Top 'Twixmas' days out across Warwickshire revealed
Warwickshire’s tourism board, Shakespeare’s England, has unveiled some of its top days out during ‘Twixmas’.
The period between Christmas and New Year often leaves many in limbo, so the region’s tourism experts have devised some of their top things to do for the whole family over the break.
Explore Warwickshire’s walks – including woodland, medieval times, and the stairway to heaven
The Heart of England Forest has eight walks to choose from across 8,000 acres - including the 3.5-mile Founder’s Walk, taking in newly planted saplings, more mature woodland and meandering brooks. Visitors will also encounter the Heart of England Forest arboretum, featuring over 600 different trees and shrubs from around the world. Closed on Christmas Day. For more information visit https://heartofenglandforest.org/walks-in-the-forest
Step into augmented reality with the new app - Kenilworth Revealed - by exploring one of the town's historical gems, St Mary's Abbey in Abbey Fields, through your smartphone. Using 30 different geo plaques, walkers can stand among the Abbey ruins and watch walls rise around them, hear the canons chant, and witness the daily life of the Augustinian order that once thrived there. In all, the walk equates to around 2 miles. For more information visit: https://visit.kenilworthweb.co.uk/links/kenilworth-revealed-guide/
Explore The Snowman™ Sculpture Trail at Baddesley Clinton until 11 January; or take a tour of the Tudor manor Packwood House, which is adorned with sparkling trees, twinkling lights and beautiful handmade decorations until 4 January. For more details visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Take a countryside walk alongside the famous 21 Hatton Locks situated on the Grand Union canal. The locks span a two-mile distance and has an elevation of 45 metres, earning them the nickname of “the stairway to heaven”. Start out at Hatton Country World and end up at the Hatton Arms which overlooks the locks. For more details visit: https://shoppingvillage.hattonworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HC-Country-Walks-New-Web.pdf
Like drama at Christmas? Warwickshire’s the place for you
Watch an adaptation of Road Dahl’s BFG at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Dates are available throughout December and into January. For more details visit https://www.rsc.org.uk/the-bfg/
Join Tripadvisor favourite, the Weirdly Festive Walk of Warwick, where visitors learn about the darker side of winter through the streets of Warwick – including Christmassy crimes at the Warwick courts, the ghostly battle spotted on Christmas Eve, and the murder that took place on Christmas Day. Dates are available throughout December. Aged 10+. More details: https://darkwarwick.co.uk/christmas/
Treat the children to Sleeping Beauty at The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. Performances run throughout December until 3 January. For more details visit https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/sleeping-beauty/
Test your detective skills with a festive murder mystery evening at Coombe Abbey Hotel on 30 December. Watch scenes play out in between a three-course meal before turning detective to figure out who killed Scrooge’s friend, Marley. For more details visit https://www.coombeabbey.com/product/festive-murder-mystery/
Take to the ice or marvel at Christmas from the 1800s
Skate beneath the backdrop of Warwick Castle and explore their light trail of 500,000 lights illuminating the 64 acres of grounds until 4 January. More details: https://www.warwick-castle.com/explore-1/events/christmas-at-the-castle/
Wander around Charlecote Park’s Victorian home, which is dressed for a Christmas ball from the mid-1800s, until 4 January. For more information visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/warwickshire/charlecote-park/christmas-at-charlecote-park
Get hands-on
The British Motor Museum is hosting LEGO® activities between 28 and 30 December; with mountains of bricks waiting for imaginations to run wild amongst the world’s largest collection of classic British cars. For more details visit https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/christmas-family-activities
The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry is hosting a drop-in craft session where families can transform white socks into imaginative lovable puppets using fabric pens, buttons and colourful embellishments. Perfect for families looking to spend quality time together while creating something special (£2.50 per child, adults free). More details: https://www.theherbert.org/whats-on/1895/winter-puppet-workshop
Book a bargain overnight stay and explore for longer
Warwickshire has a range of couples’ retreats, luxury spa hotels, and dog-friendly accommodation -some of which are likely to be offering mid-week deals during ‘Twixmas’ – that can help visitors to explore the county for longer.
For more details visit www.shakespeares-england.co.uk/accommodation