Buckland Abbey Christmas

Published:: 10 November 2022

A man in medieval knight costume goes to pull a sword from a stone. The lighting is purple and blue, and an out of focus Christmas tree with white fairy lights is in the background. — Christmas at Buckland Abbey | © Steve Haywood

Get into the festive spirit at Buckland with seasonal shopping, treats, music and a beautiful display in the Great Barn and Abbey.

Arthurian legends at Buckland Abbey

29 November - 4 January, 10-4

Step into the Great Barn and into a forest of trees which will transport you into the story of King Arthur.

You'll be surrounded by beautiful twinkling trees where you can listen to the story of Gawain and the Green Knight before you step forward to see a wicker sculpture of the battle itself!

Be sure not to miss the tallest tree at the end of the Barn where you will see the mythical Excalibur surrounded by stars.

The Abbey has been filled with more legendary Christmas delights from Merlin’s Apothecary to Guinevere’s chamber, each room will be filled with festive sparkle and an opportunity to acquaint yourself with characters from the mythical stories of King Arthur.

Mince pie and a cup of tea with a sprig of holly and background of fairy lights — Tasty festive treats are available in the cafe | © National Trust/John Parker

Festive events at Buckland Abbey

Saturday 19 November, 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm

Join local artist Grace Coombes from Linnet Workshops to hand print your own Christmas gift wrap with festive lino blocks. There will be a wide selection of designs to choose from, all hand carved by Grace.

You will be using water-based inks to create beautifully decorative wrapping paper. Each participant will get to take away their sheet of gift wrap ready for Christmas.

All materials included. Please bring an apron or wear old clothes as the inks can get messy. Suitable for ages 4 - 16. All children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the session.

£9 per child (booking essential)
Friday 19 December, 10am-1pm

During this 3 hour workshop you will learn how to create your own festive winter angel using sustainably grown willow, the perfect way to spend a festive morning.

No weaving experience is needed as Jasmine will guide you through each step to create your own angel to take home at the end of the workshop. These angels look beautiful as an indoor or outdoor decoration, or gift for a loved one. The angels will stand at approximately 40cm tall, however you can make them slightly smaller or taller if you wish to do so. This workshop is not suitable for unsupervised under 12year olds as it requires a good amount on dexterity, however for under 12s we welcome teaming up as an adult, child duo.

Please arrive 10 minutes before the workshop start time so that we get the most of our time together. Maximum group size of 12 (adult and children pairings count as 1)

£35 per person, booking essential
Sunday 18 January, 2pm

2025 started with us inviting everyone to help us plant 30,000 trees as part of the Community Forest Project. Now we need your help to Wassail the newly planted orchard to bring on good harvests for the future.

Led by the Buckland Abbey rangers - meet outside the Great Barn with your pots and pans so you can make noise and ward off the bad spirits!

Normal admission applies, free for members.

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View of Buckland Abbey with a green lawn in front and trees, with one tree turning red and brown in autumn, Devon

Discover more at Buckland Abbey

Plan your visit

Visiting Buckland Abbey and Great Barn

Explore the abbey which is part museum, part house, and filled with treasures. Step inside the medieval Great Barn: a tithe barn unchanged since it was built centuries ago.

Two large Christmas trees with red and gold decorations and white fairy lights stand either side of a fireplace in a wood panelled room. A dark wooden table with candles is in the foreground.

Buckland Abbey's estate

Discover Buckland's ancient woodland on one of three colour coded routes. With abundant wildlife and far reaching views, it's a peaceful and fascinating place to enjoy.

A view of green fields with a river valley in the distance. Tree branches with spring leaves frame the image.

Eating and shopping at Buckland Abbey

Take a break at the Ox Yard Café, which serves tea, coffee, light lunches and sweet treats, before finding a special gift or souvenir in the National Trust shop, art galleries and second-hand bookshop.

Two visitors sit at a table in the cafe with cups of tea and cakes

Buckland Abbey's gardens

From beautiful blooms to bountiful harvests, the gardens at Buckland Abbey are full of colour and seasonal interest. Soak up the history of this special place as you admire the planting, or simply enjoy the peace and tranquillity as you sit a while on one of the benches.