Celebrate Christmas with the National Trust in Sussex

Step into beautifully decorated historic houses, sparkling with Christmas trees, or head outdoors for enchanting family trails with fun life-size sculptures. It’s the perfect way to create unforgettable festive memories.

Richard Grudzinski, Experiences Curator at the National Trust, shared: "This year, we’re offering visitors a truly special Christmas experience. From the charm of Christmases past in our grand houses at Petworth House, Standen and Nymans, to playful winter adventures in our gardens at Nymans and Sheffield Park and Garden - come along and feel really festive at ours."

Warm up with festive foodie treats in National Trust cafés and browse for unique gifts that make Christmas shopping a breeze. Here’s a look at some of the best Christmas events happening near you. All open daily except 24 & 25 December. Find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk/sussex

A Fairytale Christmas at Nymans, 22 Nov – 4 Jan. It's a Fairytale Christmas at Nymans this winter. A Christmas family adventure trail awaits in the garden, 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. Delve deeper into a land of make-believe inside the house, where rooms are transformed with fairytale scenes and Christmas trees. Free with usual admission

The Elf on the Shelf® at Sheffield Park and Garden, 29 Nov – 11 Jan. Visit Sheffield Park and Garden this Christmas for The Elf on the Shelf ® Christmas trail. Discover twelve hand-painted 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 festive food stalls and make magical Christmas memories. Free with normal admission

All I want for Christmas at Standen, 22 Nov – 4 Jan. Make a festive visit to this imaginatively decorated Arts and Crafts home which is atmospherically lit and filled with twinkling lights and Christmas trees. Be inspired by the centrepiece Christmas tree in the Hall, festooned and sumptuously decorated, ready for a family Christmas. Have a go at the family 'Jolly Holly' trail, with a prize at the end (£4.75). The centrepiece Courtyard Christmas tree is decorated this year by local schools, staff and volunteers. The Twilight evening visits are magical (please check dates) where you'll hear local choirs sing around the Christmas tree. Free with usual admission

A Christmas Enchantment at Petworth House, 29 Nov - 4 Jan. Step into a Christmas Enchantment at Petworth House - a midwinter journey inspired by the Winter Solstice and the shifting rhythms of nature. The grand state rooms are transformed into a dreamlike world where woodland animals roam through theatrical spaces filled with trees and winter sparkle. Look out for celestial shooting stars and a mid-winter banquet. On set dates there are late openings, festive workshops, choirs and a Christmas makers market.

Brambly Hedge: the much-loved world of Jill Barklem’s Brambly Hedge comes to Petworth this Christmas, with a recreation of the Toadflax family’s home, filled with miniature rooms and tiny furniture. In the historic kitchens there are cosy Brambly Hedge-inspired scenes of festive preparation. Free with usual admission.

Christmas with the James’s at Lamb House, 24 Nov – 22 Dec (closed Thursdays). Return to 1900 and experience the warmth of an American Christmas at Lamb House, once home to celebrated author Henry James. This elegant Georgian house is transformed with New England-inspired decorations, lush greenery, and handcrafted festive touches. Discover an enchanting art installation by Oaks Specialist College and enjoy photo-worthy moments throughout the house.

Join Peggy’s Peppermint Pig Trail: enjoy a delightful family activity where children search for hidden peppermint pigs (non-edible, but full of fun) left by Henry’s mischievous niece. Pick up a map at reception and explore every nook to find them all. Lamb House is closed 3–23 Nov for preparations and reopens for Christmas from 24 Nov to 22 Dec. No booking required. Free with normal admission.

Christmas at Bodiam Castle, 29 Nov – 4 Jan. Step into a medieval winter wonderland at Bodiam Castle, where festive magic meets ancient stone walls. Twinkling lights illuminate the tower rooms, and Father Christmas’s sleigh awaits in the courtyard, perfect for dressing up and snapping a seasonal photo. Children can write letters to Father Christmas in the cosy grotto and enjoy Christmas storytelling in a grotto-style tower room with tales of dragons, knights, and festive cheer.

Follow the Naughty Elf Christmas Trail (£2), where little ones help Father Christmas find the presents scattered around the castle. Then warm up with a festive lunch or mince pie in the Wharf Tea-room and browse the shop for gifts from snuggly throws to inspiring cookbooks. Enjoy crisp winter walks around the moat and take in sweeping views of the Rother Valley. Free with normal admission, family trail £2 per child.

The Jungle Book Christmas at Bateman’s, 15 Nov – 4 Jan. Celebrate the festive season where Rudyard Kipling enjoyed time with his family, as Bateman’s transforms into a magical Jungle Book Christmas. Explore the beautifully decorated rooms where Mowgli’s animal friends swing, leap, and hide among garlands and greenery in a joyful tribute to Kipling’s beloved tale.

Outside, join the Jungle Book Christmas Spotter Trail (£2), a fun family adventure through the gardens to match hidden presents with the right characters, and claim a small prize at the end.

Warm up with seasonal treats in the Mulberry Tea-room and browse the Oast House shop for festive gifts, books, and stocking fillers. Then pull on your boots for a winter walk through Kipling’s estate, where bare trees and frosty paths reveal the garden’s sculptural beauty and hidden wildlife. Free with normal admission, family trail £2 per child.

All open daily except 24 & 25 December. Find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk/sussex