We just rented a caravan in a small coastal town (Westward Ho!), didn't bother with all the usual Christmas trappings and had a quiet Christmas avoiding all the locust-like crowds of demented shoppers everywhere. Enjoyed peaceful walks on the beach, simple food and playing cards of an evening with a couple of drinks. The only demented idiot that we saw all week was our little dog in raptures as she raced all over the beach scaring the seagulls.
Sheer bliss!