Cheap Christmas days out Cheshire
Don’t let the cost of Christmas get out of hand this and still make festive memories with your kids with the help of my guide to cheap Christmas days out Cheshire. Here you’ll find the cheapest grottos, light trails, free and low cost Christmas events and the discounts I find on some of the big days out across Cheshire.This post is part of my series of posts on Christmas events North West.
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Gulliver’s World Santa stay and play – discount!
Where – Gulliver’s World, Warrington
A Gulliver’s World Warrington, Cheshire family Santa Sleepover for two adults and two children at Castle Hotel with breakfast, theme park entry and Land of Lights tickets.
From £179 per family
Book here * Gulliver’s World
Cheapest light trails in Cheshire
Enchanted Winter Walk, Quarry Bank Mill is £9.50 per ticket (under 12 months free). Book tickets here – Enchanted walk
You can get tickets for a family of four for around £50 – £60 on selected nights to some of the others (Yuletide, Chester Zoo, Bents, Land of lights) but the nearer to Christmas you get, the price does rise with some.
Find my full guide to Christmas light trails North West here.
Cheapest Santa’s grotto in Cheshire
Santa’s Grotto, National waterways museum, Ellesmere port
Where: National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 4FW
When: 6th & 7th December 2025
Cost: Boat trip and grotto £11.50 per adult or child. Grotto only £8 per child.
Meet Father Christmas at the museum in his Grotto with the option of also taking a festive boat trip along the canal with some of his elves and enjoy singing, games, stories and a treasure trail.
Book here – Festive Boat Trips & Santa’s Grotto Experience
Christmas at Lion Salt Works – Details for 2025
When: 7th December 2025
Where: Lion Salt Works, Ollershaw Lane, Marston, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 6ES
Cost: £3-5 per child, free crafts
Summary: Free crafts, meet Santa in his grotto (£3 – booking required), Christmas carols and Northwich Explorers – Winter Wonder (£5 – booking required)
Book here – Christmas at the Works
Dickensian Grotto at Grosvenor museum – book now for 2025
When: 6th & 7th December 2025
Experience the sights and smells of a Victorian Christmas, set within Chester’s Grosvenor Museum.
Join us at Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street over the festive period, where we’ll be hosting the original Father Christmas and Mother Christmas. Come and meet them in their enchanted Dickensian grotto, complete with traditional toys and festive cheer.
£10 per child, includes a traditional gift
Book here – The Original Father Christmas – Dickensian Grotto
Meet Santa at Congleton Museum – book now for 2025
When: 6th & 7th December 2025
You will be able to enjoy Christmas crafts, meet Santa (and receive a gift), seasonal story time, post a letter to the North Pole and explore the Christmas trail.
£7 per child
Book here – Meet Santa
Santa’s grotto at Walton Hall – book now for 2025
When: selected dates from 29th November – 23rd December 2025.
£12 per child. Includes a visit to see Santa, a present and a puzzle trail.
There will be photographs and gifts to purchase of your magical moment on the day. There will also be lots of other wonderful festive activities to take part in, including craft activities to keep all the family busy!
Book here – Santa’s Grotto – Walton Hall and Gardens
Santa’s Grotto, Macclesfield – book now for 2025
When: 29th November 2025 only
£5 per child
Book by phone or in person at Macclesfield Visitor Centre.
Full details here – Macclesfield Town Council
Don’t forget to check your school’s Christmas fair, they often have low cost grottos.
Other cheap Christmas events in Cheshire
The nosey reindeer at Ness Botanic gardens – Details for 2025
Where: Ness Botanic Gardens, University of Liverpool, Neston Road, Ness, Cheshire, CH64 4AY
When: 13th & 14th December 2025.
Cost: £8 per ticket for members, £10 non-members
Meet a curious little reindeer with a big heart and an even bigger nose for sniffing out secrets —uncovering a holiday mystery that just might save Christmas! Packed with catchy songs, silly antics, and festive fun, this actor and puppet-powered adventure will warm hearts of all ages.
Book here – Christmas show | Ness Botanic Gardens
Jack Frost’s snow time adventure, Theatre Porto, Ellesmere Port – book now for 2025
When: 20th December 2025
Where: Whitby Hall, Stanney Ln, Whitby, Ellesmere Port, CH65 6QY
Cost £7.50 a ticket
Suitable for aged 2 – 6 years.
Jack Frost’s Snow Time Adventure is an immersive installation for the young and very young which offers a sensory and imaginative story experience which captivates and delights.
Book here – Jack Frost’s snow time adventure
Jingle Birds, Grovesnor Museum – details for 2025
Where: Grovesnor museum, 27 Grosvenor Street, Chester, Cheshire
When: 23rd & 30th December 2025
Cost: Free, drop in. Donations welcome.
Inspired by the song, ‘The 12 x days of Christmas’ – join us and make your own festive ‘Jingle Bird’
Full details here – 23rd – Jingle Birds
30th – Jingle Birds
12 cultures of Christmas – details for 2025
Where: Grovesnor museum, 27 Grosvenor Street, Chester, Cheshire
When: 12th – 24th December 2025
Cost: free
Pick up a ’12 Cultures of Christmas’ trailsheet from our reception desk and discover some of the unusual traditions associated with Christmas around the world. Accessible version available.
Full details here – 12 Cultures of Christmas
Brereton Heath Nature reserve elf Hunt – details for 2025
When: 13th December 2025 – 4th January 2026
Where: Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve Visitor Centre, Davenport Lane, Brereton, Congleton, CW12 4SU
Cost: Free
Summary: Can you find them all the elves and collect their names? Pick up a map from near the visitor centre and get searching around the park for the signs.
Full details here – Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve Elf Hunt
Tegg’s nose country park elf hunt – details for 2025
When: 13th December 2025 – 4th January 2026
Where: The Nose Coffee, Tegg’s Nose Visitor Centre, Tegg’s Nose Country Park, Buxton Old Road, Macclesfield, SK11 0AP
Cost: 50p. Once you’ve completed the trail come back to The Nose Coffee for 50p off your drink order.
Summary: Use the map to find all the elf posters across the site and collect their names.
Full details here – Tegg’s Nose Country Park Elf Hunt
Christmas tree festivals, Chester Cathedral – Details for 2025
When: 28th November 2025 – 4th January 2026
Where: Chester Cathedral, St Werburgh St
Cost: TBC, free on Sundays
Summary: Enjoy over 80 trees decorated in the theme of Christmas Around the World.
Book here – Christmas Tree Festival – Chester Cathedral
Christmas at the zoo, Walton Hall – book now for 2025
When: 6th December 2025
Cost: £10 per child
1 hour event including a tour of the zoo and festive craft session.
Book here – Christmas at the Zoo – Walton Hall and Gardens
Pete Waterman’s Making Tracks For Christmas, Blakemere Village – 2025 details
When: 13th December 2025 – 4th January 2026
Where: Blakemere Village, Chester Rd, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 2EB
Remember a magical childhood Christmas when you woke to find Santa had left you a toy train set? This festive season, revisit those happy memories of yesteryear with our 64ft-long model railway installation. Includes interactive elements for children and adults and a few hidden surprises! It’s fun, educational, and awe-inspiring.
Tickets from £5, under 4’s free
Full details here – Pete Waterman’s Making Tracks For Christmas
Elmer’s art parade, Macclesfield – 2025 details
When: 21st November 2025 – 9th January 2026
Where: Macclesfield town centre
Using David McKee’s popular children’s character Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, the Parade is Macclesfield’s first-ever public art sculpture trail. The beautifully decorated colourful elephants curated by North West firm Wild In Art, will magically appear across the town centre and form a parade of 12, all waiting for visitors to discover.
This is an exciting trail for visitors of all ages to enjoy in spots such as the Grosvenor Centre, Macclesfield Library, The Silk Museum, Mill Street and 8 other locations.
Full details – Elmer’s art parade
Step into Christmas, Macclesfield – 2025 details
When: 29th November 2025
Join us in welcoming Christmas to Macclesfield.
Santa’s grotto, crafts, music, entertainment, food & drink, craft fair – it’s all going on.
Full details here – Step into Christmas – Macclesfield Town Council
Free festive movies at The winter village, Cheshire Oaks – book now for 2025
When – All showings start at 5:30pm
This Christmas, enjoy a free festive movie classic on The Big Screen in our Alpine Lodge! From Home Alone to Deck The Halls, The Grinch and more. Plus, we’ll have a whole load of tasty snacks on offer, including a luxury hot chocolate and cookie for just £6.50 and popcorn, candy floss, sweets and a drink for just £10.50.
Book here – Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet
National Trust events that are free for members – 2025 details
Quarry Bank forth floor festive play – 2025 details
When: 27th November – 31st December 2025
Where: Quarry Bank, Styal
Cost: Admission charges apply. Free entry for members.
Summary: The popular indoor summer attraction has had a Christmas glow up, and is ready to welcome our younger visitors along with their grown-ups.
Here, your little ones can enjoy hours of fun in the soft play area, transform into a character from the dressing-up wardrobe, and take to the stage. Plus, they can create puppet shows and challenge themselves to a giant board game.
With festive crafts and games surrounded by the sparkle of Christmas, you’ll want to visit over and over again!
Full details here – Fourth floor festive play space | National Trust
Roaming Robins, Little Moreton Hall – 2025 details
When: Selected dates from 5th – 21st December 2025
Where: Newcastle Road, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4SD
Cost: Included in admission, free for NT members
Summary: Count the robins as you explore the ins and outs of the Tudor Hall. The robins come in all different shapes and sizes and have found very good hiding places
Full details here – Roaming Robins | National Trust
Deck the Hall, Little Moreton Hall – 2025 details
When: Selected dates from 5th – 21st December 2025
Where: Newcastle Road, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4SD
Cost: Included in admission, free for NT members
Summary: Discover the hall like never before as we travel through Christmas past, without the need for a time machine!
Full details here – Deck the Hall | National Trust
More things to do in and around Cheshire this Christmas
I’ve also got a guide to cheap Christmas days out in Manchester if you’re happy to travel a little. Or perhaps you’d like to see the list of cheap Christmas days out in Liverpool.
Find my full guide to Christmas events Cheshire here.
Find my guide to New Year’s Eve events for families in Cheshire here
