Cheshire’s Festive Favourites: Magical Events and Unmissable Christmas Adventures

Climb the beanstalk to big laughs and even bigger festive fun at Crewe Lyceum

Join the fun at Crewe Lyceum for a GIANT of a pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk with Jennifer Ellison! Follow Jack and his family, the Trotts, as they take on an evil giant, sell their beloved cow Buttercup, and try to turn their fortunes around. With a wicked villain, hilarious dame, dazzling musical numbers, and plenty of family laughs, this feel-good panto is packed with festive fun for all ages.

Check out all the other festive events taking place at Crewe Lyceum.

Stay – Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa, Wychwood Park

Step inside the tale as old as time for a spellbinding Christmas at Storyhouse!

Be our guest at Storyhouse and enjoy a truly magical retelling of Beauty and the Beast this Christmas. Expect show-stopping songs, enchanting characters, laughter, and plenty of festive sparkle in this heart-warming show that’s perfect for the whole family.

Check out all the other festive events taking place at Storyhouse.

Stay – Hotel Indigo, The Chester Grosvenor, Doubletree by Hilton, Crowne Plaza, Abode, Moxy

Join Santa for festive feasts, magical moments, and a forest of twinkling trees at Chester Cathedral

Meet Santa in the stunning thirteenth-century Refectory with Brunch with Santa or Afternoon Tea with Santa, both experiences include a visit from Father Christmas and a gift for every child. Don’t forget to post your letter in Santa’s special postbox!

While you’re there, wander through the Christmas Tree Festival, where you’ll find over 80 beautifully decorated trees celebrating Christmas Around the World.

Stay – Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel, The Queen at Chester, Oddfellows, Mercure Abbots Wells, Leonardo Hotel, Oddfellows

Twinkle, tinsel, and tales await at BeWILDerwood’s Christmas wonderland

For a magical outdoor adventure, head to BeWILDerwood Presents Christmas – A Starry Night of Sparkly Lights & Panto Magic! Take a twinkling stroll beneath the stars, enjoy a mini festive panto, meet your favourite woodland characters, and spot Father Christmas along the way.

Stay – Rookery Hall Hotel, Combermere Abbey Cottages, Cheshire Boutique Barns

Sail into Santa’s festive fun on the magical Anderton Boat Lift cruise

Hop aboard a Santa Cruise at the Anderton Boat Lift & Visitor Centre. Join Santa and his helpers for songs, stories, and festive fun as you sail along the River Weaver. Every child will receive a gift, and there’ll be free Christmas craft activities on selected December weekends.

Stay – Nunsmere Hall

Festive magic at the National Waterways Museum

Set sail for festive magic at the National Waterways Museum. Take a canal boat trip with Santa’s elves, complete with games, stories, and a Christmas treasure hunt, before meeting Father Christmas himself in his cosy grotto.

Stay – Holiday Inn Ellesmere Port, Nearby Chester Hotels

Light up your winter with a dazzling trail of dragons, dinos, and magic at Gulliver’s Land of Lights

The glow is back and bigger than ever! Explore Land of Lights at Gulliver’s World, a breath-taking lantern trail of glowing dinosaurs, dreamworlds, and colourful installations. With family photo points, dog-friendly nights, and delicious food and drinks, it’s a glowing experience for all ages.

Stay – Gulliver's Hotel, Park Royal, Broomedge Cottages, The Village

Step into a sparkling wonderland of lights and festive magic at Dunham Massey

Explore the majestic grounds of Dunham Massey as they are transformed into a glowing winter wonderland for Christmas at Dunham Massey. Created by award-winning light trail producers, this breath-taking illuminated trail features the very best in twinkling lights and immersive seasonal sounds.

Experience the enchantment of Quarry Bank’s Winter Walk

Get together with friends and family and enjoy the Enchanted Winter Walk. Wrap up warm and enjoy the magic of Quarry Bank at twilight. Tickets £9.50 per person, includes entry and hot drink for adults. And for children tickets include entry, reindeer food and child size hot drink.

Animal Magic at Lyme, Stockport

Animal Crackers III focused on Christmas Present, the third and final instalment of the series. Installations by artist Sophie Tyrell. The animals have taken over but this time they’ve been invited! There’s a cat hiding somewhere in the house, and there’s a whale in the dining room! Someone else has taken badger’s bed, but who is it?

Look out for giant handmade installations throughout the house, with some artwork created in collaboration with local community groups and Lyme’s staff/volunteers too. Focused on the reintroduction of species across the UK, such as beavers, and how climate change is affecting animals’ habitats/migration. Sing karaoke with sheep, pull giant (woollen) worms out of a can and play with puppets.

Step back in time at Little Moreton Hall, Congleton

Discover the hall like never before as we travel through Christmas past, without the need for a time machine! We warmly welcome you to suspend reality and step back in time with us for the final year of Deck the Hall.

Stay - De Vere Cranage Hall, The Vicarage

Experience the magic of Chester Zoo’s Lanterns & Light

One of Cheshire’s most magical traditions, Lanterns & Light returns to Chester Zoo! Wander through illuminated trails, meet playful puppets, and discover dazzling new installations alongside seasonal street food and warming drinks – all while supporting vital conservation work.

Stay – The Reserve, Doubletree by Hilton, Macdonald Craxton Wood, The Queen at Chester

Celebrate the cosmos and Christmas magic together at Jodrell Bank

Celebrate Christmas under the stars at Jodrell Bank with festive dome shows and family fun. Fly with Santa in What Santa Sees, join Ted the bear for a space adventure, or enjoy a puppet show with All in a Mouse’s Night. Plus, experience Astro Nights to stargaze through the famous Lovell Telescope.

Stay – De Vere Cranage Hall, The Vicarage, Cottons Hotel

Step into a sparkling festive fairytale at Tatton Park

Step into a festive fairytale at Tatton Park, where every corner shines with Christmas magic.

• Explore Once Upon a Christmas inside the mansion, where your favourite festive stories come to life.
• Discover Yuletide: A glittering winter garden adventure through twinkling trails and storytelling.
• Visit Father Christmas and his elves in the farmyard, and enjoy music, crafts, and tasty seasonal treats.

Stay – De Vere Cranage Hall, The Vicarage, Cottons Hotel

Make this Christmas one to remember with magical moments across Cheshire!

Visit Santa in his grotto in Chester Town Hall for a traditional grotto experience.

Step inside the festive Assembly Hall to meet Santa’s helpful elves, Sparkle & Jingle! They’ve set up their arts and crafts workshop and they can’t wait to meet you! Create a magical Christmas t-shirt, ready to wear on Christmas eve, then craft a festive gift bag and get ready to meet the big man himself!

You’ll ascend the magical staircase to meet Santa in his enchanting Grotto. You’ll get to have a beautiful photo with Santa and receive a present from him too!

Stay - Find Chester Hotels

Christmas at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet

Set to be a festive celebration full of magical experiences for all ages. The highlight is the debut of "Oaks on Ice," a bespoke ice skating rink weaving around the iconic towering oak Christmas tree, Northern England’s tallest.

Cheshire Oaks also features a Winter Village inspired by German Christmas markets, offering festive treats like bratwurst, mulled wine, and hot chocolates, plus cosy bookable Christmas huts for small groups. Adding to the magic is "Santa in the Sky," a special Big Wheel experience where visitors can share a hot chocolate aboard a private pod with Santa and his elves, creating unforgettable family memories.

Extended shopping hours and festive film showings of Christmas classics, along with live music and the enchanting Ferris Wheel, complete the winter wonderland atmosphere at the outlet. Whether shopping for the perfect gifts or soaking in seasonal cheer with loved ones, Cheshire Oaks delivers a joyful, heart-warming Christmas day out in Cheshire