Christmas events – Ickworth Estate, Suffolk
- November Nostalgia: A 1930s Christmas | 17 – 30 November, 11am – 3pm | Normal admission charges apply, free for National Trust members. No booking required.
- March Hare Collective Christmas Craft Fair | 22 – 23 November, 10am – 4pm | Normal admission charges apply, free for National Trust members. No booking required.
- Christmas Voice Tour | 17 – 21, 24 – 28 November, 10:45am – 11:30am | Normal admission charges apply, free for National Trust members. Booking advisable.
- Costumed Interpretation: Christmas Edition | 22 – 23, 29 – 30 November, 11am – 3pm | Normal admission charges apply, free for National Trust members. No booking required.
- Winter Adventures: The Snow Leopard of Ickworth | 1 December – 4 January (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Indoor display 11am – 3pm, outdoor family trail 10am – 4:30pm | Normal admission charges apply, free for National Trust members. No booking required.
Step into a world of festivities as Ickworth Estate transforms into a magical wonderland this Christmas. With celebrations and a packed festive programme running from November all the way through to January, there’s something to excite all ages and plenty of reasons to return.
November Nostalgia: A 1930s Christmas, 17 – 30 November
During the last two weeks of November, immerse yourself in a festive feel-good experience as we transform the Servants’ Quarters in the basement into a traditional 1930s Christmas. Featuring all the sights and smells of the festive period ‘below stairs’, you can get involved helping to make the paper chains, stir the pudding and chat to the servants getting the house ready for Christmas.
Winter Adventures: The Snow Leopard of Ickworth Estate, 1 December – 5 January 2026
This Christmas the Ickworth Snow Leopard comes to life in a festive family-friendly adventure as he explores Ickworth after dark, leaving a delightful trail of mayhem and snow in his wake. Follow Shadow’s journey of mishaps and adventures through the Rotunda and in the Stumpery in the Italianate Garden, discover his encounters and friendships with the local wildlife in this heart-warming snowy winter’s tale he’ll never forget.
The story of Shadow the snow leopard and his festive escapades was written by Beth Davidson who has worked at Ickworth for two years as part of the visitor welcome team. Visitors had often asked Beth about the cat-like creature on the Hervey (the family that owned and built Ickworth) family crest and after a lot of curiosity and a bit of digging, Beth soon discovered that the mysterious creature is an ‘Ounce’, more commonly known as a snow leopard, and represents strength and courage.
“A snow leopard at Ickworth?! How strange! How magical!” said Beth. “I could feel a story spinning and a curious creature coming to life. We thought it was about time to give our snow leopard his very own tale (or tail!) this Christmas.”
Festive shopping and eating
There’s plenty of Christmas shopping to be done with a visit to our shop where you’ll find loads of gift ideas from young to old, covering a whole host of interests. For something a bit craftier, visit the March Hare Collective Christmas Craft Fair over the weekend of 22-23 November up in the West Wing Gallery. Here you’ll find Suffolk-based artists, designers and makers showcasing their crafts with a range of stalls selling handmade gifts. Find that perfect gift or pick up a festive treat for yourself.
And a Christmas visit isn’t complete with a festive bite to round off your day. Tuck into some tasty treats with our seasonal flavoured drinks from gingerbread lattes to luxury hot chocolates. As well as pasties and sausage rolls, rounding everything off with some yummy yuletide bakes.
Winter Walks
With 1800 acres of parkland to explore, there are plenty of winter walks to enjoy at Ickworth. Whether it’s just for a dog walk, or a longer post-Christmas family walk, there are miles of paths to take you to all corners of the estate and to places you may never have seen before.
Ickworth Estate is open daily from 9am until 5pm (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), normal admission charges apply, free for National Trust Members.
To find out more about Christmas at Ickworth Estate, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
