With the festive excitement buzzing around us all and the smell of gingerbread and mulled wine in the air, it can be hard to think about anything other than the big day.

However, parents out there will know that, unfortunately, a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve isn’t enough to keep the kids busy for the whole of the school holidays. So, we’ve got you covered with some fantastic festive days out from now until the New Year…

BEDGEBURY NATIONAL PINETUM AND FOREST, Goudhurst

The Christmas at Bedgebury light trail boasts more than a million lights, including brightly-coloured robins, luminous flowers and sparkling tunnels. Look out for new installations, such as the floating dandelion seeds, colour-changing mushrooms and swirling galaxy sculptures, and there will also be seasonal music and a visit from Father Christmas.

Details: Daily until New Year’s Day, excluding Christmas Day, at Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest in Goudhurst. Book tickets online here.

DOVER CASTLE

Wander through the Great Tower and meet the Victorian characters from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at Dover Castle. You can also sit around the Christmas tree and listen to stories from Santa Claus himself.

Details: Weekends until Sunday, December 22 at Dover Castle. Book tickets online here.

DREAMLAND, Margate

Dreamland’s festive attraction, Christmas World, starts with a welcome from Santa’s elves, who will guide you through the twinkling grotto with storytelling and craft activities. You’ll then get some one-on-one time with Father Christmas and, afterwards, you can join in with the indoor snowball fight and electric sleigh ride.

Details: Select dates until Monday, December 23 at Dreamland in Margate. Book tickets online here.

DYMCHURCH AMUSEMENT PARK

Grab an activity sheet and join the free elf hunt. Kids can explore the arcades and see how many of Santa’s elves they can find hiding in the amusement park. If you fill in all the blanks, you’ll get a reward to take home.

Details: Saturday, December 21 at Dymchurch Amusement Park. Free entry, no need to book.

FOLKESTONE HARBOUR ARM

From Christmas classics to family favourites, visitors can take a seat and watch brilliant films on the big screen over the school holidays. Choose from the likes of Elf, Despicable Me, Jurassic Park, The Goonies, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and more – and the best part is, it’s all free.

Details: Select dates until New Year’s Day at Folkestone Harbour Arm. Free entry, no need to book.

HEVER CASTLE, Edenbridge

Enjoy magical lights, storybook characters and a Santa’s grotto at the castle. There’s also an outdoor trail with characters like the Queen of Hearts and Tinkerbell, a Christmas cabin where you can meet Santa, decorations inside the castle and an after-dark light display.

Details: Select dates until Friday, January 3 at Hever Castle, near Edenbridge. Book tickets online here.

HISTORIC DOCKYARD, Chatham

Help the elves sprinkle some festive cheer over Medway’s maritime attraction. At Mission Christmas, visitors are led into a secret sub-station and invited to join the Elf Academy to learn present-wrapping and toy-making. There’s also a chance to meet Father Christmas, receive a gift and take a family photo.

Details: Select dates until Christmas Eve at the Historic Dockyard Chatham. Book tickets online here.

IGHTHAM MOTE, Sevenoaks

Immerse yourself in a Tudor Christmas with sights and sounds inspired by Ightham Mote’s past. There will be carols in the courtyard, a roaring fire in the Great Hall, roaming medieval musicians, a royal festive feast and flickering candles and lights on the late-night openings.

Details: Daily until Sunday, January 5, excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, at Ightham Mote, near Sevenoaks from 11am to 4pm. Book tickets online here.

LEEDS CASTLE, Maidstone

Start your day at Leeds Castle with a journey through Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. The heart-warming ballet has been turned into an immersive storybook adventure with towering nutcracker soldiers and twirling ballerinas. Then, when the sun goes down, you can follow the mesmerising light trail full of rainbow-coloured projections and art installations.

Details: The Nutcracker Experience runs until Sunday, January 5 and the light trail runs until New Year’s Day at Leeds Castle, near Maidstone. Book tickets online here.

REINDEER CENTRE, Ashford

Families can meet and feed Santa’s reindeer, as well as a host of other animals, at the farm. There’s also a 150ft tunnel with lights and festive scenes, a chance to meet Father Christmas and a snow pit where kids can play in heaps of artificial snow.

Details: Daily until Christmas Eve at the Reindeer Centre in Bethersden, near Ashford. Book tickets online here.

QUEX PARK, Birchington-on-Sea

Whether you’re looking for something that will keep the kids quiet for a couple of hours or a blockbuster that the whole family can enjoy, this seaside drive-in cinema has something for everyone. You can catch Home Alone, Love Actually, Frozen, Arthur Christmas and more.

Details: Friday, December 20 to Monday, December 23 at Quex Park in Birchington-on-Sea. Book tickets online here.

SHORNE COUNTRY PARK, Gravesend

Pick up a self-led trail sheet and explore the wintery woodland. The animal-themed trail will give you a chance to find out more about the wildlife that inhabits the country park at this time of year and, if you complete the sheet, you’ll win a prize.

Details: Saturday, December 21 to Sunday, January 5 at Shorne Country Park near Gravesend. Trail sheet costs £3, no need to book.

ST AUGUSTINE’S ABBEY, Canterbury

A colourful light show, Fantastic Tales and Where to Find Them, is bringing history to life with stunning audio-visual effects. The display, created by Luxmuralis, is an immersive experience inspired by manuscripts and artefacts from the Middle Ages and includes original soundscapes and beautiful projections.

Details: Daily until Saturday, December 21 at St Augustine’s Abbey and the King’s School in Canterbury. Book tickets online here.

TONBRIDGE CASTLE

After a successful debut last year, the Illuminate light trail has been extended to include new installations and projections, as well as a food and drink court. It’s all part of Christmas at the Castle, the town’s free festive event with a market, stalls, bars and decorations.

Details: Daily until Sunday, December 29, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day, at Tonbridge Castle. Book tickets online here.

TROSLEY COUNTRY PARK, Gravesend

The festive family trail takes visitors on a winding path through the park, spotting seasonal characters and figuring out clues along the way. If you can use your sheet to spell out the secret word, you’ll get a reward at the end.

Details: Saturday, December 21 to Sunday, January 5 at Shorne Country Park near Gravesend. Trail sheet costs £3, no need to book.