WHAT’S ON
CHRISTMAS IN THE NOTSWOLDS
From carol concerts and creative workshops to visits with Santa and festive light switch-ons, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Christmas across the Notswolds. Plan your festive season here.
Christmas at Doddington Hall
Classic Christmas films inspire a series of imaginative, handmade installations throughout the historic rooms of Doddington Hall.
11 November – 31 December 2026, selected dates · near Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Oakham Magical Lantern Walk
A procession of handmade lanterns winds through Oakham, from All Saints’ Church to the castle.
14 November 2026 · Oakham, Rutland
Deck the Halls at Belvoir Castle
Belvoir’s state rooms are dressed as Christmas carols, with a festive mice trail winding through the castle.
14 November – 30 December 2026 · Belvoir, Leicestershire
Christmas at Canons Ashby: Merlin’s Magic Trail
An outdoor Christmas quest at Canons Ashby, following clues and collecting ingredients for Merlin’s seasonal spell.
19 November 2026 – 1 January 2027, selected opening days · Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire
Christmas at Belton — illuminated trail
Fire gardens, glowing wildlife and projected illuminations bring Belton’s gardens and lakeside to life after dark.
20 November 2026 – 3 January 2027, selected evenings · Grantham, Lincolnshire
Lincoln Castle Illuminated
Thousands of lights transform the medieval castle grounds, with installations, the Christmas Express and an optional wall-walk experience.
20 November – 23 December 2026, selected evenings · Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Curve
A new Curve production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory brings the chocolate factory to the stage for Christmas.
21 November 2026 – 16 January 2027 · Leicester, Leicestershire
Christmas Fair at Delapré Abbey
Local makers, live music and seasonal food fill the grounds of Delapré Abbey for its two-day Christmas fair.
21–22 November 2026, 10am–5pm · Northampton, Northamptonshire
The Trail of Peter Rabbit at Clumber Park
Find twelve larger-than-life Peter Rabbit sculptures, each decorated by a different artist, on a winter trail through Clumber Park.
21 November 2026 – 3 January 2027 · Worksop, Nottinghamshire
Father Christmas in the Library at Peterborough Cathedral
Meet Father Christmas among the ancient books of Peterborough Cathedral’s rarely seen historic library.
Selected dates, 21 November – 24 December 2026 · Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Handel’s Messiah at Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral Choir, musicians and soloists perform Handel’s Messiah in the soaring nave of Lincoln Cathedral.
21 November 2026, 7.30pm · Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Oakham Christmas lights switch-on
Oakham’s town centre celebrates the start of Christmas with its lights switch-on and family entertainment.
22 November 2026 · Oakham, Rutland
Uppingham Fatstock Show
A longstanding agricultural tradition bringing farmers, livestock and townspeople together in Uppingham.
25 November 2026 · Uppingham, Rutland
Wollaton Winter Light Trail at Wollaton Hall
Wollaton’s formal gardens become a nighttime trail of sculptural light, atmospheric sound and illuminated installations.
25 November 2026 – 3 January 2027, selected evenings · Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Victorian Christmas at Delapré Abbey
See Delapré Abbey’s Bouverie rooms decorated for a Victorian Christmas, with the chance to explore after dark.
26–27 November 2026, house open 2–8pm · Northampton, Northamptonshire
Christmas Carnival at Ferry Meadows
Ferry Meadows becomes a winter carnival of games, playful elves, live entertainment and a garden of festive lights.
26–29 November; 3–6, 10–13 and 17–23 December 2026; sessions at 4pm and 6pm · Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Christmas Tree Festival at Peterborough Cathedral
More than a hundred trees decorated by local groups and charities fill the cathedral for its seasonal festival.
26 November 2026 – 6 January 2027 · Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Winter Light Trail at Delapré Abbey
New illuminated installations, soundscapes and interactive features transform Delapré Abbey’s parkland after dark.
27 November 2026 – 3 January 2027, selected evenings · Northampton, Northamptonshire
A Christmas Quest at Canons Ashby
Arthurian stories inspire the Christmas decorations at Canons Ashby, with a quest for young visitors through the house.
28 November – 24 December 2026, 11am–3.30pm, on open days · Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire
What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas at Royal & Derngate
Julia Donaldson’s mischievous farmyard story has its world-premiere stage adaptation at Royal & Derngate.
28 November – 31 December 2026, selected performances · Northampton, Northamptonshire