Churchill’s Champagne Christmas

The Lalique glass Cockerel statue with the Christmas tree in the background in the Drawing Room at Chartwell, Kent — Christmas shines at Chartwell. | © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

From Christmas markets to live carol music, wreath-making workshops to a festive family garden trail, plus the lavishly decorated house to explore, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this Christmas 2024 at Chartwell. With so much to celebrate, you’ll want to come back to Chartwell again and again this holiday season.

Create Christmas memories at Chartwell

Christmas shopping

Christmas Fair

The Christmas season starts at Chartwell with our annual Christmas market. Get into the holiday spirit at the Chartwell Festive Fair. Let our stallholders inspire you to find the perfect Christmas gift from amongst an exciting selection of handmade crafts and local produce. Thursday 14–Sunday 17 November 2024, 10am–4pm.

Don’t forget to visit the shop at Chartwell, it’s one of the largest in the National Trust and includes your favourite Churchill and Chartwell souvenirs, including a wide range of products featuring Jock the cat. Every purchase you make helps us to care for the nature, beauty and history that surrounds us here at Chartwell. Open daily (except 24–25 December), 10am–4pm.

Christmas Carols

Join a Christmas singalong at Chartwell.

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Christmas music at Chartwell

Christmas carols and concerts

We are delighted to welcome singers and bands to bring the magic of Christmas music to Chartwell this season. Wrap up warm and head over to the grounds hear Christmas carols with friends and family.

Carols at Chartwell: Oxted Band

Sing along to Christmas classics before or after visiting the Christmas Market. Saturday 16 November 2024, 12–1pm.

Carols at Chartwell: Oxted and Limpsfield Choral Society

Enjoy festive tunes and carols. Sunday 1 December 2024, 2–3pm.

Carols at Chartwell: East Peckham Silver Band

The band is back again this year to perform a mix of popular and traditional carols. Saturday 7 December 2024, 11:30am–12:30pm.

Carols at Chartwell: Forge Musical Theatre

The whole family will be feeling festive as the carols continue. Saturday 7 December 2024, 1:30–2pm.

Carols at Chartwell: West Kingsdown Guitar Group

Live guitar music brings Christmas joy to visitors in the grounds. Saturday 14 December 2024, 2–3pm.

Carols at Chartwell: 17th Tonbridge Scout & Guide Band

Warm up your vocal chords and join in with the band. Saturday 21 December 2024, 11:30am–12:30pm.

Christmas crafting

Wreath Making Workshop at Chartwell

Saturday 23–24 November 2024, 10am–12pm

Get creative this Christmas. Let our expert florist guide you through the step-by-step process to make your own stunning wreath using natural foliage. All materials, tuition, refreshments, and entrance to Chartwell provided as part of the course fee. Pre-booking is essential, check availability for your preferred date.

Christmas tree decorated with gold and mini champagne bottles beside a stand with Champagne magnum and two glasses. A portrait of Sir Winston Churchill hangs above the mantlepiece which is decorated with golden lights and green garland — Celebrate 150 years since the birth of Sir Winston Churchill with ‘Churchill’s Champagne Christmas’ at Chartwell | © Jen Reznick

Christmas in the house

Self-led visits, 23 November–23 December, 11:30am to last entry at 2:20pm. Normal admission applies.

Guided tours, 28 November–20 December, weekdays 10:30–11:15am. Pre-booking and additional fee applies.

Prepare to be transported back in time to a sparkling 1930s Christmas party. Be greeted in the Sitting Room by golden garlands, twinkling lights, and the warmth of a winter fire. Make your way through to the Drawing Room to experience the party atmosphere in full swing. Enjoy a quieter moment in the Library with its beautifully decorated Christmas tree and imagine Churchill sneaking away from the main event for a cheeky cigar.

I could not live without Champagne. In victory I deserve it. In defeat I need it.

A quote by Sir Winston Churchill

Churchill's Champagne Christmas

Venture upstairs for a glimpse of how Lady Clementine Churchill prepares for the Christmas season before heading downstairs to rejoin the Champagne celebrations. In the Dining Room, marvel at the Pol Roger champagne bottle Christmas trees before heading to the Kitchen to feast your eyes on a very special birthday cake.

Throughout the house, our knowledgeable room guides will regale you with tales of Chartwell Christmases gone by, all against a backdrop of festive music merging with the clinking of champagne glasses.

When to visit

The Christmas Season starts at Chartwell with the Christmas Fair, Thursday 14–17 November 2024, 10am–4pm and Christmas carols in the grounds performed by the Oxted Band on Saturday 16 November, 12–1pm.

Then it's not long before selected rooms of the house will be open and specially decorated for Christmas. See the house in its champagne festive glory on self-led visits from 23 November until 23 December (11:30am–2:20pm last entry). House tickets will be available from the Visitor Centre on the day. Normal admission applies.

Chartwell is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Churchill’s Champagne Christmas Guided Tour

For a more intimate experience of the House at Christmastime, join one of our expert volunteer guides on a tour of selected rooms which are decorated for Christmas. Spaces are limited to 12 per tour and must be pre-booked (28 November–20 December 2024, weekdays 10:30–11:15am).

A family on a winter walk along a path with lights at Chartwell, Kent — A family on a winter walk at Chartwell, Kent | © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

Festive family garden trail

Christmas trail

Thursday 14 November 2024–Sunday 5 January 2025, 10am–4pm.

Wrap up warm and explore the gardens at Chartwell this Christmas with a family trail. Pick up a Christmas tree trail sheet from the Visitor Centre then search for our stamping stations to decorate it. Normal admission plus £3 per trail including a prize. (Chartwell is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.)

Winter walks

If you’re looking to blow the cobwebs away, head out on a crisp winter walk around the frost-covered gardens or wider estate and enjoy misty views over the weald. The grounds are open daily 10am–4pm excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

A long view of the red brick house at Chartwell in Kent with a sweeping lawn running up to the terrace of the house and trees surrounding the grounds

Discover more at Chartwell

Find out when Chartwell is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.

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