Twixmas: The best breaks to book between Christmas and New Year
Keep the post-Christmas blues at bay with a luxurious break at one of the finest hotels in the UK and beyond
Every year, the period between 27 and 30 December is the only time where it’s deemed acceptable to stay in your pyjamas all day, eat leftovers and, quite honestly, not leave the sofa. This stretch of time between Christmas and New Year is often referred to as Twixmas and, for those out of the loop, can only be described as a series of Groundhog Days – where some seem to thrive in the post-festive slumber, while others struggle with the lack of routine.
Whichever camp you fall into, if you’d like to change up your usual Twixmas routine this year, allow us to introduce the best luxury hotels offering rejuvenating and restful breaks to tempt discerning travellers to escape normality before New Year. Whether you’d prefer to spend your days walking the Camber Sands or the rugged Cornish cliffs, or fancy booking a decadent stay across the Channel, here’s our pick of the best breaks to book for Twixmas 2023.
For couples: The Gallivant, East Sussex
The Gallivant, situated on the golden plains of Camber Sands, is offering a Twixmas package where guests can rejuvenate in style from 26-30 December. The two-night itinerary includes dreamy treatments in the Bamford Cabin and beach walks guaranteed to blow away those Christmas cobwebs, as well as an indulgent afternoon cake paired with English wine and a three-course dinner – think chalk stream trout with house pickles and soda bread; pork chop with seaweed salt fries and cider sauce; and plates full of Maldon oysters, mussels and prawns. Post-dinner, take advantage of the Drift Off sleepy time tea tray to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep before starting your day with a slow yoga practice, followed by breakfast.
From £400 per night, visit thegallivant.co.uk
For theatre fans: Dorset Square Hotel, Marylebone
The team at Dorset Square Hotel have partnered with Marylebone Theatre to celebrate the return of A Sherlock Carol – a play that sees the worlds of two literary classics collide to solve a Christmas mystery. Until 7 January 2024, book a beautiful bedroom designed by Kit Kemp and enjoy a special menu and a glass of wine at The Potting Shed from £35 when you’ve booked a ticket to see the show. Star dishes include French onion soup and gruyère croutons to start, followed by slow-cooked beef and red wine tortellini with parmesan and crême brûlée with vanilla shortbread to finish.
From £258 per night, visit firmdalehotels.com
For shoppers: Treehouse Hotel London, Marylebone
Treehouse Hotel London, located on Langham Place in Marylebone and adjacent to one of the capital’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, is the ideal base for shoppers braving the post-Christmas sales. A Treehouse Twixmas package invites guests to return to the hotel after a day spent browsing the city’s best shops – from Hamleys and Selfridges to Regent Street’s Liberty – to find mini bottles of Moët & Chandon ready and waiting before dinner at one of the hotel’s two dining venues, Madera and Pizzeria Mozza. End the day at the hotel’s rooftop bar, The Nest, for those all-important, 360-degree views of London.
From £249 per night, visit treehousehotels.com
For families: Fowey Hall, Cornwall
Between 27-30 December, luxury hotel Fowey Hall is inviting families to the Cornish coast for its Recharger three-night package offering a stress-free festive family Twixmas. Take the pressure off and enjoy the best of the south-west from the luxurious Victorian mansion boasting commanding views overlooking the Fowey estuary. With an indoor pool, outdoor play area and located just a 10-minute walk from Readymoney Cove and walking distance to Michelin-starred restaurants in Fowey, it's the perfect spot for the whole family.
For those with little ones in tow, the hotel comes equipped with Bugaboo Butterfly pushchairs, giraffe highchairs, stardust travel cots and Yoto Players with a library of cards. Aside from the daily roster of story time with milk and cookies in the library and films with popcorn in the cinema, parents can also take advantage of the 90-minute, on-site complimentary childcare at the Ofsted-registered Four Bears Den while they relax in the spa with a bespoke ishga treatment.
From £505 per night, visit luxuryfamilyhotels.com
For short-haul breaks: Mama Shelter Rennes, France
For an easy and affordable Twixmas trip outside of the UK, stay at Mama Shelter’s newly-opened boutique hotel in Rennes, a medieval city in northern France. The property is also home to Rennes’ first rooftop bar, boasting sweeping views of medieval towers, antique architecture and Art Deco buildings decorated with frescoes and mosaics.
Alongside bedrooms richly decorated in Mama Shelter’s signature loud prints and ruby-red tones – and with four restaurants and bars to choose from – the hotel is also home to the first Mama Skin Spa. Nestled under stone vaults and the largest spa in central Rennes, relax in the 12 metre-long swimming pool, a hammam, a sauna and massage cabins. To help those guests staying between Christmas and New Year, the spa is also offering various treatments such as The Ho Karan Anti-Burn-Out ritual or The Absolution Ritual, involving a detox scrub or massage and signature facial.
From £85 per night, visit mamashelter.com
For spa breaks: Scarlet, Cornwall
Situated on the rugged Cornish cliffs of Mawgan Porth, five-star spa hotel Scarlet is hosting a three-night package from 27-30 December to help guests switch off after a hectic festive month. Indulge in a spa treatment – and dip your toe in the indoor bromine-filtered pool and outdoor natural reed pool – before relaxing in your sea-view room, perfectly positioned for wave watching, alongside a restorative three-course menu at the Scarlet Restaurant. Join the invigorating sea dip on 28 December or take your pups for a long walk along the north Cornish coast to help you reset and unwind.
From £1,470 for three nights for two people, visit scarlethotel.co.uk
