Christmas Night Out Ideas

Posted by Ash K on Thursday, December 20, 2012 1

From a girl’s night out to a West End show, a work party on a Thames cruise, or a chocolate trail with your partner, make this year’s Christmas night out a little bit different.

With an endless carousel of Christmas parties, it sometimes seems that the whole of December is taken up with drinking mulled wine and eating buffet food. Yet there are so many fabulous activities available to do at Christmas. It may be time to break with tradition, and take your office party to the next level. Have you thought about getting your colleagues to go along to a West End show together? Instead of spending another December weekend watching DVDs and eating mince pies in your slippers, is this the year you bundle your family onto the train and have an adventure together?

I was recently treated to a very special weekend in London by my partner. We won’t be seeing each other at Christmas as he is visiting his family abroad, so this was his way of celebrating Christmas with me. We had an amazing weekend, full of little adventures which he had planned for us. Everything we did felt so special and festive, they seemed like great ideas for people stuck for Christmas night out ideas.

On the Friday, he took me on a trip to a West End show. He chose Scrooge the musical, to get us in the Christmas spirit with one of my favourite classic stories. What an extravaganza! Tommy Steele was fantastic and so believable in his role as Scrooge, and little Tiny Tim had me in tears. I laughed and cried as the actors swept me through this timeless story, and hearing "Thank You Very Much" live was such a joy! My partner told me he nearly booked The Snowman, which is actually my favourite Christmas musical, and I would have loved to have seen it, but I will have to wait until next year.

The next day, he had decided we would try an experience day. He told me he had struggled to choose between a makeover photo shoot, a Champagne afternoon tea in a swish hotel or the Chocolate Walking Tour he finally settled on. Well, he knows me well! I am a complete chocoholic! On the tour we got to sample delicious pralines, sea-salted caramels, and the most exquisite Belgian truffles. Our guide took us around Chelsea’s finest boutique chocolatiers where we met the chocolate makers and learnt about the origins of chocolate making. We were taught how to 'taste' chocolate, and assess the 'snap' and appearance. If I wasn’t a chocolate snob before, I certainly am now!

That evening, my partner had booked another experience for us, a 2-hour trip down the Thames leaving from Westminster Pier. We had bubbly and canapés while a jazz band serenaded us. I have never seen London from the water: it was such a unique view and stunning view, I fell in love with London, and my partner, all the more! The staff were so good to us, it was simply the most romantic experience I’ve ever had. I also think it would make a great alternative Christmas works night out. I have already had the perfect Christmas. My partner’s choices were fantastic, but with so many West End shows, pre-theatre meals, experience days from spa retreats to indoor skydiving, there really is something for everyone looking for something a bit different.