Looking for festive date ideas in Milton Keynes without the kids this year? Look no further. Here are five Christmas date ideas and spots to consider in Milton Keynes this Christmas.
It’s officially December – and it’s be time for lots of festive fun. Luckily, Milton Keynes offers more than just places to eat and shop – it’s actually home to lots of fun and festive date ideas, especially at Christmas!
If you’re loved up this Christmas bookmark this list of festive date ideas in Milton Keynes.
Festive Dinner at The Flying Fox
I appreciate the fact that this isn’t quite original, but I have a soft spot in my heart for The Flying Fox. I used to go there a lot with my parents and my boyfriend and I had a romantic pre-Christmas dinner there last year – plus our anniversary meal. The Flying Fox (pictured above) and other Vintage Inns always have a really lovely festive country vibe come winter, with crackling fireplaces and beautiful Christmas trees. They also tend to do good deals, such as £21.95 each for a three-course meal over the Christmas season. The lunch menu is also usually quite affordable after a day of Christmas shopping!
Read more: The Best Christmas Events in Milton Keynes This Year
Ice Skating at Willen on Ice
Last year Willen Lake debuted a brand new ice rink for Christmas. This year, it’s doubled in size! I’m really glad about this because when I went last year (granted on NYE, so at a peak time!), the rink was so busy and hard to enjoy. But it is a really lovely festive experience. It’s also undercover, which means it doesn’t matter if it rains. You’ll also find the cosy après-ski bar, tasty food stands and fairground rides to enjoy. Nearby, there’s also the Willen observation wheel, which offers fantastic views across the city at night (weekends only).
Willen on Ice is back from the 7th of November. Tickets from £12.40 off-peak (including skate hire).
Mince Pie & Mulled Wine Cruise
Step on board the fully-electric Electra boat this winter with a mince pie and mulled wine cruise! This romantic 2.5 hour charter takes you on a leisurely cruise along the Grand Union Canal, whilst you tuck into a mince pie deep filled with with vegetarian mincemeat and frangipane – served with a generous helping of clotted cream – and a mulled wine, hot chocolate or other drink of your choice.
Alternatively, you can choose the (very popular) lunchtime Festive Fish & Bubbles cruise!
Festive cruises run on select dates throughout November and December. Adult tickets are £24 for the Mince Pie & Mulled Wine Cruise and £31 for the Festive Fish & Bubbles cruise.
Wrap Up Warm on a Winter Walk
Milton Keynes is full of lovely parks and trails to walk, including Great Linford Manor Park, Lodge Lake, Ouse Valley Park and Campbell Park to name just a few. Wrap up warm and take a romantic stroll, with a takeaway hot chocolate as a reward afterwards. Think how lovely it will be to ramble home to a warm house after a long, fresh walk! I always use The Park’s Trust website for self-guided walks and ideas.
I’d also recommend Ashridge, Rushmere County Park and Harlestone Firs Forest if you want to travel a bit further afield for some really beautiful views!
Read more: Taking a self-guided walk around Linford Manor
Go Sledging or Ice Skating
Okay, so the views won’t be quite as pretty as they might be at The Natural History Museum, but ice skating is always a lot of romantic fun, no matter what the view! Either head over to Planet Ice to practice your skating skills, or visit Snozone at the Xscape for some good old-fashioned sledging when it’s available again. Plus at Snozone, there’s a bar on site where you can warm up afterwards, or you can grab dinner and a movie in the Xscape.
Ice skating at Planet Ice starts from £9.15 and Sledging at Snozone starts from £17.99. Both run throughout the year.
Depending on your preferences, there are some other more family-friendly options like the Land of Lights Lantern Festival at Gulliver’s Land and Carols at the Cathedral, but in this post, I have tried to focus solely on adult-only date ideas (more or less!).
And Further Afield…
If you’re willing to travel outside of Milton Keynes, there are lots of festive things you can do around Buckinghamshire and beyond. Some of my absolute favourites include:
- Waddesdon Manor is home to a wonderful light show/trail, seasonal Christmas markets and the decorated manor house.
- Blenheim Palace offers a very pretty illuminated light trail, with the palace decorated for the season and even the chance to take home your very own estate-grown Christmas tree.
- Warwick Castle is also a very romantic place to visit at Christmas with an ice skating rink, the grand castle decorated inside and, new for this year: an outdoor light trail and Christmas afternoon tea! Granted Warwick Castle isn’t really close to Milton Keynes (it’s about an hour away) but it’s worth the drive. Trust me.
What are your favourite festive things to do in Milton Keynes and beyond? Do you have any romantic dates planned around Milton Keynes this December already? Let me know!
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