What's on: historic Christmas events
Looking for a special event to get you feeling all Christmassy? Here’s our top picks of vintage-themed events, and festive fun at historic venues from across the UK.
Ice Skating at the Tower of London
Get your skates on at the Tower of London. Set in the moat, skaters can enjoy the dramatic backdrop of the city’s most famous castle, and warm-up afterwards with a glass of mulled wine. Off to the Tower!
Image credit: Flickr / Creative Commons
Location: London
Dates: 23rd Nov – 6th Jan (11am – 9pm)
Price: £14.50
Book at www.toweroflondon.co.uk
A Historic Christmas at National Trust
Experience Christmas past at National Trust properties across the country. A variety of historic periods including the Tudors, Georgians and 1920s will be re-enacted with costumed characters, music, and decorations. Want to know the winning era for us though? So here it is, Merry Christmas, everybody’s having fun… in the 1970s and 1980s at Hanbury Hall!
Location: sites across the country
Dates: 1st – 31st Dec (normal opening times)
Price: £5.25 - £16.25 (varies per site / admission price)
More information at www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Worcester Christmas Fayre
Christmas fairs are planned across the country, but with Victorian entertainment, carol singing, street markets selling roasted chestnuts and hot chocolate, and stalls focussing on locally-made gifts, Worcester’s promises to be one of the best!
Image credit: P L Chadwick / Creative Commons
Location: Worcester
Dates: 29th Nov – 2nd Dec (times vary per day, from 10am)
Price: free entry
More information at www.worcesterchristmasfayre.co.uk
Carols from King’s
For a truly traditional Christmas, don’t forget to tune in to this BBC carol service on Christmas Eve to hear the angelic voices of the choir and experience the atmosphere of this medieval chapel.
Image credit: Wikimedia / Creative Commons
Location: TV (from Cambridge)
Dates: 24th Dec (air time to be confirmed)
Price: free (assuming you’ve already paid your TV license!)
More information at www.kings.cam.ac.uk
Christmas Tree Maze
Go rocking around the Christmas trees at Edinburgh’s famous take on the 18th century craze for hedge mazes. Discover the elves’ workshop as you try not to get lost inside this festive outdoor labyrinth!
Image credit: Wikimedia / Creative Commons
Location: Edinburgh
Dates: 17th Nov – 5th Jan (10am – 7:40pm)
Price: £4
Book at www.edinburghschristmas.com
Christmas at Kew
See the historic botanic gardens like never before with an after dark light-show extravaganza, featuring over a million lights and thousands of lasers! The Victorian Palm House pond is set to be a particular highlight, with water projections and jumping light jets dancing to classic Christmas tunes.
Location: London
Dates: 22nd Nov – 5th Jan (5pm-10pm)
Price: £19.50
Book at www.kew.org
Festive Afternoon Tea
Enjoy a 19th century tradition with a Christmas-twist at a themed afternoon tea at the Assembly House in Norwich. Delicious, right from the first bite of the roast turkey and cranberry chutney finger sandwiches, through to the final morsel of gingerbread macaron. And of course, the chefs here know Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a Terry’s Chocolate Orange, so have featured the classic festive treat as a gateau opera cake!
Festive afternoon tea at the Assembly House in 2016
Location: Norwich
Dates: 28th Nov – 2nd Jan (12pm-4:30pm)
Price: £21.95
Book at www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk
Enchanted Evenings at English Heritage
Explore some of English Heritage’s most loved sites after-hours. These magical nights promise an interactive adventure of lights, colour and sound as you make your way through themed garden trails. Finish the evening, with traditional fairground rides, toasted marshmallows and a little Christmas shopping at the gift shop.
Location: sites across the country
Dates: 6th – 30th Dec (4:30pm – 9pm)
Price: £12
Book at www.english-heritage.org.uk
We try to make this information as accurate as possible, but we recommend checking dates, availability and prices with individual venue websites before booking. All prices given are for non-concession/non-member adults. Again, see individual venues for details of special offers and rates.
