Top UK destinations for family Christmas holidays

If keeping the children entertained for the full 12-days of Christmas seems like it will be a lengthy endeavour, it may be a good time to go for a UK city break.

A short holiday in the UK offers families dozens of great events, outings, and things to see and do over the festive period.

With this in mind, the experts at Travelodge have put together their top choices of family events to see and places to go this Christmas, from zoos to theatres.

Pantomimes and grottos in London
London and the surrounding area has a wealth of family attractions over Christmas, including some excellent pantomimes and Santa's grottos.

Over in south-west London, the New Wimbledon Theatre will be putting on Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs with a host of TV favourites including Ross Kemp, Bobby Davro and Warwick Davis (Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter films) and rising star Aimie Atkinson.

The show runs until January 20th 2008. For more information see the New Wimbledon Theatre website.

While you are there you can also head to Selfridges' Santa's grotto on London's infamously busy shopping destination, Oxford Street.

Though seeing Santa and his helpers is free, to avoid disappointment it is possible to book a seat for four people, at a cost of £3 (all proceeds go to charity).

Santa will be at the department store until December 24th. For more information see the Selfridges website.

Manchester and the north-west
Manchester is well-known for its fantastic range of theatre productions, as well as its wealth of shops ranging from department stores to independent boutiques.

One of the top Christmas shows this festive season is Scrooge the Musical, playing at the Manchester Palace Theatre, on Oxford Street.

The cast includes Eastenders' favourite Shane Ritchie and special effects by Paul Kieve, who provided the magic in Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban.

The musical runs until January 12th 2008.

For more information see the Manchester Palace Theatre or the Scrooge the Musical websites.

Just under an hour's drive away from Manchester is Chester Zoo, which will be having a special Lapland trail where you can meet Santa in his wonderland, as well as an ice rink.

The festivities will be at the zoo until January 13th 2008. For more information see the Chester Zoo website.