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There are past favourites and new Christmas delights aplenty this festive season in Hampshire, with light trails, Christmas markets, ice skating, and more Christmas events than treats under the tree.
For some yuletide inspiration to soak up that seasonal spirit, read our guide to the top 20 festive things to do this Christmas in Hampshire.
- Meet Father Christmas with the help of our ultimate guide to the top places to see Santa in Hampshire this Christmas.
- See the zoo in a whole new light with the new illuminations at the Glow Marwell light trail.
- Visit England's Christmas Capital in Winchester and the city’s famous Christmas Market at Winchester Cathedral.
- Go for a Winter Wander with The Snowman™ and The Snowdog at Royal Victoria Country Park, Queen Elizabeth Country Park, and Lepe Country Park completing the wintry adventure trail from the much-loved story.
- See a kaleidoscopic of light and sound at the brand new winter light trail for 2022: Light up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens.
- Glide down to Westquay on Ice for a skate on the rink and follow-up with a drink in the Après Bar.
- Ride an incredible LED train at the Watercress Line’s Steam Illuminations and see the railway shine in a stunning light show.
- Embark on a festive 90 minute guided expedition and paddle in a canoe along the Beaulieu River to find Father Christmas with New Forest Activities.
- Step into a Narnia-inspired world at Christmas at Mottisfont with decorations and a family trail inspired by C. S. Lewis's beloved story: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
- Be enchanted by the Enlightened Winter Light Trail at Staunton Farm with the Staunton Farm transformed into a magical illuminated light trail.
- Prepare for the party season with a Christmas cocktail mixology session with Christmas at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery.
- Visit Winchester Science Centre and join Santa in Cosmic Christmas, a brand new live-action immersive family adventure. Watch as Santa and Aster, the intergalactic planetary elf, recreate their first mission to the International Space Station.
- Marvel at the traditional Christmas decorations inside the house, and explore The Glimmering Gardens at Chawton House as it comes to life in twinkling lights.
- Deck the halls with festive foliage and try your hand at wreath making with workshops at Proteus Creation Space, Chawton House, The Garden Society, or Gilbert White’s House.
- Ride the Festive Express at Exbury Gardens with a seasonal train ride in the New Forest.
- Pop open the local bubbly at the Vineyards of Hampshire Festive Fairy Lights & Fizz festive wine tasting event.
- Head to one of Hampshire’s Theatres for a traditional Christmas pantomime: The Wizard of Oz at Theatre Royal Winchester; Sleeping Beauty at New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth; Robin Hood at Groundlings Theatre, Portsmouth; Cinderella at the Kings Theatre, Portsmouth; and Goldilocks and the three bears at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.
- Get your skates on at Portsmouth on Ice where the city’s Guildhall Square is transformed into a winter wonderland.
- See beautiful owls fly under moonlight with the Evening Owls at Christmas at Hawk Conservancy Trust event.
- Get some fresh winter air with a Christmas Day or Boxing Day walk or countdown The Twelve Walks of Christmas in Hampshire.
See our full guide to what’s on this Christmas in Hampshire
See our guide to winter in Hampshire
Planning a Christmas break? Take a browse our huge range of accommodation. Hampshire has something for all budgets including hotels, bed and breakfasts, self-catering properties, and cosy traditional holiday cottages.
Looking for Christmas gift ideas? Give an unforgettable experience this Christmas with an Experience Hampshire gift voucher allowing the receiver to choose from a vast selection of activities from jam making to tree climbing, and underground vault tours of Southampton to vintage car hire around the New Forest.
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Join Marwell Zoo this winter for their magical Christmas light experience, Glow Marwell. This year's theme is an enchanted nature trail featuring brand new illuminations and immersive displays using more than 500,000 lights in a rainbow of colours. Venture through a 36 metre multicoloured light tunnel, gaze in wonder at a towering Enchanted Tree with fluttering butterflies, wander through colourful clouds projected overhead and meet some new animals brought to life in a magical Glow Forest. Plus, don't miss their premium nights where you'll come face to face with some spellbinding acts!
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market is recognised as one of the best in Europe. Taking place from 17th November – 21st December 2023, Winchester Cathedral's Christmas Market is renowned for its bustling atmosphere, stunning location and handpicked high quality exhibitors, which attracts visitors from around the world each year who come to shop at the pretty wooden chalets, situated within the historic grounds.
Ready to be enchanted? Join The Snowman™ and The Snowdog on a festive winter wander around some of Hampshire's most spectacular country parks.
Join The Snowman™ and The Snowdog on a festive winter wander around some of Hampshire's most spectacular country parks.
After an unforgettable transformation last year, the magnificent Sir Harold Hillier Gardens are set to shine bigger and brighter than ever before! Award winning producers, Light Up Trails return with a host of NEW glittering installations and amazing food and drink, completing a sensational, sensory feast!
Whether you're a Dancing on Ice champion, a total newbie or just about anything in between, you can be sure to find some festive euphoria on the surface of Southampton's real ice rink. The rink is held within the Esplanade, next to the Medieval Walls and Westquay South, which has been magically brought to life for the Christmas season.
Steam Illuminations is a unique Christmas, pixel mappable digital LED train! It's an incredible light show on and in a steam train, consisting of thousands of fully controllable colour mixing LED lights and LED wristbands. This makes the train look magical both inside and out.
Join New Forest Activities for a festive paddle on the Beaulieu River to find Santa this Christmas. Enjoy a 90 minute guided tour of the river's beautiful nature reserve, with the river offering up some of its more stunning sights on a fresh Winter's day. You'll set sail in stable and safe, Canadian style canoes with the added excitement that you'll be meeting Santa on the river in his boat full of Christmas gifts!
Step into a Narnia-inspired world at Mottisfont this winter, with decorations and a family trail inspired by C. S. Lewis's beloved story, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Enlightened returns to Staunton Farm in 2023! Enlightened 2023 will be the biggest, brightest, and boldest year yet with a trail bursting with even more interactive and immersive elements than ever before along with visitor favourites.
Begin your experience with a complimentary arrival cocktail, then you’ll be hosted by one of our Gin Experts in a fun and lively Christmas cocktail mixology session to make 3 cocktails using different expressions of our gin as well as sampling our range. We’ll serve light bites for you to enjoy before you take your final cocktail to the Mill Bar to savour with a mince pie. The Mill Bar will then be open for you to purchase drinks after your mixology session.
Santa is back in the Planetarium for Cosmic Christmas! Blast off on a live-action immersive festive space adventure for the whole family before meeting the man himself and getting a special Christmas gift.
After you have enjoyed the beautiful decorations in the House, explore the Gardens as they come to life in twinkling lights and spot the woodland creatures that call Chawton House home.
Come along to one of the Christmas Wreath workshops at Proteus and have a fun time creating your own masterpiece.
Get ready for a cosy Christmas at home by creating your own traditional festive wreath at Chawton House. No experience is necessary to take part in this fun, creative workshop.
Get into the festive spirit and create your own beautiful natural wreath using sustainable materials.
Join the Vineyards of Hampshire ten member vineyards on the evening of to discover, taste and purchase over twenty of the county’s finest sparkling and still wines.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Theatre Royal Winchester this Christmas, for a panto style production of The Wizard of Oz.
Join New Theatre Royal and Jordan Productions for its 2022 Christmas pantomime – Sleeping Beauty!
Will Robin save the day against the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham?
Join 'Search for Cinders' winner Michelle Antrobus on this magical tale packed to the brim with breath-taking special effects, scenery and live music. Fun for all the family, Cinderella has everything you can expect from a classic pantomime including sparkling costumes, hilarious jokes and plenty of audience participation.
The largest Theatre in the south, The Mayflower offers spectacular touring musicals - many direct from the West End - plus opera, ballet and comedy.
Get your skates on this festive season, as Portsmouth's Guildhall Square is transformed into a winter wonderland.
Come along to the Trust wrapped up warm, with a torch, and step out into the dark with the owls. The Hawk Conservancy Trust will be flying their awesome owls under moonlight at this magical time of year, with a few festive features to get you in the Christmas spirit!
