Skip to content
back to Mompesson House

Christmas at Mompesson House

A Christmas tree and foliage in the Large Drawing Room
A Christmas tree and foliage in the Large Drawing Room at Mompesson House, Wiltshire | © National Trust Images/Steve Haywood Photography

We're delighted to welcome you to the story of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King at Mompesson House. Christmas at Mompesson starts on Friday 20 November and runs until Tuesday 22 December, Friday - Tuesday, 11am-3.30pm (last entry at 3pm).

What can you expect from Christmas at Mompesson this year? 

Join us for a magical Christmas and discover the story of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. 

We're going back in time to 1816, when Ernst Hoffmann wrote The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the Regency fairytale that became a famous ballet. Explore each room as we meet Marie, the hero of our story, and watch her battle the Mouse King and discover magical lands with the Nutcracker. Enjoy Regency decorations with that sprinkle of Mompesson magic. 

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a story for all ages and all times. It's a tale of a young girl choosing her own future and going against society's rules. Maybe most importantly, it's a story of magical toys, gingerbread houses and coffee-making princesses. 

Look forward to abundant seasonal greenery throughout the house. Handmade mice will take over the Large Drawing Room. Find a magical forest upstairs in the Green Room and watch out for Drosselmeier the magician in his owl form, perching on a clock.   

Christmas Fun for Families

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a fairytale that will delight visitors of all ages.

Pick up a spotter trail in the Entrance Hall and see what you can find around the house. Spot the mice in the Large Drawing Room and the nutcrackers dotted around the house. 

Upstairs, the Green Room, will be transformed into a forest scene where you can vote with paper baubles for the mice or the toy soldiers. 

There will be six rooms to explore, each one with something different to look forward to. 

Mother and baby looking at a Christmas tree at Mompesson House, Wiltshire
Mother and baby exploring Christmas at Mompesson House, Wiltshire | © National Trust Images/Trevor Ray Hart

Eating and shopping at Mompesson this Christmas

The tea-room and second-hand bookshop will be open as usual at Mompesson this Christmas.  

After exploring the house, enjoy a hot drink and a festive treat in the tea-room. Light lunches are available including warming soup and toasted sandwiches.

Pop into the festively decorated second-hand bookshop for Christmas gifts for family and friends. Why not try a Blind Date with a Book as an easy stocking filler.

Accessibility 

There is seating available throughout the house for visitors.

Christmas at Mompesson includes two of the rooms upstairs and the Library, which has a step to get into the room. A video of these rooms will be available in the Entrance Hall. 

Our Studio bookshop has seating and is a quiet zone. We also have children's ear defenders available to borrow in the Entrance Hall.

A view of Mompesson House from the garden, with purple alliums in the foreground, in Salisbury, Wiltshire

Discover more at Mompesson House

Find out when Mompesson House is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.

Plan your visit

You might also be interested in

Christmas in Wiltshire 

Discover how the houses and gardens in Wiltshire were transformed for Christmas in 2025. Check back nearer the time for 2026 plans.

Image shows part of the illuminated Christmas trail at Stourhead, with a bridge lit up in pink-purple light and lights floating in the water. The house illuminated in the distance

Things to see and do at Mompesson House 

Step inside the 18th-century town house, wander through the atmospheric rooms and discover a tranquil walled garden in the heart of Salisbury’s historic Cathedral Close. Take a moment to relax and treat yourself in the peaceful tea-room.

Close view of Charles Mompesson's monogram in the wrought-iron gates at the front of Mompesson House

Family-friendly things to do at Mompesson House 

Entertain the whole family this summer at Mompesson House. Discover unique stories in the house, go on an adventure in the garden and stop for a bite to eat in the tea-room.

A woman and child look at the border in the garden of Mompesson House. She is wearing a dark blue dress and he has light hair and is wearing a light blue top. He is around five.

Eating and shopping at Mompesson 

Discover our summerhouse tea-room and second-hand bookshop.

Young girl drinking a large mug of hot chocolate.

Ceremonies and events at Mompesson House 

Mompesson House, with its city-centre location and picturesque 18th-century townhouse, is the ideal setting for your ceremony or special event.

A bride and groom looking at each other under a veil

Sign up to hear more from the National Trust

By sharing your email address you’re agreeing to receive marketing emails from the National Trust and confirm you’re 18 years old or over. Please see our for more information on how we look after your personal data.