There’s so much to do around Cumbria at this time of the year and we’ve selected some for all the family to enjoy.

Since the only person who should be driving in the festive season is Santa, you can get to them all via Stagecoach’s buses.

Sorry, but we don’t think they provide sleighs.

Windermere Jetty Museum

Bus service: 6, 599, 755

Bus stop: Museum, Bowness Pier (10-minute walk)

Take a cruise on one of the museum’s fully restored heritage boats.

Choose from a 30-minute or 75-minute trip, where the knowledgeable skippers will take you back in time with stories of the fascinating collection and the surrounding landscape that inspired the museum.

Sailings every day through the Christmas holidays from December 20 to January 4.

See http://lakelandarts.org.uk/windermere-jetty-museum/whats-on/

Santa’s Grotto, Dobbies, Orton Grange, Carlisle

Bus service: 300, 400, 554 & 600

Bus stop: Cranstons

Children can meet Santa each day from December 20 up to Christmas Eve.

Enter the snowy forest where the elf will guide you past the reindeer and rabbits as you walk towards Santa’s toyshop.

Along the way you can help the elves with various tasks including helping to pack the toys in the sleigh for Santa.

Then you’ll meet Santa himself where you can tell him all about your adventures before receiving a special gift.

See https://events.dobbies.com/

The Borrowers, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

Bus route: X4, X5, 554, 555, 78

Bus stop: Keswick Bus Station 

The much loved children’s novel by Mary Norton is adapted for the stage in Theatre by the Lake’s seasonal production.

Below the floorboards of a large old house, we are plunged into the miniature world of young Arrietty and her family of Borrowers, the original up-cyclers.

But everything changes when she goes exploring in the world of the Human Beans.

The Borrowers runs until Saturday 14 January. 

See https://www.theatrebythelake.com/

Christmas is Cancelled!, Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal

Bus route: Multiple services in Kendal

Bus stop: 10 minute walk from Kendal Bus Station

Topsy Turvy Theatre returned with an interactive seasonal treat.

Thieves have broken into Father Christmas’ grotto and stolen all the presents, and with only a few sleeps left until the big day, there is no time to make any more. Can Katie save the day?

Performances until Christmas Eve. See www.breweryarts.co.uk

Hair: Untold Stories, Tullie House, Carlisle

Bus route: Multiple services into Carlisle
Bus stop: Ten-minute walk from Carlisle bus station 

There’s more to hair than washing, combing and cutting. It’s an extraordinary, renewable fibre with a range of unexpected possibilities.

This new exhibition puts the substance before the style and unlocks the untold stories of hair.

From jewellery and dresses to armour and environmental protection, it highlights the qualities of hair as a material.

It also explores our complex relationship with hair both on, and off, our heads.

It runs until January 14 and is free for under-18s. 

See www.tulliehouse.co.uk/events/hair-untold-stories

The Ballad of Rudy, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

Bus route: X4, X5, 554, 555, 78

Bus stop: Keswick Bus Station

In this story it’s Rudy’s talent for music, not his red nose, that sets him apart from all the other reindeer.

Together with a magical jazz penguin he goes on an adventure that teaches him that life isn’t about following the herd.

Funny, warm and with a big heart, this show by Goblin theatre company features live music, original songs and lots of imagination that are guaranteed to have children aged two and up mesmerised from start to finish.

It runs until December 28. 

See www.theatrebythelake.com/event/the-ballad-of-rudy

Christmas Light Days, Penrith Library, Penrith

Bus services: X4/X5, 104, 508

Bus stop: Penrith bus station

Come to Penrith Library on Monday December 19 for stories, colourful crafts including Christmas cards, a colourful recipe and ingredients to make at home, and, of course, the switching-on of the Christmas lights. 

Robin Robin adventure trail at Leighton Moss

Bus service: 51

Bus stop: RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve

A very special visitor will be returning to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve this winter – and she’d love you to join her.

Robin is the star of the Aardman film Robin Robin, available to watch now on Netflix.

Every year, Robin joins her family on a big sneak to find food to survive the winter.

Join RSPB Leighton Moss on the great RSPB sneak and celebrate your inner robin.

Complete the trail and you will learn to sing like a robin, find your own superpower and use all your senses to connect with the robin within.

Their exclusive activity packs will help you complete all the fun challenges along the trail as well as robin-related activities for you to do at home, a certificate (for when you become a brilliant robin) and much more.

Activity packs are £3 each and trails are available between 9.30am and 4.30pm. No need to book, just come along and start sneaking.

See https://events.rspb.org.uk/robinrobin

Don’t forget to use the Stagecoach bus journey planner to find the best bus routes to get you there.

All you need to do is pop a few details into the Stagecoach bus route planner to find routes, times and up-to-date service announcements – https://www.stagecoachbus.com/plan-a-journey