Christmas Weekend Breaks from London by Train

Christmas Weekend Breaks from London by Train

Sometimes one festive day out simply isn’t enough. Christmas weekend breaks give you time to settle in and enjoy the season’s best experiences, whether that means another evening walking beneath the sparkle of Christmas lights, a filling festive dinner or a winter morning jaunt before you start thinking about the journey home.

From London Euston, Avanti West Coast can take you to Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow for four very different Christmas weekend breaks in the UK.

Pack your cosiest layers, save room for presents, and get ready to find your festive getaway this holiday season

Christmas weekend breaks in the UK with Avanti

Whether you like your weekends packed with plans or prefer a little more time to relax, here’s how these London getaways compare:

Top London getaways for a festive weekend break

The best weekend getaways don’t all look the same at Christmas. You could spend yours walking beneath Edinburgh’s historic skyline, graze your way through Manchester’s markets, skate beside Liverpool’s grand civic buildings or warm up inside one of Glasgow’s galleries after a frosty morning out.

Edinburgh: Royal Mile charm, weekend Christmas market breaks, and Hogmanay

While travelling from London Euston to Edinburgh Waverley takes around five hours, it offers a festive escape that you won’t be able to find in England. Stepping out onto the cobblestone streets, you’ll see the city’s dark gothic skyline illuminated by twinkling lights and glowing shop windows below.

Day one

Once you’ve checked into your accommodation for the Christmas break, it’s time to wrap yourself up in something snug and explore the city. If a Christmas market takes your fancy, head over to Princes Street Gardens.

Here you’ll find Edinburgh’s Christmas Market, offering a merry medley of market stalls, seasonal treats and winter attractions, all beneath the warm glow of the Old Town skyline.

Browse homemade gifts, savour something warm from the food stalls, or simply soak in the festive atmosphere. If you have time to spare, finish with a spin on one of the winter rides or head towards George Street for a final winter wander before dinner.

Day two

With a full day ahead of you, Edinburgh’s cobbled streets beckon you into a full itinerary of festive fun. Work your way through the Royal Mile, with its many historic buildings, shops and cafés each promising a cosy stop along the way.

As dusk settles in across the city and the warm hues of the Christmas lights spread across the city, head back towards the festive attractions for skating or a whirl on the rides.

Then, for more seasonal sparkle, why not save your evening for Christmas at the Botanics. Follow its illuminated trail to discover a garden transformed into a wintry escape.

Day three

After a decadent couple of days, your last day is the perfect excuse to take things a little slower. Savour a sumptuous breakfast and dip into one of Edinburgh’s many museums or have one last wander through the Old Town.

If you want one last rewarding glimpse of Edinburgh, take yourself up to Edinburgh Castle or take the energetic walk to Arthur’s Seat if you want to finish with a challenge. From either vantage point, you can take in the city one last time before making your way back towards Edinburgh Waverley for the journey home.

Manchester: Festive dining, shopping, and high-energy city vibes

With London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly taking around two hours, you can leave London behind and be there to soak up Manchester’s Christmas cheer before the evening is over.

Once you arrive, the city doesn’t keep its festivities to just one square. Markets, shops, restaurants and glowing streets spread the seasonal spirit right across the city centre.

Day one

Once you’ve dropped your bags, let the twinkle of Christmas lights guide you into the city. Manchester’s Christmas Market weaves through streets and squares across the centre, giving you plenty of chances to stop for something to warm you up as you wander through.

Browse the wooden chalets, tuck into a festive snack and raise a steaming cup to the weekend ahead. Once you’ve had your fill of market treats, trade the paper cup for a proper glass and settle in somewhere warm for dinner, drinks and a little more Christmas cheer.

Day two

With a whole day of seasonal cheer ahead of you, start with some Christmas shopping before working your way through more of the city’s festive stops. Save some time for Albert Square, where the 50-metre Ferris wheel rises above the Christmas crowds, and live entertainment gives you an excuse to find a festive treat for yourself.

As the day melts away, leave the market bustle behind and head out to Heaton Park for the Northern Lights Manchester trail. Follow the illuminated route through the park as A Christmas Time Machine brings an array of glowing installations and festivity to your winter evening.

Once you’ve had your fill of the seasonal atmosphere, head back into the city for dinner and drinks.

Day three

After two days of Manchester Christmas cheer, it’s time to unwind and enjoy the city’s slower side. Wander over to Castlefield, where its idyllic canalside walks are sure to give you a refreshing start to your last day.

With the damp breeze that sweeps in off the water, you may want to arm yourself with a hot drink to stave off the chills of the winter morning.

If you’re not in any hurry to catch your train back from London, you can continue on your walk to the Castlefield Viaduct. A now-converted railway viaduct, it is filled with trees, shrubs, and other seasonal plants. From here, you can enjoy Manchester laid out beneath you and bask in its Christmas spirit one last time.

Liverpool: Historic waterfront, seasonal events, and nightlife

With London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street taking around two hours and 20 minutes, you won’t have to wait long to find yourself immersed in its Christmas spirit.

Stepping out from the station, you’ll be greeted by St George’s Hall overhead - ready to welcome you to a weekend of open-air skating, festive lights, live music and waterside winter walks.

Day one

Once you’re settled in to where you’re staying, keep your evening plans close to Lime Street station and head over to St George’s Plateau. As of 2026, it is now host to Skate St George, bringing an ice rink, a Christmas market and all your favourite seasonal food and drinks to a single spot.

After you’re done showing your graceful moves on the ice, warm yourself up with a cup of something festive and browse the stalls before heading further into the city. As it’s your first night, it’s only right to end it with a bite to eat, and maybe a little tipple or two.

Day two

Start Saturday with some Christmas shopping around Liverpool ONE before working your way towards the waterfront. From 20 November, follow the season’s revellers down to the Pier Head, where Liverpool Christmas Wonderland brings a burst of festive fun to the waterfront.

Take a spin around the covered ice rink, pick from 36 attractions and grab something to warm yourself up before riding the 85-metre Star Flyer high above the Three Graces.

Once dusk settles across the Mersey, you can trade the waterfront lights for an altogether different Christmas spectacle. If your dates line up, head to Liverpool Cathedral for ‘Noël’, where projections, music and storytelling sweep across the Cathedral’s soaring arches.

Day three

After two lively days, give your Sunday over to Liverpool’s slower side. Head back towards the Royal Albert Dock and take a winter wander beside the water, where the red-brick colonnades give way to wide views across the Mersey. It’s the perfect way to stretch your legs before the journey home.

Stop for brunch or wrap your hands around one last hot chocolate at the Dock, browse its independent shops for any final stocking fillers or duck into one of the waterfront museums if the December weather turns.

Glasgow: Arts, culture, and cosy Christmas family weekend breaks

Travelling from London Euston to Glasgow Central takes around four and a half hours, but the extra distance will only add to the festive build-up.

Glasgow gives you the best excuse to embrace the winter chill, knowing there’s always somewhere warm and inviting waiting afterwards, whether that’s a glowing gallery, a Christmas concert, a fairy-lit lane or a cosy table set for dinner.

Day one

Start your Glasgow weekend with a short wander from Central Station to St Enoch Square, where Winter Wonderland brings the first burst of festive fun to your evening.

Wrap your hands around a hot chocolate or mulled cider, browse the stalls for a few early stocking fillers, then take a turn on the wheel for your first look at Glasgow lit up below.

After the longer journey north, there’s no need to rush the evening. Let the cold give you an excuse to retreat somewhere cosy for dinner and settle properly into your Christmas break.

Day two

With a whole Saturday to play with, let Glasgow pile on the Christmas spirit. Start among the decorated shops and glowing streets of the city centre, picking up a few presents and allowing time to work up an appetite for something suitably indulgent along the way.

As the afternoon fades, swap the shopping bags for a seat at one of Glasgow’s festive shows or Christmas concerts. Whether it’s a family performance, a pantomime or an evening of seasonal music, it’s a cosy way to keep the celebrations going once you’re ready to escape the cold.

Day three

After a Saturday full of festivities, let your final morning unfold among Glasgow’s galleries, cobbled lanes and cosy lunch spots.

Head west to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, where 22 galleries give you plenty to wander through while you escape the December chill.With free admission, you can take your time and let the morning unfold without watching the clock.

From there, wander into the West End and towards Ashton Lane, where fairy lights are strung above the cobbles, and cosy cafés, bars and restaurants give you plenty of excuses to linger.

Settle in for one last lunch or hot drink, soak up Glasgow’s festive glow, then make your way back towards Glasgow Central for the journey home.

How to plan the best weekends away from London Euston by rail

The best weekends away from London should start feeling festive before you’ve even reached your destination.

Manchester and Liverpool are close enough for you to leave Euston and still be raising a glass beneath the Christmas lights that evening. For Edinburgh and Glasgow, on the other hand, you might want to consider an earlier start to leave more time in your first day for the start of your weekend Christmas break.

Once you’ve chosen your city, build the journey around the plans you’re most excited for. Book ahead for busy December weekends, check your return trip before locking in theatre tickets, light trails or dinner reservations, and leave a little spare room in your bag for stocking fillers, Christmas treats and any other festive finds that make their way home with you.

Then, with those practical bits wrapped up and placed beneath the tree, you can focus on the festive fun. Be sure to use our Journey Planner to find your trains from London Euston and start counting down to a weekend of twinkling streets, cosy stops and plenty of Christmas cheer.