Festive Days Out in Kent 2025 – Christmas Events and Activities at Castles, Stately Homes & National Trust Estates
Discover Kent’s best festive days out for Christmas 2025 at castles, stately homes, and National Trust estates. Enjoy themed displays, family activities, Father Christmas visits, workshops, and seasonal treats at Hever Castle, Scotney Castle, Chartwell, Penshurst Place, Quebec House, and more.
Updated 07/11/2025
Kent truly comes alive at Christmas. Across the county, historic castles, stately homes, and National Trust estates transform into breathtaking winter wonderlands filled with twinkling lights, themed displays, live music, and festive cheer. From following the yellow brick road at Hever Castle to crafting wreaths at Penshurst Place, or stepping into a 1930s-style Christmas at Chartwell, each destination offers its own seasonal story.
Families can enjoy Father Christmas visits, pantomimes, and winter gardens, while adults savour mulled wine, festive markets, and elegant Georgian concerts. Whether you’re after magic and wonder, history and culture, or simply a festive day out, these Christmas events capture the spirit of the season in true Kentish style.
Below you’ll find six of Kent’s most enchanting venues, each with event details, ticket links, and practical information.
Hever Castle & Gardens – Christmas in the Land of Oz
Hever Castle invites you to step into a magical world inspired by The Wizard of Oz. This year’s event, “Christmas in the Land of Oz,” transforms the Tudor castle and gardens into a storybook paradise. Follow the yellow brick road from Dorothy’s Kansas farmhouse through Munchkinland to the Emerald City, recreated in the castle’s beautifully decorated rooms.
Dates: 21 November 2025 – 2 January 2026
Hours: 11:30 am – 6:30 pm (times vary)
Address: Hever Castle & Gardens, Hever Road, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG
Website/Tickets: hevercastle.co.uk/whats-on/hever-castle-christmas
Parking: Free on-site parking available
Outside, the gardens glow with shimmering lights, vintage fairground rides, festive stalls, and lakeside reflections. Families can meet Father Christmas in his cosy cabin, enjoy hot chocolate and mince pies, and watch the gardens sparkle at twilight.
Image © Laurence Perry
At the National Trust’s Scotney Castle, Christmas 2025 brings a theme of storytelling and imagination. The Victorian mansion becomes a living book, with each room inspired by a beloved classic — from Alice in Wonderland to Peter Pan. Outdoors, visitors can follow softly lit garden paths, post letters to Father Christmas, and enjoy peaceful twilight walks.
Dates: 22 November 2025 – 4 January 2026 (closed 24–25 Dec)
Hours: Garden: 10:00 am–4:00 pm; House: 11:00 am–3:30 pm
Address: Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 8JN
Website/Tickets: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/scotney-castle
Parking: Pre-booked parking required; accessible spaces available
This relaxed and family-friendly event blends nature, nostalgia, and festive warmth, offering a magical yet unhurried day out.
Step back in time at Quebec House, where the National Trust recreates the charm of an 18th-century Christmas. This year’s theme, “A Georgian Operatic Christmas,” features live chamber music, carols, and storytelling that fill the historic rooms with warmth and candlelight.
Dates: Weekends only, 22 November – 21 December 2025
Hours: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Address: Quebec House, Westerham, Kent TN16 1TD
Tickets: Free entry / Official Website: here
Parking: Limited on-site; extra pay-and-display in Westerham
The atmosphere is intimate and elegant — ideal for adults seeking a quieter, more traditional celebration. Seasonal refreshments and local choir performances complete the experience. Early booking is recommended due to limited capacity.
This winter, Leeds Castle transforms into a spectacular illuminated wonderland with “Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle”, running from 21 November to 31 December 2025.
From the moment you arrive, you’ll be greeted by a kaleidoscope of light and colour. Wander through a dazzling illuminated trail featuring new installations such as the mesmerising Neon Tree, the elegant Peacock Promenade and the dazzling Ribbon Tunnel.
Dates: 21 November – 31 December 2025
Hours: 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Address: Leeds Castle, Broomfield, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1PL
Tickets: Available online; note that this is a separate ticketed event and annual admission passes or gift vouchers are not valid.
Perched high above the White Cliffs, Dover Castle becomes a place of pure Christmas magic this winter as Father Christmas returns to the historic fortress for a series of enchanting storytelling sessions. Running on weekends from 29 November to 21 December 2025, this much-loved event offers families a gentle, traditional way to begin the festive season.
Dates: Weekends from 29 November – 21 December 2025
Times: 10:20 am, 11:00 am, 11:40 am, 12:20 pm, 1:40 pm, 2:20 pm, 3:00 pm
Location: Dover Castle, Dover, Kent
Suitable for: Everyone
Accessibility: BSL Supported and Quiet Sessions available
Website/Tickets: english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/dover-castle-father-christmas-2025
Inside the castle’s beautifully decorated chambers, Father Christmas will share some of his favourite seasonal tales beside the twinkling tree — a heartwarming experience filled with laughter, stories, and the spirit of the season. After the storytelling, each child will have the chance to meet Father Christmas in person, capture a treasured photograph, and receive a traditional gift to unwrap and take home.
Penshurst Place – Christmas Wreath Workshops & Mini-Panto: The Last N.O.E.L.
At Penshurst Place, Christmas 2025 is a celebration of creativity and festive theatre. Visitors can take part in wreath-making workshops led by the estate’s florists, using natural materials gathered from the gardens, or enjoy the family mini-pantomime “The Last N.O.E.L.” performed in the medieval Great Hall.
The setting — with roaring fires, decorated trees, and centuries-old architecture — feels both grand and welcoming. Perfect for families or couples, with festive treats and shopping available in the café and gift shop.
Dates: 6 – 23 December 2025
Hours: Various times (check online)
Address: Penshurst Place, Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 8DG
Website: penshurstplace.com
Tickets: Via website
Parking: Free visitor parking
Experience a nostalgic Christmas at Chartwell, the home of Winston Churchill. The house is dressed in 1930s splendour, complete with roaring fires, gold garlands, and the scent of pine. Each room reveals how the Churchill family once celebrated the holidays, while the gardens host carols and local craft stalls.
Dates: 28 November 2025 – 4 January 2026 (closed 24–25 Dec)
Hours: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Address: Chartwell, Mapleton Road, Westerham, Kent TN16 1PS
Website/Tickets: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/chartwell/christmas-at-chartwell
Parking: On-site; pre-booking advised on busy days
Visitors can enjoy festive crafts, winter walks, and a touch of history, making it a memorable day out for all ages.
Tonbridge Castle - Christmas Fest 2025
Whether you’re browsing for last-minute gifts, enjoying a winter’s evening of food and song, or simply soaking up the atmosphere with friends and family, Tonbridge Christmas Fest promises to capture the warmth and wonder of the season in one of Kent’s most charming settings.
Dates: 12 – 23 December 2025 (recurs daily)
Times: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Location: Tonbridge Castle, Tonbridge, Kent
Cost: Free entry
Organised by: Sauly Events
Website: tonbridgecastle.org/events/event/128/tonbridge-christmas-fest
The castle itself becomes a canvas for enchantment, with a dazzling light tunnel and a parade of beautifully illuminated Christmas trees casting a magical glow across the historic grounds. For families and children, classic fairground rides and special guest appearances bring extra sparkle to the day, while the Entertainment Lounge hosts a lively programme of performances, music, and festive storytelling throughout the event.
From candlelit Georgian houses to castles draped in fairy lights, Kent’s Christmas events for 2025 bring history and wonder together. Whether you follow the yellow brick road at Hever, explore Scotney’s storybook rooms, or make a wreath at Penshurst Place, these festive destinations offer something for everyone.
Plan early, wrap up warm, and enjoy a Christmas season filled with heritage, creativity, and community spirit — all set against the timeless beauty of Kent’s castles and historic estates.
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