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A girl and a boy looking at a Christmas tree, covered in lights at Ickworth in Suffolk.
Magical Christmas days out in Sussex | © National Trust Images/Rob Stothard

Christmas in Sussex

We're bringing festive traditions to life at our country houses, atmospheric gardens and wintry countryside in Sussex this Christmas 2025.

Top Christmas days out in Sussex

A Fairytale Christmas at Nymans 

22 Nov - 4 Jan. Join us for A Fairytale Christmas at Nymans this winter. In the garden, a Christmas family adventure trail awaits, leading you through classic fairytales. Find Aladdin’s cave of treasures, play a game with Red Riding Hood’s basket of treats and take a seat in Cinderella’s carriage. Created by Tin Shed scenery, the makers of last year’s magical Narnia-inspired garden trail. Delve deeper into a land of make-believe inside the house, where rooms are transformed with fairytale scenes and Christmas trees.

The Garden Hall decorated for Christmas

All I Want for Christmas at Standen 

16 Nov – 5 Jan. The Arts and Crafts style rooms at Standen are dressed with softly lit Christmas trees and decorations inspired by the Beale family's wishes for Christmas. During 'Twilight Lates' weekends in December, see the house atmospherically lit for Christmas. From 16th November see the Standen Christmas tree in the Courtyard and for families, don't miss our fun festive event - 'Finding Father Christmas' with theatre company This is my Theatre.

A girl looking at a festive festoon at Cragside, Northumberland

Christmas at Petworth House 

Step into a Christmas Enchantment - a midwinter journey through Petworth House. Inspired by the Winter Solstice and the shifting rhythms of nature, the grand state rooms transform into a dreamlike world of overgrown wonder.

Christmas Tree in the Somerset Room at Petworth House, West Sussex

Christmas and New Year at Sheffield Park and Garden 

Visit Sheffield Park and Garden this Christmas for a magical The Elf on the Shelf® Christmas trail! Discover twelve beautiful hand-painted elf sculptures around the garden as you take in the glorious wintry scenes and delight in festive games and activities for all the family. Warm up with a hot chocolate and mince pie at our festive food stalls and make magical Christmas memories.

The Elf on the Shelf® elves with sled in snowy scene
House reflected in the mill pond at Bateman's, East Sussex

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Sussex is a place of iconic coastline, gardens, literary greats, rolling South Downs, vast art collections and a castle.

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