The Stately Homes
Stately homes at Christmas, 2026.
9 country houses where a visitor has praised the Christmas in their own Google review, each with this season's dates as the operator lists them, grouped by the month the Christmas opening starts.
9 stately homes on this list have a Christmas a visitor praised in their own Google review and a 2026 Christmas opening on the operator's own events page, checked on 12 October 2026. Longleat House opens first and closes last, running from 7 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. Longleat House is the best-rated of them, at 4.8 from 1,434 Google reviews.
Christmas opens in November - 7
Attingham Park
“Christmas at Attingham Park is truly magical. Each room features its own beautifully decorated Christmas tree with a…”
This season, 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027: Attingham for Christmas: more than 50 decorated trees through the Mansion and grounds, by pre-booked timed slot, closed Christmas Day.
Buckland Abbey
“…walk around the gardens and grounds. If you visit at Christmas the great barn is beautifully decorated. The cafe is also a lovely spot for a coffee and scone.”
This season, 28 November 2026 to 4 January 2027: A 1950s Christmas at Buckland Abbey, with choirs in the Great Barn on December weekends.
Hatchlands Park
“…to Hatchlands but haven't visited for a while, so this Christmas we decided to go and see the Snowdogs! The displays are set out along one of the trails and they are…”
This season, 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027: Christmas at Hatchlands Park: The Christmasaurus, with decorations in the house and a family trail in the park.
Longleat House
“…on. Did the house tour, which is beautifully decorated for Christmas. Bat cave was well worth a visit, providing you don’t mind them flying past your head. The lights are…”
This season, 7 November 2026 to 17 January 2027: The Festival of Light, with guided tours of the house decorated for Christmas.
Mompesson House
“A truly charming visit, especially during Christmas. Mompesson House felt warm and festive, with beautiful decorations that briught its historic interiors to…”
This season, 20 November 2026 to 22 December 2026: Christmas at Mompesson: the Regency story of the Nutcracker and the Mouse King, Friday to Tuesday.
Polesden Lacey
“Really nice themed Christmas decorations in the house, Alice in Wonderland. Met an incredibly interesting volunteer in the dining room,…”
This season, 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027: Christmas at Polesden Lacey: displays based on The Twelve Days of Christmas in the show rooms, and a family trail outside.
Quebec House
“…decorations. So much work creating the opera style christmas scenes; so much hard work. Well done all of you. The ship especially was amazing!”
This season, 20 November 2026 to 20 December 2026: A Woodland Realm - Christmas at Quebec House, plus a late-night opening on 27 November.
Christmas opens in December - 2
Townend
“…made by a previous owner. Farmhouse was decorated for Christmas. Limited parking.”
This season, 4 December 2026 to 19 December 2026: Christmas at Townend: a Victorian Christmas in the farmhouse, on set days.
Uppark
“Popped in to view the Christmas decorations, some beautifully decorated trees and a nice location if you also want to combine it with a walk…”
This season, 6 December 2026 to 22 December 2026: Christmas at Uppark: a Georgian Christmas with trees, garlands and a festive feast.
Common questions
Which stately homes are decorated for Christmas in 2026?
9 on this list: Attingham Park, Buckland Abbey, Hatchlands Park, Longleat House, Mompesson House, Polesden Lacey, Quebec House, Townend and Uppark. Each one has a visitor's Google review praising its Christmas, and each operator's own events page listed a 2026 Christmas opening when we checked on 12 October 2026.
When do stately homes open for Christmas?
Mostly from the second half of November. Of the 9 houses here, 7 open in November and 2 wait until December (Townend and Uppark), and each of those runs for less than three weeks. The exact dates for each house are on its card above.
Which of these houses keep their Christmas open into January?
5 of the 9: Longleat House, Polesden Lacey, Buckland Abbey, Attingham Park and Hatchlands Park. The other 4 close before Christmas Day, so a visit between Christmas and New Year means one of these 5.
Which of these stately homes is the best-rated?
Longleat House in Wiltshire, rated 4.8 from 1,434 Google reviews. That score covers visits all year round, not the Christmas opening alone, so every entry also quotes the review that praised its Christmas.
How was this list chosen?
A house has to pass two checks. A visitor rated it 4 or 5 stars on Google and praised its Christmas in the same review, and the operator's own events page listed a 2026 Christmas opening on 12 October 2026. Houses that put on a good Christmas but hadn't announced 2026 dates by then are left off until they do.
More ways to choose a house
Where this list comes from
Two sources, each doing one job. A house qualifies on a publicly available Google review, rated 4 or 5 stars, that praises its Christmas: decorated rooms, a festive trail, a Christmas tour. The dates come from the operator's own events page, read on 12 October 2026, and are never used to put a house on the list. A house needs both, so a house with a fine Christmas that hadn't published 2026 dates by that day is missing, and so is one that lists a Christmas event no visitor has written about.
Always check before you go
These dates were accurate on the operator's own pages on 12 October 2026. Christmas openings sell out, change and add extra dates, many run on set days of the week rather than daily, and several need a pre-booked timed ticket even for members. Check the house's own site, linked from its page here, before you travel.