Christmas at Trelissick

A couple looking at Christmas decorations in the ladder walk at Trelissick — Christmas at Trelissick | © National Trust / Steve Hayward

Enjoy a Nadelik Lowen at Trelissick this December with Father Christmas, local choirs and unique decorations inspired by a Cornish Christmas.

A Cornish Christmas at Trelissick

We'll be celebrating Christmas at Trelissick daily from 7 December 2024 until 5 January 2025 (closing at 2pm on Christmas Eve and closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day). The house will be decorated beautifully and inspired by a Cornish Christmas, with performances from local choirs and visits from Father Christmas at weekends and in the build up to Christmas.

There'll be plenty of festive gifts in the shop as well as the perfect winter warmers in the barn café and house tearoom. We won't be open during the evenings this year but there will still be plenty to get you in the Christmas spirit and we can't wait to wish you a Nadelik Lowen.

Trelissick house decorated for Christmas

Across Trelissick we've taken inspiration from local heritage, Cornish traditions and folklore when decorating for Christmas, including throughout Trelissick house. Decorations in the eighteenth-century home celebrate feasts and festivity with montol masks, Cornish bushes and trees inspired by the traditional colours of Cornish tartan: red, gold, blue, green and black.

With floral arrangements from Anna Sawle and many decorations handmade by the teams who work here we invite you to come on in and celebrate a Nadelik Lowen.

A member of staff at Trelissick decorating a tree for a Cornish Christmas — Decorating the house at Trelissick | © National Trust / Steve Hayward

An audience with Father Christmas at Trelissick

Father Christmas returns to the stable yard this December where he’ll tell a special story of a Cornish Christmas at Trelissick. Once the storytelling has finished he’ll hand out a small gift to each child.

He will be joining us at Trelissick on 7, 8, 14 and 15 December and then daily between 19 and 23 December. Storytelling starts promptly at 10.15am, 11am, 11.45am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 2.45pm and 3.30pm. On 19, 20 and 23 December there will also be storytelling sessions at 4.15pm.

An audience with Father Christmas is always incredibly popular and pre-booking is essential, please be aware that weekend tickets have now sold out, tickets for 19 and 20 December can be found below.

Book now

Relaxed session with Father Christmas - sold out

On 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22 December join Father Christmas for a relaxed storytelling session in the stable yard at 4.15pm.

This is an accessible session aimed at providing Trelissick’s ‘An Audience with Father Christmas’ with a more relaxed and calmer Father Christmas experience. With reduced noise levels and crowds, we hope to create a less stressful environment with Father Christmas.

Please be aware that all relaxed sessions with Father Christmas at Trelissick are now sold out.

Christmas choirs and festive performances

To bring some festive cheer to your visit this Christmas we have invited a number of local groups, schools and choirs to perform in the stable yard. There's a performance for everyone this Christmas with a mix of traditional and contemporary choirs, schools choirs, cellists, Cornish dancing from Tros an Treys and The Mousehole Cat performed by shanty group Falmouth Shout scheduled.

You can see the full schedule at the link below.

Christmas performances

Chidren's Christmas trail

Wrap up warm this Christmas and explore the Trelissick garden, taking part in festive activities and searching for the fish that Tom Bawcock and his faithful cat need to save the day and feed the villagers of Mousehole.

The free trail is available between 10am-4pm from 7 December until 5 January, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Christmas food and drink

The house café

With maritime views of the Carrick Roads and the house dressed for Christmas the house café is the perfect spot to sit back and enjoy the festive season. There’ll be festive treats on offer including cakes and mince pies.

Stableyard pop-up

Take a break under the tipi, decorated with twinkling lights and festive boughs, with hot chocolates and treats. Perfect while you enjoy festive performance in the tipi, get ready to meet Father Christmas and play family games.

Christmas shopping and gifts

Christmas craft fair

Pick up that perfect Christmas gift from the Trelissick craft fair, held in the barn with a variety of gifts handmade by National Trust staff and volunteers running from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 December.

Trelissick shop

The National Trust shop at Trelissick has a wide range of gifts available this Christmas including homeware, books, food and drink, children's gifts and some festive decorations. It is through your purchases and support that we are able to continue to care for nature, beauty and history for everyone, for ever.

Second-hand bookshop

In the second-hand bookshop, we stock a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction books, including many rare, collectable and vintage books. In the build up to Christmas we've created book bundles that are ideal as gifts - there's something for everyone with a mix of fiction and non-fiction available.

If you're looking for a treat for yourself pick up a blind date with a book. These mystery books are fantastic if you're looking for something to gift to yourself to read during the Twixmas break and you could find a new favourite.

Cornwall Crafts Association

The Cornwall Crafts Association gallery is full of beautiful art and gifts throughout the year, make sure you pop in and vote in their Christmas decoration competition held by the artists.