Best Christmas days out in Staffordshire 2024
There are loads of things to do in Staffordshire this Christmas! This is a comprehensive list of the best Christmas days out in Staffordshire. They include places to see Santa and other festive activities both with and without Santa visits. You can jump straight to each event using the links in the table below. Please do let me know if I’ve missed any brilliant days out off the list, I’d be happy to add them in. Advance booking is essential at all attractions unless otherwise stated.
This post covers the Staffordshire area only. If you are looking for Christmas days out in nearby counties, please see below:
Alton Towers Staffordshire
The Alton Towers resort is open for Santa Sleepovers this Christmas but they don’t appear to have anything on for people who don’t want to stay in the resort overnight. The Santa Sleepover includes a visit to Santa’s grotto and a gift. Family rides and attractions including CBeebies Land are open in the theme park and the Water park is open too. This year, there’s an Alton Towers Panto as well as an evening meal, festive entertainment, a breakfast buffet and crazy golf.
Dates: 22nd November to 31st December 2024.
Website: Alton Towers
Review: Mini Travellers
Amerton Railway – Santa Specials
It’s all aboard the steam train from Amerton Station to Toyland, where you’ll meet Santa who has a gift for all the children. They will also be given a goodie bag to enjoy as you travel through the Staffordshire countryside. Guests book the whole compartment, rather than individual seats. Money raised goes to the heritage trains charity that maintains the engines. Passengers are on the train for around 25 minutes. Remember to wrap up warm for this one, some carriages are open on one side.
Dates: 30th November and 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd and 24th December 2024.
Website: Amerton Railway.
Review: Tripadvisor
Biddulph Grange National Trust Staffordshire – Festive Nights
Biddulph Grange Garden will be festively lit for after-hours exploration this Christmas. Soak up the seasonal atmosphere as you stroll around looking at the beautiful lights. Tickets include a voucher for a hot drink in the tea room.
Dates: 30th November and 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 20th to 23rd and 27th to 29th December 2024.
Website: Biddulph Grange
Review: Tripadvisor
Churnet Valley Railway – Polar Express
Churnet Valley Railway will be hosting the Polar Express train ride again in 2024. Board the train in your pyjamas at Froghall Station for a magical journey to the North Pole. Sing along with favourite characters from the film as they tell the story. Enjoy a mug of hot chocolate and a cookie from a dancing chef as you make your way towards the Northern Lights. When you reach Santa’s village, he will climb aboard to give every passenger the first gift of Christmas, a silver bell from his sleigh.
Back at the station, extend the fun with a snowball fight and find out if you’re on the naughty or nice list. The journey lasts around an hour and they recommend setting aside 2 hours for the full experience.
Dates: 16th, 17th, 22nd to 24th, 29th and 30th November and 1st, 6th to 8th and 12th to 23rd December 2024.
Website: Churnet Valley Railway
Review: Tripadvisor.
Dobbies Staffordshire – Breakfast with Santa
As always, Dobbies have a range of Santa visits that cater for everyone. You can choose between visiting Santa in his grotto or having breakfast with him, and even pick whether to invite your child or your dog – or both!
Santa Paws
It’s not fair that children get all the fun at Christmas when there are lots of good boys and girls waiting at home. If your dog has been good this year, treat them to a visit to Santa Paws. They’ll even receive a special gift. If your child and your pup want to meet Santa together, book a children’s ticket too and they can meet him together.
Dates: 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 18th to 23rd December 2024.
Santa’s Breakfast
The whole family can enjoy a tasty breakfast at the Dobbies cafe before children join in with Christmas activities and games and decorate an elf mask. Children will be able to sit down with Santa for a chat before receiving their gift from him. There’s an adults and a children’s menu for breakfast including a vegetarian option for each.
Dates: 30th November and 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th and 21st to to 24th December 2024.
Santa’s Grotto
Embark on a magical journey to meet Santa. Walk through the enchanting forest with an elf as your guide. Look out for Little Seedlings characters as you go. When you arrive in the wildlife forest clearing, children can make something special to take home. Then, it’s time to meet Santa for a chat and he has a gift for the children too. Photos can be purchased in advance online at a lower price than on the day.
Dates: 28th and 30th November and 1st, 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 18th to to 24th December 2024.
Santa’s Quiet Grotto
Dobbies will be offering Santa’s grotto visits for children with additional needs. These must be pre-booked in advance so there will be no queue on the day. A reduced number of families are able to attend in each time slot and there will be no music or twinkly lights. Parents can choose whether or not the child’s gift will be wrapped and Dobbies will email you a photo of the grotto in advance to help children to prepare for the experience.
Dates: 6th December 2024.
Website: Dobbies
Review: Tripadvisor
Drayton Manor Staffordshire – Christmas Wonderland
Falling snow, beautiful decorations and a 35 foot tall Christmas tree bring the festive spirit to Drayton Manor. This year, there are some brand new festive themed shows and attractions. Thomas Land rides are open and visitors can see more than 500 animals in the Drayton Manor zoo. Look out for daily snowfall too! Some attractions incur an additional cost, you can book and pay for the attractions you want to visit online.
Attractions include:
- Festive light train
- Enchanted Christmas grotto: Includes children’s entertainment, a Santa meet & greet and a small gift
- Accessible grotto: With more time and a calmer atmosphere for those who need it
- Rusty & Dusty’s hot chocolate factory: Make your own perfect cup of ohot chocolate with marshmallows and treats.
- Christmas stay and play: An overnight stay in the Drayton Manor Hotel including a bedtime story with Frosty the Elf and breakfast with Sir Topham Hatt and friends.
Magical Christmas dates: 23rd November to 31st December 2024.
Website: Drayton Manor
Review: Plutonium Sox
Foxfield Railway
Foxfield Railway have not yet announced what’s on for Christmas 2024. I have linked to their events page so you can check for updates.
Dates: Not yet announced.
Website: Foxfield Railway
Review: Tripadvisor
Georgie’s Canal Cruises
Breakfast with Santa cruises
Bring the family and cruise down the Staffordshire and Worcester canal with Santa. This two-hour long cruise goes to Acton Trussel and a continental breakfast is served onboard, or you can upgrade to a full English. Children can take part in activities at Shuthill Lock, including a treasure hunt for presents. Santa then joins the cruise and he will have a gift for all children.
Dates: 21st to 24th December 2024.
Afternoon tea with Santa
Treat the family to an afternoon tea onboard a two hour cruise. Festive sandwiches and cakes and unlimited tea, coffee or juice are included. Santa has a gift for all the children.
Dates: 21st and 23rd December 2024.
Festive Afternoon Tea
This is a festive cruise without Santa that is aimed more at adults. Choose from a variety of afternoon tea options with vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options available. Licenced bar onboard.
Dates: 1st, 7th, 13th to 15th and 20th to 21st December 2024.
Website: Georgie’s Canal Cruises
Review: Tripadvisor
Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses
Visit Father Christmas at the Rock Houses
Father Christmas dresses in his traditional green outfit to visit Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses. Meet him in his Rock House Grotto, along with Mother Christmas and the woodland elves. Then, make some magic reindeer food and a natural bird feeder to take home. Children can also make a wish for the world. All children receive a small gift from Father Christmas. Pre-booking is essential.
Dates: 30th November and 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th December 2024.
Quiet Father Christmas Visit
All the above activities are available but the visit to Father Christmas will be longer and quieter for children who need extra time or a quieter atmosphere.
Dates: 30th November and 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th December 2024.
Breakfast Stories With Father Christmas
Santa dresses in his traditional green outfit to visit Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses. Meet him for breakfast to listen to him telling festive stories inside one of the caves. He’ll be accompanied by woodland elves who help with the storytelling. Visitors can enjoy a drink and a pastry before the stories and children will receive a gift at the end. Stories are aimed at children aged up to 8 years old. This is a group Santa visit but children can have their photo taken with Santa individually when they receive their gift.
Dates: Not yet announced.
Website: Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses
Review: Plutonium Sox (this is a review of a family visit to Kinver Edge, not the Christmas event).
Lower Drayton Farm – Jingle Ville
Jingle Ville is a magical Christmas extravaganza set in the Lower Drayton Winter Wonder Farm, a place of seasonal joy where families can make memories. Give children’s names when booking the experience for some extra festive magic. A Jingle Ville ticket includes play admission.
Dates: 7th, 8th, 9th and 13th to 24th December 2024.
Website: Lower Drayton Farm
Review: Amazing Adventures Blog
National Forest Adventure Farm – North Pole Adventure
Get ready for a North Pole Adventure at the National Forest Adventure Farm this Christmas. On arrival, every child will receive a personalised ticket from Santa. Then, collect some elf coins and a special passport before you set off through a magical portal en route to the North Pole. Explore a Victorian High Street with a sweet shop, help Santa’s elves to sort out parcels in the post office and ring bells to keep them on time. Head to the Northern lights to meet a talking polar bear before fixing the toy machine to save Christmas.
Silvermist the reindeer is on hand to sing some festive songs with visitors and mother Christmas will help children to decorate gingerbread. Then, it’s time to meet Father Christmas and choose a present from his gift room. The experience lasts around an hour and a half and tickets include National Forest Adventure Farm entry for the whole day. Tickets need to be booked online in advance and go on sale in the summer.
Dates: 23rd, 24th and 30th November and 1st, 6th to 8th, 14th, 15th and 21st to 24th December 2024.
Website: National Forest Adventure Farm
Review: The Ladybirds’ adventures
National Memorial Arboretum – Illuminated Arboretum
The National Memorial Arboretum will come to light after dark this December, with festive lights across the 150 acre woodland. Explore the beautiful display and enjoy a takeaway and a hot drink from the restaurant.
Dates: 6th to 22nd December 2024 from 4.30 pm each day.
Website: National Memorial Arboretum
Review: Tripadvisor
Regent Theatre – Jack and the Beanstalk
Look out for fabulous sets, stunning special effects, impressive costumes and plenty of humour at Regent Theatre in Stoke-On-Trent. It’s panto time, so join Dick Whittington and his cat on their adventure to London in search of happiness, fame and fortune as he hopes to become Lord Mayor. Can they outwit King Rat and free the city from rodents? Will true love save the day? It’s time to find out!
Dates: 13th December 2024 to 5th January 2025. Relaxed performance: 2nd January 2025.
Website: ATG
Review: Stoke on Trent Live – a review of last year’s production as this year’s has not yet started.
Snowdome, Tamworth – Santa’s Winter Wonderland
Expect real animals, real snow and a delightful theatre show. This year’s show is a pantomime of Jack and the Beanstalk, presented by Santa and Rudolph. Visitors can explore the real snow trail with slides, an enchanted forest and snow tubes for sledging down ramps. Animals are waiting to meet you beside Santa’s House in the Christmas village. Look out for the traditional carousel and don’t forget to post your letter to Santa in his talking post box.
Winter Wonderland dates: 16th, 17th, 21st to 25th, 27th, 29th and 30th November and 1st to 24th, 26th to 29th and 31st December 2024 plus 1st to 5th January 2025.
Website: SnowDome
Review: Plutonium Sox
Statfold Railway – Magical Santa Express
Board the Magical Santa Express at Statfold this Christmas and enjoy a festive family day out. Start out at the North Pole Post Office for children to write a letter to Santa. His elves are on hand to help little ones with their writing. Then, put the letter into a magical post box before boarding the festively lit train and heading off to see Father Christmas himself. Help Mrs Claus decorate sweet treats, make a batch of reindeer food and visit Santa’s toyshop to choose a gift. Festive food is available to buy and Santa’s singing reindeer is at the Oak Tree Halt platform. Earlybird tickets are on sale now.
New for 2024: Help Jingle and Jangle the elves to get the North Pole ready for the ultimate Christmas partywith a festive family show. There’s even an Elf Academy to teach little ones how to be a great elf.
Dates: 23rd, 24th, 29th and 30th November 2024 and 1st, 6th to 8th, 13th to 15th and 17th to 23rd December 2024.
Website: Statfold
Review: Tripadvisor – you can also read our review of a family day out at Statfold at a different time of year.
Trentham Gardens, Staffordshire
A variety of events take place on individual dates at Trentham Gardens at Christmas, as listed below.
Meet Father Christmas
Father Christmas and his elf are at Trentham’s North Pole to meet you in a festive grotto. Fidn out whether you’re on the ‘good list’ this year and receive a small gift.
Dates: 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th and 30th November and 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th and 21st to 24th December 2024.
Makers Markets
Makers Markets showcase local food, drink, arts and craft produces along with vintage artisans. A great place to pick up some Christmas gifts.
Dates: 23rd, 24th and 30th November and 1st, 7th, 8th and 21st December 2024.
Winter Light Trail
Trentham will be lit up after dark with a mile-long interactive trail. Illuminations and sounds provided festive surprises. Enjoy a children’s funfair then warm up at the apres-ski lodge bar, chalets, local food vendors and marshmallow toasting.
Dates: 29th and 30th November and 1st, 4th to 8th, 16th to 24th and 26th to 31st December 2024.
Website: Trentham.
Review: Birmingham Mail
