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Christmas Experience Guide 2026
From candlelit stately homes and steam trains to pantos, carol concerts and Christmas markets, the East of England does the festive season in style. We've rounded up some of our favourite things to do between now and the New Year, whether you're after a magical day out with the little ones, a spot of Christmas shopping or an excuse for a wintry walk before warming up at the pub.
Norfolk
Christmas at the Big Estates
Holkham by Candlelight
29th November - 23rd December, plus 27th - 30th December
See Holkham Hall's state rooms dressed for Christmas and glowing by candlelight, with live music as you wander through. The visit ends in the Old Kitchen with a mince pie and a festive drink. Tickets need to be booked in advance, and it's just a couple of miles from The Globe at Wells-next-the-Sea.
Holkham Christmas Food, Drink & Gift Market
11th - 13th December | 10am - 4pm
Tick off the Christmas list with more than 60 local producers spread across the Lady Elizabeth Wing and outdoor chalets. Entry is free, and dogs on leads are welcome at the outdoor stalls. Holkham also hosts Carols in the Courtyard on 3rd December and Canine Carols on 21st December - one for the four-legged members of the family.
Luminate Sandringham
20th November - 24th December
As the sun goes down, the gardens and woodland of the royal estate come alive with an illuminated trail. Wrap up warm, then head back along the coast for dinner at The Gin Trap Inn or Le Strange Arms.
Christmas at Felbrigg Hall
20th November - 23rd December | 11am - 3pm (closed Thursdays)
National Trust's Felbrigg Hall is decked out for the season, with winter walks across the estate and festive treats in the tea-room. Don't miss Carols in the Courtyard with the Cromer and Sheringham Brass Band on Sunday 20th December at 2.30pm.
All Aboard
Norfolk Lights Express
14th November - 3rd January
The North Norfolk Railway's after-dark heritage train ride departs from Sheringham, with festive light displays along the line. The whole experience lasts around an hour and three quarters, and Sheringham is just three miles from The Maltings.
Santa Specials
21st November - 23rd December
Step on-board for a steam train journey with Father Christmas from Sheringham to Holt, stopping at Weybourne on the way back - perfect for a family day out, followed by lunch at The Feathers.
Festive Favourites
Thursford Christmas Spectacular
10th November - 23rd December | 2pm & 7pm
A Norfolk institution! This three-hour Christmas variety show fills a vast converted barn with singers, dancers and musicians. Thursford also hosts its Enchanted Journey of Light (2nd - 24th December) and Santa's Magical Journey for families (21st November - 23rd December).
Cromer Pier Christmas Show
14th November - 28th December
Cromer's famous end-of-the-pier variety show returns with its festive edition, complete with sequins, song and plenty of laughs. Pop in to The Maltings for supper on your way home or spend a night to make the most of your time on the coast.
Light Up the Town
North Norfolk's towns and villages are lighting up for Christmas, with late-night shopping and plenty of festive cheer across the region:
Holt - Friday 13th November, lights on at 5.30pm. Right on the doorstep of The Feathers.
Burnham Market - Saturday 21st November, 1pm - 6pm. A short drive from Titchwell Manor and The Globe.
Sheringham - Friday 27th November, lights on at 5.30pm. Just down the road from The Maltings.
Hunstanton - Sunday 29th November, 10am - 6pm. Close to The Ancient Mariner Inn and Le Strange Arms.
Wells Christmas Tide Festival - Saturday 12th December, with a lantern parade and lights at around 4.30pm. A few steps from The Globe!
Winter Wildlife
Seal Pups at Blakeney Point
Late October - mid January
Winter is grey seal pupping season, and Blakeney Point is home to one of England's largest colonies. You can't reach the colony by foot, so take a boat trip from Morston Quay for the best views (book ahead, as trips depend on the tides). Warm up afterwards at The White Horse in Blakeney or The Wiveton Bell.
Pink-Footed Geese
Until the end of February
Each winter, thousands of pink-footed geese arrive on the North Norfolk coast. Head out at dawn or dusk to see them flying overhead - a magical sight on a crisp winter's day, and a great excuse for a long lunch at Titchwell Manor afterwards.
Suffolk
Christmases Past
Dickensian Christmas at Kentwell Hall
5th - 6th & 12th - 13th December | 10.30am - 5pm
Step back to Christmas of 1869 at Kentwell Hall, where costumed cooks, a toymaker and the bakehouse bring the Victorian festive season to life. Expect a reading of A Christmas Carol, Father Christmas and his elves, and carols in the Great Hall at 4.30pm. The Black Lion is just a stroll away in Long Melford, so settle in for a cosy dinner afterwards.
Christmas at Ickworth
16th November - 3rd January | 10am - 4pm (closed 24th - 25th December)
The National Trust's Ickworth Estate has a full festive programme this year. Throughout November, the servants' quarters are dressed for a 1930s Christmas, with costumed volunteers on weekends. From December, little ones can enjoy a winter story adventure in the Rotunda and an outdoor trail. There's also a Christmas craft fair on 21st - 22nd November.
Christmas at Flatford
28th - 29th November | 10am - 3pm
In the heart of Constable Country, the hall at Valley Farm is decked with greenery, with a crackling log fire, mince pies and mulled wine. Volunteers share stories of Christmases past, and there's a craft fayre in the Granary. Make a weekend of it at The Red Lion, less than a mile away in East Bergholt.
Markets & Merriment
Bury St Edmunds Christmas Lights Event
Thursday 19th November | 3pm - 8pm
The festive season gets going in Bury with a free town-centre event, with choirs and schools on stage, fairground rides, charity stalls and a visit from Santa. The lights come on as the sun sets for a magical evening.
St Edmundsbury Cathedral Christmas Market
26th - 28th November | 10am - 4.30pm
More than 50 mostly local stallholders take up residence inside the cathedral, with carols and live music each day. Entry is £2, and it's a short drive from The Weeping Willow.
Sudbury Christmas Light Switch-On & Fair
Friday 27th November | 5pm - 9pm
Sudbury's evening fair ends with the lights going on at around 6.30pm. Return to the town from 8th - 13th December for the Rotary Christmas Tree Festival at St Gregory's Church, with trees decorated by local groups. The Crown in Stoke-by-Nayland and The Anchor in Nayland are both nearby.
East Bergholt Christmas Tree Festival
5th - 6th December | 10am - 4pm
St Mary's Church fills with decorated trees, alongside the village Christmas Fair and refreshments all day. The perfect excuse to pop in to The Red Lion for lunch.
Southwold Lights Switch-On
Saturday 28th November | 2pm - 6pm
Head to the seaside for an afternoon of stalls in the seaside town, ending with the lights going on. Head back along the coast to The Ship at Dunwich or The Westleton Crown for dinner by the fire.
Take a Seat
Magic of Christmas at Snape Maltings
18th - 23rd December
A brand-new family song-and-dance show at Snape Maltings Concert Hall, complete with Santas, reindeer and a nativity scene is coming this Christmas. Snape also has a festive programme of Christmas concerts this December, so there's plenty to see.
Snow White at the Regent Theatre, Ipswich
12th - 31st December
The Regent's traditional family panto, with a wicked queen, plenty of slapstick and lots of audience participation. Relaxed, BSL-interpreted and adult-only performances are also available.
Cinderella at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
20th November - 16th January
The New Wolsey's much-loved rock 'n' roll panto returns, with the cast playing chart hits live on stage! There are late-night, adults-only shows on Fridays too.
Christmas Workshops at Lavenham Guildhall
25th November, 9th & 16th December
Get creative ahead of the big day with a wreath-making, block-printing or festive flower display workshop at this beautiful timber-framed Guildhall. Materials and refreshments are included, and The Black Lion is just a few miles away.
Winter Walks
RSPB Minsmere
Open all season
Blow away the cobwebs with a winter walk around one of the country's best-loved nature reserves, looking out for wintering birds on the marshes. It's just three miles from The Westleton Crown, and The Ship at Dunwich is close by too - so there's a spot to warm up in afterwards. Don't forget our walking maps for both pubs!
Essex
Christmas at Audley End
Father Christmas at Audley End House & Gardens
Weekends, 5th - 20th December
Little ones can hear stories from Father Christmas, meet him for a photo and take home a traditional present at this grand Jacobean house. Tickets are £12 per child and must be booked in advance. Audley End is always a must-see when visiting The Eight Bells, just down the road in Saffron Walden.
A Braybrooke Christmas
Thursday 10th December | 12pm - 2pm
For English Heritage members, a talk on how the Braybrooke family and their servants celebrated Christmas through the ages, followed by a festive lunch inspired by their menus.
Audley End Enchanted Railway Christmas Special
21st November - 24th December
Hop aboard the miniature railway for a ride through the woods to meet Father Christmas. A lovely morning out before Sunday lunch at The Eight Bells or The Cricketers in Clavering.
Festive Sounds
Christmas at Saffron Hall
26th November - 12th December
Saffron Hall has a festive line-up to suit everyone, from The Big Christmas Assembly singalong (26th November) and The Snowman - Live (2nd December) to The Sixteen's A Ceremony of Carols (6th December) and Christmas with Connaught Brass (11th December). Some concerts sell out quickly, so book soon.
Days Out in Colchester
Enchanted Trail of Light at Colchester Zoo
Selected evenings, 27th November - 28th December
Once the zoo closes, follow an illuminated trail with a rainbow light tunnel, life-size animal lights and a fountain show. By day, the zoo's Magic of Christmas weekends and The Santa Experience (from 21st November) are a hit with families. The Anchor in Nayland is just a short drive away.
Jack and the Beanstalk at the Mercury Theatre
21st November - 17th January
The Mercury's homegrown panto is always a festive favourite, with relaxed performances on 3rd December and 10th January, plus adults-only shows in the New Year. Make a night of it with dinner at The Crown in Stoke-by-Nayland.
See in the New Year
New Year's Steam at the East Anglian Railway Museum
Friday 1st January | 10am - 4pm
Start 2027 with unlimited rides behind a vintage steam locomotive at Chappel and Wakes Colne, plus a peek inside the restoration shed and signal box.
Cambridgeshire & Newmarket
Huntingdon
Peterborough Chase Raceday
Sunday 6th December | Gates open 10.15am
Huntingdon Racecourse's biggest race of the year is a Grade 2 chase that has been won by greats including Desert Orchid and Best Mate. Enjoy a full afternoon of jump racing (under-18s go free), then head back to The Old Bridge for dinner by the river.
Festive Fiver Raceday
Monday 21st December | Gates open 10.30am
A brilliant-value pre-Christmas day at the races, with £5 advance tickets and prizes for the best-dressed racegoers in Christmas jumpers. A fun way to kick off the Christmas week with friends!
Christmas Choirs at Wimpole Estate
Weekends, 21st November - 20th December | 11.30am & 1.30pm
Local choirs fill Wimpole's chapel and stable block with carols and Christmas songs. There's no need to book, but arrive early for a seat in the chapel. Wimpole is around 35 minutes from both The Old Bridge and The Carpenters Arms.
Around Cambridge
Christmas at Anglesey Abbey
1st December - 3rd January
Six rooms of this Jacobean-style house are dressed for Christmas this year, alongside a Winnie-the-Pooh garden trail and centenary exhibition. Children can also meet Father Christmas in the decorated Lower Gallery on selected December dates.
Jack and the Beanstalk at Cambridge Arts Theatre
27th November - 3rd January
This year's family panto sees Jack set out to save Cambridge from a giant, with music, comedy and a little magic along the way. Relaxed, BSL, captioned and audio-described performances are all available. Enjoy a pre-theatre dinner at The Carpenters Arms before heading into the city.
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Thursday 24th December | 3pm
The world-famous Christmas Eve service at King's College Chapel is back on sale. Public tickets are allocated by online ballot, which closes at 9am on Monday 16th November - so don't miss out. (Or tune in on BBC Radio 4 from the comfort of one of our pubs.)
Ely Cathedral Christmas Gift & Food Fair
19th - 21st November
Stalls of gifts, crafts and festive food fill Ely Cathedral for three days, with evening shopping sessions on the Thursday and Friday. A great early start on the Christmas shopping.
Newmarket
Presents Galore
27th - 29th November
This long-running charity Christmas shopping fair fills the Millennium Grandstand at the Rowley Mile with more than 120 stalls and a bigger food and drink hall this year. One ticket covers all three days. Round off a day of shopping with dinner at The Packhorse Inn in Moulton or The Three Blackbirds in Woodditton.
Tattersalls December Sale
30th November - 3rd December
Europe's leading bloodstock auction house holds its main winter sale of foals, mares and horses in training. As with the autumn sales, you don't need to be in the market for a racehorse to enjoy the spectacle.
Christmas at Chestnut
After a day of festive adventures, there's nowhere better to settle in than by the fire at one of our pubs or hotels.
Christmas Gifting
Get Christmas wrapped up with a Chestnut gift voucher or experience - pick one up in any of our pubs or hotels, or buy online and have it emailed or posted straight to them.
For something to unwrap, browse our new General Store. You'll find mixed cases of wine from our cellar, Connock England home fragrance and bath products, books about the region and seasonal gifts, all delivered across the UK.
December Dining
Our December menus and festive set menus are available from 30th November. Three courses are £34 - £39.50, or a special price of £29.50 - £36 when you join us Monday to Thursday.
Christmas Day
Gather around the table and let us take care of everything. Our Christmas Day menus range from £95 to £150, depending on your chosen destination. To take a look at menus and book a table, click here.
Festive Get-Togethers
From drinks and canapés to a meal with friends or the work Christmas party, we have event spaces across our collection for celebrations big and small.
Christmas Stays
Thinking about spending Christmas in our neck of the woods? Our Christmas Stay packages include bed and breakfast, Christmas Day lunch, a Christmas Day evening hamper or buffet, a glass of Champagne and an in-room gift. Two-night stays range from £695 to £1,750, depending on destination.
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