Lockdown and the upcoming tier system has changed the usual Christmas festivities that we can do. But you can still do some things to make you feel festive. Here are 15 ideas.

1. Get a Santa Hat

You can get these from the pound shops. Wear them, take a photo, be festive!

2. Post Xmas cards

It always feels good to spread some Xmas cheer. Send cards to friends and family, a hand-written message is always special.

3. Put your Xmas tree up

Put your tree and decs up and take all the photos you want to!

4. Make a Gingerbread House

You can get a kit from the supermarket, might be fun to do with the kids.

5. Wrap presents

Don’t leave it to the last minute, you can start wrapping any presents you’ve got now.

6. Go see the Xmas lights in your local High Street

Go for a walk in your area and look at the Christmas lights. It’s so simple yet can feel so magical. These are our local ones in Windsor this year, and we also have the lights in Slough and Eton too.

7. Have a festive flavoured drink

Okay, maybe it’s takeaway only, depending on your area, but it is fun to try the festive flavours. Toffee Nut Latte anyone?

8. Visit a garden centre

Lots of garden centres are looking festive at the mo. Pinewood Nurseries in Stoke Poges have a lovely Christmas area for the kids.

9. Go to an outdoor trail

There are some happening, like the Peter Rabbit trail at Cliveden. Norden Farm are doing a lantern trail in Maidenhead in December.

10. Go for a family walk

There are lots of parks around Berkshire where you can go for a walk, like Black Park, Langley Park, Burnham Beeches, Windsor Great Park, and more you can read about here. I added some magic to this outdoor photo.

11. Visit a Christmas grotto

Yes some are open, like this one at 4 Kingdoms that you can visit if you’re in Tier 1 and 2 I think. Most places you’ll have to book in advance online as numbers are limited for social distancing etc.

12. See Christmas in London

If you do live in London or the suburbs of London, you can still go and see the lights and decs outdoors in December. Lots of photo opps.

13. Look at your old Xmas photos

Lol. I just wanted to include this photo. There won’t be any festive carousels this year at The Savill Garden but it is open in December for walks.

14. Make gingerbread men

I know I already wrote to make a gingerbread house, but you need people to live in the house!

15. Read a festive book

Sod everything, just get in your festive pjs with a hot drink in your festive mug, and get lost in a book. There are a million Christmas books set in Cornwall – plenty to choose from!

I hope that has given you some festive inspiration for this unusual Christmas season of 2020. I think it’s best not to focus on what we can’t do – instead, look for the positives and what we CAN do.

Enjoy December safely folks.

Sabrina x