Christmas events in the West Midlands

Santa will be making appearances all over the West Midlands

It might still be October, but it is not too soon to start planning your Christmas days out.

There are a wide variety of attractions in the West Midlands. We could not list them all, but here is a festive selection.

(We've checked it twice).

Shropshire

Blists Hill Victorian Museum Town near Madeley is showing people what Christmas was like in Victorian times, with Santa and his elves making appearances between 6 and 12 December.

The Severn Valley Railway (which also calls at stations in Worcestershire) will be putting on a variety of festive train rides. They include Santa's Steam Special, which runs between 29 November and 24 December and takes visitors to the railway's new theatrical Christmas show in Arley.

There will also be an elf express departing from Bridgnorth between 29 November and 24 December, as well as carol trains between Kidderminster and Highley from 12 to 23 December and a festive bistro train from 6 to 22 December.

Alderford Lake near Whitchurch is creating an enchanted island, where people can travel by boat to meet Santa, between 23 November and 23 December.

Hawkstone Park Follies will again be offering four wheel drive trips to Santa's grotto, which is hidden in caves, reached through decorated tunnels. They take place between 28 November and 23 December and you get a spectacular view if you are there at sunset.

The incredibly popular Polar Express will be running at Telford Steam Railway between 21 November and 23 December, with guests invited to arrive in their dressing gowns and sing along with the cast.

Park Hall Farm near Oswestry will be putting on Christmas shows between 29 November and 24 December.

Grown-ups might prefer to visit the cellars at Tanners wine merchants in Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth for their Christmas wine tasting events between 6 and 20 November.

Coventry and Warwickshire

There will be a festive light trail at Coombe Abbey Country Park between 29 November and 31 December, and Warwick Castle also includes a light trail in its list of 'Christmas at the Castle' attractions this winter.

A festive market and big wheel returns to Broadgate in Coventry from 15 November, with a festival of Christmas planned for the evening of 20 November.

Coventry Cathedral is hosting a number of Christmas events throughout December, including carol services, craft workshops and film screenings.

St Mary's Guildhall in Coventry will hold a Victorian Christmas, including a one-man performance of A Christmas Carol on 10 December, as well as storytelling with Father Christmas and tours explaining Tudor and Christmas traditions from 27 November and 3 December.

Stratford-upon-Avon will hold Victorian Christmas markets on 29 and 30 November and 6 and 7 December.

Santa is due to make a number of stops in the area, including at Children's Play Village, Hatton Adventure World, and Kenilworth Castle.

Or, if you prefer, you can experience a Christmas breakfast with Elsa, Anna and Kristoff from Frozen at the The Enchanted Tea Room in Leamington Spa, available on 7, 13, 14, 20 to 24, 27 and 28 December.

Stoke and Staffordshire

The Polar Express will be running at Churnet Valley Railway between 8 November and 23 December, with trains leaving from Froghall Station.

Amerton Railway at Stowe-by-Chartley is running Santa specials from 29 November to 24 December, and Statfold Country Park near Tamworth will have a Santa Express on its narrow gauge railway between 28 November and 23 December.

Tamworth's SnowDome will host Santa's Winter Wonderland between 15 November and 3 January, with tickets including access to the festive village, a short panto and a mini performance of Beauty and the Beast, with an special appearance from Santa himself.

Lower Drayton Farm near Penkridge is inviting children to Jingle-Ville, where they can meet Santa and some mischievous elves.

Drayton Manor has a Christmas Wonderland with a festive train ride, enchanted grotto, a hot chocolate factory and a Christmas pantomime among the highlights.

The National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas has a festive light trail.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Worcester's popular Victorian Christmas fayre takes place between 4 and 7 December, with almost 200 stalls expected, plus street entertainers and a carousel.

Meanwhile, Worcester Cathedral will hold its annual Christmas Tree Festival between 4 December and 6 January.

Webbs Wychbold is going with a Wizard of Oz theme for it's Riverside Gardens light trail, between 20 November and 3 January, featuring a yellow brick road, glowing lanterns and some of the characters.

The Three Counties Showground is hosting Winter Glow this Christmas. It includes a Christmas market, Santa's village, an illuminated light trail, ice skating and a fairground, all taking place between 21 November and 31 December.

National Trust's Berrington Hall in Herefordshire is putting on Christmas with the Georgians between 1 December and 4 January, with decorations from the period and a "below the stairs" Christmas experience.

Brockhampton Estate is also going back in time, to show how Christmas was celebrated in medieval times, with festive displays, musical performances and children's activities. It will take place between 3 November and 19 December 2025.

The Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford is inviting The Grinch into its grotto for a 30-minute musical retelling of the story in the ballroom. It will also include Christmas crafts, letter writing and a meet with Santa.

Wolverhampton and the Black Country

Dudley Canal and Caverns festive boats take visitors on a Christmas letter posting adventure through seasonly-lit tunnels between 29 November and 23 December. The experience also includes an underground panto, hot chocolate, carols and a meet and greet with Santa.

The Black Country Living Museum will be showing how Christmas used to be celebrated, from 29 November and between 12 and 23 December. Visitors will be invited to sing along with some hits from the 1950s and enjoy carols and open fires.

Wolverhampton's Christmas market takes place in Dudley Street between 12 and 18 December, with a range of stalls promised.

The Grand Palace on School Street is hosting a series of Christmas masquerade balls on 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December, with red carpet arrival, a three-course dinner and a DJ.

Birmingham

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens will celebrate Christmas with an illuminated trail, which can be visited between 28 November and 1 January.

Meanwhile the 'Christmas Edition' of the Birmingham Artisan Markets at the gardens will take place on 6 and 7 December.

"The gardens will be stunning, the glass houses toasty and we will have two halls of amazing local businesses, producers and creatives," said market organisers.

Birmingham's popular Frankfurt Christmas Market opens early - on 1 November - and will be serving German festive food, drink and gifts until 24 December.

The city's Moor Street railway station is another place where you can immerse yourself in the world of the Polar Express. It will have actors portraying the cast of the animated film from 22 November until 23 December.

The National Sea Life Centre will give visitors the chance to meet Santa and the elves between 29 November and 24 December.