Bee Network

No trams through Timperley, Sale or Altrincham. Until Sun 1 Nov (Trafford Centre too). Express buses run, tram tickets valid; back Mon 2 Nov Details

Christmas 2026 with kids near Timperley

Every kind of Christmas outing near Timperley, Altrincham and Sale, each on its own page: Santa grottos, Santa trains and boats, lights switch-ons, light trails and pantos. Pick one, or see what's on this weekend, what's selling out and what's free below.

396 Christmas outings within an hour, 94 free and 85 within 20 minutes of Timperley. Nearest: RSPCA Altrincham branch Christmas Fair at The Larkhill Centre, 13 Thorley Lane (10 min, Sat 14 Nov).Nearest: Christmas Craft Fair at the Larkhill Centre at The Larkhill Centre, 13 Thorley Lane (10 min, Sun 15 Nov).Nearest: A Trail of Tails: Christmas in the House at Dunham Massey (10 min, Fri 20 Nov).Nearest: Christmas light switch-on at The Belmore at The Belmore, Brooklands Road (10 min, Fri 27 Nov). Next up: Christmas Fete (Sun 1 Nov).Next up: Father Christmas' Arrival Parade (Wed 4 Nov).Next up: Walkabout Father Christmas in store (Thu 5 Nov).Next up: Bramall Hall Decorated for Christmas 2026: A Musical Celebration (Thu 5 Nov).

60 days to Christmas. Updated . We add new things every week and check booking pages every few days.

Santa and reindeer

Santa grottos188 Santa visits · 24 free. Nearest: Breakfast or Dinner with Santa at Bramley Farm (10 min) Santa trains and boats26 Santa trains and boats. Nearest: Cruise with Father Christmas (18 min) Santa sleigh routes6 sleighs, routes as they're published

Lights

Lights switch-ons17 switch-ons · 17 free. Nearest: Christmas light switch-on at The Belmore (10 min) Light trails21 light trails · 2 free. Nearest: Christmas at Dunham Massey light trail (15 min)

Shows and singing

Pantos33 pantos. Nearest: Robin Hood: the Garrick pantomime (10 min)

Christmas this weekend 5

The nearest first. Everything on this weekend ›

Christmas Fete Hayrack Church Farm, Thornton-le-Moors, near Chester · 50 min Sunday 1 November, 12–4pmUnder £10

Book now before they go

From our checks of each booking page. Everything that needs booking ›

Selling fast or dates going

Going on sale soon

Sold out (worth checking for returns)

Free Christmas 97

Switch-ons, markets, carols, trails and free grottos, nearest first. Every free one ›

Week by week

What's on each week up to New Year, day by day. The whole calendar ›

Plan your Christmas

Santa slots, Santa trains and weekend light-trail tickets sell first, often weeks ahead, so they're worth booking as soon as you know your dates; Book now before they go above shows which are selling fast from our checks of each booking page. Switch-ons, markets, carols and most fairs are free and need no booking.

Trafford's Christmas holidays start on Saturday 19 December. For the days between Christmas and New Year, see what's open over Christmas; for when Santa's sleigh comes down your street, Santa sleigh routes.

Questions parents ask

What is there to do at Christmas with kids near Altrincham and Sale?

We list 396 Christmas outings within an hour of Timperley this year, from Santa grottos and light trails to pantos, Christmas markets, Santa trains and switch-ons. Each kind has its own page, linked at the top of this one.

Where are the nearest Santa's grottos?

The nearest Santa's grottos and Santa experiences to Timperley are St George's Christmas Fayre (Altrincham, Sat 28 Nov, 10 min), Santa's Grotto at OYEZ Arts, Altrincham Town Hall (Altrincham, Sat 5 Dec, 10 min), HARIBO Holly Jolly Grotto (Trafford Park, Fri 20 Nov, 15 min) and Santa's Grotto at Wythenshawe Civic (Wythenshawe, Fri 27 Nov, 15 min). There are 125 in all. Santa grottos compared has every one with its real price and what's selling out.

When are the Christmas light switch-ons near Altrincham and Sale?

The nearest are Christmas light switch-on at The Belmore (Sale, Fri 27 Nov, 10 min), Ashton on Mersey Village Christmas Market and Light Switch-On (Sale, Sat 21 Nov, 15 min), Knutsford Christmas Lights Switch-On (Knutsford, Sat 21 Nov, 20 min) and Heald Green Christmas Markets and Lights Switch-On (Heald Green, Sun 29 Nov, 20 min). See every Christmas lights switch-on, with times and who's switching on.

Where's the nearest panto?

The nearest pantos are Robin Hood: the Garrick pantomime (Altrincham, Fri 4 Dec, 10 min), Jack and the Beanstalk on ice (Altrincham, Tue 8 Dec, 10 min) and Aladdin and His Amazing Lamp (Sale Moor, Thu 10 Dec, 10 min). There are 33 in all. See every panto, compared.

Is there anything free at Christmas?

Yes. 94 Christmas outings listed here are free (some ask for a donation). The nearest are RSPCA Altrincham branch Christmas Fair (Timperley, Sat 14 Nov, 10 min), Christmas light switch-on at The Belmore (Sale, Fri 27 Nov, 10 min) and St George's Christmas Fayre (Altrincham, Sat 28 Nov, 10 min). There are 94 in all, listed under Free.

How we keep this list

Every event comes from the organiser's own page, with the date we last checked it. Our research runs every week, and booking pages for grottos, trains, light trails and pantos are checked every few days until they sell out. Spotted something we've missed, a school or church fair, a grotto, a panto? Tell us and we'll check it and add it.