15 Brilliant Days Out for Christmas in Surrey 2025

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, in one of the most beautiful counties in England. Here are all the Christmas markets, Santa days out, pantos and more you should add to your ‘nice’ list for your best ever Christmas in Surrey…

Who doesn’t love Christmas in Surrey? With its picturesque villages and towns, stunning scenery and range of activities, Surrey is one of the best places in the country to experience the festive season. On Day Out In England, we have added fantastic lists of Christmas days out all across the country, including Christmas days out in Essex, Christmas days out in Kent, Christmas days out in Hampshire and many more, but now it’s Surrey’s turn to shine.

Whether you are looking for entertaining things to do with the little ones, great days out you can do as a couple, or fun activities your friends will love to celebrate the season with, we’ve rounded up some of the very best winter activities Surrey has to offer, so get ready for amazing lights, fun shows, December days out with the family, and… a festive rave?

1. Enjoy a day out at Santa’s Grotto in Surrey

Kids go absolutely wild for a day out to meet Santa, and if your little ones are the right age, you’ll love to see their faces light up so much that it’ll become your highlight of the season too. Surrey has lots of Santa experiences where you can take your child to meet Santa, who will chat to them about the festive season and usually give them a small toy. A lovely day out for the whole family.

This year, meet Santa at:

• Rural Life Living Museum: you can visit Santa in his Grotto at the museum where he will meet and greet visitors in the magical North Pole. There will also be a Christmas market that the grown ups will love, selling handmade, vintage and artisan items.
• Ashtead Park Garden Centre: get booked in for a meet and greet with Santa, where he’ll treat you to some lovely cookies. You’ll get a hot drink as you wait to meet the man himself. This one is in aid of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, so your donations will be going to a great cause.
• Hans Christmas Andersen Christmas Tree Farm: This family-run Christmas tree farm is hosting Santa for meet and greets. This one is also in aid of a number of charities, and with a surrounding Christmas tree farm, it’s a lovely one to visit for Christmas in Surrey.

2. Watch a panto in Surrey

If you’re looking for the best children’s Christmas shows Surrey has to offer, the pantomime is the place to be. There are lots on in theatres big and small all over Surrey, but here are some of the best places to find a panto in Surrey:

• Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford
• Esher Theatre
• Richmond Theatre

3. Visit a Surrey National Trust house at Christmas

National Trust historic houses with their surrounding parkland are a great day out all year round, but they get especially stunning and exciting at Christmastime. In Surrey, the must-see NT site is Polesden Lacey in the Surrey Hills.

This beautiful historic house is putting on a spectacular Christmas experience to get you in the spirit of things. The house is decked in all the trimmings including a 20ft Christmas tree, creating immersive festive scenes.

There’s also an outdoor fairytale-inspired Christmas trail, a traditional carousel playing festive tunes, wreath-making workshops, Christmas sculptures, and a cafe with delicious festive treats, all making this one of the best days out for the season. Definitely spend at least a day of your Christmas in Surrey right here.

4. Travel on a festive train in Surrey

There’s no way to explain why, but young and old love a train ride at Christmas. The lights, the festive cheer… whatever it is, this day out will make your Christmas in Surrey special.

Embrace it this year with one of these train rides:

• Hop aboard the Denbies Santa Express: Trains run from 9am-3pm throughout the festive season, and you’ll receive a special passport from Santa for a ride through the vineyard, and a gift at the end of your ride.
• Take the Mizens Railway from Woking: You can hop on this teeny tiny train on the for their Santa Specials. Booking is a must.

5. Get creative at Christmas

Throughout Surrey, you’ll find lovely workshops offering to teach small groups to make a number of Christmassy crafts.

Here are a few great workshops:

• There’s always something fun and festive happening at Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve. Enjoy mulled juice, holiday snacks and festive music to inspire you as you create.
• Cranleigh Arts Centre is another great place for festive events. You might create a great gift idea for someone special.
• Check out West Horsley Place too.

Starting your Christmas shopping?

Check out the best gift vouchers for days out for Christmas…

6. Visit a Christmas market

You can’t beat a Christmas market, and there are tonnes of local Christmas markets all over Surrey that you’ll love. Get your woolly mittens on and head to one of these fantastic festive markets for Christmas in Surrey:

• The Creative Makers Christmas Market at Gildings Barn offers free entry, free parking, and you’ll find artwork, beauty products, candles, fashion, jewellery, gifts and more. Check out if it’s on this year.
• Denbies Wine Estate often put on a pop-up Christmas shopping experience where you can pick up some Christmas gifts. Free parking and free entry.
• Guildford Cathedral Christmas Fair is always a good one. You can check out over 50 exhibitors with a range of Christmas gifts.

• Kingston Christmas Market is always a good day out. You’ll find lots of stalls there, plus plenty of mulled wine to warm your hands as you shop.
• Haslemere Christmas Market has plenty of fun rides for children and adults, as well as hot food and drinks.
• Godalming’s Christmas Festival and lights switch-on has lots of stalls, food, and live music to enjoy.
• Surrey Hills Christmas Fair at West Horsley Place is £9 to enter, and inside you’ll find a variety of stalls including food and drinks, skincare, jewellery, fashion and country crafts.

7. See a story or fairytale on ice

For something really unique that you may not have been to for past Christmases, a story on ice at the Guildford Spectrum might be a great activity that the whole family can enjoy, from little ones to grandparents.

You’ll enjoy an enchanted adventure, with skaters from Spectrum Ice School, lavish costumes and amazing sets. It’s the perfect alternative to a panto this Christmas in Surrey. You can book tickets here.

8. Tuck into a swanky Christmas dinner

We all love a good Christmas night out with our office pals, but if you want to do the same with a group of friends who are all in a festive mood, tucking into a swanky Christmas dinner could be just the ticket.

There are quite a few you can choose from this year all over Surrey. For example:

• Epsom Downs Racecourse. Expect a welcome drink, a three course meal, entertainment and dancing until the early hours. You can get tickets here.
• Denbies Wine Estate. Sip sparkling wine, look out over panoramic views across the vines, and tuck into a three course dinner, followed by coffee and festive bites.

9. Visit one of Surrey’s most picturesque villages

Christmas in Surrey is just perfect, especially since there are tonnes of quaint little villages to explore which bring the Christmas atmosphere. If you’re a fan of the movie The Holiday starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz, then you MUST visit the gorgeous village of Shere. Its charming cottage-style buildings look straight out of a Christmas card, and you can visit the tiny museum or stop off for lunch in one of two cosy pubs.

When you’re done in Shere, you can head to nearby Newlands Corner which boasts incredible views over the Surrey Hills and is the perfect spot for a winter walk. This is a great activity if you’re trying to have a free Christmas in Surrey, as you can walk around Shere and Newlands Corner without spending a penny. Perhaps bring a pre-made hot chocolate from home to feel extra Christmassy.

Fun fact: Shere was also used to film scenes from Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason!

10. Check out Chessington at Christmas

Chessington World of Adventures is a guaranteed great day out, and at Christmas it’s extra magical. This year they are putting on their Winter’s Tail show, where you can meet jolly elves, reindeer, and Father Christmas himself in his log fire grotto. It’s got panto energy but you can get involved too.

Also, you can visit Enchanted Hollow to help them count down to Christmas in amongst all the lights and Christmassy decor you will ever need. If you’re looking to do Christmas in Surrey right this year, a visit to Chessington is a great idea for adults and kids alike.

You can book your tickets for the theme park and their Chrismas events here.

11. Take part in a Santa fun run

Want to do something fun and challenging this Christmas to tick off a goal before the new year rolls around? Join the 5K fun run in Stoke Park, Guildford to raise money for the charity Challengers, a fantastic local charity working with young disabled people in the community.

If you’re thinking “hang on, a fun run at Christmas?” the fun part is that you can dress up in your festive best and run alongside lots of Santas. This is a Christmas photo op for sure!

There are options of 2.5K or 5K depending on how sweaty you want your Santa suit to get, and you can sign up here.

14. Enjoy a Christmas day out with the family

There is no shortage of things to do at Christmas in Surrey for families, and below are a few of the best days out you’ll definitely want to book before the festive season is over:

• Collectively Camberley Christmas Cracker: A FREE family fun day to open the festive season in Camberley. Including the chance to meet real reindeer, magicians, Christmas lights, selfies in the Bauble Chair, free face painting and balloon modelling, a Christmas market, free mini rides like the tea cups and carousel, photos inside a giant snow globe, live music, and much more.
• Christmas at Bocketts Farm: Bocketts Farm are hosting a magical family day out where you can meet Father Christmas in his traditional workshop, make your own reindeer food to take home, complete the Christmas activity book, get creative in Christmas Craft Corner, step into a snow globe for a family photo, meet hundreds of friendly farm animals, and much more. There’s also a heated indoor soft play, so it’s a fantastic day out that the kids will love.
• Santa’s Secret Village at Hobbledown: Set your eyes on twinkling lights, live reindeer, festive treat trails, and extra-special visits from Santa for a Christmas in Surrey to remember. There are opportunities to have breakfast with Santa, visit his grotto, do a teddy bear workshop, and much more.

• Christmas at Kew Gardens: Christmas at Kew Gardens has become an iconic light trail every year, and one of the must-do activities in Surrey at Christmas. The botanical gardens are transformed each year with thousands of twinkling lights and seasonal music for a truly magical atmosphere. Walk through glittering light tunnels, watch amazing lakeside projections, and see trees covered in spectacular lights. This one always books up quick, so grab your tickets while you can.

15. See the Festive Fayre at Hampton Court Palace

There are few festive market events more impressive that Hampton Court Palace’s each year, which is why it has its very own spot on our list. The famous home of Henry VIII in Hampton is stunning at the best of times, but at Christmas it becomes an absolute must-visit. The magnificent courtyards and grounds will be transformed into a food lover’s winter wonderland.

Shop with over 100 independent artisan producers for your Christmas presents, eat tasty food and watch it made in foodie masterclasses, tuck into mulled wine and enjoy the festive atmosphere… you won’t regret taking the family to this super Christmassy day out for your perfect Christmas in Surrey.

Christmas in Surrey

You won’t run out of festive things to do on your days out during Christmas in Surrey. With gorgeous villages to explore, and plenty of seasonal markets and events on offer, it’s the most wonderful time of the year in Surrey!

Do you know of a great Christmassy day out that should be on our list? Let us know in the comments so we can share with others.

Quick List: 15 Brilliant Days Out for Christmas in Surrey

1. Enjoy a day out at Santa’s Grotto
2. Watch a panto
3. Visit a stunning National Trust house at Christmas
4. Travel on a festive train
5. Get creative at Christmas
6. Visit a Christmas market
7. See Alice In Wonderland on ice
8. Tuck into a swanky Christmas dinner
9. Visit one of Surrey’s most picturesque villages (used to film a famous movie!)
10. Check out Chessington at Christmas
11. Take part in a Santa fun run
12. Enjoy a Christmassy show
13. Attend a festive family-friendly rave
14. Enjoy a Christmas day out with the family
15. See the Festive Fayre at Hampton Court Palace

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