Winter with Wildlife
Take a seasonal safari in Wiltshire
New for 2021, Longleat is going Christmas crazy. As well as spotting creatures on a Winter Safari Drive-through, you can sit down for fairytales featuring live raptors at the Flight Before Christmas show, watch illuminations ignite the stately home’s grand facade, walk through a tunnel of lights, board the Santa Train, follow the illuminated flower trail through the Monkey Temple and marvel at Britain’s tallest singing Christmas tree.
Christmas All-In-One tickets from £36.95 adult, £27.70 child; to Jan 3 (01985 844400; longleat.co.uk).
Meet sub-aqua Santa in Cheshire
It’s not just reindeer – St Nick likes to gallivant around with reef life too. Head to Cheshire’s Blue Planet Aquarium before regular opening hours for a festive breakfast by the Caribbean tank, where ‘Scuba Santa’ will be floating inside with the sharks, stingrays and a blizzard of tropical fish. He’ll chat, via hand signals, then surface to say a proper ho-ho-ho.
Breakfast with Scuba Santa costs £28 over-12s, £24 juniors, £5 toddlers (latter excludes food); Dec 18, 19, 23, 24 (0151 357 8804; blueplanetaquarium.com).
Roadtrip with reindeer in Flintshire
Take your family on a magical safari around the Welsh borders countryside, either in the soft winter daylight or in the atmospheric after-dark. Reindeer Lodge, near Mold, is home to a large herd and a festive self-drive trail that leads via a drive-thru Toy Workshop, Santa’s Grotto, Elf Village and past twinkling lights, rolling hills and grazing reindeer.
Day Reindeer Safaris from £39.50 per vehicle; £49.50 for night safaris; to Dec 24 (01244 747686; reindeerlodge.co.uk).
Hear the birds across the country
Aardman’s Robin Robin, a festive tale about a young robin trying to fit in, has just launched on Netflix. But you can opt for a real-life version at a handful of RSPB reserves around the UK: wrap up for a storytelling walk at sites such as Sandwell Valley and Bempton Cliffs to learn about both the film’s avian heroine and the country’s winter birds.
Robin Robin Storytelling events from £4.50pp; select dates at several RSPB reserves, Dec 11-31 (rspb.org.uk).
