A SEA of sparkling fairy lights, giant Christmas trees and illuminated archways greeted us as we walked through the hotel doors.
Classic festive tunes drifted across the holiday park, as scores of parents and their excited offspring hurtled around in their Rudolph jumpers, elf hats and Santa suits.
Christmas had officially arrived.
I was at Butlin’s Bognor Regis which had become a little less “Hi-de-Hi” and more “ho, ho, ho”.
The resort, better known for Redcoats and red sunburnt faces in the summer months, had been transformed into a winter wonderland for a series of special Christmas breaks.
And it’s already preparing to do the same for 2024.
Christmas at Butlin’s is a non-stop round of festive parties, Crimbo films, themed activities and special stage shows including Goldilocks And The Three Bears.
And completely new for this year, a favourite character from Butlin’s Jack And The Beanstalk show, Dotty, will be dishing out presents in her dairy for those who don’t have time to visit Santa himself.
We’d barely finished checking into our room at the Wave Hotel before my children were dragging us to a festive pottery painting session.
My son Harvey, 11, picked out the Nutcracker soldier plaster cast, while daughter Luella, nine, grabbed a sign that read “Family” and got to work bringing their models to life with a splash of colour.
Then it was straight on to the much-anticipated Father Christmas’ Express Delivery, newly launched in 2023 and returning this year.
The children began their immersive grotto experience by scrawling their wish lists and posting them into the “magic letter box”.
When the light on the lift went green, it meant Father Christmas had received the letters and was ready to receive us too.
The jolly red man cheerfully, and meticulously, went through every item on their lists before asking whether they had been naughty or nice — I don’t suspect the answer mattered that much as he handed them a chocolate multipack each.
There is so much for the kids to do at Butlin’s, that it makes for a dream getaway for adults, too, who needn’t worry about what to do next.
A couple of rounds of Wild-West style laser tag got our children’s blood pumping. And if you have a head for heights, Aerial Adventures with a climbing wall and high ropes course are a must.
Then there’s the Football Academy, for boys and girls, offering an hour-long session on Astroturf, helping kids become the next Harry Kane or Lucy Bronze.
Whatever you do, do not leave Butlin’s without visiting Splash Waterworld.
STAYING THERE: A four-night Christmas Festive Wonderland break costs from £49 in total based on four sharing a Silver Room in Bognor Regis or Skegness on December 2. Christmas breaks are on sale now.
See butlins.com.
This seaside-themed water park is a godsend in the winter months when the weather is not good enough for the real beach.
The Adrenaline Flume had us zooming through tunnels in pitch black, and the high-velocity Stick of Rock slides saw me almost lose my shorts.
We couldn’t leave without taking advantage of the on-stage entertainment either, especially as it’s such a huge perk at Butlin’s.
Christmas movies were broadcast in the Skyline Pavilion earlier in the day.
But it’s the evening that the real magic happens with shows like Festival Rock hosting sing-along sessions with Queen’s We Will Rock You and The Killers’ Mr Brightside.
Then, the perfect way to end a festive trip, with a performance from an Elton John tribute act. The encore of Step Into Christmas left us truly in the festive spirit.
I can already guess the first item on my kids’ Christmas list for this year: a return trip to Butlin’s.
