Christmas Activities in Newcastle and the North East

Christmas is here, and we are really excited… so excited that we created a list of festive activities for you to do in Newcastle and the North East.

Get into the festive spirit at Washington Old Hall

Have you ever heard of the Washington Old Hall? You will be surprised how many people don’t know about the Washington Old Hall. The manor house is located just minutes from our hotel, specifically an 8 minutes’ drive or 30 minutes on the bus.

The manor is surrounded by Washington and it used to be the ancestral home of the family of George Washington, the first president of the United States. The stunning stone house is open every day of the week and it’s perfect for visiting during the Christmas season.

During December you can book festive craft workshops, walk around the illuminated garden or meet the Green Man. Many years ago, instead of Father Christmas, children would visit the Green Man.

Find out more about the Washington Old Hall here.

Attend one of our Christmas party nights

We love to party all year but at Christmas, we go crazy! If you are staying with us this December or just visiting Newcastle for Christmas holidays, we have a lot of fun events coming up to spend with your family or friends.

Our Christmas party nights are ideal for groups of friends where you can all enjoy fantastic live entertainment, delicious food and a party that lasts into the wee small hours.

If you are visiting the hotel with your family, we have Sunday Lunches with Santa the 9th, 16th and 23rd of December. Meet Santa himself while you enjoy a three-course choice menu in our stunning Orangery.

Have a look at all our events here.

Get a glimpse of Fenwick’s Christmas window

This is a must activity if you are spending Christmas in Newcastle. Fenwick’s Christmas window is a lovely nostalgia trip for the adults and a trip to winter wonderland for the children. This year’s theme is The Snowman, a children’s book first published in 1978 making this year it’s 40th anniversary.

Take a look at the unveiling here.


For the first time ever, Fenwick’s Newcastle has also launched Santa’s rooftop cinema where you can take the little ones. Find out more here.

Visit the Newcastle International Christmas market

After you are finished visiting Santa at Fenwick have a walk around the Newcastle International Christmas market at Grey’s Monument, Grey Street and Grainger Street.

The Christmas market is a fun experience for grown-ups and kids, the children will go crazy for the churros and there is some mulled wine for parents to enjoy. This year’s market includes local and international stalls with food, drinks and Christmas gifts.

Enjoy a festive Afternoon Tea with your family

Visit our popular bar and restaurant Carter and Fitch and take advantage of all our Christmas offers. Carter’s Christmas countdown offers include a festive Afternoon tea, candlelit dinners, Sunday lunches and many more.

Our festive Afternoon tea is ideal for a Christmas outing with a friend, a parent or your partner. The Afternoon tea is available every day from 12:30 to 5 pm. Have a look at all of Carter’s Christmas countdown deals here.

Visit the Christmas light show at the Alnwick Garden

This is for the ones with a car, Alnwick Garden is an hour away from the George Washington Hotel but it’s so worth the road trip. Alnwick Garden is one of the world’s extraordinary gardens, you can view anything from poisonous plants to beautiful roses and during December an after dark light show.

From the 17th of November to the 23 of December, join the Alnwick Garden after dark and see their fantastic Christmas Light Show. The show runs from 4:30 pm with the last entry being 8 pm during the week and on the weekends from 6:30 and last entry is 9 pm.

We hope these ideas have helped you but if you need any more information about our events or accommodation please call us on 0191 402 9988 or email events@georgewashington.co.uk