Indeed, winter this year isn't going to be the same as in previous years. With the current Covid-19 pandemic making it hard for us to visit friends and family, you may be wondering what things you can do around the UK to bring a little excitement to winter.
Luckily there are still plenty of safe attractions you can visit with your household or family bubble to add a little joy to your weekends on the run-up to Christmas. From festive family fun days to outdoor activities, we have scoured the whole of the UK to find the top places to visit. But if you are unable to leave your home at the moment due to restrictions, don't worry, we have some fabulous things to keep you entertained in the comfort of your own home.
Top things to do in the UK
Rumble Live Action Gaming
Price: £15 per person
Opening hours: 11 am - 6 pm weekends year-round (additional weekdays added to meet demand, check the website)
Suitable for adults and children aged 8+
Location: Grafham Water, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Rumble Live Action Gaming brings popular battle royale video games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty to real life with team-based fun! Located outdoors in eight acres of beautiful woodland, scavenge your environment to find utility boxes containing extra ammo, respawns and special weapon upgrades to take down the other team.
Due to the vast size of the arenas, it's ideal for some socially distant fun! All equipment is sanitised between sessions too.
Book online to avoid disappointment. To purchase a gift voucher, get in touch via the contact us page and send details of your requirements.
Lightwater Valley’s Family Christmas Event
A family Fun event this winter (21st November – 23rd December).
Tickets are £12.50 per person. Under 2 years are free. Tickets must be prebooked online as there are limited tickets available per night.
Ride operation is weather dependant.
There’s a sleighful of festive fun on offer. Be enchanted by the fantastical family-friendly Alice in Winterland giant lanterns display as the sun sets over the park.
Embark on a magical journey to meet the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts and, of course, Alice herself as she embarks on her amazing adventure.
Dazzling giant illuminated sculptures will also illustrate favourite stories from Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass.
Discover a giant chessboard, watch the Mad Hatter prepare for his crazy tea party, marvel at the four-metre tall Alice lantern and come face to face with the infamous Queen of Hearts herself.
Visitors of all ages can follow the luminous trail and immerse themselves in a glowing garden with massive mushrooms, illuminated tulips and even a flamingo or two as the evening becomes curiouser and curiouser…
Families can also enjoy some traditional fairground fun including, a spin on the carousel and take to the night sky on the Skyrider.
For details and to book a visit www.lightwatervalley.co.uk
Storm Watching Break
Available from 1st November 2020 to 11th February 2021 and starting at £739 per couple, the three-night storm watching break includes:
- Three nights at the hotel.
- A full Cornish breakfast each morning.
- A three-course dinner and one-afternoon tea at the double AA rosette awarded Samphire Restaurant.
- A two-course lunch at The Deck.
- Unlimited use of The Headland Spa, which has a Cornish salt steam room, Swedish sauna, Jacuzzi, hydrotherapy pool, and offers a range of luxurious treatments which are perfect to enjoy after a long winter walk on the South West Coast Path.
- Unlimited use of the newly opened Aqua Club, which has six pools (indoor and outdoor), a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, and a sun terrace overlooking the ocean.
Moyse’s Hall Strikes Back - Sci-Fi and Action Exhibition
Bury St Edmunds, Opens half-term 24 October until 20 December
Opening during half-term on 24 October and running until 20 December
Monday-Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sundays 12 pm-4 pm (extended Sunday opening hours during half-term; 10 am-5 pm on 25 October and 1 November. Last entry one hour before closing time. Admission: adult £5, concessions £3; child £3 (5-16 years), family £15 (up to 5 people).
The 12th annual Sci-Fi and Action Exhibition will mark the 40th anniversary of the second Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back, one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever to hit the big screen.
See a display of props and memorabilia from the movie that introduced us to Yoda, the legendary Jedi Master, AT-AT all-terrain armoured walkers and a shocking family revelation that set the world talking.
The Crystal Maze LIve Experience
- Link to the London site - https://the-crystal-maze.com/london/
- Ticket prices - Prices for The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience range from £54.99 to £74.99 per
- person when you book online, depending on the date and time.
- Location - 22 - 32 Shaftesbury Ave, West End, London, W1D 7EU
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience is one of London's top attractions and offers an exhilarating immersive experience based on the popular nineties’ TV game show. Guided by a Maze Master, the game sees teams go head-to-head as they make their way through the Maze’s four themed zones, competing in a series of tasks and challenges against the clock before entering the iconic Crystal Dome. The attraction has introduced a range of measures in line with the latest Government guidance to ensure visitors have a fun yet safe experience. This includes reduced team sizes that must consist of people from the same bubble or household, compulsory face coverings, temperature checks and social distancing. The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience is the perfect activity for families and friends within the same household looking for some brain-busting fun during the winter season.
For the people who are unable to visit places around the UK due to restrictions, we have two apps to keep you entertained during the winter months.
1 Spellville - Caper's new interactive adventure
Caper is the app that gets families off the screen and out into nature playing together. A ‘caper’ is an original story designed to be enjoyed by the whole family, balancing the screen time experience kids crave, with the real-world play parents know is good for them.
Caper is currently available on iOS and Android . The new caper ‘Spellville’ is available for free for the entire month of October. Caper’s original eight-part series, Captain Redtail, is available, for £4.99.
Apocalypse Survival Training (AST)
AST is an audio fitness adventure, placing you and your workout at the centre of an epic storyline, which is set in an alien invasion of the London of an alternative reality, where the lives of city survivors are in your hands. The high-quality audio production includes full cast, composition, sound effects and binaural processing to really place you in the middle of all the action.
AST is available to download via the App Store and Google Play store and includes two free trial plays of episode 1. You can then continue your mission by purchasing single episodes or a package (£6.99 for the first 10 episodes or £0.99 per episode, or unlock a £5.99 special offer at the end of Episode 1). Are you ready to survive against all odds?
Now you know what things there are to do in the UK this winter, or around your home, if you are unable to travel, we hope you can enjoy yourselves, even in these uncertain times.