Discover more at Godolphin
Find out when Godolphin is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Christmas at Godolphin
This festive season, step into the warmth and wonder of a traditional Christmas at Godolphin. Soak up the festive atmosphere with performances from local choirs and see the House adorned with estate-sourced decorations. Or take part in bespoke workshops, including ceramic and candle making, set within Godolphin's historic surroundings.
Christmas house experience
Experience the magic of the season as Godolphin House is beautifully dressed in traditional festive décor. For the first time ever, we're opening our doors not only on weekends but also on Fridays in the lead-up to Christmas, giving you even more opportunities to soak up the holiday spirit.
Settle into the cosy sitting room for a board game or a puzzle, or let the children's imaginations run wild as they play dress-up in the Saloon. Join us in the dining room to craft your very own pomander decoration or purchase festive treats including mulled wine, mince pies and seasonal hot drinks.
Godolphin House is open from 10.30am - 4pm (final entry 3pm) on the following weekends:
- Friday 5 to Sunday 7 December
- Friday 12 to Sunday 14 December
- Friday 19 to Sunday 21 December
Please note: mulled wine and mince pies purchased inside Godolphin House will be cash only. Card payments are accepted in the Piggery tea-room for food and drink purchased there.
Christmas choirs
As part of our Christmas House weekends you can enjoy performances by local choirs and musical groups who will be filling Godolphin with the sounds of their Christmas carols and music.
Saturday 6 December, 1pm – 3pm: Four Lanes Male Choir and Treleigh school community choir
Sunday 7 December, 12 – 13.30: Townshend community choir
Saturday 13 December, 2pm until 3pm: Celtic Fiddlers
Sunday 14 December, 12-12.30pm: Community Carols Workshop Choir and 1.30pm - 2pm: Stretch choir
Guided Tours
Discover more of Godolphin's story by joining us on a guided tour (approx 1hour):
Monday 8 December 11.30am and 1.30pm
Tuesday 9 December, 11.30am and 1.30pm
Tuesday 16 December, 11.30am and 1.30pm
Tours start at the Welcome Hut.
Candle and lip balm making in Godolphin House
Come and join our resident bee keeper and make your own bees wax candles using wax harvested from her hives and take away your festive creations to give as gifts or enjoy for yourself! Watch her demonstration on making other bees wax products that you can make at home. Workshops take place in the entrance hall of Godolphin House.
Workshop dates:
Wednesday 10 December: 10.00 – 12.30 (sold out) and 13.00 - 15.30.
Wednesday 17 December: 10.00-12.30 (sold out) and 13.00-15.30.
You can book your tickets here at £30 per person.
Making ceramic candle holders with The Leach Pottery
Join the Leach Pottery for a hands-on workshop where you'll create a collection of up to four unique candle holders. Using hand-building techniques such as pinching and coiling, you’ll explore a variety of forms including tealight cups, stick holders, and multi-stemmed designs.
Rooted in the Leach Pottery ethos of balancing beauty and utility, this workshop encourages thoughtful making - where form and function go hand in hand. Your finished pieces will be glazed and fired at The Leach Pottery and posted back to you within 12 weeks of the workshop.
The workshops take place in the entrance hall of Godolphin House.
Break with tea, coffee and mince pies (included in ticket price).
Workshop dates:
Thursday 11 December, 10.00-12.00 (sold out) and 13.00 -15.00
Thursday 18 December, 10.00-12.00 and 13.00-15.00
You can book your tickets here at £30 per person.
Christmas crafts and activities in the orchard
From 05 December you can create your own Christmas decoration in the Cider House and either take it home with you or help us to decorate the Cider House Christmas tree. Test your memory skills with our Christmas-themed match-two memory game or play Connect 4. In the orchard, we'll have a snowball activity trail and toss the 'snowball' game.
Tinsel10
Join the festive, free and fun Tinsel10 trail run around Godolphin estate on Sunday 21 December. Christmas fancy dress welcome and be sure to come prepared for a muddy route. Post-run hot drinks & festive treats available from the Piggery cafe.
Winter Stroll Around Godolphin
No trip to Godolphin is complete without an exploration of the countryside which surrounds it. Pop on your thick jumpers, hats and winter boots and head to the countryside to enjoy a winter walks around the wider estate of Godolphin.
With over 500 acres of diverse countryside, you can take in the views from the summit of Godolphin Hill where on a clear day you can see two coastlines, stroll through ancient mining landscape in Godolphin Woods or venture along and enjoy the tranquility of the River Hayle. Wherever you choose to explore, the diversity and wildlife of the Cornish countryside is never far away from Godolphin this Christmas.
You might also be interested in
Family-friendly things to do at Godolphin
Take a look at what family-friendly events and activities we have at Godolphin. Get mucky in the mud-pie kitchen, explore nature up-close with the barefoot trail and enjoy the wide open spaces of nature in the gardens.
Candle Making Workshop at Godolphin
Get into the Christmas spirit and join our resident bee keeper for a candle making workshop inside the seasonally decorated Godolphin House
Winter Decorations Workshop
Get into the festive spirit with a ceramic workshop at Godolphin House, led by the expert potters from Leach Pottery in St. Ives.
Christmas around Cornwall
This festive season the ancient houses and exotic gardens around Cornwall are being transformed for Christmas. Discover what's on offer near you.
