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Christmas celebrations, winter light trails, and festive markets – there’s so much to enjoy in Hampshire during the most wonderful time of the year. Here are our top picks of what’s happening in Hampshire this December.
Skate at Westquay on Ice, Southampton - Visit Hampshire
24 October 2025 – 4 January 2026
Westquay on Ice in Southampton continues throughout December for its annual skating experience beneath the backdrop of the city’s medieval walls.
The perfect place for a fun day out with friends and family, there are also plenty of shops and restaurants at Westquay to make for a full festive day out.
Southampton Christmas Market
13 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
Eat, drink, and be merry at the Southampton Christmas Market. Browse the alpine chalet stalls, hop on a ride, take in the view from the UK’s tallest Ferris wheel, visit Santa’s Workshop, and don’t miss the light projection show illuminating the historic Bargate every evening.
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
21 November – 22 December
Nowhere spreads Christmas cheer quite like Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market with its wooden chalets twinkling with their festive wares and warm scents of mulled wine filling the air.
Christmasville at Gunwharf Quays
21 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
A new immersive experience for 2025, the pop-up ApolloDomes at Gunwharf Quays will become Christmasville throughout December – a magical new experience including 'The Elf Emporium' immersive theatre, a Santa’s grotto with meet Father Christmas chances for children and 'Confession Sessions with Santa' for naughty grown-ups, 'The Pine Picturehouse' showing vintage Christmas films in the evenings, and 'The Bauble Bar' serving festive-themed food and warming drinks.
Portsmouth On Ice
22 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
Returning for Christmas, Portsmouth on Ice will transform the city’s Guildhall Square into a winter wonderland with its 646sqm ice rink.
This firm festive favourite is a great place for a family slide outside, with push-along penguins to help the little ones find their skating feet.
Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens at Christmas
27 November 2025 – 3 January 2026
Returning for a fourth year, a new resplendent rendition of Light Up at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens will again add a new depth of winter colour to the beautiful gardens near Romsey.
A breathtaking array of glittering installations will lead visitors around eight reimagined zones on this magical trail and, on selected evenings, see animated projections by world-famous artists, a brand new laser light show and immersive Bubble Zone by the magical wish pond.
Glow Marwell at Marwell Zoo
28 November 2025 – 3 January 2026 (selected dates)
Glow Marwell returns for another incredible illumination experience to round off 2025 in glimmering gorgeousness.
Synonymous with Marwell’s conservation core, follow the enchanted nature light trail through a magical world of breathtaking new displays, including fluorescent animals and glowing sculptures shining in spectacular colours.
Steam Illuminations at the Watercress Line
28 November 2025 – 4 January 2026 (selected dates)
Neon nostalgic steam trains? See the locomotives of the Watercress Line as you’ve never seen them before at the Steam Illuminations, when the traditional trains get a modern makeover and are adorned with LED lights inside and out.
With train-tertainment including the Christmas Chart Crackers DJ mix up and New Year Pop Anthems, interactive LED wrist bands, and onboard karaoke, this is one unmissable festive light party!
A Celebration of Christmas at Paultons Park
6 December 2025 – 3 January 2026 (selected dates)
Paultons Park is transformed into a winter wonderland every December with decorations and illuminations lighting up Peppa Pig World and Tornado Springs and the Marvellous Musical Christmas Tree putting on its own light show every 15 minutes.
Father Christmas will be the star of the Paulton’s festive performance with plenty of seasonal singing, dancing, and fun in Santa's Christmas Wish Show! Also featuring Billy and Belinda the elves, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph the Reindeer. Visitors can also book an exclusive meet and greet with Santa as an add-on experience.
A Palace House Christmas at Beaulieu
29 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
New for 2025, this festive experience at the home of the National Motor Museum will see Beaulieu’s Palace House spruced up in full pantomime style.
The story of pantomime will be told through a series of theatrical installations taking visitors on a magical journey around the stately rooms bedecked with immersive soundscapes, decorations galore and multi-colour projections.
Cosmic Christmas at Winchester Science Centre
6 December 2025 – 23 December 2025
Always guaranteed to be a blast, Santa will be back at Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium this December with the return of Cosmic Christmas. The experience includes an immersive festive space adventure with live science, magical effects, and a Planetarium show, followed by a meet and greet with Santa himself.
There’s also a chance to catch a Christmas movie in the planetarium with Starlight Cinema evenings on selected dates.
Jane Austen’s Birthday Celebration Week at Jane Austen's House
13 December 2025 – 21 December 2025
As the Hampshire author reaches her big birthday of 250 years on 16 December 2025, her home in Chawton will be celebrating with a week of special festivities at both the House and online at Jane Austen's Virtual Birthday Party.
A Pantomime Christmas at Hinton Ampner
15 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
Step into the scenes of classic pantomimes this Christmas at Hinton Ampner. Each ground floor room will reveal a scene from a famous panto, from Jack and the Beanstalk to Aladdin and Snow White, brought to life with professional light effects, sound, and a sprinkle of fairy dust. Outside are panto-themed games for kids, a sleigh for little ones and Hinton's popular pop-up sweet shop.
A Fairytale Christmas at The Vyne
22 November 2025 – 5 January 2026
There will be a dusting of fairytale magic at The Vyne near Basingstoke this Christmas with sparkling decorations and an interactive family trail in The Vyne's house and gardens – look out for Rapunzel's golden braid cascading from one of The Vyne's lofty towers and keep your eyes peeled for Little Red Riding Hood's wolf lurking in the Further Drawing Room.
A Cinderella Christmas at Mottisfont
22 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
A new enchanting event at Mottisfont near Romsey has transformed the house and gardens into a fairytale with a Cinderella Christmas at Mottisfont.
Inside the house, follow the pantomime-inspired story of Cinderella throughout the rooms complete with sparkling ballgowns, colourful displays and gorgeous ginormous Christmas trees.
Outside in the gardens, find the garden games and photo opportunities with a Cinderella-twist.
Meet Father Christmas at Milestones
22 November – 21 December (selected dates)
Meet Father Christmas in his magical grotto at Milestones in Basingstoke, tucked within the heart of the living history museum's charming, decorated indoor streets.
You can also pick up the perfect presents for under the tree on 6 and 7 December at the Milestones Christmas Market, and on 13 December, Carols by Candlelight will bring full festive joy.
Santa's Grotto at The Great Hall
29 November – 23 December
Quite possibly the most jaw-dropping setting to see Father Christmas, the Great Hall in Winchester is welcoming Santa and his elves back this Christmas.
Share a magical moment with Santa and his elf in the magical setting of The Great Hall Grotto, with a gift for the children to take home.
Winterfest at Mill Rythe Coastal Village and Sandy Balls Holiday Village
21 November – 24 December
Stays at Away Resorts’ Mill Rythe Coastal Village and Sandy Balls Holiday Village in December will look a lot like Christmas with Winterfest.
Mill Rythe will have an enchanting Christmas Post Office, where little ones can write and send their letters to Santa and enlist in Santa's Sleigh Team, and at Sandy Balls, the Forest of Light will turn the trees into a magical woodland wonderland.
Search for more events in Hampshire
Christmas markets in Hampshire
Winter illuminations in Hampshire
Where to see Father Christmas in Hampshire
Fancy a December getaway? Take a look at our huge range of accommodation. Hampshire has something for all budgets including hotels, bed and breakfasts, self-catering properties, and cosy traditional holiday cottages.
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