Christmas at Cliveden

Uncover a Christmas mystery at Cliveden

Experience festive fun for all the family and take part in a 1920s themed ‘Whodunit’ Christmas trail.

“It’s Christmas Eve 1924 and you have received an invitation to the event of the year, an elegant Christmas party thrown at the Cliveden Estate by none other than the glamorous socialite, Lady Nancy Astor. But someone has scrawled a message at the corner of the invitation ‘Please come, I need your help’.

Bring your detective skills and puzzle solving brain and use the clues to work out who stole Lady Astor’s precious heirloom before the wrong person gets accused!”

The Christmas trail will run from Saturday 30 November – Tuesday 31 December 2024. Adults and older children will enjoy clue solving and code breaking, and younger children will be entertained with games and activities along the way.

For dog walkers, please be aware that some of our Christmas trail goes through the Water Garden, where dogs are not allowed, however, the rest of the trail is dog friendly.

Follow the magic around the estate

It was an Astor family tradition to walk the estate around Christmas time, and now you can make it part of your family tradition too.

From Saturday 30 November, follow the festoon lights to The Wishing Glade and discover the Christmas Wishing Tree and the new festive food & drink tent in the picnic area. Make a Christmas wish and tie your ribbon on the tree, warm up with a mulled wine and mince pie in the tent and toast your own marshmallows over the fire at our new marshmallow toasting station.

Young explorers can enjoy the Storybook Play Den and maze in the Water Garden and there are 400 acres of natural woodlands to discover for nature enthusiasts. Finally, we have many  dog friendly paths for those with four-legged friends to take in the winter views across the Thames Valley through the frames of the bare trees. Head to 'Visiting Cliveden with your dog' to find out more.

Please note, Christmas Wishing Tree wishes cost £1 per ribbon, and each marshmallow toasting stick costs £5 and contains three large marshmallows.

Christmas Activities

Carol Singing 

Head to Cliveden this Christmas and discover Christmas Carols in the Sounding Chamber. This December there will be  four different singing choirs performing Christmas Carols.

Glee Club UK - Wednesday 4 December, 1.30pm - 2.30pm in the Sounding Chamber.

The SENDsations - Thursday 12 December, 1.30pm-2pm outside the Kiosk in the Walled Garden.

The Claremont Singers - Saturday 14 December, 1.30pm-2.30pm in the Sounding Chamber.

Amersham A Cappella - Thursday 19 December, 1.30pm - 2.30pm in the Sounding Chamber.

Christmas Wreath-making Workshop

Craft your own festive wreath in the Conservatory café using greenery foraged by the gardeners and rangers from the Cliveden Estate. The workshop costs £55 per person and includes a hot drink and mince pie. Standard admission applies.

The workshop will run on the following dates and times:

Thursday 28 November - 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm.

Thursday 5 December - 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm.

 

Christmas food and drink

This year, visitors will be able to experience new festive ranges at the Parlour (as part of the Conservatory café) for the first time, serving up plenty of new festive ice cream flavours, seasonal hot drinks and baked goods to indulge in.

The Conservatory café is also serving its new festive menu including seasonal hot drinks such as mulled wine, hot apple juice and a range of festive items such as the Christmas Pudding scone, ginger bread biscuits and the classic hot turkey and cranberry bap.

Grab your hot drink and head out to enjoy the views across the Thames Valley through the frames of the bare trees.

Pick out seasonal gifts in Cliveden’s gift shop

If wintry and festive cheer hasn't rubbed off on you yet, simply step inside the shop to enter an emporium of Christmas delights. Pick up a unique gift for yourself or a loved one. Why not continue the Christmas mystery trail at home and discover the ‘The Whodunnit puzzle book’ and ‘Murdle’, a mystery logic puzzle book.

Discover Christmas products in the gift shop including home fragrance, gloves, hats, Christmas trim and of course the obligatory pair of socks. The Christmas trim collection (which has been sustainability sourced and includes the use of recycled materials) includes nostalgic favourites like the advent candle, Christmas character felt decorations and felt nativity scene. There’s also a festive range for children including Christmas books, Christmas jigsaw puzzles and a Santa Letter Making kit.

You can also explore a selection of Christmas books in the Second-hand Bookshop.