Festive season
Christmas at Britain's historic places
Historic houses illuminated after dark, castle courtyards filled with Christmas markets, decorated halls, winter trails and centuries-old places transformed for the festive season.
Explore by event
These events are run by the places and organisations named on each card. Land & Legacy does not sell tickets.
Christmas Markets
Markets in castle courtyards, barns and historic halls.
6 listed
Light Trails
After-dark walks through grounds and parkland.
3 listed
Decorated Houses
Houses and halls dressed for the season.
3 listed
Father Christmas
A visit with Father Christmas at a historic place.
4 listed
Carols & Concerts
Carols and concerts in chapels, halls and courtyards.
Upcoming this Christmas
A selection of published events, spread across places and organisers.
Photo: Tilman2007 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Christmas Market at Chartwell
Chartwell Kent
19 November 2026 – 22 November 2026
19 to 22 November 2026, 10am to 4pm.
A four-day Christmas market at Chartwell with handmade crafts and locally produced gifts, held in a covered marquee near the café.
Free event; normal admission charges apply for the venue. Non-member parking charges apply.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Wehha / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Christmas at Belton
Belton House Lincolnshire
Selected dates from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
An after-dark Christmas light trail through the grounds at Belton, with new illuminated installations, festive fairground attractions, seasonal food and drink, and a glimpse of Father Christmas.
Ticketed event. Published prices vary by ticket type and date, with adult, child and family tickets available.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Kate Jewell / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
A Jack and the Beanstalk Christmas at Mottisfont
Mottisfont Abbey Hampshire
21 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
Mottisfont’s house is transformed for a Jack and the Beanstalk-themed Christmas, with decorated rooms, theatrical displays, games, activities and a festive family trail.
Free event; normal admission charges apply for the venue.
Listed by National Trust
Photo source: Draco2008 from UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A Festive Tour at Warkworth Castle
Warkworth Castle Northumberland
5 December 2026
Saturday 5 December 2026, 11am to 12pm.
A guided festive tour exploring how Warkworth Castle’s medieval inhabitants marked Christmas and the midwinter season.
English Heritage Members’ Event, £5 per person.
Listed by English Heritage
Photo: Rob Farrow / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Santa’s Elizabethan Grotto
Plas Mawr Q634054
12 December 2026 – 13 December 2026
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December 2026, 10am to 3.15pm.
A Father Christmas experience at Plas Mawr with an Elizabethan-themed grotto, a gift for each child, Christmas crafts and festive treats.
£15 per child, including two accompanying adults. Standard admission also applies to normal site visitors.
Listed by Cadw
Photo source: John Barnett, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Reindeer Trail
Chepstow Castle Monmouthshire
Selected dates from 19 to 31 December 2026.
A festive family trail around Chepstow Castle, following clues to identify Santa’s reindeer and find illuminated reindeer around the site.
No separate event charge; normal site admission applies.
Listed by Cadw
Further events
Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Christmas at Dunham Massey
Dunham Massey Hall Greater Manchester
20 November 2026 – 2 January 2027
Timed evening entry across the event run.
An after-dark illuminated trail through Dunham Massey with new light and sound installations, projections on the house, seasonal food and drink, fairground attractions and an appearance from Father Christmas.
Adult tickets from £19.50. Separate charges apply for food, drink and fairground rides.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Jon Wornham / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Christmas at Stourhead
Stourhead Wiltshire
Runs on selected dates from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
An illuminated after-dark trail through Stourhead’s landscape, combining large-scale light installations, seasonal sound, festive food and drink, and a Father Christmas appearance.
Booking essential. Separate charges apply for food and drink, and parking is charged for non-members.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Klaus with K / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Bah, Humbug! A Christmas Carol at Fountains Hall
Fountains Abbey North Yorkshire
Selected dates between 28 November 2026 and 3 January 2027; the official listing shows 12 event dates.
Fountains Hall is dressed as a Victorian Christmas inspired by A Christmas Carol, with decorated rooms, historic fireplaces, seasonal music and scenes drawn from Dickens’ story.
Free event with normal admission charges applying to the venue.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: David Dixon / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Christmas Market
East Riddlesden Hall West Yorkshire
28 November 2026 – 29 November 2026
28 and 29 November 2026, 10am to 3pm.
A two-day festive market in the Airedale Barn at East Riddlesden Hall, with handmade gifts, seasonal treats and refreshments from local makers and traders.
Free event. Admission to the Hall and gardens can be purchased separately.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: MikPeach / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Christmas Market at Avebury
Avebury Wiltshire
Runs on 28-29 November, 5-6 December and 12-13 December 2026, 10am to 4pm.
Weekend Christmas markets at Avebury with local makers selling handmade gifts including jewellery, ceramics and engraved wood, accompanied by carols and festive music.
Free event.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Stevekeiretsu / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Robin's Tale: Christmas 2026 at Ham House
Ham House London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027; closed 24 and 25 December.
Ham House is decorated for Christmas around The Robin’s Tale, a family story inspired by a newly conserved lacquer screen, with festive trees, greenery, music and paper bird sculptures throughout the historic interiors.
Free event; normal admission charges apply for the venue.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Klaus with K / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Little Bird Made artisan Christmas market
Fountains Abbey North Yorkshire
The Saturday event was cancelled; the official event listing shows Sunday 29 November 2026 only.
An outdoor Christmas market at Fountains Abbey with independent Yorkshire makers, artists and food producers selling gifts, crafts and seasonal produce.
Free event with normal admission charges applying to the venue.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Tom Parnell from Dunfermline, Scotland / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Christmas Fair at Eltham Palace
Eltham Palace Greater London
5 December 2026 – 6 December 2026
Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 December 2026, 10am to 4pm.
A weekend Christmas fair in Eltham Palace’s Great Hall with local makers, festive food and a community wreath trail in the gardens.
Included with admission. Members enter free; advance booking can save 15%.
Listed by English Heritage
Photo: Tilman2007 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Father Christmas at Audley End House and Gardens
Audley End House Saffron Walden
Weekends only from Saturday 5 to Sunday 20 December 2026, with timed sessions.
A Father Christmas experience at Audley End with seasonal storytelling, photographs and a traditional present for each child.
£12 per child for non-members and £9.50 for members. Advance booking required. Non-members also need site admission.
Listed by English Heritage
Photo: Chensiyuan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Father Christmas at Dover Castle
Dover Castle Kent
Weekends only from Saturday 5 to Sunday 20 December 2026, with timed sessions.
A Father Christmas experience at Dover Castle with seasonal storytelling, a chance for photographs and a traditional present for each child.
£12 per child for non-members and £9.50 for members. Advance booking required.
Listed by English Heritage
Photo: DeFacto / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Father Christmas at Kenilworth Castle
Kenilworth Castle Warwickshire
Weekends only from Saturday 5 to Sunday 20 December 2026, with timed sessions.
A Father Christmas experience at Kenilworth Castle with seasonal storytelling, photographs and a traditional present for each child.
£12 per child for non-members and £9.50 for members. Advance booking required. Non-members also need site admission.
Listed by English Heritage
Photo source: Jim Linwood, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Young Makers' Christmas Market
Morden Hall Park Morden
13 December 2026
13 December 2026, 10am to 4pm.
A one-day Christmas market at Morden Hall Park featuring stalls from young makers, artists and independent businesses, with live festive music and a natural wreath-making activity.
Free event.
Listed by National Trust