Visitors can start planning their Christmas with the National Trust in Herefordshire; Berrington Hall, Brockhampton Estate, Croft Castle and The Weir Garden all have lots of magical activities to keep families entertained throughout the festive season.
Visitors are cordially invited to attend Berrington Hall’s gloriously Georgian Christmas on weekends between Saturday 18 November and Sunday 17 December. Visitors can step back in time and imagine they’re esteemed guests, with horse and carriage rides to and from the mansion, beautiful decorations and fabulous costumes to get dressed up in. The Christmas experience in the mansion begins below stairs; rooms such as the Servant’s Hall and the Housekeeper’s Room will be opened up and visitors will see how the servants would have been preparing for the ball, with laundry, cookery and Christmas celebrations of their own. Visitors will then ascend the back stairs and see the ground floor atmospherically lit for evening. This year, families can absorb the sights and traditions of a Georgian Christmas as a Lord or Lady of the mansion.
On route to Bromyard, visitors can discover a traditional Christmas in the frost filled parkland of Brockhampton Estate. Visitors can see the manor house simply decorated with green foliage handpicked from the parkland. Each room will represent a different time period and visitors can explore how our traditions and celebrations have changed over the years. Families can enjoy a 1950’s trail on weekends between Saturday 18 November and Sunday 17 December, have a go at wreath-making on Sunday 26 November and sing along to carols in the Great Hall on Sunday 17 December. The Granary will be serving warming winter refreshments, such as mince pies and mulled wine, and the Granary shop will be well stocked with books, homeware, Christmas food and gifts, children’s toys and lots more.
Near Leominster, visitors can step back in time and experience the traditions of a 1950’s Christmas at Croft Castle. On weekends between Saturday 18 November and Sunday 17 December, Croft will be evoking the spirit of post-war Britain through some of the rooms of the castle. Families can share their own memories, see colourful, hand-made decorations, sing along to carols and festive music and discover more about life at Croft during the 1950’s. Visitors can wrap up warm and have a go at wreath-making in the walled garden on the first two weekends of December and children can discover Christmassy characters around the grounds on a festive trail every Christmas weekend. On weekends in December only, Father Christmas will be parking his sleigh and setting up his toy-making workshop in the stables. Families can have a go at festive crafts while they wait for an early gift from Father Christmas. Families will need to book online to secure their place. Croft’s parkland is also open all year round, so visitors can pop on their walking boots and head out into the great outdoors with their four-legged friend this Christmas.
On Sunday 10 December, Father Christmas will be paying a very special visit to The Weir Garden, near Hereford. Families can enjoy the warmth of an open fire, along with some festive snacks, as they sit and chat to Father Christmas. Visitors can also stroll through the wintery gardens as the children enjoy a Christmas trail this December.
More details about opening times, accessibility, events and all other activities Berrington Hall, Brockhampton Estate, Croft Castle and The Weir Garden have planned can be found by visiting: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/herefordshire