In Bowness at the the lovely Old Laundry Theatre there's magic for all ages at their seasonal puppet show, The Snow Queen. It runs from Dec 28-30 with shows at 11am and 2pm, and it's performed by Paul Batten of Theatrix Arts. There's also a chance to try puppet-making afterwards. Details and tickets https://worldofbeatrixpotter.com/events/the-snow-queen-puppet-show
The theatre is being renamed in the new year in honour of the late comedian Victoria Wood, a long time friend of the theatre and great lover of the Lake District. In May there's going to be the premiere of a new musical featuring Victoria's words and music by Tom MacRae, writer and lyricist of the global hit Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. We'll be keeping you updated with further details.
If your Christmas MUST include carols, then head along to the beautiful St Mary's Church at Rydal for a candle-lit service at 5pm on Dec 23. This is in a glorious setting, just below Wordsworth's house at Rydal Mount and across the road from Rydal Hall with its magnificent formal gardens. For details of this, and other church services in the Lake District over Christmas, see https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/12407/service-and-events/events/1134164/
But if you want your carolling to be a bit more God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen than Silent Night, head along to the Distillers Arms in Grasmere on Dec 22 at 5pm for Beer, Whisky and Carols.
From Aira Force waterfalls to Wray Castle, from Allan Bank at Grasmere to Sizergh Castle near Kendal, the National Trust manages some of the loveliest properties and tourist attracttions in the whole of the Lakes. You can see them all listed here https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district . They'll be open over the Christmas and New Year holidays, but not on Christmas Day itself.
It's unlikely that you'll find any last-minute accommodation for Christmas in the Lake District, but it's not too soon to think about next year and plan ahead. See our home page https://www.reallakedistrict.co.uk/hotels.aspx for the list of all our fabulous member hotels. And it's still possible to enjoy what they are offering this Christmas. For example, there's always a spectacular firework display at the Lakeside Hotel at Newby Bridge, which can be enjoyed at lots of locations across the southern end of Windermere. You can also check out how to escape the post-Christmas January blues by treating yourself to a short break. https://www.lakesidehotel.co.uk/christmas-new-year/
But you might really want to go hiking up into the hills in search of that white Christmas, and we know this can be the best adventure of the year. Do make sure that you're properly kitted out. There's no excuse while you're in the Lake District with so many expert shops selling boots, waterproofs, warm jackets and - in case you might need them - crampons and ice axes. Make sure you stay safe, don't go out of your comfort zone at this time of the year, and always check the expert weather advice at https://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk/ They give the fell-top conditions, too.
The Lake District's search and rescue organisations have a set of wise guidelines called Adventure Smart which you can check out here. https://www.ldsamra.org.uk/advice
And so, all that remains is for us all here at the Real Lake District to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Look forward to seeing you again in 2026.