Christmas at The Vyne

Festive family fun in 2023

Nutcracker house trail

Daily until 7 Jan inclusive 11am-3pm

All ages can explore the ground floor of the house lavishly decorated to tell this much-loved Christmas tale. Trail sheet available at Visitor Reception for £1.50.

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Nutcracker garden trail

Daily until 7 Jan inclusive 11am-3pm

Circling The Vyne’s magnificent lake, young explorers can keep their eyes peeled for swans, ballerinas and the North Lawn full of nutcracker soldiers. Trail sheet available at Visitor Reception for £1.50.

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Christmas decorations 2023

Daily until 7 Jan inclusive

Sparkling Christmas trees drip with glimmering glass baubles, velvet bows, gingerbread men, ballerinas and china teacups. With a nod to the ballet's Waltz of the Snowflakes, the staircase hall features twinkling garlands and a shimmering giant snowflake from which hang a flurry of smaller snowflakes.

As you explore the ground floor, the first few rooms introduce you to the story of The Nutcracker before you walk through a giant Christmas tree in the Stone Gallery to another world. Here, heroes Clara, the Nutcracker and his soldiers are shown fighting the evil Mouse King and his fiendish army of rodents.

After defeating the Mouse King, you'll follow Clara and The Nutcracker (now transformed into a prince) as they journey together through magical lands. Entering the Saloon, you'll encounter elegant figurines depicting famous dances from across the globe, while on the Christmas tree you might spot tiny ballerinas with petal tutus from the ballet's Waltz of the Flowers.

In the Dining Parlour, you arrive in the Sugar Plum Fairy's Land of Sweets where a sumptuous banquet is laid out on the table. You'll find two sweetie thrones here where you're welcome to pause for a selfie before continuing to the story's happy ending in the ante-chapel. Before you leave, you're welcome to visit the second-hand bookshop at the end of the corridor for a leisurely browse. House open 11am-3pm, subject to volunteer availability.

The magic continues in the gardens, open 10am-4pm, where ballerinas, candy canes and gingerbread men can be spotted along the edges of borders and hedges and you'll find the North Lawn is populated with nutcracker soldiers. For an outdoor photo opportunity, look out for an elegant swan boat at the bottom of the Lime Avenue.