiting Hampshire and the New Forest: perfect for a romantic woodland walk.
Where is the most Christmassy place in the UK?
If we haven’t convinced you already, the UK is pretty darn magical at Christmas. From charming seaside spots in Cornwall or the Isle of Wight, to woodland escapes in Hampshire, you’re spoilt for choice for places to hang your stocking this festive season!
Where are the best Christmas breaks for families?
Christmas is all about family, and luckily, our Away Resorts parks are designed with families in mind! Whether you want to head off-site to visit nearby festive events (hello, endless Christmas markets) or you want to spend time making memories at our on-site activities and events, all the family can get in the Christmas spirit with Away Resorts.
Can I bring my dog with me on a Christmas weekend break?
Christmas just won’t be the same without your four-legged best friend with you! That’s why if you’re looking for dog-friendly Christmas breaks, you’re barking up the right tree with us! Our parks are all dog-friendly, making them the perfect place to spend Christmas with the family… and we mean all the family!