Christmas at Cragside
Cragside is a Guinness World Record holder! Experience the World's Tallest Bedded Christmas Tree. The Giant Redwood on the grounds has been festooned in over 1300 lights and stands at a whopping 44.7 metres tall. Step into a playful Servants’ Ball inspired by a real-life party for staff in 1894. Festive fun, colourful chaos, and seasonal sparkle await.
The World's Tallest Bedded Christmas Tree
Until Sunday 4 January
We have a big surprise! Cragside is a Guinness World Record breaker. We proudly introduce the World's Tallest Bedded Christmas Tree.
We're kick-starting Christmas party celebrations outdoors with a huge living Christmas tree. The Giant Redwood Wellingtonia was offiicially measured at a whopping 44.7 metres tall - that's well over twice the height of the Angel of the North. It's been decked out in 1320 multi-coloured bulbs (almost 800 metres of lights) creating a dazzling festive showstopper on the edge of the Rock Garden, near the House.
With late-evening openings on selected dates, visitors can experience the magic of the tree illuminated against the winter sky until 5pm.
A giant thank you
Presenting the World's Tallest Bedded Christmas Tree would not be possible without help from supporters.
Lighting Legends have supplied Cragside with the over 2000 metres of lights and 4000 bulbs to dress the enormous Giant Redwood Wellingtonia and surrounding grounds.
A1 Access Limited have provided us with the use of a 51 metre cherry-picker to help us reach the top of the tree which is in excess of 44 metres.
Stihl and Gustharts have provided us with the portable power packs needed to light the tree efficiently and sustainably throughout the festive season.
The Servants’ Ball at Cragside House
Until Sunday 4 January
While the Armstrong family are away, the servants are at play and throwing a mischievous party. It’s a revelrous rebellion of ribbons and over-sized decorations, with a sprinkle of rule-breaking.
With the servants in charge, the House is in colourful, festive chaos, and nothing is quite as it should be. Staff have abandoned their tasks to don their finest attire, in readiness of an evening of energetic dancing, mingling - and maybe even a touch of romance.
Expect the unexpected, embrace the topsy-turvy and prepare to be joyfully immersed in a creative Christmas spectacular inspired by a real-life Servants’ Ball at Cragside in 1894.
Late Evening Opening Dates
Experience Cragside as this sun begins to set on selected dates this Christmas.
Last admission to Cragside's estate is 1 hour before closing. See time is brackets on selected dates below.
Wednesday 17 December, 11am-4pm (last entry 3pm)
Thursday 18 December, 11am-4pm (last entry 3pm)
Friday 19 December, 11am-4pm (last entry 3pm)
Saturday 20 December, 11am-5pm (last entry 4pm)
Sunday 21 December, 11am-5pm (last entry 4pm)
Monday 22 December, 11am-5pm (last entry 4pm)
Tuesday 23 December, 11am-5pm (lsdt entry 4pm)
Cragside will close early on Christmas Eve
Cragside is closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Saturday 27 December, 11am-5pm (last entry 4pm)
Sunday 28 December, 11am-5pm (last entry 4pm)
Monday 29 December, 11am-5pm (last entry 4pm)
Tuesday 30 December, 11am-5pm (last entry 4pm)
Festive 5-miler
Until Sunday 4 January
Download the map and directions
Shake off the Christmas cobwebs on a refreshing winter walk through the grounds. This 5-mile waymarked walk winds along the banks of frost covered lakes and beneath towering trees as your follow the route up and down the hillside.
If you're taking on this mighty hike on a weekend or during the school holidays you can stop by for a quick refuel at Crozier's kiosk.
Don’t forget to strike a pose at the selfie station to celebrate your achievement. View the map in the visitor centre before you set off or pre-download the map with directions here.
Eat, shop and be merry
The tea room, visitor centre
The Still Room, between the archways at the House
Shop, visitor centre
Get into the Christmas spirit at the tea room. Elevate your hot chocolate with a splash of mince pie syrup and a slice of cinnamon-scented cake on the side. You could even tuck into a heart-warming turkey sandwich with all the trimmings. During the late opening evenings, the tea room at the visitor centre will be serving pizza slices from 3.00-4.30pm.
The Still Room, between the arches of the House, will be serving heart-warming delights including spiced mulled-wine and tasty pasties.
Tick off everyone on your Christmas gift list at the shop. The shelves are bursting with cosy homewares, stylish jewellery and accessories, tasty treats, books and toys. With festive cards and beautiful gift paper, you’ll have your Christmas wrapped up in no time.
FAQs: The Servants' Ball, Cragside House
FAQs: The World's Tallest Bedded Christmas Tree
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Bring the kids to Cragside for a big day of adventures. Climb to dizzy heights at the play area and let their imagination run wild at den building. With miles of paths and twists and turns to discover, the grounds will feel like a giant maze for nature explorers. Follow a waymarked walk where you'll uncover routes along lakesides, stone steps to climb, paths through rocky caverns, giant trees and spring wildlife.
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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.
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Explore the ultimate landscaped garden in Northumberland. With spectacular vision, Victorians William and Margaret Armstrong transformed the grounds from a bare moorside into a fantasy mountain landscape. Created for beauty and function you’ll discover towering trees, overflowing flower beds, trickling burns, dramatic water cascades and engineered lakes that were created to harness the power of water.
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