Butlins at Christmas 2024
After talking with my family, we decided we wanted to do something different this year and getaway for Christmas. Butlins is the perfect place for kids, with so much for them to do and still have a Christmassy vibe. It was a fun-filled getaway and Butlins go above and beyond to make it a family friendly atmosphere with incredible entertainment.
There were many things I loved about Butlins. I loved that the kids met Santa and had a tailored magical experience. They both wrote a letter and put it in a post box, they then spoke to the elves and went into a lift. When we came out of the lift Santa was waiting and knew their names. It was the sweetest experience the adults were almost in tears. They also got a a little gift each at the end of the experience.
There was an abundance of entertaining shows, the kids took a liking to the evening disco at Reds where they had the opportunity to join in with choregraphed dances. There were so many activities to take part in, including soft play, funfair rides, bowling, meet and greets with characters like Optimus Prime and an arcade full of exciting games. There was also options for older children, including VR Games and a spa for adults. The Fireworks display was a nice surprise as we were not aware this was on offer until we got there and we absolutely loved it!
Some things to look out for if you’re thinking of going. If you don’t have a full dining plan you won’t be able to have Christmas dinner at Butlins. That being said there are several restaurants on site, including an American Style Diner and other fast food chains such as Subway, Costa and Burger King. There was a mini fridge in our room in the Wave Hotel, and depending on what style of room you have you may have the option to make your own food. We opted for the breakfast package and bought lunches and dinner at the restaurants on site.
Some activities need to be booked in advance for example meet and greet with Santa, decorate your own ornaments and treatments at the spa. All of these things sell out very quickly, so book early to avoid disappointment. In addition to this you can purchase an activities pass. This provides you with the option to take part in thing like bowling, go-karting, mini- golf and trampolining.
If you’re looking for a stress-free Christmas this is the place to go as everything is taken care of from food to cleaning and entertainment for the kids. If you’re looking for a cheap Christmas getaway this is not for you as everything starts to add up after a while. That being said book early as places go very quickly and it also provides the opportunity to spread the cost.
Overall we had a great time, and not sure if we can top this next year.