- Christmas
- 3rd Dec 2025
- 0
- 0 minute
December, sorted: Here’s your North East bucket list
Not sure how to make the most of December? We’ve done the hard work for you.
From festive favourites to underrated gems, this is HLN’s December bucket list. Your guide to squeezing every drop of joy out of the season right here in the North East.
Explore a Christmas market you’ve never visited
Start the month with a festive wander. Swap your usual haunts for something new, like the Forage Christmas Market, where creative stalls selling artisan bakes, handcrafted gifts and winter tipples take over Rigg & Furrow Farm. It’s smaller than the huge city markets, which means you can take your time…
Take a Christmas wreath workshop
Nothing says “I’ve got my seasonal life together” like a handmade wreath. Book a workshop at Brocksbushes or The South Causey Inn in County Durham, where you’ll be guided through crafting a beautiful, textured winter arrangement using fresh foliage and berries. It’s creative therapy with festive fragrance built in.
Cold-water dip for a spark of joy
Grab a bobble hat and join the Dip Club at King Edward’s Bay. You’ll shriek, you’ll question your decisions, and then – once wrapped in a towel – you’ll feel like an absolute warrior. Perfectly followed by a cheeky mulled wine from Riley’s Fish Shack.
Charity shop treasure hunt
Hit the charity shops of Jesmond, where places like St Oswald’s Hospice Shop regularly surprise with vintage knits, sparkly blouses and pre-loved coats. Set a £15 limit and assemble a full outfit. Sustainable? Tick. Fun? Tick. Festive smugness? Tick.
Watch a Christmas classic at an indie cinema
Nothing beats the nostalgia of a Christmassy film on the big screen. Head to Jam Jar Cinema in Whitley Bay for cosy community vibes, sofa-like seating and screenings of seasonal favourites. You may even leave wanting to move to a small snowy town and fall in love with a carpenter. It happens.
Volunteer for a local cause
Spend a couple of hours helping at The People’s Kitchen in Newcastle, prepping food or organising donations. It’s humbling, grounding and a meaningful reminder of what the season is actually about.
Natural candle making session
Reset your December jitters with a natural candle making session at Yoga X Life Studios in Ouseburn. Think soft lighting, comfy surroundings and essential oils – the opposite of festive burnout.
Try a new winter walk
Wrap up and explore the breathtaking Cragside Carriage Drive. Frozen ponds, towering pines and frosty footpaths make this walk feel like you’ve wandered into a wintry storybook.
Take a gift-wrapping workshop
Head to The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle for their Christmas gift-wrapping workshop with Forbes Finishings. Learn how to wrap your presents beautifully and minimise waste in a relaxing environment.
Slow Sunday at a farm shop
Treat yourself to brunch at Broom House Farm in Durham and browse their farm shop for local chutneys, cheeses and gourmet gifts. Zero rush. Maximum comfort.
Attend a late-night indie shopping event
Support small businesses at Ouseburn Christmas Late, where studios, galleries and indie shops open after dark with mulled wine, music and exclusive offers. Expect artisan gifts without the high-street stress.
Do a random act of kindness
Drop off gifts at Metro Radio’s Cash for Kids Mission Christmas donation points across the region. A small gesture for you; a huge moment for a local child.
Visit a castle in full festive mode
Step into a Christmas fairytale at Raby Castle, complete with decorated trees, fireside displays and festive markets. Ideal for a slow, magical afternoon.
Festive afternoon tea
Book a seasonal afternoon tea at Matfen Hall, where the setting is just as indulgent as the cakes. Enjoy elegant seasonal sandwiches, homemade scones and exquisite patisserie. And, as indulgence is on the menu, why not add a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne? ‘Tis the season, after all.
Christmas cocktail trail
Start at Mother Mercy in Newcastle for a festive cocktail special, then wander to WC Newcastle for more mood-lit magic served in two of the city’s coolest underground venues. Don’t forget to follow the city’s twinkling festive lights as you go.
Ice skating day
Glide (or wobble) across the rink at Billingham Forum Ice Arena, surrounded by twinkling lights and seasonal music. You could even treat yourself to a ‘learn to skate’ session – why not, it is Christmas after all. For a Newcastle-based skate, Life Centre has themed nights throughout December, so you can skate to Taylor Swift, Sam Fender, and more. Iconic.
Create something beautiful
Join a pottery workshop at The Kiln Studios in Ouseburn and make a handmade mug or trinket dish – the perfect sentimental gift.
Enjoy live Christmas music
Catch the Durham Cathedral Choir performing in the cathedral’s candlelit nave. Atmospheric, spine-tingling, unforgettable. Or, if you’re into more upbeat festive vibes, head to Newcastle’s MoosenWirt Christmas markets, where the alpine-style bar, daily live music and flowing steins of mulled drinks turn every evening into a cosy, lively winter celebration.
Explore a Christmas light trail
It would feel rude not to embark on a glorious light trail at some point in the festive period. Visit Beamish Hall’s Forest of Light, a woodland trail packed with glowing sculptures and magical displays.
Cook a North East-inspired meal
Use local ingredients from The Grainger Market in Newcastle to whip up a festive parmo, stottie pudding or homemade pease-pudding-inspired canapés.
Solo date night
Treat yourself to a quaint trip to Corbridge. Have some dinner at Casa Rosso, followed by a quiet browse around Forum Books. Blissfully peaceful.
Cosy Pub Evening
Settle in by the fire at The Rat Inn in Anick, one of the North East’s cosiest countryside pubs, for hearty comfort food and relaxed festive chatter. For a Quayside option, The Sandhill Arms is a new HLN favourite, with roaring fires in all of the rooms (and even outside) – it’s the perfect city centre hideaway.
Digital Detox Evening
Phone off. Candles on. Read, journal or simply enjoy the stillness. A grounding pause before the Christmas whirlwind.
Christmas Eve Morning Tradition
Walk along Tynemouth Longsands, then grab pastries from Crusoe’s Coffee Shop. Fresh air + festive carbs = perfection.
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