Christmas at Lamb House

1930s-inspired 'tinsel town' Christmas tree at Lamb House | © National Trust Images/Cassie Dickson

In 2024, at Sissinghurst we invited visitors to celebrate a Mapp & Lucia Christmas with us. We hope you enjoyed all we had to offer. Please check back here nearer to Christmas 2025 to see what we have in store this year.

Christmas 2025

The below infomation is from 2024. We hope you enjoyed all we had to offer. Please check back here nearer to Christmas 2025 to see what we have in store this year.

A Mapp & Lucia Christmas

Monday 25 November 2024 - Sunday 22 December 2024, excl. Thursdays | 11am - 4pm, last entry 3:30pm

Step back in time to the jazz age for our 2024 Christmas offer that will see Lamb House transformed into the fictional Mallards from E. F. Benson's 'Mapp and Lucia' book series.

Experience Lamb House decorated in all its festive finery where a party is already underway, with a beautifully adorned Christmas tree to greet you in the entrance hall, music playing in the Oak Parlour and Christmas dinner in the Dining Room.

Each room will be transformed to resemble scenes from Benson’s timeless ‘Tilling’ books with interactive elements for visitors to enjoy, such as Venetian masks and party dress-up.

1930s festivities at Lamb House | © National Trust Images/Cassie Dickson

1930s celebrations

Enjoy a series of tableaux around the house, dressed as if Miss Mapp and Miss Lucia have just stepped out for a moment. For the keen Benson-enthusiasts, see how many references to the books you can find.

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Things to see and do

Lucia's Lobster Trail

Runs daily, free with standard admission, suitable for all ages.

Lucia's Lobster à la Riseholme recipe is infamous in Tilling (and a hot commodity). To stop Miss Mapp getting her greedy hands on it, Lucia has hidden the recipe along with 10 whole lobsters somewhere in the house! Search high and low for signs of this secret recipe and your dinner table will be blessed with the best meal of the season.

'Tilling Art Society' Exhibition

Runs daily, free with standard admission.

We'll be hosting our very own Tilling Art Society Exhibition this Christmas, as seen in Benson's books.

In the Breakfast Room, artworks featuring scenes from the town of Tilling (based on Rye) will be displayed on the walls. Visitors are encouraged to get creative and add to the exhibition. Using a range of colours, pencils, pastels, stencils, and photo references on offer, why not unleash your inner artist.

Either take your masterpiece home with you or leave it with us to be proudly displayed in the exhibition, with a chance to feature on our social media pages. For more details, please see below.

Christmas in Rye: Art Competition

Saturday 7 December

Do you fancy yourself an art critic? On Saturday 7 December (Christmas in Rye Festival), visitors can vote for their favourite artworks on display.

Voting closes at the end of the day. Our team will count the votes and the top three pieces will be announced on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

The winning artworks will then be framed for all to admire for the rest of the exhibition.

Mapp and Lucia Readings

Hear extracts from the novels that inspired our Christmas theme... in the house that inspired E. F. Benson!

Readings will take place between 12pm and 3pm on the following days:

Saturday 30 November
Saturday 7 December
Saturday 14 December

Planning your visit

Lamb House's Christmas period is from Monday 25 November to Sunday 22 December. After this date, we will be closed for the rest of the winter season until February 2025.

There is no need to book your entry ahead of your visit.

When you arrive, please go to Visitor Reception (the annexe with the open door next to the main building) to scan your membership cards or pay for entry.

Please note that there is no car park at Lamb House. Visitors wishing to park will need to find standard spaces around Rye.