Christmas at Cragside: Spirits of the Forest

An artist's impression of the UK's Tallest Living Christmas at Cragside. A huge tree dressed in lights towers above the House. It's a clear winter's evening. A crescent moon and twinkling lights are in the sky. — Experience the UK's Tallest Living Christmas Tree | © Blumilk

This year Cragside is taking Christmas to new heights and going big! Witness the UK's Tallest Living Christmas Tree. A mammoth 42m Giant Redwood dressed in over 2000 lights. Cragside's Spirits of the Forest have cast a magical spell. Explore the enchanted House that is being reclaimed by the woodland and follow the sparkling Twilight Lantern Walk through the Debdon Valley.

UK’s Tallest Living Christmas Tree

Saturday 30 November 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025
Open daily (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
11am-3pm

When it comes to trees, Cragside is the land of the giants and we’re decorating one of them in over 2000 lights, making it the UK’s tallest living Christmas tree!

Stand at the foot of the sparkling Giant Redwood near the House. At a staggering 42 metres tall, it’s the height of 10 double-decker buses. That’s twice as tall as the Angel of the North and the same height as the Baltic. Don’t forget your cameras – it’s a not-to-be-missed sight to experience.

Spirits of the Forest: Cragside House

Saturday 30 November 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025
Open daily (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
11am-3pm (last entry 2.30pm)

Christmas is a magical time when Cragside’s Spirits of the Forest like to cause mischief. Imagine that the Armstrongs’ servants have decked the halls and trimmed the trees for their jolly festivities, but as day becomes night, the House falls under an enchanted spell. The carefully cultivated landscape has gone wild and is reclaiming the House. Rooms are bursting with trees, woodland animals are roaming the halls, foliage is growing down the furniture and the enormous marble fireplace in the Drawing Room is being transformed into a cave by the crag.

SOLD OUT: Spirits of the Forest - Twilight Lantern Walk at Cragside

As the sun sets, Cragside’s forest spirits come to life and cast their magic. This Christmas families can experience a twilight adventure through the enchanted Debdon Valley. Carrying a lantern, families will follow a sparkling route a long a path between glowing trees. Spot the mischievous woodland animals hiding in the foliage, and marvel at the shimmering cascades. Climb the stone steps to the Iron Bridge, where you can take family photos with the illuminated House as your spectacular backdrop. End your journey at the foot of the giant Christmas tree, lit with over 2000 lights.

Thank you to supporters

Presenting the UK’s Tallest Living Christmas Tree would not have been made possible without the help of supporters. We would like to say a huge thank you to Stihl and Gustharts who kindly donated the portable power stations to light the tree, Lighting Legends that supplied over 1000 metres of lights and A1 Access NE Ltd for giving their time and the use of 52-metre cherry-picker to dress the 42-metre tall Giant Redwood.

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