Where to Spend Christmas this Year
If you're thinking about celebrating the big day away from home this year, check out our top picks for the perfect festive getaways this Christmas
Matfen Hall Country Hotel, Spa & Golf Estate
Enjoy the most festive of breaks at Matfen Hall, Northumberland’s only five-star hotel. It’s the perfect place to get away from it all and various special festive packages are available. Arrive on Christmas Eve for the Emerald two-night stay and be greeted by mulled wine and mince pies. Kick off the big day with a sumptuous breakfast before heading out to explore the grounds and golf course, or curl up with a book or game in the snug before a Champagne and canapé reception, followed by a five-course special festive lunch in the award-winning Emerald Restaurant. Spend the evening beside the roaring fire, and enjoy grazing boards and sweet treats to round off the perfect Christmas Day. Boxing Day breakfast will be served in Cloisters and you can enjoy a late check out, at 12pm.
Emerald Break, £2,190 per room.
Matfen Village, Northumberland NE20 0RH
matfenhall.com
Wrea Head Hall
This elegant country house hotel is renowned for its timeless luxury, great food and excellent service which all go towards making it the perfect place to spend some time at Christmas. The 24 rooms and suites are divided between the original house and the Carriage House, but each is individually designed and has every little luxury you’d hope to find. Dine in the oak-panelled 1881 restaurant, where the team of chefs serve delicious seasonal dishes made using produce from the surrounding estates and their own kitchen garden. Just want to escape the looming Christmas chaos for 24 hours? Take advantage of their Winter Warmer Break with an overnight stay for two, curl up beside the large open fire and take some time out to relax in the run up to the big day. Available until 23rd December.
Barmoor Lane, Scalby YO13 0PB
wreaheadhall.co.uk
Kidlandlee
When you just want to escape the festivities and enjoy some simple peace and goodwill at Christmas, Kidlandlee is where you should be. These award-winning holiday cottages in a truly spectacular landscape are perfect for lovers of the outdoors. Sitting 1,400 feet above sea level, in the heart of Northumberland National Park and surrounded by the rugged hills of the Coquet Valley, Kidlandlee is also within Northumberland Dark Sky park. It promises an off-grid Christmas like no other, but without compromising on luxury – you can do Christmas your own way here. Relax in front of the log burner, head out for as many bracing walks as you have the energy for, and stay up and stargaze for as long as you want.
Harbottle, Morpeth NE65 7DA
kidlandlee.co.uk
The Pheasant Hotel
Discover the magic of Christmas throughout December at The Pheasant, which is transformed into a fabulously festive retreat. With crackling log fires and the gentle glow of candles it’s the perfect place to cosy down this Christmas and their Three Nights Of Christmas break promises to be an unforgettable experience as you join in the festive fun from Christmas Eve. Settle in and enjoy mulled wine and a mince pie, then stroll around the village or take a dip in the hotel’s pool before the lavish, three-course Jingle Jazz Supper. Start the big day with Buck’s Fizz and breakfast in anticipation of the extra special Christmas lunch which kicks off with Champagne and canapés. Boxing Day is your own and in the evening there’s a Black Tie Dinner Dance. From £2,400 per couple.
Harome, YO62 5JG
01439 771241
thepheasanthotel.com
Headlam Hall
There’s plenty of opportunity to celebrate Christmas at Headlam Hall. Their popular December Snowball Party Nights include a three-course meal and dancing until midnight, or settle down to a festive two- or three-course lunch during December. They’ve also arranged a special afternoon tea, served during December, accompanied by carols from a local choir. If you are looking for a festive pre-Christmas getaway (1st–23rd December), you can enjoy mulled wine and mince pies on arrival, a three course a la carte dinner, overnight accommodation and full English breakfast, with use of the hotel’s spa facilities too, from just £115 per person per night.
Near Gainford DL2 3HA
headlamhall.co.uk
Armathwaite Hall Hotel & Spa
Join the festivities at this stunning Lakeland hotel on Christmas Eve, and kick off your break with a fun quiz, cocktails and canapés, followed by a sumptuous dinner, carols, mulled wine and live entertainment. Your Christmas dinner is a six-course feast in the AA Rosette restaurant followed by the King’s speech and a candlelit walk through the hotel’s stunning grounds before returning for a luxurious buffet. Enjoy Boxing Day your way with a chance to walk off the festive food, before dressing up for the casino-themed black tie dinner.
Packages from £1,425 per person.
Bassenthwaite Lake, Keswick CA12 4RE
017687 765551
armathwaite-hall.com
Lumley Castle
This Christmas spend some time in this magical 14th century castle. With a whole heap of fabulous festive activities on offer, from wreath making to afternoon tea at the movies, party nights, and even breakfast with Santa himself, there are so many reasons to head here for festive cheer. For something a little different, Lumley Castle plays host to a Christmas Murder Mystery Dinner, A Killing Amongst The Choir. While you are working out whodunnit, you can enjoy a three-course Christmas dinner, followed by a DJ and disco. Stay over for just £249 per room (based on two adults sharing) which includes bed, breakfast and tickets to the Murder Mystery evening.
Ropery Lane, Chester-le-Street DH3 4NX
0191 389 1111
lumleycastle.com
Gisborough Hall
There’s something special about the festive season at Gisborough Hall and it feels like there’s a little bit of magic in the air. Join them for a three-day break starting on Christmas Eve. From the moment you arrive you are guaranteed a warm Yorkshire welcome, so all you need to do is look forward to fizz by the fire before dinner. The big day itself will start with a hearty breakfast which you’ll need to walk off before the Champagne reception and three-course Christmas lunch. Watch the King’s speech in The Old Hall as you enjoy homemade Christmas cake and coffee, and the festive feasting continues into the evening with a special buffet. Boxing Day brings plenty of time to relax before an informal lunch and a trip to the local panto, and back at the hotel the evening kicks off with a cocktail reception, followed by a black tie dinner and casino night. Christmas Break, £765 per person.
Whitby Lane, Guisborough TS14 6PT
gisborough-hall.com
Flowery Dell
Looking for a home from home this Christmas? Family-run Flower Dell’s luxury lodges are set in a peaceful valley just outside Richmond and make for the perfect escape this festive season. Choose from pet friendly or pet free, spacious family-friendly or cosy lodges just for two, and all the lodges boast private hot tubs. With so much to discover on the doorstep they are the ideal base from which to explore this stunning part of Yorkshire this winter, and back home after an action-packed day, you can relax in the hot tub and even enjoy a luxury beauty treatment in the comfort of your lodge.
Hudswell Lane, Richmond DL11 6BD
01748 822406
flowery dell-lodges.com
Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa
Enjoy award-winning hospitality at The Devonshire Arms in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales with a three-night stay. The halls will be decked for plenty of festive cheer and fires lit as you arrive on Christmas Eve. Celebrations begin with a sparkling afternoon tea, and the evening kicks off with a drinks reception followed by dinner in The Garden Room. After dinner relax in the lounge with a post-dinner tipple and enjoy your favourite carols. The next day, burn off your Yorkshire breakfast with a bracing walk before heading in to a Champagne reception and traditional Christmas Day lunch. Spend the afternoon by the fire or playing one of the many board games, and if you can, squeeze in a light supper. On Boxing Day, enjoy the special casino-themed black tie dinner with paired wines.
Three-night Christmas break from £3,449.
Bolton Abbey BD23 6AJ
01756 718111
boltonabbeyescapes.co.uk
Coquet Cottages
There is something magical about Christmas in Northumberland, and you’re never far away from some great Christmas cheer. Whether you prefer to be beside the sea or deep in the countryside, the many pretty Northumbrian villages take Christmas very seriously and you can enjoy festive lights and plenty of Christmas spirit wherever you choose to go. Coquet Cottages have an award-winning collection of self-catering accommodation across the county, all festively decorated for your arrival. Contemporary yet characterful, Shearwater is a spacious home in the heart of the popular seaside village of Bamburgh. With four ensuite bedrooms, a large living area, open-plan kitchen diner and private courtyard this dog-friendly property is the perfect base for a winter break.
coquetcottages.co.uk
The Gamekeeper’s Inn
Full of festive charm and cheer, the magic of Christmas is all around at The Gamekeeper’s Inn. The inn’s Christmas Specials dining menu is available from 20th November through December, and their Festive Alternative Afternoon Tea is available until 1st January. With plenty of festive events there is lots of opportunity to soak up the seasonal spirit so why not stay over, relax and unwind in one of the 11 stylish ensuite rooms, and enjoy complimentary use of the on-site leisure club with swimming pool, hot tub sauna and gym.
Long Ashes Park, Threshfield BD23 5PN
01756 752434
gamekeeperinn.co.uk
Heather Glen Country House
Cosy up in this Cumbrian gem surrounded by rolling hills this Christmas. Ideal for a festive break, this family-run boutique hotel is in the charming village of Ainstable, and with carefully designed interiors and cosy nooks by log fires, it’s the perfect place to relax in the run up to the big day. There are nine ensuite boutique bedrooms, including two suites, and two dog-friendly self-catering apartments, all with stunning views across the Eden Valley. In the dining room discover delicious, English country-style food (served on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, and Sunday lunch time). If you’re looking to treat yourself or for an extra special Christmas gift, take advantage of the hotel’s current offer, where guests booking one night bed and breakfast can enjoy a complimentary three-course meal. Offer available until 31st March 2026.
Ainstable, Carlisle CA4 9QQ
01768 896219
heatherglencountryhouse.co.uk
The Lord Crewe
In the pretty seaside village of Bamburgh, just a stone’s throw from the beach and the iconic castle, this welcoming inn is a great place to blow away some of winter’s cobwebs. With award-winning contemporary accommodation, the seven individually-designed bedrooms here are supplemented by luxurious self-catered accommodation just a few doors up the street. Downstairs, enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in the cosy bar area before tucking into delicious seasonal dishes in the pub’s popular restaurant. This winter, stay in one of the five star-rated rooms, enjoy dinner in the AA Rosette Restaurant and a leisurely breakfast the following morning knowing you have a late check out of 12 noon, all for just £239 for two.
Front Street, Bamburgh NE69 7BL
01668 214243
lord-crewe.co.uk
Saltmoore
Enjoy a magical three-day festive break at Saltmoore where the fires will be lit and festive tradition is key. Settle into the gentle rhythm of this seaside sanctuary as soon as you arrive on Christmas Eve with a special Christmas tea before heading to Saltmoore's brand new, state-of-the-art spa, The Sanctuary, for some welcome relaxation. Kick off the evening with festive fizz followed by a three-course feast in the Brasserie rounded off with a nightcap in the cosy Lounge Bar. The big day starts with a traditional Yorkshire breakfast and bucks fizz, with plenty of time to walk it all off before the traditional five-course Christmas lunch is served. To round off your day, a light festive buffet will be served followed by a lighthearted seasonal quiz. Boxing Day is yours to enjoy: head to the spa, stroll along the beach or hike the moors before a delicious three-course dinner in the evening. Leave truly rested after a full Yorkshire breakfast the following morning.
Package from £2,250, based on two adults sharing a Snug room.
Sandsend Road, Whitby YO21 3ST
saltmoore.co.uk
Middleton Lodge Estate
Celebrate the perfect Christmas in the country at Middleton Lodge Estate. With a home-from-home feel, the beautiful rooms at Middleton Lodge are dotted throughout the estate and the celebrations will start as soon as you check in on Christmas Eve. The halls will be decked, the fires lit and you can even start your day with a dip in the beautiful heated outdoor pool. Tuck into festive feasts throughout, and of course, a classic three-course Christmas lunch at The Fig House with all the trimmings, all lovingly prepared with produce from the estate. Walk it all off with a stomp through the grounds before a light supper, or why not book a restorative final dip to recover on Boxing Day before checking out?
Middleton Tyas, Richmond DL10 6NJ
middletonlodge.co.uk
Aysgarth Falls
Nestled beside then iconic Aysgarth Falls, this luxury retreat is the ideal place to escape the frantic festivities. Swap the seasonal hype for some peace and relaxation in this utterly beautiful part of the world. Stay in one of the hotel’s newly renovated rooms the Main House, or the brand new Garden Suites, dine in the sophisticated, seasonally-inspired Palmers Restaurant or cosy up by the fire in the bar and tuck into traditional pub classics and a Yorkshire ale or two. Special Winter Breaks are available including two- and three-night Christmas Eve stays.
Aysgarth, Leyburn DL8 3SR
01969 663775
aysgarthfallshotel.com
Borrowdale Gates
Enjoy all the sparkle and shine of Christmas at this stunning Lake District hotel which is transformed into a winter wonderland for the festivities. Relax and let the hotel take over this Christmas as you are treated to mulled cider and mince pies by the fire before you’ve even unpacked on Christmas Eve. Pre-dinner entertainment is followed by a delicious dinner served in the restaurant, whilst the big day starts with a leisurely Lakeland breakfast. There’s plenty of time to enjoy the grounds and soak up the scenery before lunch, and the afternoon is yours before a casual buffet dinner rounds off the day. Make the most of a relaxing Boxing Day, and for those that venture out exploring a packed lunch is available, but you’ll all likely have worked up an appetite for your final delicious dinner in the evening.
Christmas packages from £950 per person.
Grange-in-Borrowdale, Keswick CA12 5UQ
01768 777204
borrowdale-gates.com
The Tempus
Enjoy a fabulously festive retreat at The Tempus tucked away in the grounds of Charlton Hall Estate this Christmas, just perfect for a family get-together, or a romantic getaway. With a two- or three-night break available, kick off the celebrations with welcome cocktails and cake on Christmas Eve, followed by a three-course dinner in The Orangery. The big day begins with a breakfast mimosa, followed by fizz and canapés before sitting down to a Christmas Day feast. Spend the rest of the day chilling out in this uniquely magical space before the evening buffet. You don’t need to check out until 10am the next day, so there’s plenty of time to enjoy a Boxing Day brunch before heading home.
From £779 per room.
Charlton Hall, Chathill, Northumberland NE67 5DZ
thetempus.co.uk
