Celebrate a Tudor Christmas at Ightham Mote
This festive season, Ightham Mote invites visitors to step back in time with a Tudor Christmas celebration from November 23 to January 5. The 700-year-old moated manor will glow with Tudor décor, roaring fires, and festive music. With family-friendly activities, authentic carols in the courtyard, and crafting workshops, it’s a magical way to experience Christmas as it was during the reign of England’s most notorious dynasty.
The celebration kicks off with a Christmas Shopping Weekend (November 23 – 24), where historical musicians Green Matthews will perform Tudor carols while visitors shop for unique gifts from local artisans. Children can enjoy the “Mice at the Mote” trail, a festive hide-and-seek activity around the grounds, along with dress-up and Tudor-themed crafts on December 8 and 14.
History lovers can attend an author talk by Melita Thomas on November 28, exploring the intriguing ties between Ightham Mote’s Richard Clement and the Tudor Grey family. Craft enthusiasts can join hands-on workshops in wreath-making, ceramic painting, and book art to create their own Christmas decorations.
There will be frequent Carols in the Courtyard between December 1 and December 21, featuring local choirs, including the Plaxtol Singers and Tonbridge Rock Choir, as well as a unique performance by the British Sign Language Choir. Visit during the late-night openings on 6, 13, and 20 December to see Ightham Mote lit but twinkling lights, flickering candles and a crackling fireplace. For those seeking fresh air, Winter Dawn Walks on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day combine scenic estate walks with a hearty English breakfast.
On December 15 and 22, enjoy a FREE behind-the-scenes event, ‘A Taste of Tudor Christmas,’ where visitors can witness the Tudor household in action, preparing for Christmas with authentic cooking demonstrations and lessons in Tudor table manners and traditions. It’s a perfect opportunity for families to discover the quirky customs and rich flavours of a Tudor Christmas.
Whether it’s a festive family day or a quiet winter walk through Ightham Mote’s 500-acre estate, this Tudor Christmas offers a beautiful festive escape into history.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/ightham-mote
