Christmas at Charlecote Park

Planning your visit: Everything you need to know

• When is the best time to visit?

  Christmas can be a busy time at Charlecote Park, especially during the holidays. Mornings tend to be busier than afternoons, but we recommend arriving early on busy days to get a House ticket.

  If you have the flexibility, a weekday visit is generally quieter than a weekend, even during school holidays. If you can only visit over the weekend, Saturdays are usually less busy than Sundays. As Christmas is very popular, you may need to queue to view the decorations inside the house.

• Do I need to book anything?

  No, there is no booking available. However, to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all visitors during the festive season, we will be operating a timed ticket system for House visits only to avoid overcrowding on busy days.

  How to get a ticket on the day: To visit the bedecked House, it’s essential to pick up a timed ticket from the Visitor Reception upon arrival. These tickets apply only to the house and do not apply to the park, gardens or family trail. No pre-booking is required or available. The house opens at 11am, with the last entry at 3pm. The Visitor Welcome team will assign you the next available time slot on arrival at Visitor Reception, which you hand in to the House team when it’s your time slot to enter the house.

  Visiting the house: Please arrive at the house entrance within the half-hour time slot stated on your ticket, as we are unable to accommodate early or late arrivals. This helps us to ensure a smooth flow of visitors and avoid congestion or delays for others.

• Is there a free car park available?

  There is a free car park available, with Blue Badge car park spaces available in the front row of the main car park.

  Parking spaces are limited, so there may be a short wait for spaces on busiest days. Please check our website or social media before travelling.

  If you'd like to come to Charlecote Park car-free, please find more information here.

• Are there accessible routes?

  The Christmas offer will be mostly accessible to those with mobility needs. Five bedecked rooms are on the ground floor (accessible with a small ramp), and another two upstairs rooms are open to the public for Christmas but only accessible through a staircase with 21 steps.

  The decorated gardens will be accessible through gravel paths, and the outbuildings are all on the ground floor (although you might have to request a ramp to access some buildings – please ask any staff member around and they will be happy to help and guide you).

  Buggies/pushchairs welcome in the gardens, but not in the House – please be prepared to leave these outside if going inside. You can borrow a wheelchair for free or a hip strap for babies.

  Ramped or level entrances into the House, Visitor Reception, cafés and shops. Gently-sloping areas and wide pathways around much of the grounds, which can be uneven and muddy in places during winter: sturdy footwear is recommended. Volunteer-driven mobility buggy service available on certain days.

  
  An all-terrain mobility vehicle can be hired for free – we strongly recommend booking it prior as soon as you know when you will be visiting. More information on booking trampers here. Wheelchairs and rollators can also be booked in advance or borrowed on the day.

  Accessible toilets can be found near the Gatehouse (300 yards from the Visitor Reception).

  Please read this page for more information about accessibility, or get in touch with the property should you wish to discuss access arrangements.

• Where can we eat?

  Drinks, snacks and light lunches with festive and family-friendly options are available from our two foot outlets, just two minutes away from the House.

  The Orangery Restaurant is perfect for a sit-down meal, while the Wood Yard Café is usually prefered by families.

  At least one food outlet is open from 9:30am to 4pm. They are busiest between 11am and 2pm, so you may need to queue at these peak times on weekends and holiday days. If you’re looking to get a quick bite to take away, we recommend popping in before/after peak lunch hour to avoid the crowds.

• Can I bring my dog?

  You are welcome to bring you dog. However, please note that dogs are not allowed inside or in certain areas of the grounds. To find out where, please click here.

• Is Charlecote Park open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?

  No, Charlecote Park will be closed on 24 and 25 December (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), to give staff and volunteers time to rest and enjoy the festivities after a very busy year! We will reopen on 26 December (Boxing Day) and will remain open for the rest of the Christmas holiday until 3 January (included).