National Trust/ English Heritage Christmas

[LMW1990]

Hi All

I live in Yorkshire. We have recently taken out NT and EH memberships.

Please could you recommend Christmas experiences at either NT or EH places in Yorkshire (or just beyond) and advise when they start to take bookings?

Many thanks!!

It’s not in Yorkshire, but we went to EH’s illuminations at Belsay, and it was fantastic, highly recommended. (We live near York, so it was a long drive, but worth it). It was festive and very well thought out, and there were loads of interactive bits with disco balls/floors and little giggling fairies near their houses. They do illuminations at Brodsworth in Doncaster as well, but we haven’t been to that one. Just keeping our fingers crossed that one of them will go ahead this year! 🤞

And I think they started taking bookings in early November, but I’m not completely sure.

Nostell is lovely at Christmas, they have the best Father Christmas and one of their traditions is for the staff and volunteers to make a big gingerbread village which is displayed in the house. You have to book to see Father Christmas, bear thing to do is to keep an eye on the Facebook page which will tell you when the bookings go live.

The above is all true of a 'normal' year though-realistically things are likely to be scaled back this year given the circumstances, particularly as most of the staff have been furloughed since March.

DunhamMassey lights

I sadly think you need to be realistic. I can’t imagine they’ll be any Father Christmas visits anywhere this year. And also, the NT has no money and is making loads of staff redundant. But hopefully they’ll be able to put up things they already have to make things look festive- it just won’t be the full on experience of yesteryear.

The NT in particular has been quite poor in reopening more than grounds/car parks so far. In afraid I agree with a previous poster that it's unlikely that either organisation will be doing many of their usual Christmas activities.

Fountains abbey floodlit is beautiful they usually do it weekends in October and then they do it again weekends in December with local
choirs. But I highly doubt it will be the same this year, but if it is it’s worth a trip.

I doubt any of the houses will dress for Christmas this year, sadly.

I know Waddesden isn't, we usually go there.

Not Yorkshire, but if ever you’re in Sussex over Christmas the NT property Standen is a fantastic Christmas visit.

@VestaTilley

Not Yorkshire, but if ever you’re in Sussex over Christmas the NT property Standen is a fantastic Christmas visit.

Standen are still asking for volunteers to make their craft tree decorations and the house is open now, also FC is done outside in the woods so I have everything crossed that it might go ahead

Belsay have confirmed they're not doing Enchanted Belsay this year.

Is that definite with Belsay? I’m surprised because they’re still doing the Halloween events, which is quite similar.