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Christmas at Cotehele

A floral garland made of pink and purple flowers hanging within the Tudor Great Hall at Cotehele
The 2024 Christmas Garland at Cotehele, Cornwall | © National Trust / Steven Haywood

Celebrate Christmas with a festive day out to Cotehele. Step into the hall to adore this year's Garland, grab a festive hot drink and enjoy the lights along the path to the mill, join in with a festive sing song by the tree and visit Cotehele Mill for crafts for all the family.

Cotehele’s Christmas Garland

 

Every year Cotehele’s gardeners build a 60-foot garland from thousands of flowers grown on the estate. A tradition since 1956, the garland adorns the Great Hall throughout Christmas. The number of flowers varies each year depending on the growing season.

 

Preparations for the garland began in January when the flower seeds are sown in the Cut Flower Garden. Our team of garden volunteers and staff then start picking flowers from late April which are then dried over the summer and autumn before the garland is put together over two weeks in November.

 

Dates for your 2025 diary

 

  • Building of the pittosporum base starts outside on Monday 10 November 2025 from 10.30am-4pm,
  • Work then moves inside the hall from Tuesday 11 - Thursday 20 November 2025, 10.30am-4pm,
  • See the completed in all it's glory daily from Saturday 22 November 2025  - Monday 5 January 2026, 10.30am-4pm. (Closed 25-26 December).

 

You do not need to book to visit Cotehele, for groups with a party size of 15 or more booking in advance is essential. Contact our team to book your group visit to Cotehele this Christmas via cotehele@nationaltrust.org.uk or calling 01579 351346.

 

Family taking part in Christmas crafts at Cotehele Mill, Cornwall
Family taking part in Christmas crafts at Cotehele Mill, Cornwall | © Steve Haywood

Christmas at Cotehele Mill

 

Follow the festive lights along the stream to find Cotehele Mill tucked within the Morden Valley. The mill will be decorated in traditional Victorian style and you’ll be able to discover how families like the Langsfords, who lived at Cotehele Mill, celebrated Christmas in those times.

 

The doors to the Saddlers, Meal Floor and the Bakery will be open for everyone to peer in and experience the sights and smells of a flour mill at Christmas time. Head to the first floor for toys to play with, costumes to adorn and craft activities to complete. 

 

  • Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 22 November - 14 December, 11am-3.30pm
  • Open daily from 19 December - 5 January, 11am-3pm (closed 25-26 December), 11am-3.30pm

Festive fun for everyone

 

Twelve Days of Cornish Christmas family trail

This Christmas, explore Cotehele’s house and gardens to find all the elements of a Cornish Christmas, without a partridge in sight. Prance, dance and sing your way through the trail, and learn some seasonal Cornish phrases along the way. Nadelik Lowen!

Available every day from 22 November - 5 January (closed 25-26 December).

Carols by the Christmas tree at Cotehele

Throughout the festive period we’re delighted to be welcoming various choirs and performers to Cotehele. Grab a hot drink and join in with a festive sing song by the tree outside the house.

With all performances being held outside, we recommend wrapping up warm in a cosy scarf. These performances are weather dependant, we might need to pull some performances at the last minute for everyone’s safety.

 

Who’s performing when?

Saturday 29 November - Tavistock Warblers, 1-1.45pm

Saturday 6 December - Kescana, 1-1.45pm

Saturday 13 December - Callington Town Band, 1-1.45pm

 

 

Lets Wassail!

On Saturday 20 December, 11am-12.30pm, come and join us for our annual Wassail as we attempt to scare away the evil spirits from the Mother Orchard to ensure their is a bumper crop next year.

Fancy dress is highly encouraged and don't forget to bring something noisy too. Meet outside Visitor Reception at 11am for the start of the procession which then heads through the garden to the orchard.

 

Visitors exploring the garden in spring at Cotehele, Cornwall

Discover more at Cotehele

Find out when Cotehele is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.

Places to stay at Cotehele this Christmas

The side and back of Miller's House, a large slatestone cottage with grassy garden, Cornwall

Miller's House 

A woodland cottage by a stream on the Cotehele estate, near the Victorian watermill and quay.

The exterior of Cotehele Dairy Cottage, Cornwall

Cotehele Dairy Cottage 

A quiet and luxurious cottage, with access to Cotehele's house and garden.

The exterior of Hall Court, Cornwall

Hall Court 

An apartment in Cotehele’s atmospheric Tudor house, with stacks of historic charm and all-hours access to the gardens, river and estate.

The exterior of Elbow Cottage, Cornwall

Elbow Cottage 

A pretty former gamekeeper’s cottage perched next to woodland on the Cotehele estate.

The exterior of Malt House in spring, with blossom on the trees and flowers blooming in the grass of the garden, Cornwall

Malt House 

A unique house on the Cotehele estate with a tower room and stylish interiors.

The exterior of Cotehele Quay Lodge Cottage, Cornwall

Cotehele Quay Lodge Cottage 

This snug gate lodge, perched near the Tamar River on the Cotehele estate, is especially cosy in the evenings when the stove is lit and the shutters closed for the night.

The exterior of Cotehele Engine Cottage

Cotehele Engine Cottage 

A holiday cottage with a history, this cosy retreat is tucked into the valley on the Cotehele estate.

The exterior of Danescombe Cottage, Cornwall

Danescombe Cottage 

A traditional whitewashed cottage in a tranquil corner on the Cotehele Estate.