Herts &amp; Beds

Not for the faint hearted&#8230; if you fancy a refreshing dip, Ware Lido is opening for the first time ever over the Christmas break, with <a href="https://waretowncouncil.gov.uk/2023/11/03/festive-swims-at-ware-lido/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Festive Swims</a>. The Christmas Day and New Year&#8217;s Day sessions sold out in hours but you can still book for 29, 30 and 31 December. It&#8217;s heated, but wetsuits are advised! 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Ware-lido-festive-swims-canva-1000x667.jpg" alt="Santa sitting on a sun lounger by a swimming pool" class="wp-image-81914" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Ware-lido-festive-swims-canva-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Ware-lido-festive-swims-canva-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Ware-lido-festive-swims-canva-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Ware-lido-festive-swims-canva.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Time travel back to the realm of the Tudor Court with this immersive festive experience, <a href="https://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/event/fantastical-christmas-revels-hosted-by-queen-elizabeth-i/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fantastical Christmas Revels hosted by Queen Elizabeth I</a>, at Hatfield House, until 31 Dec. You’ll be guided around the West Garden, Knot Garden and into the Victorian Kitchen, where you’ll find bespoke historical installations, from a carriage fit for a queen to live yuletide plays in action, with authentic music and an imposing Queen Elizabeth I. It’s all outdoors so wrap up for the weather!



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Fantastical-Christmas-Hatfield-1000x667.jpg" alt="Fantastical Christmas revels with Queen Elizabeth I Hatfield House" class="wp-image-80877" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Fantastical-Christmas-Hatfield-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Fantastical-Christmas-Hatfield-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Fantastical-Christmas-Hatfield-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Fantastical-Christmas-Hatfield.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



It&#8217;s your last chance to catch Wrest Park&#8217;s first foray into light trails and a lovely thing to do in that betwixtmas period &#8211; <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/wrest-park-christmas-at-wrest-park/?utm_source=awin&amp;utm_medium=Affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=Affiliate&amp;sv_campaign_id=78888&amp;sv_tax1=affiliate&amp;sv_tax2=&amp;sv_tax3=Skimlinks&amp;sv_tax4=muddystilettos.co.uk&amp;sv_affiliate_id=78888&amp;awc=5928_1702301732_fe63c42433bb05a72bf1836fb672efea" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">An Enchanting Christmas Light Trail</a>, is on until 1 Jan. The immersive light installations will be designed to blend with the estate’s natural surroundings in an explosion of colour, sparkle and festive cheer. There’ll also be festive food, warming cocktails and plenty of Insta-worthy moments.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Wrest-Park-Light-trail-1000x667.jpg" alt="wrest park light trail" class="wp-image-80875" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Wrest-Park-Light-trail-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Wrest-Park-Light-trail-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Wrest-Park-Light-trail-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Wrest-Park-Light-trail.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Need to keep the kids entertained for the day over the hols? Sign them up for a holiday <a href="https://www.woburnsafari.co.uk/plan-your-day/visitor-information/school-visits/holiday-workshops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">workshop at Woburn Safari</a> (for ages 8 &#8211; 17) where they can get hands on with feeding and caring for the animals. Various dates from 21 Dec &#8211; 2 Jan.



Panto is just as good betwixtmas as it is, well, as xmas. Catch <a href="https://southmillarts.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873642610/events/129465012" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cinderella</a>, the panto at South Mill arts in Bishop&#8217;s Stortford until 2 Jan. <a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/panto-review-cinderella-south-mill-arts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read my review here</a>. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="548" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Full-cast-Cinderella-1000x548.jpg" alt="Cinderella south mill arts cast" class="wp-image-81820" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Full-cast-Cinderella-1000x548.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Full-cast-Cinderella-800x438.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Full-cast-Cinderella-900x493.jpg 900w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Full-cast-Cinderella.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Fancy a challenge? Put your skills to the test at Mill Green Watermill’s <a href="https://www.enjoystalbans.com/event/christmas-carol-escape-room-at-mill-green-watermill/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christmas Carol Escape Room</a> until 3 Jan. Meet the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future and explore the 18th century working watermill, whilst completing challenges and puzzles in your teams in this immersive experience. Teams of 3-5 cost £27 per person, while teams of 6-8 cost £25 per person.



<a href="https://winterwonderlandbedford.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bedford Winter Wonderland</a> is bringing Christmas to Bedford Park until 3 Jan, with ice skating, big wheel, Christmas tree maze, Santa&#8217;s Grotto and Alpine bar. Plus, if you book ice skating, entry into the rest of the event is free. Entry is just £2pp (under 3s go free). 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Bedford-winter-wonderland-1000x667.jpg" alt="Bedford winter wonderland big wheel" class="wp-image-81918" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Bedford-winter-wonderland-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Bedford-winter-wonderland-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Bedford-winter-wonderland-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Bedford-winter-wonderland.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



There’s a <a href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/events/tring-polar-bear-trail.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polar bear trail </a>at Tring’s Natural History Museum until 3 January – just £1 a ticket if you’re after an easy post-Christmas activity.



If you’ve still got the festive fuel, head to the big smoke’s winter hot spot at ExCeL London until 7 Jan. <a href="https://www.kingdomofwinter.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kingdom of Winter</a> has a cool alpine-style Christmas market AND ice skating, a themed circus, fairground rides, an immersive ice expedition trail, and a delicious range of festive food and drink. It’s all under one heated roof, so you won’t need to defrost on the way home. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Kingdom-of-Winter-1000x667.jpg" alt="Kingdom of winter carousel and snowy trees" class="wp-image-81862" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Kingdom-of-Winter-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Kingdom-of-Winter-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Kingdom-of-Winter-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Kingdom-of-Winter.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



And you can also get your skates on at Letchworth Outdoor Pool, for <a href="https://www.sll.co.uk/skateletchworth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Skate Letchworth</a> as a state-of-the-art ice rink has popped up on the terrace over the festive season, until 7 Jan. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Ice-skating-Canva-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-81920" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Ice-skating-Canva-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Ice-skating-Canva-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Ice-skating-Canva-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Ice-skating-Canva.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Plus there&#8217;s still time to catch <a href="https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/whats-on/hogwarts-in-the-snow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hogwarts in the Snow</a> until 14 Jan, where the familiar Potter sets get a wintery makeover.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Hogwarts-in-the-snow-1000x667.jpg" alt="Hogwarts in the Snow" class="wp-image-80978" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Hogwarts-in-the-snow-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Hogwarts-in-the-snow-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Hogwarts-in-the-snow-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Hogwarts-in-the-snow.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Need a little betwixtmas calm after all the chaos? Head to St Albans Cathedral’s to see the Wallingford Screen as it might have looked in Medieval times (with a little help from modern technology) for the <a href="https://www.stalbanscathedral.org/Event/saints-in-colour" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saints in Colour</a> exhibition until 28 Jan 2024.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Saints-in-colour-1000x667.jpg" alt="Saints in colour st Albans cathedral" class="wp-image-80614" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Saints-in-colour-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Saints-in-colour-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Saints-in-colour-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Saints-in-colour.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>

12 lovely betwixtmas things to do with the family

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