Top 10 Things to do Christmas 2019

If you're planning to spend Christmas on the Great West Way, there are plenty of fun festive events and activities for you to get involved with. Every city, town and village along the route will be celebrating the festive season, but we've picked out ten extra-special ideas for Christmas celebrations to get you started. Here's how to spend a traditional English Christmas along the Great West Way...

Enjoy a Traditional, Historic Christmas
Step back in time into a classic Christmas from England's past as you explore the Great West Way's fascinating history and heritage. 7 and 8 December is Victorian Christmas Weekend at SS Great Britain in Bristol. The iconic ship SS Great Britain will be transformed into a Dickensian winter scene where you can meet Victorian characters, shop for seasonal gifts and indulge in festive food and drink. Meanwhile, stunning stately home Stonor Park in Oxfordshire will be lit up with their Candle Lit Christmas celebrations. The house will be sparkling with gorgeous candlelit displays, roaring open fires and a magnificent 20ft Victorian-decorated Christmas Tree in the Gothic Hall. On 7 or 21 December at Windsor Castle, a magical storyteller will reveal how, thanks to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the Castle became the home of Victorian Christmas traditions.

Go Walking in a Winter Wonderland
The Great West Way is the ideal touring route for anyone who likes to get outside and stretch their legs. The route winds through three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, follows stunning rivers and towpaths and passes through hundreds of pretty rural villages. And winter is a lovely time of year to strike out and go walking on the Great West Way; enjoy exploring stunning frost-covered landscapes and rural market towns lit up with bright Christmas lights. Just make sure you plan your route to take in a cosy pub for a mug of hot mulled wine!

Book a Christmas Stay
Why not stay on the Great West Way this festive period? The Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury, The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa in Bath and Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa just outside Malmesbury are all offering special Christmas packages to book onto now. Expect charming historic buildings, indulgent festive meals, Christmas carols, mulled wine, board games, roaring fires, Midnight Mass and more. 

Get Started on your Christmas Shopping
Buy beautiful gifts for your friends and family as you explore the Great West Way in the run-up to the holidays. Christmas at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon means a winter wonderland springing up amongst their many designer and high street shops. There will also be many Christmas Markets appearing along the route, with the Bath Christmas Market and Bristol Christmas Market both making lovely festive locations for an afternoon of Christmas shopping. Think sweet little chalets selling handmade gifts and serving hot drinks. You'll also find a beautiful Christmas Market set up in the grounds at Blenheim Palace, with the magnificent Palace in the background. Have a look at our Great West Way shopping guide for more Christmas Shopping inspiration. 

Discover Longleat's Festival of Light
Every year, the grounds at Longleat (situated within easy reach of the Great West Way in Wiltshire) are lit up with the spectacular Festival of Light. The theme for 2019 is Myths and Legends, and a host of mythical figures, gods and magical creatures are now on display for this year's festive lantern spectacle. Walk amongst the stunning lights and spot Pegasus, the Genie in the lamp and the Chimera, not to mention Zeus, Hercules, Medusa, Aphrodite and so many more.

Head to the Theatre
A Christmas Show or pantomime is an essential part of any traditional English Christmas, and there are plenty of options to choose from along the Great West Way route. An adaptation of Mark Twain's classic tale The Prince and the Pauper will be showing from 14 November at the gorgeous Watermill Theatre. The Christmas programme at Pound Arts Centre in Corsham will include family-friendly theatre, showings of animated film The Snowman and The Snowdog, as well as festive silliness with Steamed – A Dickensian Improvised Tale. For a proper Christmas pantomime, head to Wyvern Theatre in Swindon for side-splitting comedy, fun songs and festive magic with Sleeping Beauty. And the Great West Way's newest theatre, the Barn Theatre in Cirencester, will be showing their own interpretation of the festive Dickensian classic A Christmas Carol. 

Take to the Ice 
Be swept away by the seasonal atmosphere at the Hampton Court Palace ice rink. This family-friendly activity is a wonderful way to get into the festive spirit, with spectacular views of the Thames-side Tudor palace from the open-air ice rink.

Tuck into a Traditional Christmas Lunch
From quaint village pubs to fine-dining restaurants, sit down to a delicious festive feast in the run up to Christmas - or book now to enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch on Christmas day itself. Many English pubs serve a hot roast dinner at lunchtime on Christmas day featuring turkey, roast potatoes and all the trimmings - followed by Christmas pudding or boozy trifle. 

Explore an Enchanted Christmas
Put the sparkle in your family Christmas as you follow a stunning illuminated trail around an amazing garden of trees. Enchanted Christmas At Westonbirt Arboretum is your chance to discover an enchanted wonderland of light and magic, meeting woodland characters along the way. Festive fun for all the family!

Find Father Christmas
Father Christmas will be kept busy along the Great West Way in the run up to Christmas 2019. Sail with Santa with Bristol Ferry Boats is a unique festive experience aboard a beautiful decorated ferry boat in Bristol harbour, with Father Christmas onboard to distribute presents and mince pies. At Didcot Railway Centre, have a festive day out with Thomas. Climb aboard Thomas the Tank Engine and ride to a wonderfully decorated festive train station to meet Father Christmas himself. Make sure you book in advance to meet Santa to avoid disappointment!