There are lots of brilliant, cheap Christmas events going on across Hertfordshire this year! This is my what’s on guide to the best family Christmas events in Hertfordshire. For my Christmas what’s on guides for the other local counties, plus reviews of all our festive events and days out check out the Free Time with the Kids Christmas page by clicking here.
I know that a lot of families really look forward to the Rotary Club Santa sleighs coming around their estate. Most of the Hertfordshire clubs will be running their annual Christmas event this year and tend to keep their Facebook page up to date with the details.
This page has been updated with Christmas events and activities in Hertfordshire for 2023. Some events haven’t been announced yet. I’ll be adding more to the Facebook page and updating this page as I find them. If you know of any that I’ve missed just get in touch.
Family Christmas events in Tring
The Ashridge estate on the Hertfordshire border haven’t announced their Christmas events yet. The woods is great for a festive walk though. It can get busy so do have a look at other areas of the estate such as Ling Ride or the Foresters Walk.
Ashridge House aren’t doing their Christmas light trail this year which is a real shame as we loved it last year. Instead they’re putting on a live production of the Nutcracker from the 19th – 24th December 2023. Tickets from £25.50.
Tring Natural History museum still recommends pre-booking during peak times, such as the school holidays. If the weather is bad I’d really recommend this. Their Christmas event this year is a polar bear Christmas trail which runs from the 2nd December – 3rd January. Trail sheets £1 from the shop. I imagine it’s going to be similar to the Rudolph trail they did previously. If you cannot get into the museum then why not explore Tring Park instead??
The Tring Christmas Festival is on the 25th November 2023 from 3.30-8.30pm. Free event. Events take place in the High Street, Church Square, Victoria Hall and Memorial Gardens.
College Lake near Tring, Hertfordshire haven’t announced the details of their Christmas events. They do have regular nature tots and Teen rangers sessions. Entry to the lake is free, with a suggested donation of £4 for car parking. Read my review here..
Family Christmas events in St Albans, Hatfield & Harpenden
On the 16th December 2023 there’s a free live nativity trail organised by St Albans Cathedral. On the 2nd December there’s a showing of The Snowman & Wallace & Gromit, accompanied by a live orchestra. You can also hear carols sung on the hour on the 16th. There’s also no less than five different carol concerts and Christingle on the 10th December at 3pm. You can read all about the different events here.
St Albans Museum and the Verulamium Museum have various Christmas events taking place. On the 9th December there’s a Christmas Stocking decorations craft activity at the gallery, £5 per participant, pre-booking advisible. They also have a Museum Mini on the 11th December, £5 per child, pre-booking essential. Throughout December there are various gallery talks in the Verulamium museum. Talks are included with admission.
The Santa Spectacular is back at Willows Activity Farm in St Albans. It’s one of the most popular, but also the most expensive Christmas events in Hertfordshire! It can book up very early – you have been warned. Selected dates from the 24th November right up to Christmas Eve. An adult ticket is £24-31. A child ticket is £48-£55!!!
Hatfield House itself is closed during the winter but for the very first time they are hosting an illuminated trail from the 30th November – 31st December 2022 all about Elizabeth I. It’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Apparently the trail should take you about an hour to do. A family ticket, including up to 4 children, is £76.32. Parking is £6 on top.
Family Christmas events in Hemel Hempstead
If we don’t get any of the white stuff this year (and I’ll be honest I’m hoping there are no snow days this year!!) then why not try out the ringo slide or family sledging at Hemel Snow Centre. It’s £12 per person for 30 minutes in groups of up to six.
The Christmas lights switch-on in Hemel Hempstead is on the 18th November 2023 from 11am – 5.30pm. There’s events around the town centre throughout the day before the lights go on at 5pm.
There’s a free woodland Santa’s grotto at The Marlowes Shopping Centre in Hemel Hempstead from the 18th November – 24th December. Saturdays & Sundays plus daily from the 18th December. Includes a craft experience, meeting Santa and some reindeer food to take home. Pre-booking required.
Family Christmas Events in Welwyn Garden City & Letchworth
There is a FREE Christmas lights trail in Welwyn Garden City town centre from the 18th November 2023 – 1st January 2024.
The free Magic of Christmas event is in Welwyn Garden City town centre on the 18th November from 12 noon. There’s music performances, street entertainment, arts and craft, a fun fair and much more from 12 noon – 6 and includes the Christmas light switch-on.
There are Treasure Map Trails for towns across Hertfordshire, including Welwyn Garden City. These are beautiful maps for kids where they have to find the treasures hidden all around us in local towns and cities. The maps are designed by a local dad and are great fun. You can find out more and save 10% using the code FREETIMEWITHTHEKIDS and clicking on the image below
There’s a temporary ice rink at Letchworth outdoor pool from the 18th November – 7th January. Tickets from £38 for 2 adults and 2 children. Must be pre-booked
Christmas Events in Hertfordshire
The Christmas events at Aldenham Country Park in Hertfordshire for includes a festive farm and park, Santa’s grotto, dance tunnel, elf trail and Santa-Oke. Weekends from 25th November 2023, then daily from 18th – 24th December. Santa only available on certain dates. Farm admission is £7.95 per person. £14.95 per child for Santa.
The Hertford Christmas Gala is on the 24th November 2023 from 3pm. The Hertford Christmas lights will be switched on at 6pm. The Christmas Market then continues on the Saturday and Sunday. Free events.
On the 26th November there’s storytelling at Hertford Castle from 11 – 5. Free event. On the 8th December there’s a carol service from 5.30, which is also free.
There’s a free Messy Christmas session at St James Church in Cheshunt on the 16th December from 10am. Pre-booking is required to manage the catering. Aimed at kids 3-11 years.
Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire are doing their Santa’s Grotto slightly differently to other places. The grotto is included with admission but you don’t book a time slot, you have to queue and there’s no guarantee that you’ll get to see the big guy. Just a heads up because if yours is the kid who is desperate to see Santa, and can’t, that’s not going to end well! Santa is there every weekend from the 2nd December and daily from the 20th December 2023.
I’m always really surprised that Knebworth House don’t have any family friendly Christmas events, given that they’re such a big day out in Hertfordshire. There is a Christmas market on the 24th-26th November, but that’s really just for shopping. They do have a dinner with Santa in the Barns on selected dates, but that doesn’t include admission to the gardens.
If you can get tickets then Hogwarts in the Snow at the Warner Brothers Studio The Making of Harry Potter is amazing. We had been before and I wasn’t sure if it would be worth going again when not much would have changed. It definitely was!
Atria in Watford have a free Santa’s flight school from the 2nd – 24th December. They’ll get to meet Santa and learn how to fly the reindeer, plus take home some reindeer food. Pre-booking strongly advised, but some walk-up sessions may be available.
That’s all the Christmas events in Hertfordshire for now but I’ll keep adding new events over the next few weeks so keeping checking back. Click here to see all of the other Christmas events in Bucks, Beds and Oxon, as well as the latest reviews of festive events.
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Hi, I’m Vicky. My husband and I live in Aylesbury with our three children; a 14 year old son, an 12 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I (mostly) love spending time together as a family. We visit all kinds of places and we’re quite happy to drive a fair distance for a decent day out. A few years ago I decided to set up Free Time with the Kids as a way to share our experiences of these family days out.
You’ll find the essential information you need to know before your visit that can be surprisingly hard to find out. Where do I park? How much will it cost me to get in? Are there any discounts available? Are there loos? Can I take a picnic or get food? My aim is to be your go-to guide for all your free and cheap family days out across Bucks, Beds, Oxon, Herts & slightly beyond. I really hope you find the reviews helpful. If there’s anywhere that you’d recommend please get in touch contact@freetimewiththekids.com or get in touch via Facebook
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