Here it is… the BUMPER guide to Christmas around Slough & Windsor… and a bit further out. Hey, we have the Elizabeth Line now! If you are like me, and you can’t bear to even think about Christmas until November, this guide is for you. You won’t find any sold out events on here! Lots of freebie, turn-up ones too. You will find:

🎄 Christmas Lights Switch-on dates
🎅 Where to meet Santa
🎭 Pantos, Shows & Concerts
💫 Festive Days Out & Events
💡 Lights Trails
🛍 Christmas Markets
⛸ Festive Ice Rinks

All events are focused on Slough & Windsor and the surrounding areas of Berkshire/Bucks/Surrey/London – if I’ve included it, it is in my opinion worth travelling to!

Please, if you do visit anywhere you found from this page, do TAG me on social media (@themummystylist or @sloughitsnotsobad). I love to see your experiences. And feel free to share this guide with your friends and family!

Christmas Lights Switch-ons & Town Events – FREE

That’s right, these events are FREE to attend, no booking required, and they have such an amazing community atmosphere. Wrap up warm and go to one.

• Eton – Thurs 17th Nov
• High Wycombe – Thurs 17th Nov 3-8pm
• Gerrards Cross – Fri 18th Nov 5.30-8.30pm
• Uxbridge – Sat 19th Nov 2-7pm
• Windsor – Sat 19th Nov
• Reading – Sat 19th Nov from 1.30pm
• Staines – Magical Christmas Parade – 20th Nov from 10.30am
• Slough – Sat 26th Nov
• Maidenhead – Sat 26th Nov
• Iver Village – Sat 26th Nov
• Dedworth (Pirate Park) – Sun 27th Nov 1-5pm
• Wokingham Winter Carnival – Sun 27th Nov
• Burnham “Light up the Village” – Thurs 1st Dec 6pm
• Binfield Believes – Meet Santa in the village 18th Dec

Slough’s poster I just have to share it for us 90s peeps 😄

These are Santa Charity runs, where it’s free to watch people dressed up as Santa run

• Santa Fun Run Staines – 20th Nov
• Alexander Devine’s Santa Dash, Windsor 27th Nov
• ADS Santa Fun Run, Windsor- 27th Nov

 Where to meet Santa

Now these you will have to pay and book a ticket in advance. Click the link for the event you are interested in for more details. I’m quite sure more shopping centre ones will be announced in the coming month.

• Chobham Adventure Farm – Christmas Adventure 4th – 24th Dec
• Reading Broad Street Mall – Santa’s Grotto 26th Nov – 24th Dec
• Windsor On Ice – Meet Santa – 3rd – 24th Dec (not a grotto)
• Teddys Playtown Slough – Christmas details tbc
• Wycombe Santa – Enchanted Wonderland 3rd – 24th Dec
• Maidenhead Santa Cruise, Riverside Gardens 19th Nov – 18th Dec
• Heidi at Daniel, Windsor – Breakfast with Santa
• London Transport Museum, Christmas at the Museum 25th Nov – 2nd Jan
• Bucks Railway Centre – The Panto Express with Father Christmas 26th Nov – 18th Dec
• London Museum of Water and Steam, Santa at The Museum 10th Dec – 18th Dec
• Didcot Railway Centre – Steam into Christmas 3rd – 23rd Dec
• Santa Steam Express, London Victoria 14th- 21st Dec
• Cholsey & Wallingford Railway, Polar Express Ride 24th Nov – 23rd Dec
• Odds Farm – Santa’s Grotto 3rd – 24th Dec
• Jake’s Playworld – Santa’s Grotto 3rd – 24th Dec
• Ascot Racecourse – Howden Christmas Weekend – 16th – 17th Dec
• The Jelly Lounge, Windsor – 19-23rd Dec
• Burnham Park Hall 17th December

 Pantos, shows & concerts

Pantos are a British Christmas tradition. Tickets are not cheap but it’s worth it for the experience I would say. The Church concert and Carols on the Hill at the end are free to attend.

• Sleeping Beauty, Theatre Royal Windsor 25th Nov – 8th Jan
• One Snowy Night – Norden Farm 29th Nov – 30th Dec
• Cinderella, Beck Theatre Hayes 9th Dec – 31st Dec
• The Royal Christmas Pudding, The Story Museum Oxford 30th Nov – 1st Jan
• Beauty and The Beast, Stoke Poges Village Centre 1st Dec – 4th Dec
• Jack and The Beanstalk, The Hexagon Reading 3rd Dec – 2nd Jan
• Tales of Little Aladdin, West Green House Basingstoke 20th Dec – 23rd Dec
• The Nutcracker, The Old Court Windsor 10th Dec
• Jack and The Beanstalk, South Hill Park, Bracknell 25th Nov – 31st Dec
• Jack and The Beanstalk, Braywick Leisure Centre Maidenhead 17th Dec – 24th Dec
• The Santa Show, Braywick Leisure Centre Maidenhead 19th Dec – 20th Dec
• Various Christmas shows including The Nutcracker, Kenton Theatre Henley 27th Nov – 3rd Jan
• Sleeping Beauty, Elgiva Chesham 3rd Dec – 31st Dec
• Christmas Sparkle Lunchtime Concert, St Marys Church Slough, Free, 3rd Dec 12pm
• Carols on the Hill, Castle Hill, Windsor – 9th Dec 6.15pm
• A Christmas Carol, Datchet Village Hall 24-26 November

 Festive Days Out

All your favourite days out places have festive specials going on, plus Winter Wonderlands are back as well as brand new events. Take your pick here.

• The Lexicon Festive Fun, including Santa Sleigh ride and Snowflake Trail, Bracknell 26th Nov – 24th Dec
• Reindeer Lodge at Chobham Adventure Farm 12th Nov – 8th Jan
• Windsor on Ice, Alexandra Gardens – 18th Nov – 8th Jan
• St Marys Church Slough Donkey Carols tbc
• Reindeer Parade, Windsor Yards 3rd Dec 2-5pm
• Legoland at Christmas – 26th Nov – 3rd Jan
• The Christmas Carnival, Newbury Racecourse 27th Nov – 2nd Jan
• Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 18th Nov – 2nd Jan
• Reading Winter Wonderland 12th Nov – 2nd Jan
• Christmas Tree Festival, St Lukes Church Maidenhead 9th Dec – 11th Dec
• Apres Bar Mini Chalets & Festive Crazy Golf at The Oracle, Reading 4th Nov – 31st Dec
• Festive Family Fun at Windsor Castle – 3rd Dec – 2nd Jan
• TootBus Windsor & Eton – Bus tour during Christmas
• Christmas at Hobbledown Heath 26th Nov – 24th Dec
• Elves Workshop at BCA Zoo (Make gifts for the animals) 3rd Dec – 24th Dec
• Magical Christmas Adventure at 4Kingdoms 26th Nov – 24th Dec
• Christmas Memories at Cliveden Trail 3rd – 23rd Dec
• Christmas Spectacular at Odds Farm 3rd – 24th Dec
• Christmas at Bekonscot – 26th Nov – 11th Dec (Carol Service on 11th Dec)
• Christmas Mail Rail at The Postal Museum 2nd Nov – 5th Jan
• Black Park Christmas Trail, 19-22 Dec

Lights Trails

Lights trails are a wow for your eyes, I love them! You do mostly have a pay for tickets in advance. The local trails in Windsor and Maidenhead are free though. Wrap and warm and enjoy.

• Enchanted Woodland at Syon Park, London 11th Nov – 27th Nov
• Illuminated Garden Adventure, West Green House Basingstoke 26th Nov – 30th Dec
• Windsor Great Park Illuminated 17th Nov – 2nd Jan
• Neverland Illuminova at Wellington Country Park 17th Nov – 23rd Dec
• Maidenhead Lantern Parade – Carnival of the Animals – 10th Dec (Lantern-making workshops 19/26/26 Nov, 3/4/10 Dec)
• Devine Christmas Lights Trail 2022, Windsor
• Christmas in the Park, Marlow 9th Dec – 21st Dec
• Illuminated Trail, Blenheim Place 18th Nov – 2nd Jan
• Ice Sculptures Trail, Canary Wharf 17th Nov – 19th Nov
• Kew Gardens Lights Trail 16th Nov – 8th Jan
• Illuminature at London Wetlands Centre 18th Nov – 8th Jan
• Winter Lights, Canary Wharf 18th Jan – 28th Jan

Christmas Markets

Festive markets have a lovely atmosphere. They’re kind of everywhere, but here are some local ones.

• Artisan Christmas Fair at Windsor Guildhall – 17th – 18th Nov
• Norden Farm Festive Markets 26th Nov & 2nd Dec
• Santa’s Special Christmas Fayre, St Laurence Church Slough, 19th Nov 11am-2.30pm
• Festive Market at The Lexicon, Bracknell 21st Nov – 24th Dec
• Pirate Park Christmas Fair, Dedworth, Windsor 27th Nov
• Christmas Craft Stalls at Black Park, Thursdays 11am-2pm until 22nd Dec
• Cookham Christmas Market 26th Nov
• Burnham Community Library 3rd Dec 10-1
• Christmas in the Park, Marlow 9th Dec – 21st Dec
• The Christmas Carnival, Newbury Racecourse 27th Nov – 2nd Jan
• Burnham Park Hall, 17th December 11-3

Festive Ice Skating

I know people love ice skating at Christmas time – not a free activity and one I have yet to try!

• Windsor on Ice
• Reading Winter Wonderland
• Chobham Adventure Farm
• Newbury Racecourse
• Canary Wharf
• Battersea Power Station
• Somerset House

That’s it! I hope this guide is useful, and please do tag me on socials (@themummystylist) if you visit anywhere from this guide. Have fun planning your Christmas!

Sabrina x