Enjoy the seasonal festivities for 2009/10, from architecture walks to experiencing Christmas past at heritage sites – there’s something for everyone this winter. Here is a round up of events and activities happening across England to get you out and about. Wrap up and get ready to explore your local places!
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East of England
Wimpole's Dickensian Christmas
Set 150 years back, in Dickensian time, discover the sights and sounds of this period as the traditions of the past are brought to life.
When: 12 -13 December 2009
Time: 11am – 4pm
Where: Wimpole Hall, Arrington, Royston, Cambridgeshire SG8 0BW
Admission: adult £8.80, child £4.95
The Felbrigg Hall at Christmas
Experience the halls decorated for Christmas festivities.
When: 17, 18, 19 December 2009
Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Where: Felbrigg Hall, Norwich, Norfolk NR11 8PR
Admission: £12 - bookings essential, call 01263 837444.
Victorian Christmas
Meet family characters celebrating their Christmas in this Victorian setting.
When: 19 - 20 December 2009
Time: 11am - 4pm
Where: Oxburgh Hall, Garden and Estate, Oxborough, Norfolk PE33 9PS
Admission: adult £4, child £2
East Midlands
Christmas past
Canons Ashby House will be decorated in the styles of centuries past including: Tudor, 18th century and Victorian.
When: 12, 13, 19, 20 December 2009
Time: 11am – 4pm
Where: Canons Ashby House, Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 3SD
Admission: adult £4, child £2, family £10
London
London at Christmas walks
Experience some of the beautiful shop fronts and Christmas lights around London.
When: Now until 30 December 2009
Time: Varies - view the listing of times on the London architecture walks website
Where: Trafalgar Square SW1
Admission: adults £15, children 0-10 free, children 11-15 £7.50
Thinking walk: Christmas children’s trail and;
Self-guided trail: Kew’s winter walk
Follow a Christmas walking trail and visit exciting areas that the whole family will enjoy.
When: 12 December 2009 – 3 January 2010
Where: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB
Admission: Free
Frost Fair guided walks at the Bankside Winter Festival
Walk along the River Thames and learn about its connection with London's history and discover the original west end of London.
When: 13 December 2.30pm; 14 December 10.45am; 20 December 2.30pm
Where: Starts at Mansion House tube, exit 1
Admission: £5
Performance: Zic Zazou
Part music, part theatre, part comedy and part engineering, Zic Zazou’s nine ‘Mechaniciens’ is an exciting show using unusual instruments.
When: 26, 27, 28 January 2010
Time: 7.30pm
Where: The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8EH
Admission: Prices start at £17.50
Frank Auerbach exhibition: London building sites 1952–62
An extraordinary group of paintings of post-war London building sites by one of Britain’s greatest living artists.
When: Now until 17 January 2010
Where: The Courtauld Gallery and Institute of Art, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN
Admission: adults £5, concession £4
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UK’s tallest tree at Kew
Visit the UK’s tallest Christmas tree, and enjoy the fun festive activities happening here leading up to Christmas day.
When: 12 December 2009 - 3 January 2010
Where: Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TN
Admission: adults £10, child (under 17) free (need to be accompanied by an adult).
Emerging Architecture exhibition
An exciting exhibition of work by young architects from RIBA’s annual Architectural Review Awards.
When: Now until 27 February 2010
Time: 10am – 5pm (late opening Tuesdays)
Where: RIBA, Florence Hall, 66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD
Admission: Free
North East
Georgian Christmas guided walk
Explore what a Georgian Christmas was like - make sure to wear good walking shoes!
When: 19 - 20 December 2009
Time: 11am - 12pm and 2pm - 3pm
Where: Gibside gardens, Rowlands Gill, Burnopfield, Newcastle upon Tyne NE16 6BG
Admission: adult £6, child £4
Norman Cornish at ninety
This exhibition is a captivating portrayal of the North East from artist Norman Cornish’s eight decades of recordings – he provides an insight into a sense of place and time that cover events since the post-war years.
When: Now until 24 December 2009
Where: Northumbria University, University Gallery, Sandyford Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST
Admission: Free
Oliver Twist
Be entertained at a seasonal showing of Oliver Twist in the fantastic setting of Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens.
When: 29 - 31 December 2009
Time: 11am and 2pm
Where: Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland NE20 0DX
Admission: adult £6.50, child £3.30
Václav Cigler - Light and water as a principle, exhibition
Inspired by water, light, reflections, space and the individual, Cigler’s portfolio includes small, intimate glass objects as well as architectural and large sculptural pieces.
When: Now until 21 February 2010
Where: National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland SR6 0GL
Admission: Free
North West
Saving a century
Exhibition of photos from Lancashire and around the country, showing the best Victorian and Edwardian buildings and structures that The Victorian Society has campaigned to save.
When: Now until 23 December 2009
Where: Museum of Lancashire, Stanley Street, Preston PR1 4YP
Admission: adults £ 3, concession £2
Energies of place exhibition
Strikingly bold paintings by Colin Binns explore abstract ideas based on a sense of place, memory and personal myth.
When: Now until 23 December 2009
Where: Museum of Lancashire, Stanley Street, Preston PR1 4YP
Admission: adults £ 3, concession £2
Treefest
Whet your Christmas tree fetish at St Annes Parish Church, where 20 Christmas trees will be displayed – each decorated by a local charity. The best looking tree will be announced at the end of the event.
When: 12 - 19 December 2009
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Where: St Annes Parish Church, Headroomgate, St Annes on Sea, Lancashire FY8
Admission: £1
© Zellaby, flickr.com
Festive Fun: Hands on at the Harris
Christmas themed drop-in activities suitable for all ages. Children under 8 need to be accompanied by an adult.
When: 19 December 2009
Time: 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Where: Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Market Square, Preston PR1 2PP
Admission: Free
Tudors and Reivers guided tours
Explore the history along the English-Scottish border during Tudor times including the Border Reivers in this fascinating guided tour around the fortress of Carlisle Castle.
When: 27 - 30 December 2009
Time: 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm
Where: Carlisle Castle, Cumbria CA3 8UR
Admission: adult £7, child £3.80
Christmas at the Old Police Station!
Discover what Christmas was like in this old station in the heart of Manchester. Children 3–10 years old can make their own stain glass window to match the ones in the Magistrates Courtroom, whilst children aged over 10 can explore the museum.
When: 22 December 2009
Time: 10.30am – 3.30pm
Where: The Old Police Station, 57a Newton Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M1 1ET
Admission: Museum is free – £3 per child for the activity.
This is Blackpool - competition
A writing and photographic competition – you are invited to send in photos or a short written piece (50 words max) of what you think represents Blackpool; all it needs to capture is the essence of the Blackpool and what it means to you.
Competition closing date: 12 February 2010
Submission: Unlimited entry – hand in at any Blackpool library.
South East
Chastleton House at Christmas
An amazing opportunity to take a glimpse into the house and see how it is maintained over the winter period.
When: 12 - 13 December 2009
Time: 1pm - 4pm
Where: Chastleton House, Chastleton, Moreton in Marsh, Oxfordshire GL56 0SU
Admission: adult £5, child £3 – bookings essential, call 01608 674981.
The Castle at dusk
Enjoy the festive season at the Bodiam Castle after hours.
When: 12 and 19 December 2009
Time: 5pm – 7pm
Where: Bodiam Castle, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5UA
Admission: adult £5.20, child £2.90
A Sussex Christmas at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum
Enjoy traditionally decorated houses as you walk off your Christmas turkey – there’s a variety of Christmas past’s to discover from the Tudor to the Victorian.
When: 26 December 2009 – 1 January 2010
Time: 10.30am - 4.00pm
Where: Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0EU
Admission: adult £8.95, over 60s £7.95, child £4.70, family (2+3) £24.25, under 5s free.
Festive lunch and tour at Dover Castle
Start off your tour of the towers by having a traditional lunch and experience how King Henry II celebrated his Christmas.
When: Now until 31 December 2009 (Thursday to Monday throughout December)
Where: Dover Castle, Dover, Kent CT16 1HU
Admission: adult £20 - bookings essential, call 01304 211067.
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South West
Jane Austen's regency Christmas
An exhibition of how Jane and her family would have celebrated Christmas.When: Now until 3 January 2010
Where: Jane Austen Centre, 40 Gay Street, Queen Square, Bath BA1 2NT
Admission: adult £6.95, senior/student £5.50, child (6-15 years) £3.95, family (2+4) £18.
Yuletide use up - Family friendly workshop
Help the Plymouth Gallery to use up their art and craft materials from 2009! Make anything up from scratch such as an art mask or a jumbo paper fish or do some festive colouring in.
When: 19 December 2009
Time: 11am – 4pm. Hour long sessions at 11am, 1.30pm and 3pm.
Where: Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, 8 Drakes Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AQ
Admission: Free - bookings essential, call 01752 304774.
Christmas trail for children
Young visitors can embark on a Christmas trail around Dartmouth Castle, discovering festive clues to receive a seasonal present!
When: Every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas
Time: 10am - 4pm
Where: Dartmouth Castle, Devon TQ6 0JN
Admission: adult £4.20, child £2.10 (5 – 15 years)
RIBA 175 exhibition
Visit the Architecture Centre, Bristol to view 175 RIBA competition-winning projects, in celebration of RIBA’s 175th anniversary.
When: Now until 24 December 2009
Where: The Architecture Centre, Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA
Admission: Free
West Midlands
Aston Hall by candlelight
Three hundred lit candles fill this beautiful atmospheric hall - experience a Victorian household entertaining a very important royal visitor during the festive season.
When: Now until 12 December 2009
Where: Aston Hall, Trinity Road, Aston, Birmingham, B6 6JD
Admission: adults £10, child £8 (6-16 years)
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The Church of St John Baptist, parish organisations and groups are dressing up individual trees to represent their choice of carol. Celebrations continue leading up to Christmas!When: 19 December 2009
Where: St John Baptist Church, Berkswell, Church Lane, CV7 7BJ
Admission: Free
Volunteer tree planting
Have you got a Christmas tree up at home? Why not help volunteer and plant some sapling trees to help grow a hedgerow around the Wyldwoods paddock – this will create natural habitats for wildlife.
When: 12 December 2009
Time: 10.30am - 12.30pm
Where: Dean Corner Farmhouse, Wyldwoods paddock, Broseley, Shropshire, TF12 5JH
Free hot drink for volunteers and light refreshments to buy.
Marvellous markets - Family art workshop with Paula Woof
A drop-in family art workshop with well known artist Paula Woof - inspired by Paula's painting of the old Birmingham Markets in the 'Birmingham Seen' exhibition. Make your own market using lots of different colours and materials.
When: 28 December 2009
Time: 11am – 4pm
Where: Birmingham Museum, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH. In the AV Room (back of Gas Hall), first floor.
Landmark Birmingham - family art workshop with Janice Rider
A drop-in family art workshop with artist Janice Rider. Be inspired by Birmingham’s famous buildings and make your own collage townscape, or create your own landmark in card.
When: 30 December 2009
Time: 11am – 4pm
Where: Birmingham Museum, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH. In the AV Room (back of Gas Hall), first floor.
Yorkshire and Humber
A Dickensian Dales Christmas
Back to Charles Dickens’ time - enjoy a Victorian winter wonderland with locals dressing up in period costume, a torch-lit procession, food stalls, buskers, street entertainment and a traditional Christmas market.
When: 12 and 19 December 2009
Time: 11.15am – 4.45pm
Where: Grassington, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 5AT
Admission: Free
Christmas Cromwell-ed!
Dare to explore an Oliver Cromwell's setting of his ban on Christmas, set in 1647 - filled with burnt trees and smashed decorations!
When: 12 - 26 December 2009
Time: 11am to 4pm
Where: York Dungeon, 12 Clifford Street, York YO1 9RD
Admission: adult £14, child £10, concession £13, family (2+2) £45.
