Festive Day's Out With Toddlers In The North East This Christmas

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This year my little two children - aged two and three years old are super excited for Christmas. This is the first year that they have both realised what is going on and it is so amazing watching the sheer joy on their face whenever they see a Christmas tree or sparkly lights. As this is the first year that they are understanding the magic of Christmas we are planning lots of day's out to really get them in the festive spirit and bring the magic of Christmas alive for them. 

1.) Visit Santa

On Monday we visited the Metrocentre to visit Santa, visiting Santa was totally free and children receive a free gift during the visit. We visited on a Monday lunchtime and only had to queue for around 20 minutes to be seen, there was lots of colouring stations, games consoles and giant Playmobile characters to keep little ones occupied whilst you wait, which certainly kept my two entertained. 

When you get to the front of the queue an elf comes and greets you and takes your child's name and age and then you can go and meet Santa who is inside a giant Christmas tree, that is really cosy and festive inside. We got to see Santa for about five minutes and he was really lovely with the children and at the end they both got a good list certificate and a little Playmobile gift suitable to their age. 

Visiting is totally free and you don't need to book you simply turn up and queue to be seen, you can visit anytime from now until Christmas eve (closes at 4pm Christmas eve). The grotto is open Monday- Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 9am-7pm, Sunday 11am-5pm. Visiting the Metrocentre is really lovely this time of year with all of the festive decorations and getting there is super easy even if you don't drive with regular Stagecoach buses from Newcastle and Tyneside. 

2.) Fenwick Window

If you are from Newcastle then you will know that visiting Fenwick's window is such a Christmas tradition. I love Fenwick's window and always remember as a child that as soon as the window was all festive that it would soon be Christmas. I have visited every single year since I was a child and it is something that I now do with own children each year too. At the weekend we took the children to see it and my three-year-old was totally amazed, she was pressing her little face up against the glass mesmerised. 

This year the window is Beatrix Potter themed and it is so lovely and will appeal to both adults and children alike. Fenwick's even have a special Miss Tiggywinkles pop-up cafe in store and they are selling lots of lovely Beatrix potter books and soft toys in store which would make a lovely gift. 

3.) Pantomime

We will be taking our children to see a pantomime for the first time this year now they are a little bit older. I always visited the pantomime as a child and loved it and my teen loved them too, so I am looking forward to taking my toddlers. We are going to see Aladdin at the Whitely Bay Playhouse starring Shane Lynch from Boyzone, prices start at just £14pp. (AD - press tickets)

Other Pantomimes in the North East this year include Cinderella at the Theater Royal in Newcastle, Beauty & the Beast at the Tyne Theater Newcastle, Jack & the Beanstalk at the People's Theater in Heaton and also at the Gala Theater Durham, Sleeping Beauty at the Sunderland Empire and Dick Whittington at the Phoenix theatre in Blyth.

4.) Santa Train Ride

You can book to go on a Santa train ride at the Stephenson Railway museum at North Shields. You need to pre-book tickets which are £13 per person, price includes a ride on the heritage train, onboard entertainment and refreshments and children aged 1-12 years old will receive a gift from Santa. You can book and find out the full details on the Stephenson Railway website.

5.) Ice skating at Life

Every year there is an outdoor ice rink outside of the centre for Life, near Central station in Newcastle. Open daily (except Christmas day, boxing day and new years day) from mid-November until 26th February 2017. There is no need to book you simply turn up and pay on the day, although you do need to pre-book for Christmas Eve sessions. It costs £9 for an adult, children aged 5-17 £7 and children aged 4 and under costs £3, you can also buy family tickets for £25 for either 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children. Full details can be found on the Life website.