Christmas for families at Mottisfont

The grounds (including the trail), shop and cafés open at 10am; the house opens at 11am. We close at 4pm - last entry into the property and house is at 3.30pm.

Booking not required for the trail but to avoid disappointment we recommend you book tickets to visit Mottisfont in advance, especially at busier times such as weekends, school holidays and bank holidays. If you do not book we cannot guarantee admission. Please note that booking applies for visiting the whole property; due to limits on capacity, it may not be possible for everyone to access the house during their visit.

On 18 December we'll be releasing booking slots for the Christmas and New Year weeks: 21 December to 3 January. You'll be able to book your place, date and time to guarantee you can visit safely. We expect demand to be high; blocks of tickets will be released throughout the day, so if slots haven't appeared early on the 18 December, please check back later in the day.

Normal property admission applies (free for National Trust members, Art Fund members and under 5s), plus £2 per trail pack.

Peter Rabbit’s Winter Adventure

Treat your little ones to the magic of a Peter Rabbit™ winter adventure activity trail around our gardens, while stocks last - in partnership with Penguin Random House UK.

Peter Rabbit’s friends need some help finding items to see them through the colder winter months. Young nature adventurers can lend a hand to some of Beatrix Potter’s well-loved characters such as Squirrel Nutkin, Mr. Jeremy Fisher and Jemima Puddleduck, and solve the clues to earn their special trail badge.

There are activities aimed at both 3-5 year olds and 5-9 year olds, while the whole family can enjoy our festive decorations - as well as a Peter Rabbit selfie station at the end of the trail where everyone can take a picture with their favourite storybook rabbit.

A trail pack costs £2, available from visitor reception. Each pack includes everything you'll need to complete the trail, including a bag and pencil to keep. There's an additional play pack, too, to take more fun home with you.

A celebration of the season

As well as the trail around the grounds, you’ll find festive decorations both inside and out. Lanterns and twinkling lights line our garden pathways, and you can spot signs of woodland creatures gathering for Christmas celebrations and preparing for winter.

A traditional nativity scene and advent ring will be on display in the Cellarium.

A selection of rooms are open inside the house. You’ll find trees dressed in traditional baubles and colours for a cosy, Christmassy feeling. Mantelpieces will be adorned with swags of foliage and festive floral arrangements. Look out for more little woodland creatures nestling down among the decorations.

Keeping you safe inside the house

To keep you safe we have introduced a one-way route through the house and hand sanitising gel will be made available on entry and exit. We are also limiting the number of people who can access the house at any one time. Due to limits on capacity, it may not be possible for everyone to access the house during their visit.

In line with government guidance for Test and Trace, we'll need to take some details from you before you step inside. This information is stored securely for Test and Trace purposes only, for 21 days after your visit.

To make sure everyone can maintain social distancing, we have set up a new exit route through the Morning Room, via an exterior stairway. Please speak to our house team if this is not accessible for you – we will arrange an alternative safe exit.

In line with government guidance visitors to our house are required to wear a face covering. Please bring one along with you.

Planning your visit

Opening times and booking

• Christmas at Mottisfont with Peter Rabbit and Friends runs from Saturday 5 December - 10 January (government guidelines permitting), excluding 24 and 25 December when the whole property is closed. The grounds (including the trail), shop and cafés open at 10am; the house opens at 11am. We close at 4pm - last entry into the property and house is at 3.30pm.
• To avoid disappointment, we recommend you book tickets for your visit to Mottisfont in advance, especially at busier times such as weekends, school holidays and bank holidays. If you do not book we cannot guarantee admission.
• Please note that booking applies for visiting the whole property; due to limits on capacity, it may not be possible for everyone to access the house during their visit.
• Normal property admission price only (free for National Trust members, Art Fund members and under 5s), plus £2 per trail pack. If you’re visiting with a carer or essential companion, they visit for free.
• We're expecting to be busy, particularly during the Christmas holiday period - if you book a visit for 10am you might find the grounds a little quieter before we start to get more busy from 11am. Or, if you have the flexibility, a weekday visit is generally quieter than a weekend, even during school holidays. If you can only visit over the weekend, Saturdays are usually less busy than Sundays.
• Before visiting, please always check local and national government guidance on travelling.

Visting the house

• Please be aware that we will be staggering entry into the house with a queuing system. This will help us make sure we’re keeping everyone safe and socially distanced.
• Due to limits on capacity, it may not be possible for everyone to access the house during their visit.
• We ask that prams/pushchairs into the house are left outside the house - please bring your own rain cover. 

Getting around

• It's free to park here - our car park next to the Welcome Centre has around 400 spaces.
• The car park and pathways through the grounds can be uneven and muddy in places during winter weather - stout footwear and weather-ready clothing advised.
• We're sorry, but we're unable to offer a mobility buggy service at present. Five wheelchairs are available to borrow from visitor reception on a first come, first serve basis.

Book your visit