Yule at Sutton Hoo

Yule comes to the High Hall

Weekends from 25-26 November, 26 December to January 1 and 6-7 January 2024 | 10am-4pm | Free*

Immerse yourself in the High Hall exhibition and find out how the people buried at Sutton Hoo’s Royal Burial Ground might have celebrated this time of year.

Discover how the objects discovered at Sutton Hoo may have linked with Yule traditions, see what the feasting table may have looked like and share your own traditions on our special Yule tree.

Pick up a free family trail along the way.

What did Christmas mean to the Anglo-Saxons?

In the Anglo-Saxon period the days around the winter solstice are believed to have been known as Géola (Yule). The Yule feast was one of the key feasts of the year. Whereas now the winter solstice commonly falls on 21 or 22 December, under the Julian calendar it fell on 25 December.

The actual customs of yule are very similar to many of the customs we still celebrate over this festive period. The Anglo-Saxon celebration of Yule is believed to have involved decoration, feasting, drinking and paying homage to ancestors.

Tranmer House at Christmas

Weekends from 25-26 November, 26 December to January 1 and 6-7 January 2024 | 10am-4pm | Free*

Tranmer House will be decorated for the festive season. Head into the sitting room to see how Sutton Hoo archaeologists celebrated in the 1980s and spot the themed decorations created by our Busy Bees volunteer team. There will also be plenty of family friendly activities to get involved in too!

*Normal admission charges apply, free for National Trust members.

Family-friendly winter events

Yule Feast Quest family trail
Daily (closed 24-25 December) from 25 November to
7 January 2024 | 10am to 4pm | Free*

Edwin, the young Anglo-Saxon warrior, is very excited. It is nearly Yuletide and he has been asked to gather all the things that the village will need for the Yule feast. He has a very long list of things to find, including some special rune letters. Can you help him on his quest?

Winter lantern walk
Daily (closed 24-25 December) from 25 November to
7 January 2024 | 10am to 4pm | Free*

Head out on the path to the Royal Burial Ground to discover special lanterns made by welding and fabrication students at Suffolk New College. They have taken inspiration from Anglo-Saxon designs and patterns, which means that items made by metalworkers 1,400 years ago are still inspiring the makers of today.

Winter estate walks
Daily (closed 24-25 December) from 25 November to
7 January 2023 | 10am to 4pm | Free

The Sutton Hoo landscape and adventure playground is also open daily (excluding the 24 and 25 December) from 10am – 4pm, so strap on your boots, wrap up warm and head out on an adventure.

Keepers’ Café, next to Tranmer House, is also open Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.