Christmas events in the UK 2011
From festive treats and atmospheric markets to yuletide sing-alongs and rosy-cheeked elves, we have found the best family-friendly Christmas events in the UK, courtesy of our friends at the National Trust.
Arlington Courtand the National Trust Carriage Museum, Devon
Narnia in North Devon: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Arlington Court, 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27 November, 3-4, 10-11 and 17-18 December 11am – 3pm.
Be enchanted this winter as C.S. Lewis's classic tale is recreated around the gardens, house and carriage museum at Arlington. Go through the wardrobe, vanquish the White Witch, find Aslan and finally be crowned a king or queen of Narnia.
The trail starts upon arrival at reception. This is an event to suit all ages, especially children.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £1 per trail.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01271 850296.
Why not make a weekend of it and stay at Woolley Lodge on the Arlington estate? Once the gardeners’ lodge, this enchanting little cottage sleeps three and offers a cosy escape. Find out more at www.nationaltrustholidaycottages.co.uk
Standen, West Sussex
Standen 'lit up' at Christmas, 26-27 November, 3-4, 10-11, 17-21 December, 11am–2.30pm
Enjoy the historic ground floor interiors of Standen, lit up by their original electric light fittings and decked out for Christmas. Designed in the Arts and Crafts style this house is a trove of treasures. Thanks to William Morris even the wallpapers are a work of art.
Normal admission charges apply.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01342 323029.
Take advantage of the Morris Apartment on the second floor and enjoy ‘popping downstairs’ to enjoy Standen’s Christmas events. Decorated in the Arts and Crafts style of the rest of the house, this apartment sleeps up to four people. Find out more at www.nationaltrustholidaycottages.co.uk
Cragside, Northumberland
Secret Santa’s grotto, 3-4 and 10-11 December 11am-3pm
Meet Santa in his magical forest grotto and set off on a secret trail Santa has laid out for everyone to enjoy. In the Stables tea-room, enjoy a festive menu that includes roast turkey, ham braised in Fentiman's ginger beer - they’ve been brewing for over 100 years in Newcastle upon Tyne - or try a delicious vegetable Wellington. Be sure to finish with the steamed plum pudding cooked to Lord Armstrong’s liking, fried in butter.
Booking for Santa’s grotto is essential, please call 01669 620 333
Normal admission charges apply, plus £10 per child
Four course lunch £25 per person. Booking is essential, please call 01669 622040.
Turn the Christmas day trip into a long weekend with a stay at one of the two holiday cottages in Cragside’s incredible gardens. Park Cottage was originally used as the Estate Office; now it is comfortably furnished in Victorian style and sleeps six. With views over the Italian Terrace, the wonderfully light and airy Garden Cottage has three bedrooms and sleeps six. Find out more at www.nationaltrustholidaycottages.co.uk
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire
Christmas music and lights, 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 December 3.30pm – 5pm
Christmas is coming. Get into the festive spirit with a visit to Fountains’s magical winter wonderland. Enjoy listening to seasonal music in the floodlit Abbey ruins and see trees twinkling with Christmas lights.
Normal admission charges apply.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01765 608888.
Every Monday to Thursday in December (until 20 December) enjoy Fountains Christmas lunch. Perfect comfort food after a bracing stroll around the World Heritage Site, Fountains’s menu is filled with winter warmers including traditional roast turkey and slow-braised estate venison casserole. Three courses £19.95 and two courses £15.95. Booking is essential, please call 01765 643197.
Stay just a mile from the ruins in the converted eighteenth century farm buildings at How Hill. Situated around a courtyard, the five cottages sleep between two to six people and have been sympathetically restored using traditional materials whilst incorporating modern green technology. Find out more at www.nationaltrustholidaycottages.co.uk
Ickworth, Suffolk
Edwardian Christmas at Ickworth, 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 December 11am – 4pm
Enjoy a special Christmas at Ickworth every weekend in December in the run up to Christmas day. There will be arts and crafts, lantern making, helping Mrs Sangster in the kitchen, carol singing, stories with Father Christmas, pass the parcel, games and of course the beautiful decorations. Enjoy mulled wine, mince pies and the chance to buy that special gift for loved ones.
Adult member £4, adult non-member £5, child member £5, child non-member £6.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01284 736127.
Turn a Christmas day out into a festive mini-break by staying in one of the two holiday cottages on the Ickworth estate. Lap up picture postcard views across the beautiful parkland, vineyard and lake in the Gardens House or stay at the charming Round House situated in a woodland glade. Both cottages sleep six. Find out more at www.nationaltrustholidaycottages.co.uk
Scotney Castle, Kent
Christmas carols and a Victorian fair ride, 3-4 December from 12-3pm.
What better way to get in the festive spirit than to gather with family and friends in the magical setting of Scotney Castle for a hearty sing along. Local choirs will be gathered round the Christmas tree singing carols throughout the day. Experience a Victorian fairground ride and children’s craft activities and enjoy the warming tast of mulled wine and spiced apple. The shop will also be open for all those last minute Christmas gifts.
Free event, with a small additional charge for fairground rides.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01892 893820.
Make the most of the festive menu in Scotney’s coach house tea room where Christmas lunches include traditional roast turkey with freshly picked veg from the walled garden. There’s also the hearty, Scotney Ale casserole with both the meat and the hops from the ale produced by tenant farmers at Little Scotney Farm.
£19.50 for two courses or £22.50 for three courses with mini mince pies and coffee.
Booking is essential, please call 01892 893869.
Sizergh Castle, Cumbria
Naughty but nice Christmas weekend, 3-4 December
Enjoy gliding around Sizergh’s temporary ice rink before meeting Santa Claus in his magical grotto. There’s also face painting, festive family games and a traditional Christmas lunch every weekend in December (closed Christmas Day).
Free event, with a small additional charge for the ice rink, face painting and games.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call015395 60951.
Christmas lunch £14.50 two courses, £16.50 three courses. Booking advisable.
Perfect for families looking to make the festive season extra special Holeslack Farmhouse on the Sizergh estate is a Grade II listed building with many original features including a spiral staircase and seventeenth century oak cupboards. Sleeps eight. Find out more at www.nationaltrustholidaycottages.co.uk
Tyntesfield, North Somerset
Father Christmas weekends, 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 December 10am – 4pm (tickets last issued at 3.15pm)
Come and meet Father Christmas in his magical grotto. His elves have been working hard all year and he has lots of presents for good girls and boys. There’s also the chance to enjoy fine, winter food with friends and family at Tyntesfield’s brand new Cow Barn restaurant. Mains include roast turkey, roast beef and vegan Lancashire hot pot, all served with the day’s pickings from the Victorian walled garden.
Normal garden admission charges apply for adults, £4 per child to see Father Christmas.
Booking is not required for this event.
Three courses £16 and two courses £14. For more information and to book a Christmas lunch please call 0844 800 4966.
Why not experience Tyntesfield after hours with a stay in one of the three holiday cottages on the estate? Dating back to the 1840s and furnished with antiques, Chaplain’s Lodge has three bedrooms and sleeps five. Find out more at www.nationaltrustholidaycottages.co.uk
Upton House and Gardens, Warwickshire
Servants’ Christmas ball, 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 December 12pm – 3.30pm
Visit Father Christmas, 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 December 12pm – 3pm
Enjoy the Christmas celebrations for the servants of Lord and Lady Bearsted at Upton in the 1930s. Father Christmas will be in his magical grotto in the house to welcome children and give each child a Christmas gift. Visit on a Wednesday and enjoy a Christmas feast at the Pavilion restaurant; choose from the Christmas, classic roast turkey or try the beef and venison casserole, all served with seasonal veg freshly picked from Upton’s kitchen garden.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £3 per child to visit Father Christmas.
Timed tickets available on the day on a first come, first served basis.
For more information please call 01295 670266.
Three course lunch £19 and two courses £15. For more information and to book please call 01295 671112
Make a long weekend of it at the brilliantly named Bog Cottage. Overlooking the lush green bog garden at Upton House, this charming red brick house sleeps four and was originally a banqueting house. Or, for a real taste of the jazz age there’s Home Farm Drive with its quirky 1930s interior and private garden which sleeps five. Find out more at www.nationaltrustholidaycottages.co.uk
Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire
Christmas at Wimpole, 3-4 and 10-11 December 11am – 4pm
Step back in time to discover the sights and sounds of Christmas. Visit the hall decorated for Christmas Eve supper and then listen to the brass band playing traditional Christmas carols in the stable block, amidst the scent of mulled wine and roast chestnuts. With a bale maze in the great barn plus a wagon ride to home farm, there is something for everyone.
Adult £8.90, child £4.90 (non-members).
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01223 206000.
Keep things festive with Wimpole’s special Christmas lunch menu. Enjoy Norfolk Bronze Turkey’s reared at Wimpole’s Home Farm, venison from the National Trust’s Hatfield Forest, all served with seasonal vegetables freshly picked from the kitchen garden.
Three courses £23.50 or two courses £16.95.
Booking is essential, please call 01223 206000.
TrengwaintonGarden, Cornwall
Lantern walk, 9 December 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Experience the magic of Trengwainton by lamplight. Wander through the walled garden lit by scores of lanterns. Enjoy music, mulled wine, mince pies and lantern making, as well as paying a visit to Santa in his special grotto. The perfect family Christmas experience.
Adult £3.25, child £1.60, plus £2 per child to visit Santa.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01736 363148.
After the lantern walk, enjoy strolling back to a hideaway in the exotic grounds of Trengwainton. Nanceglos House is a large holiday cottage sleeping nine with original features including an historic well. Guests can also take advantage of luxury extras, including a personal chef and babysitter. Find out more at www.nationaltrustholidaycottages.co.uk
Castle Drogo, Devon
Drogo Christmas, 10-11, 17-23 December 11am – 4pm
Return to the 1930s for this popular event with an unbeatable Christmas atmosphere. See parts of the castle traditionally decorated and visit Father Christmas in his fantastic grotto, where children can receive a special present. In the Drogo café get stuck into festive fayre that includes roast Devon turkey with all the traditional trimmings, roast haunch of Drogo estate venison with a red currant sauce as well as creative alternatives to traditional Christmas meats such as cranberry, chestnut and fresh herb tart served with Drogo chutney.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £2 per child visiting Father Christmas.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01647 433306.
Three course lunch plus coffee and chocolate mints £21.50.
Why not stay a little longer at Warcleave Cottage - it’s just a short distance from Castle Drogo. Splendidly isolated in the heart of a wooded landscape, the cottage sleeps up to four people and is approached via a grass track over two fields. All the accommodation is on one floor, but the lodge is elevated, and guests can step off the balcony, right out into the wood. Find out more at www.nationaltrustholidaycottages.co.uk
Calke Abbey, Derbyshire
Christmas craft and gift show, 10-11 December 11am – 6pm
Calke will be hosting the craft and gift show in the riding school, featuring fine crafts and original Christmas gifts to buy.
Normal park admission applies.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01332 863822.
Enjoy fine Christmas food in Calke’s restaurant where the Christmas menu includes the classic roast Turkey with pigs in blankets, a blade of Calke Abbey beef from Calke’s largest tenant farmer as well as fish pie and creamy mushroom casserole topped with traditional Sage Derby cheese.
Three courses with coffee and homemade truffles £19.50, available 7-9, 14-16 and 19-21 December.
Booking is essential, please call 01332 863822
Make a weekend of it at Calke in one of the four holiday cottages which sleep between two and fourteen people situated in the National Park. Find out more at www.nationaltrustholidaycottages.co.uk
Florence Court, County Fermanagh
Magical Christmas at Florence Court, 10-18 December , Sat-Sun: 2-7pm and Mon-Fri: 4-7pm
Meet Santa and Mrs Claus in the basement of their charming Christmas home at Florence Court and enjoy the Christmas spectacle. There’ll be Christmas craft activities for the children, a visit to the elves workshop and gifts for children. Whilst mums and dads can enjoy open fires and music in the court yard, home made mulled wine and mince pies.
Adult £5, child £10 (including members).
Booking is essential, please call 028 6634 8249
For an unforgettable country house experience why not stay in the south wing of Florence Court in theMen’s Way Apartment. Overlooking the eighteenth century laundry and woodland garden, this unique and atmospheric apartment has retained its original features and character, and is enhanced with luxurious additions. Sleeps four. Find out more at www.nationaltrustholidaycottages.co.uk
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