CHRISTMASINKENT
Christmas at Dobbies , Ashford and Gillingham 25 November - 24 December , Child £ 11.99
Families can enjoy an immersive experience and be guided by an elf through an enchanted Christmas tree forest , before making a special item to take home . Spend time with Santa and receive a special gift and photo momento . Santa ’ s Quiet Grotto will also be available on 8 December . This experience is designed to assist children with additional needs with customised sound and visual features to minimise anxiety .
Families with dogs will be thrilled to know that Dobbies will be offering a Santa Paws Grotto ! Dog lovers can bring their furry pals for doggie gifts and photo opportunities with Santa .
Enjoy festive games and receive a gift from Santa at a special Santa Breakfast , or visit for a Festive Afternoon Tea .
Visit dobbies . com / events for more information .
Romney , Hythe and Dymchurch Railway ’ s Santa Specials 25 November - 24 December , Tickets from £ 15 - £ 29.50
The much-loved Santa Specials returns for its 42nd year . Enjoy a return train journey from New Romney to Hythe , seasonal refreshments , and the main event – a visit to Santa in his grotto , with a quality , agerelated gift for each child aged 1-15 yrs . Arrive early and visit the Model Railway Exhibition at New Romney before your train journey begins .
Add to your experience by selecting an ‘ All-Day Festive Breakfast ’ before your departure to Hythe . Arrive early and tuck into your festive feast at the Heywood Buffet , before visiting Santa at Hythe . The quiet train will run on Sunday 26 November at 3.20pm this year ! This experience will be tailored to our passengers with special needs , autism and enhanced sensory needs .
Bonus rides at Hythe – a steam locomotive will be pulling coaches for families to ride the length of Platform 3 at Hythe ( subject to availability ).
Pre-booking is essential ; please check the website for dates , times and further details : www . rhdr . org . uk / special-events / santaspecials-2023 .
The Swinging Sixties at Scotney Castle 25 November - Monday 1 January ( closed 24 & 25 December ). Free ; usual admission prices apply .
The Victorian mansion house at Scotney Castle will time travel back to the swinging 60s for Christmas . Join the last residents of Scotney , Christopher and Betty , as they host a special Christmas get together for their guests . Immerse yourself in seasonal room sets with gorgeous glittering trees and rarely seen items from Scotney ’ s vast collection , including Betty Hussey ’ s original 1960 ’ s outfits , stunning Hussey family silverware , and artwork by John Ward RA and John Piper , friends and contemporaries of Betty and Christopher .
ROMNEY , HYTHE AND DYMCHURCH RAILWAY ’ S SANTA SPECIALS
Look out for traditional trees alongside avant-garde decorations inspired by the decade known for flamboyance and excess . Wrap up warm and see the house beautifully illuminated at special late night openings ( 5pm - 8pm on 16 , 17 , 22 , 23 December , see website for details ).
Little ones will be enchanted at Santa ’ s Storytime in the magical setting of the Old Castle . Step into a world of festival tales and characters , with a special gift to take home . Includes a delicious hot chocolate and gingerbread biscuit too (£ 14.50 per child , weekends in December excluding 23 & 24 December ). There will also be a new family trail in the garden .
An Ant ’ s Christmas at Emmetts Garden 2 - 31 December , £ 2 per trail plus normal admission .
‘ Anta ’ Claus has been incredibly busy this year . Now he needs all his ants to help him make presents across the kingdom . Inspired by the name ‘ emmett ’, which comes from a local word for ant , follow the willow sculpture scenes around the 19th-century garden to discover how the ants prepare for Christmas . There will also be surprise sightings of Christmas characters and a picture-perfect spot on the ants ’ sleigh .
A Georgian Christmas at Quebec House Free late night opening 30 November . House opens weekends in December ( closed 23 & 24 December ) when normal admission applies .
Christmas inspired by the Georgian history of Quebec House starts with a special , free late-night opening on 30 November , 4pm to 7pm . Take in lights , greenery and a Georgian feast , as well as carol singing from the children of Churchill School , Westerham . Warm up after with a hot chocolate in the Coach House .
On weekends in December , the doors to the childhood home of General James Wolfe , victor of the Battle of Quebec ( 1759 ), will be thrown open to reveal greenery around every bannister and mantlepiece using natural foliage . Roaring fires , a sumptuous Georgian feast , a Quebec gingerbread house and shadow puppets in the schoolroom all add to the authentic and cosy atmosphere .
In the kitchen , try delicious bakes prepared from the cookbook of Wolfe ’ s mother , Henrietta .
ACROSS THE BORDER
The Tulleys Christmas Experience , Turners Hill , West Sussex 25 November - 24 December , Adult from £ 24.95 , Child ( 1-13 ) from £ 44.95
The Tulleys Christmas Experience is set within the beautiful woodland grounds of Tulleys Farm and is nothing short of magical . From the minute you enter , you are transported into a winter wonderland and consumed by Christmas spirit in the best possible way . A full day ’ s activities , everything from the 3D Cinema to the Build-A-Christmas-Bear workshop and the Christmas Circus show ( which takes place in a real big top !) is spectacular and so much fun for kids – and adults , too ! Happening at various points throughout the day , and so never overcrowded , these are all included in your ticket price along with Gingerbread Decorating , The Elves ’ Magical Forest , Reindeer Flying School , Santa ’ s Post House , and of course , an incredible Sleigh Ride to Storytime with Father Christmas in his Christmas Cabin ; it ’ s an utterly enchanting day that you ’ ll never forget .
ww . tulleyschristmas . co . uk
Fairytale of New York , Theatre Royal Brighton , East Sussex 14 - 15 December , Tickets from £ 26.50
Direct from the West End and after two sell out tours , the ultimate feel-good Irish-inspired Christmas show is back with an even bigger production for 2023 . From the producers of Seven Drunken Nights - The Story of The Dubliners and featuring an international cast of singers , musicians and dancers , Fairytale of New York brings you all of your favourite Christmas songs including ‘ Driving home for Christmas ’, ‘ White Christmas ’, ‘ Oh Holy Night ’, ‘ Winter ’ s Tale ’, ‘ Silent Night ’ and of course ‘ The Fairytale of New York ’. Just when you think the party couldn ’ t get any better , this world class show also features some of the greatest Irish sing-along songs of all time including ‘ The Galway Girl ’, ‘ The Irish Rover ’, ‘ Danny Boy ’, ‘ Dirty Old Town ’, and ‘ The Black Velvet Band ’. This magical Irish-inspired Christmas show will have people of all ages singing and laughing .
www . atgtickets . com / shows / fairytaleof-new-york
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