Twixmas in Somerset: Things to do between Christmas and New Year 2024-25
The ‘Twixmas’ period – a peculiar twilight zone when things to do between Christmas and New Year take on a surreal quality, as nobody has any idea what day it is, none of the normal rules apply and everybody is living off leftovers and chocolate money.
The combination of children in your household consuming more sugar than usual, plus frenzied levels of post-Christmas excitement, often requires some entertainment strategies from grown-ups, and/or some serious energy-burning activities.
Luckily lots of places in Somerset are open for wintry family entertainment for the week before school starts again, offering everything from ice skating to tobogganing and festive trails. Check out my Twixmas guide for things to do in Somerset between Christmas and New Year 2024-2025.
Please check full details with organisers and venues as some may not be open on bank holidays or have reduced opening hours.
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Cheap and FREE things to do between Christmas and New Year
If you’re feeling the pinch after Christmas, there are plenty of budget-friendly and free things to do in Somerset (check out my guide here).
Here are some more ideas for free ways to entertain the kids while working off some of that excess Christmas chocolate:
- Climb Glastonbury Tor and explore the town – there’s a mural trail featuring 48 artworks dotted around the town – download the map for free here.
- Walk up to Bruton Dovecote for views across the town
- Visit world-class gallery Hauser & Wirth Somerset
- See stupendous Somerset views from Ham Hill
- Discover the ruins of Nunney Castle
- Visit the free Museum of Somerset, Taunton
- Walk around Frogmary Farm gardens, South Petherton
- Take a stroll in Dillington Estate, Ilminster
- Gaze at the sensational Bath Skyline
- Stroll along the Somerset Space Walk, Maunsel Lock, Bridgwater and Taunton Canal
- Explore Ninesprings Nature Reserve, Yeovil
- Get back to nature at Chard Reservoir
- Look for wildlife at Shapwick Heath, Ham Wall and Westhay Moor Nature Reserve
- Take a hike around Otterhead Lakes, Blackdown Hills
Pantomimes: what’s on between Christmas and New Year
Westlands, Yeovil
- Jack and the Beanstalk: 13 December 2024 – 5 January 2025
The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare
- Beauty & The Beast: 7-31 December 2024
Theatre Royal Bath
- Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs: 12 December 2024-12 January 2025
The McMillan Theatre, Bridgwater
- Aladdin: 13-30 December 2024
Goldilocks at Bristol Hippodrome
2024 dates: 7 December– January 5
Goldilocks and the Three Bears comes to the Bristol Hippodrome this Christmas. This magical pantomime features comedy, circus acts, and special effects, promising fun for the whole family. Starring Brian Conley and Brenda Edwards. Book tickets now for this festive treat!
Events happening between Christmas and New Year in Somerset
Icescape Tropicana, Weston-super-Mare
2024 dates: 1 November-5 January 2025
The UK’S largest undercover winter ice rink returns to the Tropicana! The rink features real ice and each skating session is 45 minutes long and the ice rink is (manual) wheelchair accessible. Enjoy the thrill of the rides (including a Christmas rollercoaster and bungee trampolines), indulge in festive treats, and meet beloved mascot, Pippen the Penguin. More info and booking.
Hestercombe – Illuminate 2024
This beautiful garden in Taunton lights up (21 Nov – 30 Dec 2024) with spectacular colour and sound, offering a magical winter walk through acres of stunning gardens. More info and booking.
Bishop’s Palace Christmas Garden Illuminations
The stunning gardens at Wells are beautifully-lit (selected dates 6 Dec – 30 Dec 2024), perfect for a festive stroll. Bishop’s Palace website.
The Festival of Light at Longleat Safari Park
9 November 2024-January 5 2025
The 2024 Festival of Light at Longleat will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a dazzling ‘Journey Through Time’ theme. This year’s lantern trail will take visitors through historic eras—from the age of dinosaurs to the colourful world of Arabian Nights. Highlights will include an illuminated 12-meter clock and a mesmerising light show projected onto Longleat House to mark its 75th anniversary. More info and booking.
Bath on Ice, Royal Victoria Park
2024 dates: 15 November – 5 January
Find Twixmas euphoria on the Bath’s Royal Victoria Park ice rink, where gliding glee comes in the form of seasonal tunes and treats from Moguls Alpine Bar.
Glow in the Dark, Mini Golf, Bath
2024 dates: 15 November – 5 January
After showing your best skating shapes at Bath on Ice, try nighttime Glow Golf next door on the twinkling mini-golf course, where glowing balls and festive lights create an enchanting atmosphere for keen putters.
New Years Day Steam Up 2025, Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum
1 January 2025, 11am-4pm
Celebrate New Year’s Day at Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum, with over 40 stationary steam engines and pumps in full operation. Enjoy the warmth of the Marshall boiler, ride the narrow gauge railway, and indulge in festive snacks at the café. Advance tickets available online. Free parking, quiz, and picnic area.
Attractions open this Twixmas in Somerset
Twilight Tobogganning, Mendip Activity Centre
8 November 2024-5 January 2025
Round up the troops and stave off the post-Christmas lull with a family twilight experience at Mendip Activity Centre’s toboggan run.
Buy individual spaces or book for a group of up to eight people with exclusive use of half of the toboggan slope, all set a-twinkle. After your 30-minute session, head off along an illuminated path to a canopied woodland clearing for marshmallows, hot chocolate, s’mores and sparklers around the campfire.
And if that’s got your adventurous ears pricked, there’s also a VAST array of outdoor activities to blow away the turkey-scented cobwebs – make a day of it with frisbee golf, orienteering, ski or snowboard lessons. More info and booking.
Clarks Village Ice Rink
14 November 2024-5 January 2025 including Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
For a wholesome activity that’ll cut through all the rich festive food, head to Somerset shopping outlet, Clarks Village. The all-weather 500m2 ice-skating rink, set within the grounds of the neighbouring Arthur Gillet Trust, features real ice, discos, quiet sessions and dedicated parent and toddler times.
Clip-on bob skates and skating aids are available to hire, so wobbly skaters can swish and glide to their heart’s content, and the ice rink is also (manual) wheelchair accessible. Combine with some serious sale shopping – you’ll get access to some exclusive brand discounts at Clarks Village when you show your ice skating tickets. More info and booking.
Twixmas with Paddington at Wookey Hole Caves
27 December 2024-5 January 2025
If you book to see Santa at Wookey Hole, you’ll be given the option to add on a return visit (with 50% off) to enjoy their Twixmas experience featuring PaddingtonTM!
Of course, you don’t have to see Santa at Wookey beforehand, just go to see the beloved bear who will be making guest appearances after the twice daily Panto shows. Book Twixmas Wookey Hole Winter Wonderland
Somerset National Trust places to visit this Twixmas
12 days of Christmas trail, Prior Park National Trust
Weekends only from 30 November – 15 December, daily from 21 December to 5 January (closed 24 and 25 December).
Set in a sweeping valley, with winding paths and jaw-dropping views over Bath, Prior Park makes for a spectacular, wintry family walk. Christmas is particularly magical, as the Palladian Bridge (one of only four of this design in the world) is draped with a festive garland. Motivate little legs with the 12 Days of Christmas trail – more info.
Reindeer World Tour at Montacute House
From 23 November 2024-1 January 2025 (excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).
Montacute House welcomes Father Christmas’s reindeer back to the garden and they need your help. Four sacks of presents have slipped off the sleigh, so Father Christmas has sent the reindeer out to find them. Can you discover where in the world the sacks have landed? More info about festive Montacute.
Tyntesfield reindeer trail
17 December to 31 December 2024 (excl. 24 & 25 December)
The reindeer have escaped from Tyntesfield stables and are running riot across the estate! Father Christmas needs your help to track down them down so he can round them up to pull his sleigh. Using a map of the locations they were last seen, explore the Tyntesfield estate and see if you can find all 9 reindeer. Further information on the Tyntesfield reindeer trail.
Winter family Trail at Fyne Court
21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025, 10am – 3pm
Explore Fyne Court’s wintry woodland as you follow our trail around the gardens, then head to the Music Hall for festive crafts. More info.
12 days of Twixmas trails, Dunster Castle
2024 dates: 26 December-5 January 2025
Dog walking, playing games and wearing ill fitting jumpers. Find out what the Dunster household were doing between Christmas and New Year and join in with some of the activities. More info.
Christmas at Stourhead National Trust
2024 dates – 29 November-1 January 2025
Discover gigantic luminescent sculptures rising high into the night sky, glittering trees dripping with festive colour, giant baubles and a fire garden aglow with flames, all enhanced by a soundtrack of festive tunes. More info.
Know of an event I can add to my Somerset guides? Submit a listing!
If you know of an event or activity not in this guide to things to do in Somerset between Christmas and New year, get in touch. It’s free to be listed!
