Charles Kraus: Twelve days of Christmas

From walking in a winter wonderland to reindeer encounters, here are 12 days out filled with festive fun

1. Christmas crafts in the forest, Staffordshire

Make your own decorations and Christmas wreaths from natural materials found in the forest at a Christmas craft evening in the Birches Valley Forest Centre in Cannock Chase, near Rugeley.

Details From 2 to 9 December, price �9 per adult. From 28 November, families can also visit Santa in his woodland grotto and buy a Christmas tree (forestry.gov.uk)

2. A culinary celebration, Cumbria

Lucy Cooks cookery school near Kendal is the venue for this indulgent culinary demonstration and lunch. Enjoy a glass of mulled wine while watching a chef preparing Christmas specialities, then feast on Cumbrian foods such as baked lemons filled with Morecambe Bay shrimps, wild boar casserole and Grasmere gingerbread crumble bread and butter pudding.

Details 17 December, price �40 (01539 432 288; lucycooks.co.uk)

3. London Eye and skating on the South Bank, London

Get an aerial view of the capital in all its festive glory from the London Eye before lacing up your skates for a whirl around the latest addition to the city's ice skating scene, Eyeskate, a new ice rink on the South Bank with views of the Thames.

Details Eyeskate costs from �10.50 adults, �7.50 children. Joint tickets for the London Eye and Eyeskate from �26.95 adults, �16.05 children. Until 5 January (0871 781 3000; londoneye.com)

4. The Snowman, Gateshead

The Sage Gateshead has put on the classic animated film of Raymond Briggs's The Snowman every Christmas since it opened in 2004. The film is shown on the big screen, with a live orchestra playing Howard Blake's haunting music and a chorister singing "We're Walking in the Air". Visit Santa and his elves in the grotto on your way out.

Details 23 and 24 December. Adults �15, children �7.50 (0191 443 4661; thesagegateshead.org)

5. Enchanted evenings at Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire

Follow a magical illuminated trail through the trees of the National Arboretum. Warm up with mulled wine and roast chestnuts, then browse for gifts at the Christmas market. Carol singing and a visit to Santa complete the festivities.

Details Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings until 19 December, 5-8.30pm. Adults �8, children �4 (01666 881 200; forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt)

6. Meet reindeer in the Cairngorms

The Cairngorms National Park is home to Britain's only free-ranging herd of reindeer. Over the festive period there will be daily walks to visit the reindeer on the hillside and at weekends children can meet Santa.

Details To visit the reindeer on the hill: adults �9.50, children �5, family ticket �29. Or to see a small group of reindeer next to the visitor centre: adults �3.50, children �2.50, family ticket �12 (01479 861 228; cairngormreindeer.co.uk)

7. A Child's Christmas in Wales, Flintshire

Dylan Thomas's classic Christmas poem will be brought to life on the stage of Clwyd Theatre Cymru in the Flintshire town of Mold. An intimate portrait of the seaside town of Thomas's youth as it prepares for Christmas, guaranteed to get you into the festive mood.

Details 9 December to 8 January. Tickets from �11 (0845 330 3565; clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk)

8. Candlelit carols at York Minster

York Minster's Christmas carol concert sells out every year, but there are still tickets available for the intimate Ceremony of Carols by Candlelight, a rendition of Benjamin Britten's choral work for choir and harp, and other seasonal pieces, in the Minster's Chapter House.

Details 11 December, adults �15 (0844 939 0015; boxoffice.yorkminster.org)

9. Pick your own Christmas tree, Lincolnshire

At Fillingham Christmas Trees, eight miles north of Lincoln, take a ride around the plantation on a tractor and pick your own tree, which will then be harvested for you to take home whenever you wish. There will be tastings from local food producers and decorations and gifts on sale.

Details Today (01427 667 014; fillingham-trees.co.uk)

10. Meet Santa in Devon

The Dartmoor village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor will be transformed into a winter wonderland on 18 December when Father Christmas rides his pony and trap into the village, distributing presents for all children under the age of 11. There will be mulled wine, mince pies and hot chestnuts on the village green, plus old-fashioned games, a ceilidh band and festive Christmas carols.

Details 18 December (dartmoor-nationaltrust.blogspot.com)

11. Bandstand concert, Eastbourne

Eastbourne's seafront bandstand has been attracting huge crowds to its Christmas and Boxing Day concerts since 1935. Expect an hour of festive numbers on 25 December followed by big-band dance numbers on Boxing Day. A bracing dip is optional.

Details Concerts are free (01323 410 611; eastbournebandstand.co.uk)

12. Christmas carols on the South Downs

Earn your mince pies with a three-mile walk across the South Downs to Chanctonbury Ring for a carol service with a view. This Iron Age hill fort makes a dramatic setting for seasonal songs followed by a trip to the local pub. The Chanctonbury Chants walk departs at 10.30am on 19 December.

Details Free (01903 813 381; footprintsofsussex.co.uk)