Festive fun of only the highest grade

By Andy Duarte Insurance Advisor

Christmas wreath on listed property door

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There are many places that know how to put on a Christmas display, but none have the olden time charm of those in listed properties throughout the UK. From a grand house decorated to the ceiling, to a castle filled with Christmas cheer, there’s sure to be a day out on this list for you! Who knows, it may even become a family tradition, helping you create history of your own!

Looking for some historic festive décor inspiration to spruce up your own listed property, or to just bask in the cosy glow of fairy lights in grand, historic surroundings? There are Grade I listed properties all over the UK opening their doors, lighting up their gardens and putting on Christmas entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. Whether you want a cold evening with hot mulled wine, or a day out with the kids, this list of great historic Grade I homes has you covered.

Ightham Mote

Ightham Mote is a perfectly preserved medieval moated house that sits in a secluded Kent valley. The grade I listed building is a 14^th century home found near Sevenoaks.

Built using local material – Kentish ragstone and Wealsdon oaks, the whole place evokes a sense of history and the families that have lived there, and this is never truer than at Christmas.

The home allows you to experience a Tudor Christmas like never before, boasting a roaring fire, music, lights and scents inspired by the property’s rich history.

Looking for some family fun? There’s plenty to do at Ightham, with a mouse hunt, dressing-up box filled to the brim and an opportunity to meet Santa this December.

Looking for a more mature activity? There are a variety of craft workshops running, late-night openings and a selection of musical entertainment.

To learn more about Ightham at Christmas, click here

Blenheim Palace

Owned by the Churchill family and the birthplace of Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace is a Grade I listed building and World Heritage Site in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

Seen in many films and television programmes, the impressive stately home takes Christmas as seriously as its former inhabitants took politics. With a Christmas market, themed indoor display and light trail through the gardens, Christmas at Blenheim is one not to be missed. What’s more, with one ticket to Blenheim comes an annual pass, allowing you to visit all the other things that the palace has to offer throughout the year – perhaps a good choice if you’re local or looking to get the most from the cost of entry!

You can learn more about the festive frivolities at Blenheim Palace here

Blenheim Palace is on the listed buildings register

Castle Howard

Grade I listed Castle Howard in North Yorkshire took over 100 years to build, seeing three Earl’s lifetimes before the stately home’s completion. Now, the impressive site with ample gardens and bold architecture is a popular tourist spot, just half an hour out of the centre of York, steeped in rich history.

This Christmas, the castle has been turned into a Christmas Neverland, with fun for children and adults alike. The installation supports Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s charity and encourages visitors to donate to this fitting cause – JM Barrie gifted the rights to Peter Pan to the hospital, helping to fund the lifesaving work they do.

The well thought out installation not only includes beautiful light displays, but also has thoughtful touches like sensory boxes, for visitors that would benefit from a more tactile experience.

To learn more about Christmas at Castle Howard, click here

Waddesdon Manner

Grade I listed Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, previously owned by the prolific Rothschild family, is now no longer an active family home, but sympathetically managed by the Rothschild Trust.

The large stately home and well-manicured gardens set the scene for an impressive festive day out for adults and children alike. However, interestingly, Waddesdon Manor itself has only once been home to children since the land was purchased in 1874, and the house was built in 1892. This one time was during the Second World War when rooms were emptied to accommodate 100 children who were evacuated from London. After the war, the house was bestowed to the National Trust and remains so today.

This festive season you can walk through the illuminated Aviary gardens filled with music and interactive installations, check out the Christmas market, or take a walk through the Alice in Wonderland-inspired decorations in the French Renaissance-style chateau.

To learn more about Christmas at Waddesdon Manor, click here

Stourhead

Stretching to 1,072 acres, Stourhead estate, with Grade I listed Neo Palladian mansion, is partly owned by the National Trust and has famously landscaped gardens.

The 18^th century designed grounds surround an artificial lake and are also home to Grade 1 listed “The Grotto” and the “River God’s Cave”.

The mansion features extensive art collections and many painstakingly hand-coloured prints, made by Italian masters.

This year the stunning light trail returns to the grounds and takes you on a magical journey through the unique land in Wiltshire.

The trail is deemed accessible for all and is a great after-dark experience for the whole family to enjoy.

What’s more, when you finish the trail there’s a selection of street food vendors to help you indulge on your festive trip.

You can learn more about Stourhead at Christmas here