Trees, decorations, lights, food… presents! Ready or not, the big ‘C’ is coming and there’s so much to organise. Yet no matter how early we start preparing, there are always a million things to do at Christmas that we somehow manage to forget about. So while you worry about whether to buy a present for that cousin who may or may not turn up, we’ve put together this guide to some of the best Christmas events in Birmingham. That’s one less thing to worry about.
1. Pick out a real Christmas tree from a local farm
Before the festivities can begin, you have to sort out a festive Christmas tree. Kickstart the festive spirit in your household with a family day out, deciding on the perfect Christmas tree. Whether you’re after a freshly-cut fir or a sustainable and locally sourced tree, check out our guide for best places to buy Christmas trees in Birmingham.
2. Cosy up with Candlelight Christmas Concerts
If you ask us, Christmas is nothing without the music. This magical time of year wouldn’t be the same without traditional Christmas carols and radio-friendly Xmas tunes. But it could be improved upon by classically trained musicians performing under the gentle glow of candlelight! At both St Paul’s Church and Birmingham Cathedral, see your favourite Christmas classics performed by a string quartet. Get your tickets for Candlelight this Christmas here.
3. Have ‘A Most Magical Christmas’ with Disney
Four years after the Disney store closed at the Bullring, it’s back at Selfridges, with a limited-time store for the festive season, full of Disney Parks treasures. Oh boy! Part of the wider Disney and Selfridges collaboration, ‘A Most Magical Christmas’, discover Disney windows, brand collaborations (including limited-edition Disney favourites, specially commissioned fashion pieces, and unique gift ideas), bespoke Disney iterations of the Selfridges bag, and an unmissable magical façade.
4. Glide into Christmas by going ice skating
We’ll be indulging more than our fair share of mulled wine, mince pies and turkey slices this Christmas in Birmingham. So some exercise is needed! What better festive activity to burn some calories than ice skating? No one expects you to become the next Torvill or Dean overnight, but Ice Skate Birmingham at Centenary Square, alongside plenty more ice skating rinks around Birmingham, will be open all of Christmas. If you get knocked down, to paraphrase Chumbawamba, just get up again!
5. Head to the UK’s best Christmas market
Everyone knows that Birmingham is home to the best Christmas market in the UK. Originally brought over from Frankfurt in 1997, Birmingham Christmas Market has grown to over a hundred stalls and attracts around 5.5 million visitors each year. It is now the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria.
6. Check out Birmingham’s other Christmas market
In no way can Christmas in Cathedral Square match the scale of the Frankfurt Christmas Market, but it’s no less charming. Taking over Birmingham Cathedral grounds, it has quickly become a local favourite and the go-to place for the West Midlands’ very best independent traders at Christmastime. And this year, there are 40 days of trading, from Friday, November 7, to Wednesday, December 24.
7. Tuck into Christmas lunch on ‘Britain’s most luxurious train’
Credit: Northern Belle
Described as Britain’s most luxurious train, the Northern Belle will be leaving Birmingham on a round-trip through the West Midlands countryside on December 14. Tuck into a seven-course festive lunch, enjoy flowing champagne, and stare out of the window at stunning sights. Plus, onboard entertainment will add a little extra bit of Christmas magic – like a table magician and wandering musicians – to the journey. Of course, luxury doesn’t come cheap at £395 per passenger…
8. Follow an adorable reindeer trail around Birmingham city centre
Brum’s Christmas Reindeer Trail has spread throughout the city centre. Each is lovingly hand-painted by local artists from across the Midlands. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and, of course, Rudolph will be on display in nine unique locations – from the Great Western Arcade to the Mailbox and Selfridges. You can discover all their locations here, while a Snowman trail can be found just outside of Birmingham.
9. Witness ‘A Christmas Carol’ like never before
This holiday season, A Christmas Carol: The Drone Light Show welcomes you to an eco-friendly, world-class drone light experience like no other. See Charles Dickens’ timeless tale come to life in the open night sky with hundreds of drones soaring 340 feet high in the air to create stunning, animated scenes—accompanied by a festive soundtrack and beautiful narration by Matt Lucas. Just a short trip from Birmingham, in Northampton, this drone show is a sustainable, pet-friendly alternative to fireworks, offering a dazzling and greener way to enjoy the holidays. You can get your tickets to A Christmas Carol: The Drone Light Show.
10. All aboard The Polar Express
I suggest we all hold on… TIGHTLY, because this immersive Polar Express experience is leaving Birmingham this Christmas. Vintage Trains brings the wonder of the 2004 motion picture, theatrically re-created aboard a real steam engine, to Birmingham Moor Street. The two-hour performance includes hot chocolate, cookies and the first gift of Christmas—handed out by Santa himself!
11. Visit the ONLY place in the UK guaranteed real snow
While it has snowed before in Birmingham at Christmas, you can guarantee the magic of real snow every day at the SnowDome in Tamworth. Santa’s Winter Wonderland boasts real Christmas trees and over 1,200 tonnes of real snow—that’s more than enough to build a million snowmen—as well as 4,500 metres of twinkling tree lights. You’ll whiz down the Summit Slide, gather for a family snowball fight, and don’t miss the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ mini-pantomime or the alpacas at Santa’s Christmas Village.
12. Catch a Christmas classic with a live orchestra
It’s one of my favourite aspects of Christmas: the movies. For the ultimate modern Christmas classic (Sorry, Elf fans), the star-studded Love Actually will be presented live in concert with a full orchestra playing the score live-to-film at Symphony Hall on December 12. Considered one of the most recognisable soundtracks in romcom, expect covers of Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’, and the Troggs ‘Love Is All Around’.
13. Take the kids to the UK’s biggest indoor Christmas funfair
Winter Funland, the largest indoor Christmas funfair in the UK, returns to Birmingham NEC from December 6 to January 3. Expect plenty of funfair thrills from waltzers, dodgems, and a gigantic ice skating rink to show off your slick skills. Plus, a special Christmas circus will also be in town with hilarious clowns and spectacular acrobats, as well as an amazing motorbike stunt show!
14. Have a happy Gothmas
The Goth’s Playground is celebrating Christmas the only way it knows how on Sunday, December 7 (11am to 4pm). This alternative Christmas market will take over two floors throughout the Zellig building. Make this a Gothmas to remember with more than 25 vendors, including piercings from Dolly Rockers and flash tattoos from TEITGE; the aptly-named Goth Burger and its blackened buns and patties; and Krampus, the terrifying Alpine horned-creature, entertaining visitors and handing out gifts.
15. Watch the world premiere of a Christmas-themed Sherlock comedy-musical
Written by Humphrey Ker and David Reed, with original songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas’ will make its world premiere at the Birmingham Rep this Christmas (November 14 to January 18). Set in Victorian London, a flurry of performers are suddenly dying mid-scene in the West End, and Sherlock Holmes discovers an intriguing link to The Twelve Days of Christmas…
16. Catch hundreds of Santas motorbikes through the Midlands
Santa’s On A Bike will see hundreds of Santas, snowmen, elves and reindeer riding festive-decorated bikes and booming out Christmas songs. Motorcyclists from across the Midlands will meet in Evesham on Saturday, December 13 and head off in the direction of Acorns Children’s Hospice on a 34-mile route through several Cotswolds villages. All motorbikes, trikes and quads are welcome to join in, with a fully L-plate-friendly ride planned.
17. Make your own mulled wine
Mulled wine is an incredibly tasty festive treat. A glass of the warming, heavenly drink magically appears in our hands wherever we go at Christmas. But why do we waste all that money buying it out and about, when mulled wine is super easy to make at home?
All you need is a pan and a hob, and the ingredients which can be picked up from any local supermarket. Most recipes just require you to warm up red wine, oranges, cinnamon, cloves, star anise and a touch of sugar or honey to taste – and it’s as easy as popping it all in a saucepan together and simmering on low (with a pan cover) for just 15 minutes.
18. See the West Midlands glow-up with these Christmas light trails
Nothing screams ‘festivities’ more than twinkly, dazzling, glittering explosions of Christmas lights. And plenty have popped up around the West Midlands, creating the most magical experiences for miles. The “UK’s number one festive light trail” returns to Birmingham Botanical Garden; the West Midlands’ biggest Christmas light trail takes over Malvern Showground; and a massive garden centre brings the much-loved children’s classic Wizard of Oz to life. To see the best Christmas light trails near Birmingham, head here.
19. Take a magical Christmas break at a spa
Take a break from the stresses of Christmas and relax at New Hall Hotel & Spa instead. On Christmas Eve, enjoy mulled wine, festive cream tea and a candlelit three-course dinner followed by entertainment. Start your big day with a Buck’s Fizz and traditional breakfast, followed by champagne and canapes, a seven-course Christmas feast with all the trimmings, and there are even more indulgences on Boxing Day. You can learn more by heading here.
20. Wander by the JQ Christmas Window Trail
You’ll find Birmingham’s largest lighting feature, housed in the Jewellery Quarter, this Christmas – a massive illuminated diamond ring. But the whole area has become a festive wonderland for the Jewellery Quarter Window Trail. Over 75 festive shop windows are vying for your vote, alongside over 100 jewellery-themed Christmas lights and two 30-foot Christmas trees.
21. Visit the Christmas market at this 300-year-old palace
Go festive shopping, ice skating and beautiful Christmas light trails at one of Britain’s grandest houses. Christmas at Blenheim Palace is a little different. Traditional wooden chalets will be selling everything from Christmas gifts to festive treats from November 14 to December 21. Inside, the 300-year-old house has been transformed into the Land of Oz—follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, where Dorothy awaits, but keep an eye out for Toto, The Tin Woodman, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion, too.
22. Pop to the theatre for a panto
Join TV fashionista Gok Wan, Birmingham panto favourite Matt Slack and TV royalty Christopher Biggins for Birmingham’s legendary annual panto. Robin Hood promises laugh-out-loud comedy, bundles of audience participation, astonishing special effects, and plenty of boos and hisses for the whole family to enjoy. AKA the perfect pantomime. The show kicks off on Saturday, December 20, and you can get your tickets here.
23. Embrace the spirit of Christmas past with a Victorian Fayre
Get back to Christmas’ roots with this Victorian Christmas Fayre in Worcester. From December 4 to 7, the city centre comes alive with Victorian-themed characters, timely festive treats and old-school attractions. With over 200 stalls, this is how Christmas might’ve looked to our ancestors – all the sights, smells and sounds of a classic Victorian Christmas. With an array of entertainment, from funfair rides to immersive street performances, throughout the weekend.
24. Visit the UK’s other best Christmas markets
Sacrilegious, we know, but there are more Christmas markets than Birmingham’s – some even rival the second city’s! Manchester Christmas Markets was last year named the ‘officially best Christmas market in the UK’, but you can see all of the UK’s best Christmas markets here.
25. Cosy up with a Christmas film
After all these exciting activities, you’re going to be worn out! It’s time to wrap on the sofa and fall in love with our favourite Christmas films all over again. Take your pick of some of the newest Christmas film releases such as Spirited and Falling for Christmas, as well as Christmas classics such as Elf and Miracle On 34th Street.
There’s even a whole TV channel dedicated to Christmas to get you feeling festive. So get cosy on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate or something stronger because baby it’s cold outside! Also, check out our guide to the Christmas films on Netflix here.