Bitesized guide: UK day trips

Leeds Castle

Best for castle capers

Pendennis Castle, Cornwall
Head to Pendennis Castle and celebrate Christmas the Cornish way. Visitors receive a truly Cornish welcome with the best traditions and trimmings from Christmas past: mince pies, mulled wine, Christmas lights, traditional dance and traditional fireside yuletide tales.

Fairy Tale Trail, Leeds Castle
Kids and adults alike will be enchanted as fairy tale characters come to life after dark on the Fairy Tale Trail at Leeds Castle from 26 December - 4 January.

Best for getting active

Christmas walks across England

Make the most of crisp winter days, with a wonderful winter walk in one of English Heritage's spectacular sites at various locations across England.  With woodland grottos, rambling park lands, manicured gardens and romantic ruins, there is plenty to discover and lighten the spirit.

Midwinter swim, Pembrokeshire
There's nothing like a dip in the sea on a freezing December day, and the place to do it is Tenby, where swimmers take to the waves in their hundreds on Boxing Day, from 1100 on the north beach. Not for the faint-hearted.

Mud glorious mud, Essex
If you've spent too long splurging in front of the telly, get yourself down to Maldon in Essex on 27 December for the annual mud race. Sprint, plod or crawl across the River Blackwater and back - not as easy as it sounds, given the mud. You'll have lots of laughs, and the idea is to get sponsors so you raise money for charity. Olympic athlete Fatima Whitbread will be getting the race under way, and Ray Clarke and X-Factor contestant Amy Connelly will be providing entertainment.

Best for animal lovers

Christmas carols at London Zoo, London
Head to London Zoo for festive carol singing on the 9 December. Sip on a glass of mulled wine whilst the kids meet furry animals and go for a whirl on the traditional carousel.

Living Coasts Christmas spectacular, Torquay
Torquay's coastal zoo will be running icy themed activities throughout December, including an Ice-Spy Super Sleuth Trail, which allows the kids to go explore the critters and creatures. South West Sled Dogs will be giving mushing demonstrations on the harbourside on 26 and 27 December, Santa will be handing out presents in his grotto and kids can help keepers feed the penguins.

Best for festive displays

Eden Project's Time for Gifts, Cornwall
Head to Cornwall's infamous domes for a winter wonderland of food, music, markets, decorated trees and ice skating. Wait until the sun goes down to see the domes spectacularly lit and to hear the choir.

Torchlight procession, Edinburgh
The official start to the Hogmanay celebrations is a torchlight procession on 29 December. The spectacular event sees thousands of people, led by a symbolic wooden longboat, carry burning torches and make their way across town in a festival reminiscent of traditional Viking celebrations. It culminates with the burning of the longboat, a giant bonfire and fireworks.

Winter wonderland, London
Set between Hyde Park Corner and the Serpentine, the winter wonderland encompasses the city's biggest ice rink, a toboggan slide, an observation wheel with views across London, a carousel and a helter-skelter. Trees along Serpentine Road sparkle with thousands of Christmas lights to enhance the beauty of the park after dark. The site is free to enter - pay as you go on attractions - but advance booking is recommended for the ice rink.