Unwrap history this Christmas
Enjoy a magical day out at our festive events and activities.
Whether you're starting a new tradition or reliving an old favourite, you'll find plenty of seasonal cheer and things to do this Christmas.
Take the kids to meet Father Christmas, enjoy Festive Fun in beautiful historic surroundings and follow the Walking with The Snowman™ Trail.
Scroll down to find festive events and activities happening at English Heritage sites near you.
Meet Father Christmas
Join Father Christmas at one of our historical sites this December for a magical way to start the festive season. After a group storytelling session, you and your children will meet the man himself, with the chance to take photographs and make memories to treasure and recieve a traditional present to unwrap.
Book your visit to:
- Meet Father Christmas at Audley And House and Gardens, Saffron Walden
- Meet Father Christmas at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland
- Meet Father Christmas at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, Doncaster
- Meet Father Christmas at Dover Castle, Dover
- Meet Father Christmas at Eltham Palace and Gardens, London
- Meet Father Christmas at Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, Warwickshire
- Meet Father Christmas at Kenwood, London
- Meet Father Christmas at Marble Hill, London
- Meet Father Christmas at Wrest Park, Bedfordshire
Have some Festive Fun
Join us for festive days out across the country that the whole family will love. Make magical memories as you explore our castles, palaces, historic houses and gardens and enjoy seasonal activities.
Book your visit for:
- Festive Fun at Audley And House and Gardens, Saffron Walden
- Festive Fun at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland
- Festive Fun at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, Doncaster
- Festive Fun at Dover Castle, Dover
- Festive Fun at Eltham Palace and Gardens, London
- Festive Fun at Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, Warwickshire
- Festive Fun at Osborne, Isle of Wight
- Festive Fun at Walmer Castle and Gardens, Kent
- Festive Fun at Wrest Park, Bedfordshire
Book in advance online and save 15%. Members go free.
Walking with The Snowman™ Christmas Trail
This winter, something special is happening at Wrest Park and Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens. The Snowman™ has tip‑toed into the gardens – and he’s brought a host of cheerful friends with him.
Follow a festive family trail to discover twelve giant Snowman sculptures hidden throughout the grounds, inspired by Raymond Briggs' beloved classic.
Keep your eyes peeled – each sculpture hides a secret letter. Collect all twelve and you’ll reveal a magical Christmas word.
So pull on your hats and scarves and head out for a charming winter adventure, sprinkled with nostalgia from Raymond Briggs’ much‑loved classic.
Book in advance online and save 15%. Members go free.
Victorian Christmas craft ideas
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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 magazine articles showed how to make elaborate imitation flowers, which were displayed throughout the house and considered an indispensable personal accessory.
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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. Smith's son Walter added the paper hats and novelty gifts.
The history of Christmas: Our Experts Answer Your Questions
What was the Christmas contraption marketed as 'bangs of expectation', and when were carols actually meant to be sung? If you're into the origins of Christmas, or interested in everything the Victorians popularised about the season - yule love this!
