The historic Lacock Abbey is set to celebrate the festive season with a host of Christmas events and activities.

The programme will run until Sunday, January 5.

The festivities will kick off with the National Trust Christmas Pop-Up Shop, open from Thursday to Sunday between now and December 8.

Christmas shoppers can attend meet-the-maker events and tasting sessions.

From Saturday, November 23, Father Christmas will park his sleigh near the 20ft Christmas tree in the historic courtyard.

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Children can write letters to Santa and take photos in the sleigh while enjoying hot chocolate and mince pies in the Courtyard café, open from 11am to 4pm during the holidays.

The Christmas Tree Festival will begin on the same day, with the cloister walkways lined with real trees decorated by community groups.

Visitors can vote for their favourite tree which will be adorned with sustainable and upcycled decorations, in line with this year's theme, 'The Magic of Nature at Christmas.'

For children, Storytime with Mother Christmas will run on Fridays and weekends from December 13 to 22.

Tickets, which include a gift, cost £10 per child and must be booked via the National Trust website.

Senior visitor experience officer for the abbey, Libby Woolfrey, said: "The Christmas grotto in the Servant’s Hall is always so cosy and a little bit magic, it’s lovely to see the children’s faces as they’re coming in and meeting Mother Christmas.

"We have also created a number of quieter sessions this year with no music and more space to step in and out as needed, for those children who may have different needs."

Read more: National Trust set for busy Christmas at Wiltshire sites

The programme promises to provide a cosy Christmas experience, centred around the magic of nature, for both young and old.

The country house, with its monastic roots and eclectic architectural styles, is set in its own woodland grounds.

It was once home to William Henry Fox Talbot, the inventor of the photographic negative.

Although the abbey rooms are closed for a winter deep clean, the Great Hall will open from Saturday, November 23, until Tuesday, December 31, with traditional decorations providing a glimpse into the abbey's 800-year-old history.

The National Trust website has full details, including dates and times, for those wanting to plan their visit.

The National Trust is an independent conservation charity. It cares for more than 250,000 hectares of countryside, 780 miles of coastline, one million collection items and 500 historic properties, gardens and nature reserves.

 

 

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