November 2025
A tranquil escape to the countryside over the festive season or an immersive Welsh Christmas for the whole family, Oakwood Valley Lodges is the perfect place to stay. Tucked in the heart of mid-Wales, the historic market town of Welshpool, Powys is only a 13-minute drive from your Oakwood Valley lodge. So, while your evenings can be spent cosied up in a lodge, hot chocolate and a Christmas film on, your days can be doused with festivities, local seasonal spirit and the beautiful wintery Wales.
From traditional to something new, a Welshpool Christmas has everything you could need for the festive season.
On 29 November, you can step out of Welshpool and into winter wonderland. From 1pm, the town centre and town hall will host stalls, live music, Santa’s grotto and festive food for everyone to enjoy at this year’s Winter Festival. Whether you’re looking to start your Christmas shopping or have a sing to some festive tunes, Welshpool have it sorted. At 5pm, the town’s Christmas lights will illuminate Welshpool to officially kick off the festive season.
No ticket needed, just some festive spirit and a warm coat!
All throughout the festive season, Powis Castle and Garden will be transformed from a historical courtyard to an enchanted Christmas kingdom. Inspired by Narnia, the world behind the wardrobe is brought to life with an Enchanted Christmas, with illuminations, mulled wine and tales of Christmas.
Breakfast with Father Christmas sounds like a child’s dream. The chance for little ones to chat to the man himself over a buffet-style breakfast and make memories that will last forever. If you’re on a family getaway, breakfasting with Santa will be the highlight of the trip, so mark your calendars and get our tickets for 29 November to 1 December.
Talking of Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto is an essential at Christmas when you have children. Luckily, Santa’s swapping the North Pole for Mid Wales from 6 – 22 December, where children can meet the man and share their Christmas wish.
If you’re spending Christmas at Oakwood Valley, on 23 and 24 December, youngsters can breakfast with Santa, share gifts and photos and join his team of elves to make festive decorations and reindeer food ahead of the big day. To top it off, hot chocolate and gingerbread will be waiting for you when you finish. Sounds like a Christmas dream.
Christmas is set to explode on 6 December over Welshpool with the Christmas Cracker Market. The 6th annual market will take over the town with over 130 stalls of crafts, homemade gifts, stocking fillers, small businesses and local traders, festive food and drink and Santa’s grotto.
In the name of Christmas, there will be a grand prize draw for local charities. So far, they have raised £8867 for Lingen Davies Cancer Fund and £3250 for the Wales Air Ambulance for the grand draws. It is set to be a magical day, and one for the diaries.
Feels like you’ve seen too many Christmas markets already and you’re after something a bit different?
Introducing Welshpool & Llanfair Railway. Straight out of the polar express, you can steam through wintery mid-Wales in the vintage dining carriages. Whether you want a full dining experience on the Christmas Catering Trains or a post-Christmas journey with a festive sweet treat and drink on the Mince Pie Trains, Welshpool Christmas has it all.
The Santa Special Trains are perfect for little ones where they’ll experience a shorter journey through the wintery landscape and meet Santa and his elves along the way. Adult passengers receive a mince pie and non-alcoholic drink, so everyone’s happy. The SEN Friendly Santa Trains have been specially altered for those with special educational needs, so everyone in Welshpool can experience the magic of Christmas.
At the station, you can shop locally produced gifts or a sip a cup of hot seasonal soup; wrap-up warm as the stations are outdoors, and Welshpool Christmas can be chilly.
Oakwood Valley is the perfect festive escape. Explore our lodges for sale or get in touch to plan your seasonal break with Lodges for hire near the heart of a Christmas-filled Welshpool.
Want to learn more about Oakwood Valley Lodges? If you’re interested in purchasing a holiday home from us, or you want to know more about our lodges for hire, download a copy of our brochure today.
