Santa
From historic houses dressed in period trimmings to visiting Santa Claus in enchanting grottos, the National Trust has got festive treats galore for all the family this holiday season.
A world away from the high street, discover winter wonderlands alive with the sounds of carol concerts and the scents of mulled spices. Spend time exploring Christmas markets and grab some great last minute gift ideas and stocking fillers. Or simply relax and indulge in an early Christmas dinner, safe in the knowledge that they’ll be no arguments over who does the washing up.
Here’s a selection of the great yuletide events on offer:
Hidcote Manor Garden, Gloucestershire
The enchanted garden, 19-21 & 26-28 November 4.30pm - 9.30pm
Hidcote’s ‘garden rooms’ like you've never seen them it before. Be one of the first to explore the garden at night and admire enchanted trees and subtle shadows as you're guided around by our unique light display.
Dinefwr Park and Castle, Carmarthenshire
Christmas weekend, 27-28 November 11am - 5pm
Join our Edwardian house party and enjoy the festive atmosphere of Newton House. Browse in the gift shop and food and craft fair for some special Christmas purchases or relax and indulge in delicious home-cooked seasonal food in the tea room. Take part in our festive craft workshops and pose for an Edwardian portrait as a special souvenir. And, of course, no visit would be complete without the chance to meet
Dunham Massey, Cheshire
A Victorian kitchen at Christmas, 27 – 28 November from 1.30pm
Come and experience the hustle and bustle of the Victorian kitchen at Christmas. Have a go at making pomanders, Christmas crackers and traditional decorations, and bake your own spiced buns to enjoy with a warming glass of mulled wine in our elegant Edwardian kitchen.
Moseley Old Hall, Staffordshire
Swags, wreaths and pudding stir, 28 November 12pm - 4pm
Join us in creating a magical Christmas atmosphere at Moseley Old Hall. Have a go at making traditional 17th-century Christmas decorations, give our Christmas pudding a stir and enjoy the sights and delicious smells of our Christmas preparations. Have fun with children's Christmas activities.
Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire
Christmas candlelit evenings, 1-4 December 5pm - 9pm
The estate is transformed into a magical winter wonderland as the mansion house and servant’s quarters are candlelit and decorated with real flowers, holly and traditional trimmings. Costumed characters will tell the story of the Christmases past plus there will be brass bands, carol singers, snow showers, entertainers and a large gift and food marquee.
Dunster Castle, Somerset
Dunster by candlelight, 3-4 December 5pm - 9pm
Come along for festive refreshments and live music when we open the spectacularly lit Castle for this annual Christmas event in Dunster Village. The shop's open late too and bursting with local stallholders - an ideal opportunity to catch up on some last minute Christmas shopping.
Belton House, Lincolnshire
'Search for Santa'; 4 - 5, 11 - 12 and 18 - 19 December, 12 noon – 3pm
Join in for a family fun trail in the gardens and there will be prizes for all junior participants. Plus there will be children's craft activities in the Discovery Centre.
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
A country castle Christmas, 4 – 5 December 11am - 5pm
Celebrate the festive season and experience a truly homespun Christmas. Follow the woodland trail to Father Christmas's hideaway cabin. Visit the Elves Workshop and add your Christmas dreams to the Wishing Tree. There will be children's Christmas craft activities and trails, country craft stalls and local festive foods and hot mulled wine and roasted chestnuts. There are lots of festive activities for all the family to enjoy.
Corfe Castle, Dorset
Tree dressing weekend, 4 -5 December 10am – 3pm
Corfe Castle Village is a magical place at Christmas so why not come and visit this weekend to savour the delights of the festive village, and join in the national Tree Dressing Celebration of Trees, by adding a special message to one of our Christmas trees on the Castle bridge. You can also enjoy hot chocolate by a log fire in our tea rooms, and special local product in our National Trust Shop.
Erddig, Wrexham
Christmas market and Father Christmas winter wonderland 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19 December 10am - 5pm
Enjoy a traditional Christmas market and find those extra special presents and unusual stocking fillers. Discover picturesque wooden chalets and over thirty stalls offering hand crafted gifts. Hear festive live music and enjoy tasty food and drink, plus Father Christmas will be in his winter wonderland, complete with toy workshop.
Ham House and Garden, Surrey
Family Christmas fun 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19 December 11am - 5pm
Family Christmas Fun with face painting, balloon modelling, story telling, wreath making, garden Christmas trail and children's ride.
Winchester City Mill, Hampshire
Get ready for Christmas, 4 – 5 December, 11am - 4pm
Join us for special seasonal baking demonstrations - decorate and bake Christmas biscuits and there will also be a chance for children to make cards and decorations and help dress the large mill tree.
Attingham Park, Shropshire
Attingham Christmas; 11, 12, 18 – 23 December, 11am – 4pm
Step back in time and enjoy the festivities of a bygone era. See the house decorated for a Georgian Christmas and join in our craft and kitchen activities in the basement rooms plus don't forget to bring your wish list for Father Christmas.
Chartwell, Kent
Father Christmas at Chartwell, 11-12 December 11am - 3pm
A very special guest comes to Chartwell this weekend. Have you been good this year?
Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk
Christmas at Oxburgh, 11-12 & 18-19 December 11am-6pm
Come and see Oxburgh Hall dressed for a traditional family Christmas. See the Hall in all its festive splendour. Children can enjoy craft activities and a storyteller in the afternoon, plus Santa will be paying a visit too. Enjoy musical entertainment in the early evening, including courtyard carols around the tree from 4-4.30pm. Don’t forget to indulge yourself with hot chestnuts, mince pies and mulled wine. The gift shop will be open for last minute shopping too.
Blickling Hall, Garden & Park, Norfolk
Tree dressing day, 12 December 11am - 3.30pm
Join in the celebration of trees and be involved in dressing a tree in the garden with ribbons and shapes, making your decoration to hang in the tree. There will be activities for children, face painting and story telling.
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire
Christmas theatre - A Yorkshire Christmas Carol, 9 December 7.30pm - 9.30pm
Enjoy the Dickens Christmas classic with a Yorkshire twist as Badapple Theatre Company present this festive treat for all the family; and why not also enjoy a pre-theatre seasonal supper in the Visitor Centre Restaurant.
Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire
Christmas in the stable courtyard, 11 – 12 December, 11am - 4pm
Get into the festive spirit by listening to the brass band playing traditional Christmas carols in the Stable Courtyard amidst the scent of mulled wine and roast chestnuts, whilst Father Christmas hands out presents from his grotto.
Sutton House, London
Christmas carols and Santa's grotto 18 December 5pm - 6.15pm
Last chance to visit Father Christmas at Sutton House before enjoying a good old fashioned sing along to your festive favourites.
From historic houses dressed in period trimmings to visiting Santa Claus in enchanting grottos, the National Trust has got festive treats galore for all the family this holiday season.
A world away from the high street, discover winter wonderlands alive with the sounds of carol concerts and the scents of mulled spices. Spend time exploring Christmas markets and grab some great last minute gift ideas and stocking fillers. Or simply relax and indulge in an early Christmas dinner, safe in the knowledge that they’ll be no arguments over who does the washing up.
Here’s a selection of the great yuletide events on offer:
Hidcote Manor Garden, Gloucestershire
The enchanted garden, 19-21 & 26-28 November 4.30pm - 9.30pm
Hidcote’s ‘garden rooms’ like you've never seen them it before. Be one of the first to explore the garden at night and admire enchanted trees and subtle shadows as you're guided around by our unique light display.
Dinefwr Park and Castle, Carmarthenshire
Christmas weekend, 27-28 November 11am - 5pm
Join our Edwardian house party and enjoy the festive atmosphere of Newton House. Browse in the gift shop and food and craft fair for some special Christmas purchases or relax and indulge in delicious home-cooked seasonal food in the tea room. Take part in our festive craft workshops and pose for an Edwardian portrait as a special souvenir. And, of course, no visit would be complete without the chance to meet
Dunham Massey, Cheshire
A Victorian kitchen at Christmas, 27 – 28 November from 1.30pm
Come and experience the hustle and bustle of the Victorian kitchen at Christmas. Have a go at making pomanders, Christmas crackers and traditional decorations, and bake your own spiced buns to enjoy with a warming glass of mulled wine in our elegant Edwardian kitchen.
Moseley Old Hall, Staffordshire
Swags, wreaths and pudding stir, 28 November 12pm - 4pm
Join us in creating a magical Christmas atmosphere at Moseley Old Hall. Have a go at making traditional 17th-century Christmas decorations, give our Christmas pudding a stir and enjoy the sights and delicious smells of our Christmas preparations. Have fun with children's Christmas activities.
Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire
Christmas candlelit evenings, 1-4 December 5pm - 9pm
The estate is transformed into a magical winter wonderland as the mansion house and servant’s quarters are candlelit and decorated with real flowers, holly and traditional trimmings. Costumed characters will tell the story of the Christmases past plus there will be brass bands, carol singers, snow showers, entertainers and a large gift and food marquee.
Dunster Castle, Somerset
Dunster by candlelight, 3-4 December 5pm - 9pm
Come along for festive refreshments and live music when we open the spectacularly lit Castle for this annual Christmas event in Dunster Village. The shop's open late too and bursting with local stallholders - an ideal opportunity to catch up on some last minute Christmas shopping.
Belton House, Lincolnshire
'Search for Santa'; 4 - 5, 11 - 12 and 18 - 19 December, 12 noon – 3pm
Join in for a family fun trail in the gardens and there will be prizes for all junior participants. Plus there will be children's craft activities in the Discovery Centre.
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
A country castle Christmas, 4 – 5 December 11am - 5pm
Celebrate the festive season and experience a truly homespun Christmas. Follow the woodland trail to Father Christmas's hideaway cabin. Visit the Elves Workshop and add your Christmas dreams to the Wishing Tree. There will be children's Christmas craft activities and trails, country craft stalls and local festive foods and hot mulled wine and roasted chestnuts. There are lots of festive activities for all the family to enjoy.
Corfe Castle, Dorset
Tree dressing weekend, 4 -5 December 10am – 3pm
Corfe Castle Village is a magical place at Christmas so why not come and visit this weekend to savour the delights of the festive village, and join in the national Tree Dressing Celebration of Trees, by adding a special message to one of our Christmas trees on the Castle bridge. You can also enjoy hot chocolate by a log fire in our tea rooms, and special local product in our National Trust Shop.
Erddig, Wrexham
Christmas market and Father Christmas winter wonderland 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19 December 10am - 5pm
Enjoy a traditional Christmas market and find those extra special presents and unusual stocking fillers. Discover picturesque wooden chalets and over thirty stalls offering hand crafted gifts. Hear festive live music and enjoy tasty food and drink, plus Father Christmas will be in his winter wonderland, complete with toy workshop.
Ham House and Garden, Surrey
Family Christmas fun 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19 December 11am - 5pm
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