Have A Stately Christmas: 10 Historic Houses And Gardens To Get The Festive Party Started

Scrooge, Santa, polar bears, gingerbread and light shows are among this year’s seasonal family delights at castles, palaces and Palladian piles throughout the UK

Inside one of Waddesdon Manor’s Rapunzelesque round towers is a room named after the Ballets Russes stage designer Léon Bakst. In 1913, Bakst painted the seven panels here showing scenes from Sleeping Beauty. This year both house and illuminated gardens have Sleeping Beauty-inspired installations. Artists involved include the theatre designer Tom Piper, who helped make the Tower of London’s poppy cascade in 2014. Outside there are fairytale projections by Jamie Shiels, whose work appeared at the 2012 London Olympics. The Rothschild family’s turreted chateau looks spectacular dancing with coloured light, and the Weihnachtsmarkt-style market is back (until 22 December). There are later openings on Fridays from 22 November to Christmas.
• Wednesday-Sunday, 15 November–5 January (excluding 23-26 December), from £22 adult, £10 child (grounds only, check website for Christmas house times and prices), discounts for NT members, waddesdon.org.uk