Christmas Family Breaks

Give your holiday some Christmas magic.

The Christmas juggernaut is gathering speed and you may be panicking that you've left it too late to escape this year, but there is still time to book a magical Christmas family break. Take a look at these festive family holidays, from homegrown forests to snow-capped mountains and sun-kissed beaches, all promising a memorable and very cool yule. Make sure you check out our UK school holidays, so you can book and plan your family Christmas holiday like a pro.

Great Christmas Family Breaks

Visit Santa Claus at home - LaplandUK

If you decide to take your children to meet Father Christmas, you really don’t want them to be disappointed. The team that runs the award-winning LaplandUK prides itself on delivering a truly magical experience for the whole family. Once booked, your little ones receive a personal invite from the man himself to help in his toy factory. When you and your family arrive in the secret forest location (deepest Berkshire), it’s total immersion from there on in, and you might just find yourself believing all over again.

For some families, Santa can only be experienced in real live Lapland. There are many companies offering day trips and short breaks to visit the big man during the festive season, ranging in authenticity and expense.

Santa’s Lapland promises a high quality Lapland Christmas holiday, with every family getting their own personal meeting in Santa’s log cabin deep in the Saariselka forest; plus snow adventures from reindeer sleigh and husky sled rides to snowmobile and mini-skidoo trips. There’s also the chance you’ll see the awesome Northern Lights. From around £2,000 for a three-night break. Check the website for the latest offers.

Family ski break - Esprit Ski

Let it snow! What a great way to spend the Christmas holidays: fresh air and rosy cheeks, roaring fires, cosy plaid, warming spirits and all that lovely snow. Esprit Ski has been organising family ski holidays for more than 30 years, sending British clans to France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria for active breaks. They take childcare very seriously, with dedicated skiers even able to deposit their kids straight after breakfast and collect them when the last lifts shut.

Packages include return flights from the UK and transfers, catered chalet accommodation including breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner with wine flowing. Classic Child Care starts at £199 per child, with many other options available.

The Esprit Ski website is currently showing a week’s stay at Chalet Hermine in Peisey-Les Arcs departing on December 15 for two adults and one infant for £899, and a week at Chalet Cleopatra in La Rosière for a family of four for £1625, departing December 16, 2016. Call 01483 371121 for the latest availability.

UK forest break: Center Parcs

Surely everyone with young children loves Center Parcs, at any time of year? At Christmas you can experience the usual family-tastic fun with an extra serving of festive sparkle. From November 8, the UK sites at Whinfell Forest in Cumbria, Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, Elveden Forest in Suffolk and Longleat Forest in Wiltshire are transformed into winter wonderlands.

Winter Wonderland breaks are available between then and December 22 from £279 for three nights. Santa's Woodland Workshop, live reindeer, horse/pony and carriage rides, pantomimes and a firework extravaganza are raring to go at each location.

Christmas and New Year breaks start from £799; you can even pre-book a Christmas tree for your lodge and have breakfast with Santa.

Winter sun - First Choice

If this is all a bit chilly for you and your crew, and you want to enjoy some winter fun in the sun, the Canary Islands are a great family option. Fuerteventura is around four hours away and a very pleasing 20˚C in winter with very little rainfall.

First Choice is offering a week’s holiday at the ClubHotel Riu Oliva Beach Resort in Corralejo, Fuerteventura, a Premier range hotel, for £2740 including £613 discount, for two adults and two children. The package includes flights from Gatwick on December 21, coach transfers, seven nights’ accommodation in a family room, plus all inclusive food and drinks.

There’s plenty for families to do: two huge swimming pools and pools for little ones; two buffet restaurants and a la carte restaurant options; an entertainment programme; sports and games; craft workshops; and the option of a massage at the small wellness centre.

You can also catch the ferry to Lanzarote, get out on the waves, take an off-road tour, visit the volcanos, or hit the Baku Family Park.

For further ideas of a destination for a festive staycation, check out our guide to the best UK Christmas Breaks to take this year as well as our guide to the top 10 UK Christmas markets.

*Prices searched in November 2016.

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