A Nutcracker Christmas at Mottisfont

A Nutcracker Christmas at Mottisfont

23 November 2024 - 5 January 2025 (whole property closed 24 and 25 December)

Follow Clara and her Nutcracker Prince into a frosty wonderland with swirling snowflakes. Sugarplum fairies twirl among candy canes in the Land of Sweets, and here’s a thrilling duel scene between the Prince and the Mouse King.

Outside, the adventure continues on The Nutcracker family trail, with activities, games and challenges to complete. £3 per trail.

Planning your visit: what you need to know

Entry: there's no need to book, unless you're planning a group visit (for 15 or more - see our group visits page for more information). Normal property admission price (free for National Trust members, Art Fund members and under-fives), plus £3 per trail. If you’re with a carer or essential companion, they visit for free.

When to visit: Christmas can be a busy time at Mottisfont, especially during the holidays. Most of our visitors tend to arrive before 2pm, which can cause congestion in the car park. If you arrive after 2pm, there’s still time to enjoy all that a Mottisfont Christmas has to offer. If you have the flexibility, a weekday visit is generally quieter than a weekend, even during school holidays. If you can only visit over the weekend, Saturdays are usually less busy than Sundays.

As Christmas is very popular, you may need to queue to view the decorations inside the house.

Parking: there's free parking in the car park next to the Welcome Centre, including accessible spaces. Please note that our car park surface can become uneven and muddy, particularly during periods of bad weather. Our car park can fill quickly on our busiest days, so you may need to queue; in extreme circumstances we may have to close the car park to allow spaces to free up. Please don't park in the village or on nearby verges.

Accessibility: toilets and changing facilities located at the entrance and at key points around the grounds. Buggies/pushchairs welcome in the gardens, but not in the house - please be prepared to leave these outside if going inside. Ramped or level entrances into the Welcome Centre, cafés and house. Gently-sloping areas and wide pathways around much of the grounds, which can be uneven and muddy in places during winter: sturdy footwear is recommended. Volunteer-driven mobility buggy service available.

Refreshments: drinks, snacks and light lunches with festive and family-friendly options are available from our cafés and additional outlets. Our cafés are busiest between 11am and 2pm, so you may need to queue at these peak times. If you’re looking to get a quick bite to takeaway, we recommend popping in before peak lunch hour to avoid the crowds.