Christmas in Kent

This article is about Christmas 2021. Check back later in the year for more information about Christmas 2022 at National Trust places nearby. Our places in Kent are getting ready to share their festive traditions with you. Discover decorated houses and twinkly Christmas trees. Little ones will love the new Percy The Park Keeper™ winter adventure activity trail around the gardens, with different activities and games at each participating place. Or head out for a winter walk on our estates, then warm chilly hands around a hot chocolate.

Every time you visit you help us keep those Christmas lights twinkling bright for years to come.

A family walking in the woods at Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire

Latest visiting update 

Our gardens, parks, cafés, shops, countryside locations and many houses are open. You no longer need to pre-book at many places. Some still require booking ahead, so please check the property webpage before you travel.​

More information on visiting
Scotney Castle Library Christmas Desk

Scotney Castle 

The ground floor of the mansion will be decorated for Christmas Eve in the early 1900s, after the annual Scotney ball. Christmas trees glisten and presents lay unopened, as the family settle down for the night in preparation for more celebrations tomorrow. Outdoors, there's a new trail all about Percy the Park Keeper™, with giant welly hoopla and a wheelbarrow station for more Percy-inspired fun. Admire the twinkly tree in the main courtyard, and pop by the tea-room filled with seasonal treats. For those that are welly-ready, there’s plenty of wintery walks to enjoy across the estate. Decorated rooms 27 Nov to 3 Jan. Percy trail 4 Dec to 3 Jan, £2 per trail, normal admission applies.

What’s on at Scotney this Christmas
A pair of beautifully decorated Christmas trees on either side of the main entrance door at Chartwell

Chartwell 

Travel back in time to a post-war 1940s Christmas. A series of rooms in the house will be dressed for Christmas in 1946, when the Churchill family returned to Chartwell for the first time since the end of the Second World War. Join carol singing on weekends, and spot the decorated Christmas trees. In the gardens, there’s a new family trail inspired by one of Sir Winston Churchill's famous paintings, Bottlescape. Follow in the footsteps of the Churchill children, and look for hidden bottles filled with very special ingredients. Together, they reveal the recipe for a traditional Christmas treat. Tuck into sumptuous festive food and drinks in the Landemare café. House open 4&5, 11&12, 18&19 December, tickets available first come, first served. Trail runs 27 Nov to 2 Jan, £2 per trail plus normal admission applies.

Celebrate a 1940s Christmas
A natural foliage Christmas swag hung across the windows at Ightham Mote

Ightham Mote 

Kickstart the festive shopping at a mini market featuring local producers (4 & 5 December). Wander the ground floor of the house to experience Christmas through the ages. The Library will be dressed for a New England Christmas as enjoyed by former resident Mr Robinson, whilst the Great Hall showcases a traditional Victorian Christmas. Throughout the festive period you may encounter carol singers in the courtyard (see website for details). In the gardens, Percy the Park Keeper™ provides fun for little ones. Get stuck in to a game of giant noughts and crosses with a Percy-inspired twist. Or pick up a leaf grabber and help Percy collect the fallen leaves. Tuck into mince pies, gingerbread lattes and spiced crumbles in the café. Runs 4 December to 3 January. £2 per Percy trail, normal admission applies.

Experience Ightham’s Christmasses gone by
A close up of Christmas baubles hanging from the boughs of a large outdoor fit tree

Emmetts Garden 

Families can join Percy the Park Keeper™ and his woodland friends on a brand new all-natural trail criss-crossing the exotic gardens. Help Percy track down his missing tools, and look out for his animal friends along the way before collecting a special prize. The wild play area complete with balance beams, swings, a teepee and more is the perfect backdrop for winter adventures. Pop into nearby Old Stables café for Christmassy treats. A winter walk through the gardens will pass impressive evergreen displays, as well as unusual specimens such as the brightly coloured Chilean prickly heath bush (Gaultheria mucronate). Trail runs 4 Dec to 2 Jan, £2 per trail plus normal admission applies.

Venture outdoors this Christmas
Knole Great Hall Christmas tree

Knole 

Families can join a parkland creatures-inspired trail around historic Knole Park. Follow the clues to claim a cuddly prize (6 to 23 Dec, 10am to 3.30pm, £5 per trail). See the sparkling tree and festive display on the grand table in the Great Hall. For the first time the Ballroom, Reynolds Room and Cartoon Gallery will be open with wintry displays for Christmas too (27 Nov to 23 Dec, normal admission applies). The shop and bookshop will be open to browse the latest seasonal gifts. Please pre-book tickets to guarantee entry to the car park and house.

Book your trip to Knole
Christmas hampers on sale in our shop

Sissinghurst Castle Garden 

Browse local food, crafts and gifts to live music at the Sissinghurst festive market (27 & 28 November). See the Library and South Cottage dressed with atmospheric scenes evoking Vita and Harold’s legendry evening parties, with poetry readings throughout the festive period in the Library too. Learn more about Vita and Harold's present giving during the festive period, then hang your very own note on the Sissinghurst Christmas giving tree about what you’re gifting this Christmas. Outdoors, there’s wildlife bingo for families - don't forget to shout “Bingo” as loud as you can when you're done! There are festive lunches with homegrown veg throughout December in the Granary Restaurant too.

Plan your Christmas visit
Percy the Park Keeper

More fun with Percy the Park Keeper 

Percy the Park Keeper is visiting lots of our places across the region and beyond this winter. We've created activity trails that'll bring the whole family closer to nature, with unique games and activities at each place. The time you spend with us during winter helps us look after nature, beauty and history for everyone to enjoy. Click below to find more fun with Percy.

Search for more Percy trails