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Top 10 Christmas Websites and Blogs – Many bleary eyes and pounds are spent during the run-up to the festive season, trawling online retailers for that perfect or last-minute gift.
By the time Christmas Eve falls upon us, we are often breathing a sigh of relief. But what about the magic of Christmas? Are we taking the time to really enjoy it and it’s warm fuzzy feeling? The online world is a never-ending sleigh full of free, informative and fun digital gifts, helping us achieve maximum “Christmas feels”.
Here are our top 10 websites and blogs for all the family this Christmas.
North Pole.com is what we consider an “all-rounder” for Christmas time. Children can write letters to Santa, check where they are on the naughty or nice list, play interactive games and track St Nick and his flying friends. Parents can create personalised letters, access bedtime stories and download educational resources centered around all things festive. You will also find baking recipes, craft tips and gift ideas. The site is a little dated visually but offers a sack full of content and fun activities for all.
NORAD Santa is the official tracking website where your little ones can view Santa’s location across the world on Christmas Eve. Run by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), this family-friendly online tracker has been a favourite at Christmas for many years. Don’t worry, Santa will never show on the tracker as at your home; that stop is special and for sleeping children only! The website goes live every year from 1st December and is packed with games and learning resources. So much fun to be had with this one!
Visit England is a great website for discovering local events or for those families travelling around the country this Christmas. Enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of festive markets, climb aboard a Santa Express or dance the day away at a Christmas concert. The site is super easy to use and you can search by location and event type. Have a look around and discover festivals, fairs and fun for all the family.
Good Housekeeping’s recent blog “40 Festive Christmas Activities to Make Your Day Even Merrier” is a must-read for anyone wanting to inject more fun this year. Whether it’s a gift, game, craft or cooking idea, you may just discover something you never before considered doing this Christmas. Some of the more “out of the box” ideas include a gift wrapping race, cookie swap and Christmas tree sleepover. Our favourite tip #15 suggests giving an unexpected gift to someone lonely this year. There are also plenty of other charitable ideas to consider in this blog and it leaves you feeling all the better for reading it!
BBC Good Food is a must for the master chefs of the family but also for those who need a little help. Discover how to create Dame Mary Berry’s out of this world Christmas cake, James Martin’s famous roast potatoes and Nigella’s spicy Christmas Martinis. The site is full of both simple and complex recipes to enhance your Christmas experience with ideas for canapes, breakfast, desserts and so much more. It also offers advice on how to make a delicious Christmas dinner on a budget. Many recipes focus on the preparation of your meat but with plenty of vegetarian and vegan recipes shared, there really is something for everyone.
The National Trust is renowned for putting on fantastic winter events. Their site is full of information on how to meet Santa, see beautiful displays, attend craft workshops and shop at some of the best Christmas markets. For the music lovers, you can find your nearest Christmas concert where you can enjoy carols, sip mulled wine and soak up the magical atmosphere. Some events are free, others ticketed but all set within some of the UK’s most iconic and beautiful buildings and sites under the National Trust family.
Go To Events have created a list of their best virtual Christmas events for both families and workplaces to enjoy. This year may still be difficult for people to meet face to face so taking part in virtual games and events is a great way to stay connected. Have fun with the likes of their Virtual Escape Room, Murder Mystery and the hilariously titled “I am working from home – get me out of here”.
Portable North Pole is a massive hit with the little ones. Create free personalised video messages from Santa before Christmas to encourage good behaviour as well as on Christmas Eve to let them know he is on his way. For that extra touch, you can also arrange for Santa to send a special message. The downloadable app is full of bedtime stories, elf dance challenges and digital advent calendars too.
Moral Fibres share a very interesting blog on how to make your Christmas more sustainable this year. It starts with sharing some shocking data on just how much waste we create during the festivities. For those looking for more planet friendly merriment, this blog offers a Christmas tree buying guide, natural decoration making tips, cooking ideas and how to make your gift-wrapping process more eco-friendly. Why not go more “green” this Christmas?
Visit Blackpool of course has to be in our top 10 sites to visit this Christmas. How could we not give it a mention! Discover the magic coming to this year’s festive village, outdoor skating and enchanted forest as well as even bigger and better light installations. Skim the ice for free, hold out your hands for the snow and snuggle up in a log cabin. Lighting up the tower this year for the first time is “Frost Fairies”, a magical story of fairies, fireflies, precious jewels and ice palaces. You can also check out yours truly and our other theatre friends with details on where and when to see your favourite festive performances.
Make the time and take a step back this Christmas… but also look forward to a truly online wonderland.
The multi award-winning musical DEAR EVAN HANSEN will make a very welcome stop at Blackpool Grand Theatre in 2025!…
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