What To Do This Weekend
New openings to try, where to meet Santa and the best winter dog walks - here's what to do this weekend
What’s New
Shake off the winter blues and enjoy a taste of the tropics at the newly opened Palm Bar in Sheffield. This Caribbean-inspired garden bar at Kelham Island is the ideal location for a cheeky cocktail while Christmas shopping. Vinyl Grounds in Leeds has just begun to welcome its first guests, offering a super relaxed and moody interior where a great selection of wine and coffee is accompanied by an equally impressive collection of vinyls. Newcastle’s newest STACK is also open now and you can expect bars, street food and entertainment. This is also the first STACK venue in the North East to offer Sideshow – a circus-themed competitive socialising experience. We got a sneak peek inside here. In Gosforth, Say When is a brand new café, brasserie and wine bar opening on the High Street this weekend. A new venture from the boys behind Brack Burger, it’s bound to be a hit.
Winter Walks
Wrap up warm and get out and about with (or without) the dog this weekend. For those wanting to get into nature, there are plenty of trails across Ilkley Moor – our favourite though is the White Wells Moorland Walk which takes you from the edge of Ilkley to the high moor, with wide views across the town and Wharfe Valley. Roseberry Topping and Captain Cook’s Monument is also a great place for dogs to play. This 7.2 mile walk has lots of open landscapes – just make sure to keep dogs close for their safety. Craster to Low Newton can easily be made shorter than the stretch of six miles it covers there and back, by parking at one of the many pull-in spots which line the road between them. Following the path north from Craster you’ll have uninterrupted views of the sea and rocky shoreline before you pass the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.
Walking in the Air
For a truly spectacular experience, head to Durham Cathedral this Saturday (6th) for a showing of The Snowman accompanied by a live orchestra. This festive favourite is presented by Carrot Productions, the world’s leading performers of The Snowman with live orchestra. As an extra bonus, the performance will include Prokofiev’s classic symphonic fairy tale, Peter and the Wolf, played live by the musicians and accompanied by a brand new animated film. Book your tickets online now for an unforgettable performance. carrotproductions.com
Support Local
This Saturday (6th) is Small Business Saturday and the perfect opportunity to support local shops, whether you’re investing in art, wardrobe staples, homeware or foodie gifts for the festive season. Yorkshire and the North East have so many fabulous independents to choose from, and we’ve narrowed down some of our favourites in our Christmas Gift Guide for 2025. If your Christmas shopping is covered but you still need to stock up on the essentials, here are our some of our favourite local farm shops for getting ahead.
Staying In
Avoid the cold weather completely this weekend and have a cosy day inside with the family. Before you hunker down, make sure you’re well prepped. This our essential kit for making the ultimate hot chocolate. Hosting friendmas this year? You need to read our guide to being the ultimate host at Christmas. If you’re searching for inspiration in the kitchen, you won’t go wrong with this easy and delicious air fryer roast dinner.
See Santa
If the little ones are already in search of Santa, take them to Discovery Museum’s Canny Christmas Grotto this weekend to meet the jolly old elf, the black and white toon elves, and get their photo taken on Santa’s giant sleigh. You’ll also be able to visit Santa in his grotto at Alnwick’s Lilidorei in Northumberland. For something a little different, North Yorkshire Moors Railway is hosting a fabulous Santa Express this weekend with plenty of songs and Christmas cheer along the magical steam train journey.
