The 15 Christmas trips you need to book now - from Lapland to New York

It's only September - there's plenty of time to get organised for Christmas, which is miles away, right? Wrong. One of Britain's top festive attractions, LaplandUK, has already sold out at Ascot and in Manchester - and prices are already starting to creep up for other popular activities and holiday destinations for the winter season.Whether you fancy a Christmas panto (it's behind you!), traditional market or your favourite city dressed in its festive finery, planning in advance is the key to ensuring you don't miss out on seasonal events.From Seville and Prague to top attractions here in the UK, booking early means you'll also avoid the prices that soar in the run-up to December. Here are the 15 Christmas trips and events you need to book now - or risk missing out altogether...Lapland, Finland Lapland excursions can get booked up months in advance of ChristmasAccommodation and popular excursions to Lapland can sell out months in advance, thanks to major publicity and the fact that many holidaymakers look forward to these experiences as bucket-list items.Taking your brood to Lapland to see actual Santa (almost) feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so be sure not to miss out.For example, dates in December, prime viewing for the Northern Lights, igloo stays and reindeer safari experiences can sell out, especially in popular spots such as Rovaniemi.Indeed, Visit Rovaniemi even warns: 'Please note: During December-March, many activities in Rovaniemi sell out early. We recommend you book in advance to guarantee the availability.' Visit a British stately home Churchill's regal birthplace in the Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace, has festivities galore from mid November You may not own a palatial mansion on a sprawling estate but that doesn't mean you can't indulge yourself for an afternoon about what celebrating December 25th as Lord or Lady of the manor might be like. From Chatsworth to Blenheim, many UK heritage properties, royal residences and stately homes hold festive extravaganzas, including light trails, carols and Christmas villages. Blenheim Palace, Churchill’s regal birthplace in the Cotswolds, does it particularly well, with this year's seasonal events kicking off from November 13th and running until January 3rd. Alongside the Illuminated Trail, there's an ice rink, market and Cinderella experience inside the palace's walls. Family tickets from £95, blenheimpalace.com. Prague Christmas market Planning a visit to Prague? This magical city can get busy at ChristmasWhile Prague Christmas market doesn't 'sell out' per se, as it is a public event held in the Old Town, popular central hotels can get full, and flight prices can soar.Guided tours and popular events in the area can also get booked up. The Prague Christmas Markets will be open daily from 28 November, 2026 to 6 January, 2027, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.Old Town Square Christmas Market is the best one, with decorated huts selling local handicrafts and food and drink, a Christmas tree and an open-air music stage.Specialties to try include traditional Christmas sugar cookies, trdelník (a traditional Czech pastry) and mulled wine.Feria del Belén, Seville, Spain Feria del Belén Christmas Market features handcrafted decorationsWhile Germany and eastern Europe might be many people's first port of call when it comes to Christmas markets, there's plenty of fun to be had elsewhere - and the Feria del Belén in Seville, an open-air street market, is one of the best in Europe.The speciality here is nativity scenes and tiny figurines, as well as chocolate churros and roasted chestnuts. But despite its lower position on the festive radar, flight prices to Seville can still soar due to high demand.Unless you fly on Christmas Day itself - or book in advance - you could miss out on great deals.Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Walt Disney World, Florida Christmas at Walt Disney World is the stuff of childhood dreams... if you can book in time!Tickets are already on sale for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, set to take place this year from November 8 to December 22, 2026.But if last year is anything to go by, several 2025 dates had sold out by the end of October - so you'd better get a move on!As part of the seasonal fun, guests can enjoy a Christmas parade, majestic fireworks show and a stage show at the Cinderella Castle.The ticketed event has sold out many times, so it's essential to look in advance if you're keen to head to Florida. Christmas in New York The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is a top New York attractionChristmas in New York is magical - that is, if you're organised. For instance, you need to book the famous Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the Rockettes, as early as you can. Plus, prime-time ice-skating sessions, as in London, need to be planned in advance. Try the Rockefeller Center for a great session with a great view.Christmas sunset slots at the Empire State Building also sell out weeks in advance because December sunset is early in the day, around 4.15pm to 4.30pm.December 25th in the sunshine Switch the snow for sun and sand with a summery winter getawaySeeking some winter sun? Popular destinations for those looking to escape the cold (and snow) at Christmas don't exactly sell out, but prices can soar if you miss the early booking window.Want some inspiration? Try a Caribbean holiday, with weather reaching 27C to 29C. The Maldives is also popular at this time of year with temperatures of 28C to 30C.Closer to home, the Canary Islands offer temperatures between 21C and 25C, as well as beaches and short flights.Bed down in an ice hotel In the Swedish Lapland village of Jukkasjärvi, the Ice Hotel is the world's biggest of its kind - a room in December costs around £1388 per person including dinner and breakfast For an icy thrill you'll almost certainly only do once, book a night in a hotel that's made entirely of frozen water. Ice hotels have become increasingly popular in recent decades with any country that plunges into snowy winters now having them, from Sweden and Finland to Norway and Canada. The largest is in the small Swedish Lapland village of Jukkasjärvi, which spans around 6,000 square metres and uses 550 tons of ice every year. First built in 1989, it's 200km north of the Arctic Circle and offers both 'cold' and 'warm' accommodation. Packages including dinner, breakfast and an overnight stay in an ensuite ice room cost from around £1388.50 per person in December. Fly to Kiruna, with one stopover, with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) from £124, with transfers to the resort from around £22, icehotel.comChristmas Eve pantomimes Christmas Eve pantomimes can get booked up in advanceChristmas Eve pantomimes won't sell out... oh yes they will!Whether you're after Cinderella with Jennifer Saunders, Jack and the Beanstalk banter or off-beat Robin Hood and the Merry Mandem, pantomimes are all the rage at Christmas.If you're after a Christmas Eve slot, though, you'll want to book in advance.Top choices for this year include Peter Pan in Wimbledon, Sleeping Beauty in Bromley (starring Vernon Kay) and Dick Whittingberg Gets Into a Pickle.The Polar Express Once on-board families are immersed into a world of interactive, lively entertainment with singing and dancing chefsTourists looking for the ultimate Christmas adventure can now book one of the UK’s most popular experiences - The Polar Express Train Ride - but don’t forget to pack your pyjamas!This popular Christmas adventure is available at locations up and down the country, and transports families into the magical world of The Polar Express, reimagining the beloved 2004 film where children in pyjamas enjoy an unforgettable and lively adventure on board a magnificent steam train. As popular dates sell out quickly, guests are advised to book soon via the website. Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 magical Christmas adventure at the following locations across the UK: Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells, South Devon Railway in Buckfastleigh, Wensleydale Railway in North Yorkshire and London Euston.Christmas at Kew Christmas at Kew at the Royal Botanic Gardens is one of the UK capital's most popular attractions at this time of yearChristmas at Kew 2026, the iconic Christmas lights trail in London, has released its ticket sales.But the sooner you get your hands on the coveted tickets, the better, as it often sells out fast, especially if you're keen to book for December.Expect street food, winter treats, massive light installations and an immersive experience. Tickets for non-members start at £28.50 for off-peak slots and £36 at peak times, and member discounts are available.Ice rinks Ice skating - for instance at Somerset House - can get busy during peak slotsWhether you're as graceful as Torvill and Dean or more of a baby giraffe on ice, ice skating is fun for all the family once the temperatures drop.You shouldn't struggle to get a slot at 11am on a Tuesday in November, for instance, but if you want to go during peak times you could struggle.Keep an eye out for bookings to open at popular rinks - booking your slot early is the key to ensuring success.Somerset House, for instance, lets you sign up for pre-sale tickets, while Battersea Power Station has already released slots.Northern Lights in Tromsø, Norway Plan ahead to get your spot under Mother Nature's winter spectacular Located directly under the 'auroral oval', a ring-shaped region above Earth's Geomagnetic North Pole, Tromsø is one of the best places in the world to experience The Northern Lights.While you can technically catch a glimpse of this spectacular natural phenomenon from late August to early April, the best time to visit is during the Polar Night, which lasts from late November to late January, when the sun stays below the horizon for more than 24 hours in a row.Even with the few hours of blue twilight in the middle of the day, the prolonged darkness means there's ample opportunity to spot thein between visits to the town's fabulous Christmas markets and trying local activities, such as husky-sledding and cross-country skiing. Switzerland's Glacier Express A window on Switzerland's iciest winter landscapes: the Glacier Express is particularly magical at ChristmasIt's one of the most sought-after train rides at Christmas, with its eight-hour journey, Matterhorn views and unobstructed Alpine panoramas.But the Glacier Express frequently sells out during the peak Yuletide season, especially during the weeks of Christmas and New Year.If you're keen to jump on board to enjoy the landscape between Zermatt and St Moritz, you'll need to be prepared.Bookings can be made up to 93 days in advance for first and second class - remember, to travel on the Glacier Express you need both a seat reservation and a valid ticket. Prices for both of these combined can start from CHF 213 (£193). Handel's Messiah in Versailles Fancy a Christmas culture fix? Book tickets to the annual Handel's Messiah recital at the Royal Chapel of the Palace of VersaillesThere is possibly no other musical work that evokes the spirit of Christmas more ardently than George Frideric Handel's 1741 magnum opus, Messiah.Written in just 24 days, the Baroque oratorio covers the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - and is best known to most for its iconic Hallelujah chorus.And where better to experience this musical masterpiece than within the walls of the Royal Chapel of the Palace of Versailles, taking place this year from December 12 to December 13, featuring the Royal Opera Chorus and Orchestra.Tickets for this year's performance can be booked directly through the Opéra Royal de Versailles Box Office, with the performance expected to last about 2 hours and 40 minutes, including an interval.And there are plenty of excellent hotels near the palace available to book for after the performance.Try Relais & Chateaux property Hotel Les Lumieres, a 15-minute walk from the palace, for a blow-out stay (rooms start from £316 a night), or the Hotel des Lys, in Versailles City Centre, for a more budget-friendly option (rooms start from £123 a night).