Six Budget-Friendly Festive Date Ideas in Yorkshire
Add a little magic to your date nights this winter with these festive ideas which won’t break the bank
On average, Brits spend around a whopping £106 on a date, and with the cold winter months meaning free outdoor options are limited, winter can definitely feel like the most expensive time of the year.
However, this doesn’t mean you have to settle for a Netflix movie at home with a bottle of red. There’s still plenty of romantic (and festive) date options which are budget-friendly. From carols by candlelight to cuddling up to Love Actually at a castle, Claire Beatson, General Manager of York’s very first ethical jeweller, Nightingale, has compiled a list of six date ideas in and around Yorkshire for you to enjoy with a new date, mate or partner over the festive period.
Listen to carols by candlelight…
A truly festive date idea is to head to York Minster for their annual Carols by Candlelight service, which takes place this year on 17th December at 7.30pm. Prices start from just £7.50 per adult and not only are there traditional choral items being sung, there will also be festive music performed by the Handbell Ringers of the Chapter House Choir.
Go ice skating at Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland…
If you prefer to be a bit more adventurous with your date night, why not test out your skating skills at Winter Wonderland in York? As the North of England’s largest outdoor skating rink measuring 975 square metres, this date idea is the perfect way to spend an evening – plus it’s lit up by illuminated trees around the rink so perfect for a few festive snaps. Tickets for the skating rink are £13.50 per adult.
Escape to an enchanted forest of lights…
Stockeld Park makes for a perfect date setting any day of the year, but during the festive season you won’t want to miss its award-winning winter illuminations which see the enchanted forest come to life. Dazzling light effects, a captivating soundscape and animated installations come together through almost a mile of beautiful, ancient woodland, making this a date night to remember, all from £15 per adult.
Sip on a warming red at a vineyard tour…
Date night in winter would feel wrong without a glass of red or two… At Yorkshire Heart Vineyard in Nun Monkton, you can experience the true spirit of English wine on their vineyard tour.
At £25 per person, this includes a welcome glass of the vineyard’s sparkling wine, followed by a look at the vineyard and winery, finishing with the tasting of three of the vineyard’s still wines accompanied by a plate of nibbles to complement.
Watch Love Actually at a castle…
Skipton Castle in North Yorkshire will be hosting a Christmas-themed drive-in cinema, screening a whole range of everyone’s favourite classic Christmas films. Tickets cost £27.50 per vehicle with either pigs in blankets or a margherita pizza for you to nibble on, this date night is perfect for those looking for an alternative to a cosy night in. The programme will be running from 14th–16th December with movies such as Elf, Die Hard, The Greatest Showman and Love Actually showing on the big screen.
See the deer at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal…
For history lovers, why not visit the beautiful and historic Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal? Whilst you do have to pay an admission fee of £17 per adult, there are plenty of free activities to enjoy which will prove a memorable date. Take a free guided tour of the Abbey and water garden which is available every Saturday and Sunday, or if you’re looking for something a little more festive, the Abbey is hosting a free Music and Lights Spectacular on weekends in November and December.
