Why go away for Christmas on your own
Going away for Christmas is a popular choice for people travelling alone, and for lots of different reasons. Some want to be looked after for a few days, with someone else doing the cooking and the washing up. Some want a change of scene, a long walk on Christmas morning and a good lunch. Others simply like the idea of spending the holiday somewhere new, on their own terms.
A Christmas break also gives you choice. If you want company, hotels and inns with festive programmes bring guests together for drinks, meals and games, and many people there are on their own too. If you would rather a quieter day, a cottage, a cabin or a city hotel can feel like any other peaceful week, with the lights and the atmosphere there when you want them.
Spending the holiday somewhere new, on your own terms.
From this guide
Things to consider
There are many ways to spend Christmas away. These are the choices that make the biggest difference to a Christmas break alone, with options for each depending on what you are after.
Budget
Christmas is the busiest and dearest time of the winter for many hotels and inns, and packages are often sold for two or three nights rather than by the night. Prices usually include some or all meals, so they look higher than a normal room rate but may cover more. Think about what you want included, and whether you would rather pay for a full package or keep things simple. Our three bands are based on the cost of one night, for comparison.
Some Christmas packages are priced per person, which suits solo travellers. Others are per room, so always ask for the rate for one.
What kind of Christmas
It helps to picture the day you want before you look at places to stay. Is it a long lunch with crackers and a fire, or a walk on an empty beach followed by a quiet supper? Would you like to be around other people, or to have the day to yourself?
- If you wanta traditional ChristmasYou may preferA hotel or inn with a Christmas package, from Christmas Eve drinks to Boxing Day lunch.
- If you wantcompanyYou may preferA hotel with a sociable programme, or a retreat with a shared Christmas table.
- If you wanta quiet dayYou may preferA cottage, cabin or small B&B where the day passes simply.
- If you wantsomewhere livelyYou may preferA city hotel, with lights, services and restaurants open on the day.
Christmas hotel breaks and packages
Christmas hotel breaks usually run for two to four nights, starting on Christmas Eve or the day before. Most include a welcome drink, Christmas Day lunch and some dinners, and many add carols, a Boxing Day walk, afternoon tea or a quiz. Some are lively, with entertainment every evening; others are relaxed, with the programme there if you want it. Reading the itinerary closely tells you a lot about the feel of the place.
- If you wanteverything taken care ofYou may preferA full package with all meals and activities included.
- If you wantsome freedomYou may preferA package with Christmas lunch and breakfasts, and the rest of the time free.
- If you wantto avoid big partiesYou may preferA small hotel or inn, where the Christmas programme is low-key.
Where to go
Where you spend Christmas changes the whole feel of it. The countryside gives you frosty walks and village churches, the coast offers bracing beach walks and sometimes a Christmas Day swim, and cities have lights, services and a little more open. Many market towns have late-night shopping and lights in the run-up to Christmas, then go very quiet on the day itself. Think about what you would like to do on Christmas morning, and on Boxing Day.
- If you wanta country ChristmasYou may preferA village inn or country house, with a church and a walk nearby.
- If you wantsea air on the dayYou may preferA coastal town, with a beach walk before lunch.
- If you wantlights and servicesYou may preferA cathedral city, with carols and Christmas markets in the run-up.
Getting there and back
Travel needs more planning at Christmas than at any other time of year. In recent years there have been no National Rail trains on Christmas Day in England, very few on Boxing Day, and in Wales no trains on either day. Engineering works often close lines between Christmas and New Year too. Roads are quiet on Christmas Day but busy on the days around it. Think about arriving by Christmas Eve, and check the timetable for your journey home before you book.
- If you wantnot to driveYou may preferA stay near a station, arriving on the 23rd or 24th and leaving after the 27th.
- If you wantflexibilityYou may preferA car, or a stay you can reach by a short taxi from a mainline station.
- If you wantto stay putYou may preferA longer stay that runs through to New Year.
How Christmas Day might go
Every Christmas break is different, but here is how the day might unfold at a hotel or inn with a festive package. If you are in a cottage, swap lunch for something you have cooked, or a booked table at the pub.
- MorningA late breakfast, then a church service or a frosty walk.
- MiddayDrinks by the fire as other guests gather.
- AfternoonChristmas lunch, then the King’s speech or a nap.
- EveningA light supper, a film or a game in the lounge.
- Boxing DayA long walk, or a quiet morning with a book.
What to look for
These are the details that make a Christmas break easier on your own. Most are in the package details, or easy to ask about.
- A rate for oneAsk whether the package is priced per person or per room.
- A clear itinerarySo you know what is planned, and what is optional.
- Tables for one at lunchOr a shared table, if you would like company.
- Somewhere to sitA lounge with a fire for the quiet hours.
- Walks from the doorFor Christmas morning or Boxing Day.
- Easy travelClose to a station, or with parking, given the holiday timetable.
Tips for a Christmas trip alone
- Book earlyChristmas packages and cottages often sell out by the autumn.
- Ask about other solo guestsHotels can often tell you if others are coming alone, and seat you together if you like.
- Arrive by Christmas EveTrains are limited around the holiday, and arriving early lets you settle in.
- Plan your Christmas morningA walk, a service or a swim gives the day a lovely start.
- Pack something festiveA jumper, a book you have been saving, or a small treat for yourself.
- Check what is openShops, cafés and attractions are often closed on the 25th and 26th.
Our recommended Christmas stays
These are the stays we would book for a Christmas break alone, from hotels with a full festive programme to quiet places where the day passes simply. Each one comes from our list of independent stays, with notes on why it suits a solo stay and what is included.
Some links earn us a small commission. It never changes which stays we pick or what you pay.
-
On our list£££BudgetPetwood Hotel
Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire- Publishes a single-room price for its three-night Christmas package
- The hotel is kept for Christmas guests only, with all meals included
See the stayPrices vary by date -
On our list£££Mid-rangeCareys Manor & SenSpa
Brockenhurst, Hampshire- Three nights from Christmas Eve, with a black-tie party
- A single supplement is published, so you know the price for one
Trade-off: spa access is not always included in the room rate, so check when you book.
See the stayPrices vary by date -
On our list£££Treat yourselfDoxford Hall Hotel & Spa
Chathill, Northumberland- Three nights from Christmas Eve, with a tasting dinner and Christmas lunch
- A spa and a library lounge to settle into
See the stayPrices vary by date -
On our list£££Mid-rangeThe Speech House
Coleford, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire- Three nights in the forest, with all meals, carols and walks
- Woodland walks straight from the door
See the stayPrices vary by date -
On our list£££Mid-rangeRetreat East
Hemingstone, Suffolk- Three nights from Christmas Eve in converted farm barns
- A sauna, hot tub and treatments, adults only
Trade-off: Christmas lunch is an optional extra, so check what is included.
See the stayPrices vary by date -
On our list£££Treat yourselfThe Devonshire Arms Hotel
Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire- Three nights with a champagne tea, dinners and Christmas lunch
- A proper spa and the Bolton Abbey estate to walk
Trade-off: prices are shown for two sharing, so ask for the rate for one.
See the stayPrices vary by date
Christmas is the busiest and dearest week of the winter, and some packages price by the room. Booking early, and asking for the rate for one, can make a big difference.
How we chose these
Every stay in this guide comes from our list, and a person checks each one before it is marked Reviewed. For Christmas we also check what is included in the package, whether it is priced for one, and how easy the stay is to reach over the holiday.
Each stay in our guides carries one of three badges, so you can see how far our checks have got:
- Hand-Picked: A stay we have personally vetted, or spoken to directly.
- Reviewed: A stay a person on our team has checked against all four criteria and approved.
- On our list: A stay we have researched and scored, still waiting to be checked by a person.
Not for you if…
You would rather go away for New Year, or skip the festive season and travel in January. Our New Year guide might suit you better.
Questions people ask
What is included in a Christmas hotel break?
Usually two to four nights with breakfast, Christmas Day lunch and some dinners, plus drinks and activities such as carols or a Boxing Day walk. Check the itinerary, as packages vary.
Are there Christmas breaks for singles?
Some hotels and tour operators run Christmas breaks aimed at people travelling alone. Many ordinary hotel packages also suit solo guests, and some can seat you with others if you would like company.
Will I pay a single supplement at Christmas?
Sometimes. Some packages are priced per person, others per room. Always ask for the rate for one.
Do trains run on Christmas Day?
In recent years there have been no National Rail trains on Christmas Day, and very few on Boxing Day. Plan to arrive by Christmas Eve and check the timetable home.
When should I book a solo Christmas break?
As early as you can. Christmas packages and cottages often sell out by the autumn.
Can I go somewhere quiet for Christmas?
Yes. A cottage, cabin or small B&B can feel much like any other peaceful week, with a walk and a simple lunch.
