- Play Hard
- 7th Oct 2026
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Cragside reveals its Christmas plans: fairy tale adventures, the world’s biggest living Christmas tree, plus festive walks and trails
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It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas, and Christmas at Cragside has just landed on the calendar.
The National Trust’s Victorian house in Rothbury, near Morpeth, has revealed this year’s festive line-up, and it’s an absolute cracker.
From Saturday 28th November until Sunday 3rd January, you will step into a fairytale dream, experience a world record-breaking Christmas tree, stretch your legs along the festive five-miler, and discover family trails for young explorers.
Christmas is one of Cragside’s busiest seasons, so get the dates in your diary, and you’ll be sleighing it.
THINGS TO DO IN NORTHUMBERLAND THIS CHRISTMAS
A Journey Through Fairyland
Saturday 28th November – Sunday 3rd January
Cragside House from 11am – 4pm
Every year, Cragside House becomes the stage for an immersive Christmas experience, and this year’s theme is A Journey Through Fairyland. It’s inspired by a short story by Cragside’s creator, William Armstrong.
Rocked to sleep by the steady chug of a train engine, William Armstrong nods off and drifts into Fairyland. It’s a strange and wonderful world of looming mountains, glittering crystal caves, and hot air balloons riding wild winds, where every twist and turn brings a new adventure.
Based on a tale penned by the inventor himself, the experience takes you through a dreamlike house full of magical discoveries, curious characters, and a daring bid to escape. Will William make it home in time for Christmas? You’ll have to go and find out for yourself.
It’s the stuff Christmas dreams are made of.
The World’s Tallest Bedded Christmas Tree
Saturday 28th November – Sunday 3rd January
Near Cragside House from 10am – 5pm
The Cragside Christmas tree isn’t your average living room spruce; it’s a towering world-record breaker! The living Giant Redwood is festooned in more than 1,300 twinkling lights, and at 44.7 metres tall, it’s more than twice the height of the Angel of the North. Tree-mendous doesn’t quite cover it.
It’s illuminated until 5pm, so time your visit to see it glowing against a winter sunset.
Fir real, you’ll want your camera out for this one.
Festive 5-Miler
Saturday 28th November – Sunday 3rd January
Starts and ends at Crozier car park
Shake off the Christmas cobwebs with a bracing walk around the grounds. The waymarked route takes you along rugged trails, past sparkling lakes, and beneath towering trees, and with any luck there’ll be a sprinkling of frost to set the scene.
Don’t forget to strike a pose at the selfie station to celebrate the end of the walk. You can download the map online or view the route at the visitor centre before setting off. Pink bauble waymarkers will show you the way.
Escape From Fairyland Trail
Saturday 28th November – Sunday 3rd January
Formal Garden from 10am – 4pm
William Armstrong’s stranded in Fairyland, and he needs a team of brave explorers to help him get home. Head off on a quest through the Formal Garden to gather supplies for his kit bag so he makes it back in time for Christmas.
It’s a brilliant way to keep little adventurers busy between mince pies.
EAT, SHOP AND BE MERRY
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, thaw out in the tea room with a hot chocolate topped up with a splash of mince pie syrup. Pair it with a slice of warm, cinnamon-scented cake, or go all in with a turkey sandwich stacked with all the trimmings. It’s Christmas dinner, in a bread bun.
Then make your way to the shop at the visitor centre. The shelves are piled high with cosy homewares, stylish jewellery and accessories, tasty treats, books, and toys, so there’s something for everyone on your list. Whether you’re getting ahead of the game or hunting down unique last-minute gifts, you’ll find it here. Throw in some festive cards, and you’ll have Christmas wrapped up in no time.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where’s Cragside?
Cragside, Rothbury, Morpeth, Northumberland NE65 7PX
When is Christmas at Cragside on?
Christmas at Cragside runs from Saturday 28th November until Sunday 3rd January. Cragside’s closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
What are Cragside’s opening times at Christmas?
The estate’s open from 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm. Inside the house, A Journey Through Fairyland runs from 11am to 4pm.
How much is entry to Cragside?
National Trust members and under-5s go free. Standard entry is £18 for adults and £9 for children. A family ticket costs £45, or £27 for a family with one adult.
Do I need to book?
Cragside does not operate a booking/ticketing system. Simply arrive on your chosen day and pay or show your National Trust membership card(s) on arrival.
Is Cragside dog-friendly?
Yes, so your four-legged friend doesn’t have to miss out on the festive fun. Dogs can go anywhere outdoors at Cragside, as long as they stay on a lead the whole time.
They’re welcome in the shop, and the tea room has a dedicated dog seating area, but only assistance dogs are allowed inside the house. That means the festive five-miler and the giant Christmas tree are fair game, but you’ll need to take turns for A Journey Through Fairyland. There are water bowls at the visitor centre courtyard and outside the house.
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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