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 a real Christmas tree from a local farm
Before the festivities can begin you have to sort yourself a festive Christmas tree. If you’re thinking of dusting off your old artificial tree currently sitting in the attic again this year, we won’t judge. But nothing beats the sight and smell of the real thing. Especially if you’ve picked one out yourself from one of the wonderful forests and garden centres near Birmingham.
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! On December 12, a string quartet our favourite songs from our favourite Christmas movies, but keep your eyes peeled for more Candlelight Christmas Concerts appearing soon.
3. Catch this otherworldly light trail through nature
This is not your classic Christmas light trail. Light Cycles, on the outskirts of Birmingham, is a multisensory nature-inspired experience illuminating idyllic lakes and woodlands around Stonebridge Golf Course. Between pearl-like orbs, fiery amber rays and a rolling vibrant mist, the one-kilometre night trail brings light, colour and sound together in one mesmerising evening. Oh, and there’s food and drink available in case you somehow need an extra incentive. To learn more about Light Cycles head here.
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 these brilliant 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 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.
This year, it starts earlier than ever, from Friday, November 1 to Tuesday, December 24. Taking over New Street and Victoria Square once again, that’s a total of 54 days where you can grab everything from mulled wine and schnitzels to wooden toys and glass baubles. It will open every day from around 11am to 9pm, slightly longer on weekends.
6. Check other Birmingham’s other Christmas market
In no way can Christmas in Cathedral Square match the Frankfurt Christmas Market, but it’s no less charming. Taking over Birmingham Cathedral grounds, you can crafts, gifts, food and drink from local suppliers at this festive market. Plus, ride on a helter-skelter and grab a pint at the Pigeon in the Park Pub. Head to Pigeon Park from November 13 to December 22.
7. Tuck into Christmas lunch on ‘Britain’s most luxurious train’
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 15. 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, but you can learn more here.
8. Follow an adorable reindeer trail around Birmingham city centre
Brum’s Christmas Reindeer Trail has spread throughout the city centre – each 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 Paddington Bear is also sitting beside the Bullring.
9. Meet Bad Santa at Birmingham’s oldest pub
Prepare for a Christmas party like no other as Bad Santa visits The Old Crown. Birmingham’s oldest pub is hosting three throwback Christmas parties – each one dedicated to the iconic eras of the 80s (December 6), 90s (December 13) and 00s (December 20). You’ll find live music, entertainment, and a DJ playing cheesy Christmas classics, while Bad Santa plays humbug party games! The pub will be serving beer-brined rotisserie chicken fresh off the spit too, alongside a festive menu full of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes. Get your tickets here.
10. Head aboard The Polar Express
I suggest we all hold on… TIGHTLY, because this immersive Polar Express experience only an hour and a half away from Birmingham. You can relive all the action and adventure of this children’s classic that delights both big and little kids alike.
The hour-long Christmas train ride departs from Froghall Station in Staffordshire, while all passengers are encouraged to board dressed in their PJs. En route, children will interact with their favourite characters and see the glowing ‘Northern Lights’, meeting Santa and receiving their first Christmas gift of the year. The Polar Express Train Ride runs from November 16 until December 23.
11. Visit the ONLY place in the UK guaranteed real snow
While it has snowed in Birmingham in November, you can guarantee the magic of real snow every day at the SnowDome in Tamworth. Open until January 5, Santa’s Winter Wonderland offers many festive experiences in one – including Santa’s sledge-driven snow trail, complete 1000 tonnes of real snow, 450 real Christmas trees, and sparkling light displays. You’ll also want to whiz down the Summit Slide, and gather for a family snowball fight at the bottom! And don’t miss out on the Jack and the Beanstalk mini-pantomime or the real animals at Santa’s Christmas Village (like alpacas, piglets, guinea pigs, rabbits and goats). To learn more head here.
12. Watch Christmas classics with a live orchestra
One of many favourite aspects of Christmas is the movies – two of the best being Love Actually and The Holiday. You can watch both at Symphony Hall this festive period, December 16 and 18, respectively – with a live orchestra performing the scores of the films being projected onto a huge screen.
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 7 to January 1. Expect plenty of funfair thrills from waltzers, dodgems, and a gigantic ice skating rink to show off your slick skills. While the main man himself will be in his grotto every day until December 24.
No Christmas celebrations in Birmingham would be complete without festive treats, like candy floss, mulled wine and plenty of sweets. A special Christmas circus will also be in town with hilarious clowns and spectacular acrobats showing off all day long. Head here to learn more.
14. Catch all the Christmas lights switch-on events
Birmingham has a claim to be the UK’s most Christmassy city – with these glittering, dazzling, twinkly Christmas light displays in Birmingham adding a lot of festive spirit to the Second City. From Harborne to Bournville, don’t miss a single Christmas lights switch-on event in and around Birmingham by heading here.
15. Watch the UK’s very first in-house musical
Birmingham Hippodrome has become the first UK venue to develop its own musical with the announcement of its first full production, The Jingleclaw. Created for 3 to 7-year-olds, The Jingleclaw production will open at the Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio on Thursday, December 12, 2024 and run until Saturday, January 4, 2025. Set in a cosy village in the snowy mountains, it tells the story of young musician Astrid and The Jingleclaw, a mischievous monster who can’t stand festive cheer and music.
16. Book an unbeatable Christmas party
Christmas Party World turns Birmingham’s NEC into the ultimate Christmas party venue. This truly immersive environment provides dinner, drinks and entertainment for an incredible festive shindig – and this year is centred around the theme of ‘New York Nights’. There are several dates between November 29 and December 21. To learn more head here.
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. Several Christmas light trails have popped up in and around Birmingham, creating the most magical experiences for miles – including the Christmas Light Trail at Warwick Castle (November 23 to January 5), Winter Glow at Malvern Showground (November 22 to December 31,) and Trentham Winter Light Trail. 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, while there are even more indulgences on Boxing Day. Prices start at £1,230 for a two-night stay. 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 60 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 15 to December 22. Inside, the 300-year-old house has been transformed into Neverland – where you’ll follow Tinkerbell on a swashbuckling adventure across a moonlit London skyline and onto the Mermaid Lagoon.
22. Pop to the theatre for a panto
Birmingham’s very own Alison Hammond will be returning to Birmingham Hippodrome after a triumphant panto debut this Christmas. This year’s pantomime sees the Queen of Birmingham playing the Magical Mermaid in Peter Pan – presumably, a merging of the three mischievous Mermaids from Neverland. Peter Pan flies into Birmingham on December 21, 2024, to February 2, 2025. Alison will star alongside Hippodrome favourite Matt Slack (who returns for his 10th year), Doreen Tipton as Doreen The Cow and panto dame extraordinaire Andrew Ryan. You can get your tickets here.
23. Embrace the spirit of Christmas past with a Victorian Fayre
Gwt back to Christmas’ roots with this Victorian Christmas Fayre in Worcester. From November 28 to December 1, 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.