Enjoy a festive break in Shakespeare’s England
Enjoy a festive break in Shakespeare’s England with a whole host of seasonal activities including Carol concerts, candlelit tours, craft fairs, traditional Wassails, Christmas markets, a Royal Shakespeare Company performance of The Christmas Truce and the chance to see the spectacular Shakespeare Birthplace lightshow. Shakespeare’s England has all the magical ingredients you need for a short break this Christmas.
Christmas markets will return to Bridge Street in Stratford-upon-Avon from Thursday 20 November (when the lights are switched on) to Thursday 18 December and traditional Sunday Christmas Markets on Waterside from 23 November to 21 December. Visit the Shipston on-Stour Victorian evening on Friday 5 December from 5.45pm - 8pm. The lights are switched on in Royal Leamington Spa on 16 November and in Kenilworth on 28 November. Visit Yuletide Fayres in Leamington every Sunday from 16 November to 21 December. The popular Warwick Victorian Christmas Evening featuring craft stalls and traditional entertainment is on Thursday 27 November when the lights are switched on.
See a performance of The Christmas Truce by the Royal Shakespeare Company from 29 November – 31 January at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The play is inspired by the true Christmas story in 1914 when soldiers along the Western Front left their trenches on Christmas Eve to meet their enemies in No Man’s Land to talk, exchange gifts and play football.
Experience Christmas at the Shakespeare Houses and discover how Christmas has been celebrated across four centuries. From 6 December - 6 January experience a Tudor tavern at Shakespeare’s Birthplace, play traditional Victorian parlour games at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, discover more about the Christmas truce during World War One at Hall’s Croft, and see a lavish Jacobean festive feast at Harvard House. The spectacular Birthplace Lightshow returns to delight spectators and visitors premiering on Thursday 27 November at 5.30pm, 6.00pm, 6.30pm and 7.00pm. It will then be shown every evening from Friday 28 November until Sunday 14 December at 4.30pm, 5.00pm, 5.30pm and 6.00pm.
Warwick Castle will transform into a winter wonderland with festive treats including tours by torchlight, breakfast with Santa, mediaeval banquets, lunches and suppers. The Castle will be decked in festive splendour with the traditional 25-feet-high Christmas tree in the Great Hall. Breakfast with Santa also includes party games, Christmas carols & present and costs £29.50 on 6, 7, 13 & 14 December and £32.50 from 20 - 24 December, including car parking and Castle day entry. Christmas Lunch is served on 6, 7, 13 & 14 December and from 20 - 24 December, from £37 per adult, £30 for under-12s, and £7 for under-4s. Winter Torch-lit Tours takes place on 7, 14 & 21 December. Price is £19 per adult including a hot turkey roll and mince pie with mulled wine, or fruit punch.
Enjoy a Ragley Christmas Snowball themed party in the magnificent splendour of the stately home. Lose yourself in sparkling crystals, drifting snow and twinkling lights. Indulge in the best of food and entertainment and partying in luxurious surroundings. Party nights include music, drinks reception, 3-course meal plus dancing and cost £85 per person.
Visit Compton Verney for a Folk Art inspired celebration of winter with music, storytelling of traditional fairy tales and seasonal craft activities on 6, 7, 13 & 14 December. On the 14 December, to end their 10th anniversary celebrations, the Coventry Mummers will perform along with a fireworks display.
See a Christmas production of Peter Pan at The Dream Factory in Warwick from 18 December to 4 January. The play will have all the hallmarks of a first class Christmas treat with flying, adventure, swashbuckling sword fights, music, dancing, wonderful characters and plenty of fairy dust! Tickets cost £13 standard, £8 concessions
Make tree decorations and crafts to take home and decorate the tree at Charlecote Park as it celebrates a Victorian Christmas on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21 December. The team will be in period costume and preparing various Christmas dishes in the Victorian Kitchen plus storytelling sessions will take place during the day. Father Christmas will also be dropping in. Normal admission rates apply with a £4 charge to meet Father Christmas plus gift.
Children can take part in the 12 Days of Christmas Trail at the Heritage Motor Centre and help Martin the Mechanic collect his tokens by finding the cars he has worked on. Family craft activities take place until 2 January to make automotive inspired thank you cards.
Visit Kenilworth Castle’s Christmas weekend on 13 & 14 December. Enjoy wintry tales from the story-teller, make your own yuletide treats with the toymakers and listen to festive music. The castle will be ‘decking the halls’, serving mulled wine and mince pies and offering traditional gifts and mead tasting in the shop. There will even be the chance to enjoy an audience with Father Christmas in the castle gatehouse. Tickets: Family £24.40 / Adult £9.30 / Child £5.60.
Help get Hanbury Hall ready for Christmas from 15 November – 5 December by making decorations that will be used around the property. Stir the Christmas pudding mix on 23 November and see the property ‘get dressed’ for Christmas from 1 December. Father Christmas will be there each weekend from 6 – 21 December (cost £3.50 per child) along with children’s Christmas activities. Enjoy lunches in the servants hall tea-room on 16 December and in Chambers from 17 – 19 December. Tickets cost £35 per person. Soak up the festive atmosphere with an atmospheric Carol concert in the Main Hall on 19 & 20 December. Tickets cost £14.50 and must also be pre-booked.
Enjoy festive food at Packwood House, admire the decorated rooms in the house or stock up on gifts in the shop. Stroll around the gardens or a walk in the wider estate, followed by a warming drink or a bowl of soup in the restaurant. The Warwickshire Christmas Fair takes place on 13 & 14 December when you can browse the gift, food and craft stalls, enjoy Christmas lunch or mince pies and hear Carols from local choirs and bands.
Sit by the fire to hear traditional Christmas stories at Baddesley Clinton. The house will be decorated for a Victorian Christmas with cards and recipes on display. Families can create a Victorian postcard or dress up for a Victorian style photograph. House tours take place on 3, 4, 5, 17, 18 & 19 December followed by supper and a glass of wine. Tickets cost £25.
Meet a traditional green Father Christmas and admire handmade, vintage style decorations at Coughton Court. The Winter Festival takes place from 22 – 30 November when you can see the house decorated, eat Christmas lunch and at weekends enjoy a Christmas Market in the Stableyard. Join the traditional Christmas Wassail on 6 & 7 December with stories and carols from Birmingham’s Crescent Theatre. Tickets cost adult £26.25 & child £10.50.
Celebrate the festive season at Upton House & Gardens from Friday - Monday in December. Wander around the Christmas Market on 6 & 7 December and find the perfect presents for friends and family. Visit Father Christmas at weekends in December and take part in Christmas Craft activities. £4 per child. Normal admission prices apply.
Hill Close Gardens in Warwick is celebrating the Spirit of Christmas with Santa’s summerhouse trail on 7 December from 2 - 5pm. Enjoy Christmas themed events in the summerhouses and the trail will end with Santa’s grotto. Seasonal entertainment, gift stalls plus food and drink will be available. Entry is £4 per child and £1.50 per adult.
Adults can learn how to make a wreath on Saturday 6 December in the Craft Studio at Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum. Have fun experimenting and playing with textiles, clay or metal to embellish a fir based wreath and bring your own unique and individual style to make an original decorative item. Cost is £15 per person.
Bicester Village is offering an unforgettable Christmas shopping experience and will undergo a magical transformation from a charming village style setting to an enchanted winter wonderland. On Thursday 23 October celebrate the launch of its ‘Step Into The Story’ Christmas campaign and meet fashion illustrator and campaign ambassador, Katie Rodgers who will be offering illustration workshops.
Warm up for New Year’s Eve at Warwick Race-course for a thrilling afternoon of horse-racing, live music plus free children’s entertainment. Tickets cost from £18 in advance.
Enjoy a relaxing retreat for two to celebrate New Year at the Welcombe Hotel, Spa & Golf Club. The package includes afternoon tea, Spa facilities, 3-course dinner, full English breakfast, Champagne and canapé reception followed by a 6-course Gala Dinner with dancing. Cost is £315 for 2 nights per person.
Listen to the sounds of jazz over a festive brunch at The Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon on 14 & 26 December for £29.50 per person. At Mallory Court Hotel listen to Carols and enjoy a 3-course supper on 24 December with The Boys and Men’s Choir for £35 per person. Get together for the ‘Ladies that Lunch’ event at The Kings Hotel in Chipping Campden on 2 December and learn how to make the perfect festive centre piece for your Christmas table. Includes a cocktail and 2-course lunch with wine for £22.50 per person.
Enjoy a 20's themed traditional Christmas at Ettington Park. Arrive on Christmas Eve and depart on 27 December. Prices start from £220 per person per night.
Take part in a Christmas sing-along around the piano at the Church Street Townhouse. Entertainer Andrew James will sing favourite Christmas classics on 9, 16 & 24 December.
Sit down for Christmas lunch at The Bell at Alderminster and enjoy a Kir & Canapé reception, 4-course lunch and mini mince pies with coffee. Spend New Year’s Eve enjoying a Champagne reception, dinner, live vocals and dancing! Dress to impress.
On Tuesday 23 December, enjoy a late night party at The One Elm. Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Elm’s Dinner party for a truly memorable end to 2014. Enjoy a 4-course meal for £45 per person. The New Year’s Day Recovery Session starts at noon!
Sit down to a relaxing Boxing Day lunch at The Best Western Grosvenor in Stratford-upon-Avon. Eat from the carvery in the Garden Room Restaurant with crackers and party novelties. £27.50 per person or £13.50 per child.
Enjoy a Spa and party night at the Stratford Manor with a treatment, lunch, use of the Health Club and Spa, accommodation and breakfast. Prices from £116 per person. Book a 2 or 3 night break at The Stratford from £296 per guest. Enjoy Bucks Fizz whilst listening to a choir on arrival. The break also includes dinner, bed and breakfast, 4 course Christmas Day lunch plus a quiz, traditional and modern games, visit from Santa and singing.
Stay at The Falcon Hotel and listen to historian Keith Proud talk about the history of the Falcon and William Shakespeare. Enjoy a Christmas Day lunch in a traditional setting with log fires burning. Cost is £60 per adult & £25 per child.
Enjoy Sunday lunch on 7, 14 & 21 December with Santa at the Alveston Manor . Cost is £26 per adult, £14 per child. Includes a complimentary family swim before the meal.
Have a private party at the Riverside overlooking the River Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon. Festive packages include a drinks reception with unlimited wine and beer, 3-course dinner with half a bottle of wine for £59 per person.
Experience the grandeur of 15th century Venice at a black tie Masquerade Ball at Walton Hall on Friday 5 December. Conceal your identity with a Venetian mask for a Champagne and canapé reception followed by a 5-course dinner with half a bottle of wine and dance the night away to a live band and disco. Cost is £59.50 per person.
Enjoy Christmas Party Nights at the Glebe Hotel in Barford on 6, 12, 19 & 20 December with a 3-course meal and disco for just £29.95 each person. Special accommodation rates are also available.
Stave off the January Blues with a party at the Billesley Manor throughout January. Includes a 3-course meal, half a bottle of wine, and dancing for just £24.95 per person.
For more information and holiday ideas in Shakespeare’s England please visit the official website at shakespeares-england.co.uk.
