Christmas at Cragside

A decorative felt mouse is peeping out from a pile of Christmas crackers. The mouse is wearing glasses in a green, red and white, striped jumper. — Enjoy a day out with the whole family this Christmas | © The House of Hues

The House may be closed this winter but there's still lots of festive fun to be had at Cragside this Christmas.

Go on an adventure through the merry maze, help us find the mischievous mice, make a Christmas decoration to take home and add your hopes and dreams for 2024 to the wish tree.

Cragside's Christmas closures

Cragside is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day only. Our usual opening times are 11am-3pm (last admission 2pm). Please check the Important Notice banner on the website before travel, in case of unexpected closures due to bad weather.

Merry Maze

Next to Tumbleton Lake
Saturday 2 December – Monday 1 January
11am-3pm, self-led, free
Follow the twists and turns or this merry maze. Look out for the quiz questions as different junctions to help guide you to its centre where you’ll find jolly selfie props to capture the perfect festive photo.

Mischievous Mice

Around the visitor centre
Saturday 2 December – Monday 1 January
Self-led, FREE
Some of our Christmas mice helpers are causing mischief at Cragside. We’ve had reports of two climbing the tree in the stables, and one using the jelly in the tea rooms as a trampoline! Keep a look out for them around the visitor centre. Can you help us find them?

Festive decoration making

The Stables at the visitor centre
Saturday 2 and Sunday 3, Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 December.
23 December to 1 January
11am-3pm, self-led, free
Families can make a simple wooden decoration to take home this Christmas. Every year you can add it to your tree to remind you of your visit at Cragside. All materials provided.

Wish upon a star

The Stables at the visitor centre
Saturday 2 December – Monday 1 January
11am-3pm, self-led, free
Help us decorate the Wish Tree in the Stables this December. Write your hopes and dreams for 2024 on one of the tags provided and share it with others by adding it to the branches of the tree.

Alnwick Symphonic Woodwind Ensemble

Saturday 9 December, 12.30pm
Under the tree at the visitor centre
We are delighted to welcome musicians from the Alnwick Symphony Woodwind Ensemble for a short performance of Christmas tunes and festive favourites.

Stretch your legs on a winter walk

Blow away the Christmas cobwebs on a winter walk at Cragside. You can choose from seven waymarked walks. With gentle strolls around the lakes and challenging hikes to the top of the grounds, there's a walk for everyone. Visit the map room at the visitor centre to choose your walk or download a route from the website here.

A girl in a grey top swooping down a tunnel slide head-first at Cragside. She has reach the bottom and is laughing.

Article

Family fun at Cragside

Enjoy a jam-packed day with the kids on your visit to Cragside. There is lots to see, do and explore, for a fun-filled day out.

A couple are walking two dogs between the trees in the Pinetum at Cragside. The autumn sunshine looks golden as it streams through the trees. The couple are in bobble hats and light jackets.

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Things to do outdoors at Cragside

Whether you’re looking for a peaceful stroll or a challenging hike, there is a waymarked walk for everyone at Cragside. A network of 40-miles of footpaths will take you under the canopy of towering trees, across timber bridges, between rugged rocks, along the banks of sparkling lakes and under arches of rhododendron.