Christmas on the estate at Penshurst Place & Gardens

The festive season returns to Penshurst Place & Gardens with a programme of Christmas favourites across November and December. From hands-on wreath making and book folder workshops and special late-night shopping evening to the bumper Christmas Farmers Market and a family mini panto in the Baron’s Hall, visitors can enjoy seasonal experiences, a beautifully dressed Gift Shop, plentiful trees and wreaths, and winter warmers in the Porcupine Pantry Café.

Mini Panto in the Baron’s Hall – The Last N.O.E.L
Festive family fun arrives in the medieval Baron’s Hall with The Last N.O.E.L, a lively 25-minute mini panto packed with classic audience participation. Families can meet Father Christmas afterwards for a photo, and children take home a chocolate treat. Performances run weekends on 6–7 and 13–14 December 2025, with daily shows from 18–23 December, and include quiet SEN-friendly sessions on 7, 13 and 23 December. Tickets are £9 per person (adults and children). Booking: standard performances — https://events.liveit.io/penshurst-place-gardens/penshurst-place-presents-the-last-noel-mini-panto/  SEN-friendly performances — https://events.liveit.io/penshurst-place-gardens/penshurst-place-presents-the-last-noel-mini-pant-2/  Please note: tickets are for the panto only, the House and Gardens remain closed during this period (weather permitting, playground access is included).

NEW — Christmas Book Folding Workshop — festive creativity with a literary twist
New for 2025, enjoy a Christmas Book Folding Workshop — a cosy, creative evening in the Porcupine Pantry where guests can transform the pages of old books into beautiful festive ornaments.

Guided by Victoria from Bumble and Bloom Crafts, participants will create two folded-book designs – a Christmas tree and an angel – as well as a handmade tree decoration to take home, along with their own folding kit. Light refreshments including tea, coffee, mulled wine or spiced punch, and a mince pie are included.

Running on Tuesday 18 November and Tuesday 9 December, sessions include exclusive early access to the Gift Shop from 5pm–6pm with 15% off purchases, followed by the workshop from 6pm–8pm. Tickets are £50 per person, with places limited to ten per session. Booking: https://events.liveit.io/penshurst-place-gardens/christmas-book-folding-workshop/

Wreath Making Workshops – craft a door-ready classic
Back by popular demand, wreath-making returns with three dates to choose from in 2025. The evening workshops run on Wednesday 26 November, Thursday 27 November and Thursday 4 December, 6pm–8pm in the Porcupine Pantry Café.

Led by Penshurst’s talented florists, workshops include all materials and light refreshments (mulled wine, soft/hot drinks and a mince pie). Priced at £65 per person, ticket holders also enjoy exclusive early access to the Christmas Gift Shop from 5pm–6pm with 15% off purchases. Booking: https://events.liveit.io/penshurst-place-gardens/christmas-wreath-workshops-5/

Late-Night Christmas Shopping – one evening only
On Thursday 13 November, the Christmas Gift Shop will open after hours from 6pm–8pm for a relaxed browse of hand-picked decorations, cards and wrap, Jellycat stocking fillers, toys and games, candles, toiletries and homewares. Enjoy seasonal live music and festive tastings, with 15% off all purchases over £10. The adjoining Porcupine Pantry Café will be open for seasonal drinks and treats.

The Gift Shop — Your one-stop festive destination
Becoming a popular destination in its own right, visitors eagerly anticipate how the Christmas Gift Shop will be transformed each festive season. This year it has an Alice in Wonderland theme and is stocked with decorations, wrapping, cards, gifts, toys and seasonal food treats.

The Gift Shop’s usual Yuletide favourites include spiced spirits, Christmas puddings, pickles and sweets, as well as a selection of beautifully curated hampers themed to suit every taste. Next door, the Plant Centre has British-grown Christmas trees, festive plants and, using foliage collected from the estate, freshly made wreaths and mistletoe bunches.

After shopping, visitors can enjoy festive winter warmers and sweet treats in the Porcupine Pantry Café. With free parking on-site and easy access, it’s the perfect way to shop at leisure, and get ahead for Christmas while supporting local suppliers.

Forge Stores – A secret haven full of festive finds
A short stroll away in the village, Forge Stores offers a wide range of seasonal food and drink from local producers. Pre-orders for fresh Kentish turkeys are available alongside pantry essentials and gifting. For opening times and information visit https://www.penshurstplace.com/explore/eatshop/Forge-Stores

Bumper Christmas Farmers Market – Saturday 20 December
The much-loved extra Christmas edition of the Penshurst Farmers Market returns on 20 December, 9am–1pm, with a bumper supply of all the festive staples from regular stallholders plus specially selected pop-up craft traders. Located just outside Penshurst Place’s main visitor entrance, expect carol singing from Penshurst Choral Society, a visit from Father Christmas, and a delicious array of produce and gifts to peruse to add a flourish to Yuletide preparations.

Activities in listing format (date order):

One-Night-Only Christmas Shopping Event

• Date: Thursday 13 November
  · Time: 6pm–8pm
  ·       Location: Christmas Gift Shop and Porcupine Pantry Café
• Highlights: After-hours browse; seasonal live music & tastings; 15% off all purchases over £10; Pantry open for festive drinks and treats.

Christmas Book Folding Workshop

• Dates: Tuesday 18 November; Tuesday 9 December
• Time: 6pm–8pm (exclusive Gift Shop access 5pm–6pm with 15% off purchases)
• Highlights: Create two folded-book designs (Christmas tree & angel) plus a tree decoration; receive a folding kit to take home; mulled wine/spiced punch, tea/coffee and a mince pie included
• Price: £50 per person (10 places per session)

Wreath Making Workshops

• Dates: Wednesday 26 November; Thursday 27 November; Thursday 4 December
  · Time: 6pm–8pm (exclusive Gift Shop access 5pm–6pm with15% off purchases)
  ·       Location: Porcupine Pantry Café, Penshurst Place & Gardens
• Highlights: Florist-led evening sessions; mulled wine/hot drinks & a mince pie; exclusive 5–6pm Gift Shop access + 15% off purchases
• Price: £65 per person (includes materials and refreshments)
  · Booking: https://events.liveit.io/penshurst-place-gardens/christmas-wreath-workshops-5/

The Last N.O.E.L – Mini Panto

• Dates: 6–23 December 2025 (weekends 6–7 and 13–14 Dec; daily 18–23 )
• Times: Multiple showtimes daily (25 minutes per performance)
• Highlights: Mini panto, Father Christmas photo, chocolate treat for children; access to the adventure playground (weather permitting)
• Tickets: On sale now

—    Standard performances: https://events.liveit.io/penshurst-place-gardens/penshurst-place-presents-the-last-noel-mini-panto/

—    Quiet SEN-friendly performances: https://events.liveit.io/penshurst-place-gardens/penshurst-place-presents-the-last-noel-mini-pant-2/

• Price: £9.00 per person (adults and children)
• Note: Tickets are for the panto only. The House and Gardens remain closed during this period.

Christmas Gift Shop & Plant Centre

• Open daily, 9am–5pm except Christmas Day and Boxing Day
• Free parking on site
• Highlights: Alice in Wonderland themed; decorations, gifts, cards & wrap; British-grown Christmas trees; freshly made wreaths & estate mistletoe; festive planted arrangements.

Porcupine Pantry Café

• Open daily, 9am–5pm except Christmas Day and Boxing Day
• Free parking on site
• Highlights: Winter specials, sweet treats and speciality coffees/hot chocolates; open daily 9am–5pm; a handy pit-stop after shopping

Forge Stores

• Open daily, 9am–5pm except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year Day
• Location: village centre with adjoining free parking
• Highlights: Local seasonal produce; pre-order fresh Kentish turkeys; well-stocked festive pantry and gifting

Bumper Christmas Farmers Market

• Date: Saturday 20 December
  · Time: 9am–1pm
• Location: Main Visitor Car Park

·       Highlights: Special Christmas date; regular and pop-up festive stalls; visit from Father Christmas; carols by Penshurst Choral Society