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.

Spirits of the Forest: Twilight Lantern Walk at Cragside

Weekends between Saturday 30 November and Sunday 15 December
Daily from Saturday 21 - Sunday 29 December (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
Time slots bookable between 2.50pm and 4pm.

£11.50 adults, £6.50 children, free for children under 5
Booking essential: Book your tickets here.
Quieter session at 2.50pm: Please book here

Entry to Cragside is not included in price of the Lantern Walk ticket price.

The 2.50pm time slot is a quieter session with reduced numbers to support families and groups that require a relaxed festive experience. Please only book this time if needed.

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 be possible without the help of supporters. Stihl and Gustharts are kindly donating portable power stations to light the tree, Lighting Legends have supplied the lights and A1 Access NE Ltd. are giving their time and the use of the MEWP to dress the tree.

A parent is pushing their child on the zip wire at the play area at Cragside. Both are smiling.

Article

Family fun at Cragside

Bring the kids to Cragside for a day of adventures. There is lots to see, do and explore, for a fun-filled day out.

A couple are walking two dogs between the trees in the Pinetum at Cragside. The autumn sunshine looks golden as it streams through the trees. The couple are in bobble hats and light jackets.

Article

Things to do outdoors at Cragside

Whether you’re looking for a peaceful stroll or a challenging hike, there is a waymarked walk for everyone at Cragside. A network of 40-miles of footpaths will take you under the canopy of towering trees, across timber bridges, between rugged rocks, along the banks of sparkling lakes and under arches of rhododendron.

Two visitors walk two dogs on leads down the Rock Garden with the house in the background on a sunny autumn day at Cragside, Northumberland

Article

Things to do in the gardens at Cragside

Explore the ultimate designer garden. With spectacular vision, William and Margaret Armstrong transformed the grounds from a bare moorside into a fantasy mountain landscape. Created for beauty and function you’ll discover towering trees, overflowing flower beds, trickling burns, dramatic water cascades and engineered lakes that were created to harness the power of water.