A Christmas Journey to the North Pole at Mottisfont
25 November - 7 January: follow letters to Father Christmas on a magical journey to the North Pole, from children dreaming in decorated bedrooms to a polar bear’s ball, and experience the wonder of the northern lights.
- Booking not needed
- Admission applies
Enter the house to find richly-decorated trees, piles of beautifully-wrapped presents and extravagant floral arrangements created by Mother Christmas herself. Find Father Christmas’s study piled high with letters, and tiptoe past children asleep in decorated bedrooms.
Follow their festive dreams to board the ‘Christmas Express’ into the North Pole, arriving just in time to join the glittering, snow-white polar bear’s ball. Experience the wonder of the northern lights over a towering tree sparkling with baubles.
Our family activity trail invites you to become an honorary elf for the day, helping to deliver Christmas wishes.
Christmas at Mottisfont runs from 25 November - 7 January (closed 24 and 25 December), 10am-4pm (house open from 11am, last entry 30 minutes before closing).
There's no need to book. Normal property admission price (free for National Trust members, Art Fund members and under-fives), plus £3 per trail.
Christmas can be a busy time at Mottisfont, especially during the holidays. Most of our visitors tend to arrive between 11am and 2pm, which can cause congestion in the car park. If you arrive at 10am you might find the grounds a little quieter, or if you arrive after 2pm, there’s still time to enjoy offer.
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.
Times
The basics
- Meeting point
Decorations around the house and grounds. Trail sheets available from visitor reception.
- What to bring and wear
The trail takes place outside in our gardens, so dress appropriately for the weather. Pathways can be uneven and muddy in places so sturdy footwear is recommended.
- Accessibility
Free parking adjacent to welcome centre, including accessible spaces. Toilet & changing facilities around the grounds. Pushchairs welcome in the gardens, but not in the house. Gently-sloping areas and wide pathways around much of the grounds. Mobility buggy service available.
- Other
Drinks, snacks and light lunches with family-friendly options are available from the café and additional outlets.
Upcoming events
Heath Robinson at War exhibition
Saturday 20 January – Sunday 14 April: over 50 artworks of humorous drawings from both World Wars, demonstrating Heath Robinson's ability to counter the horrors of war with gentle satire and absurdity.