Christmas
Whether you're looking for dazzling light displays, the wardrobe leading to Narnia or the true spirit of Christmas, make this season magical with festive events for the whole family.
Celebrate the season with traditional carol services and wreath-making workshops, and fill your weekends with Christmas joy at our Festive Fun events.
Immersive Christmas experiences
Enter a world of storytelling and make-believe, as our sites brim with Christmas spirit this season.
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Narnia at Wrest Park
Step through the wardrobe and explore the snowy magic of Narnia at Wrest Park this Christmas.
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Illuminated Battle Abbey
Follow this dazzling light trail through the ruins and across the grounds as lights and sounds carry you back to winter 1066.
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Spirit of Christmas at Eltham Palace
Enjoy an hour-long immersive and theatrical journey through the stunning art-deco mansion, perfect for the whole family.
Meet Father Christmas
Weekends at selected sites from 30 November until 22 December
Father Christmas is taking time out of his busy festive schedule to tell some of his favourite seasonal stories around the Christmas tree, in our group storytelling sessions. Then, you and your children will get the chance to meet the man himself, take photographs and make memories to treasure, as children receive a traditional present to unwrap.
Tickets cost £9.50 per child.
Visitors purchasing a ticket to see Father Christmas will also need a site admission ticket.
Festive Fun Weekends
Join us at at a range of sites across the country for a weekend of festive activities including storytelling and music.
Weekends at selected sites from 30 November until 22 December
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South East and South West
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Midlands
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Yorkshire and The Humber
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North East
Traditional wreath-making workshops
Create an authentic festive wreath this Christmas with the gardening team and natural materials from English Heritage's gardens. You’ll also get a hot drink and Christmas treat while you make your wreath – sure to get you into the spirit of the season.
Christmas Carols
As the winter evening draws in, celebrate the season at our traditional carols evenings in stunning surroundings.
This event takes place after the site closes for the day, so entry only includes access to our carol events.
Victorian Christmas Crafts
Christmas crackers, gilded walnuts, pin-prick cards and paper flowers
The Victorians popularised many Christmas traditions we know and love, decorating their homes just as we do today. Most of their decorations and gifts were made using household items and are surprisingly simple to make.
Watch our video and click on the links below to discover easy guides and templates to make your own Victorian Christmas crafts.
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Make your own: CHRISTMAS CRACKERS
The Christmas cracker can be traced back to the middle of the 19th century and London confectioner Tom Smith. Smith patented his first cracker in 1847 and perfected the mechanism in the 1860s. It was Smith's son Walter who had the idea of including paper hats and novelty gifts.
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Make your own: PIN-PRICK CARDS
Christmas cards date back to 1843 when civil servant Henry Cole commissioned a card showing a family around a dinner table. The idea caught people’s imaginations and with advances in colour printing technology, the sending of cards had become hugely popular by the 1880s.
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make your own: PAPER FLOWERS
Making paper flowers was a popular craft activity among wealthy Victorian women. Hundreds of articles from magazines at the time showed how to make elaborate imitation flowers, which were displayed throughout the house and were considered an indispensable personal accessory.
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More Victorian Christmas Traditions
From presents to puddings, you can bet Queen Victoria had something to do with their history. In fact, the Victorian age played a big part in establishing the traditions of Christmas we still practice today. Discover just how important the Victorians were in the celebration of Christmas.
