Raby Castle to open for new Christmas experience for the first time in 50 years

13th October 2025

Raby Castle has created a festive package for groups, featuring the new Raby Castle at Christmas experience.

For the first time in fifty years, groups can visit the ground floor of the 14^th century castle which will be open to the public in the build up to Christmas.

This will be a chance for visitors to experience how the Vane family enjoyed Christmas at the Castle and see the rooms beautifully decorated as they would have been in the past, the family’s traditional gifts, flowers and sumptuous Christmas trees.

The new seasonal installation, designed by custodian and creative director, Lady Barnard, will allow visitors to step back in time to experience a traditional family Christmas at Raby Castle as it takes them through eight beautifully decorated rooms.

The event, which is full of photo opportunities, tells the story of Christmas Day, from the early morning thrill of opening a Christmas stocking to an evening of elegant dining and Christmas games, featuring an impressive table setting ready for a spectacular festive meal.

Emma Chalder, groups co-ordinator at Raby Estates said: “We understand that groups are on the lookout for something a little more unique to celebrate Christmas nowadays.

“With festive and breathtaking decorations, an array of photo opportunities and a heartwarming story that can be enjoyed at your own pace, our personal retelling of how Raby’s ancestors would have celebrated Christmas is a wonderful experience to enjoy and the perfect opportunity to get into the festive spirit.”

Groups can indulge in a post-tour festive afternoon tea featuring three tiers of seasonal delights. The Christmas treat will be hosted within The Vinery which boasts panoramic views of Raby Castle and will be beautifully decorated with festive greenery and twinkling lights.

For a full day out at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, groups can also enjoy perusing a beautifully curated selection of seasonal decorations, gifts and treats in Raby’s retail space, The Coach House, alongside a scenic walk throughout the Deer Park and soaking up the tranquil atmosphere in the re-modelled Walled Gardens.

The Raby Castle at Christmas experience and Festive Afternoon Tea package will be available from Saturday 22^nd November until Friday 19^th December and is £45 per person, with pricings based on groups of 16 or more.

Alternatively, the experiences can be booked separately. The Raby Castle at Christmas experience is £19 per person, and the Festive Afternoon Tea in The Vinery is £29.50 per person, with both pricings also based on groups of 16 or more.

Lady Barnard said: “I have had a wonderful time collecting these beautiful pieces from Christmas past as well as my present family traditions, bringing to life our personal and honest telling of how our ancestors would have celebrated the day right here at Raby Castle all those years ago.”

This special seasonal installation, available on selected dates from Saturday 22^nd November to Sunday 4^th January, will also include never-before-seen items from the collections at Raby Castle.

Lady Barnard added: “I have been discovering even more about Raby’s past and delving into cupboards to find bits and pieces which haven’t been seen in years. Our family would have made many of the decorations themselves and foraged in the grounds for foliage, and it’s been a pleasure emulating this beautiful and sustainable way of decorating.

“This is the first Christmas we’ll be decorating the castle and for those that know Raby will appreciate that working at such scale can be daunting, but the team and I have given it careful thought over the year and feel we have really complimented the essence of Raby. I’m also keen for it to have a personal touch for our visitors – that’s why my team and I will be dressing the rooms ourselves. I hope our visitors see the personal touches throughout.”

A bespoke introductory film, based on the format of the much-loved poem ‘’Twas the Night Before Christmas’, will also feature in the House Keeper’s Sitting Room to set the scene and tell the story of that period, before visitors embark on their journey through the rooms.

Julie Biddlecombe-Brown, curator at Raby Castle, said: “We’ve researched the Raby archives in detail to ensure our Christmas Day telling is as accurate as possible, focusing on the early 1900s. We’ve looked at the Christmas cards the family gave each other, the toys received by the three boys who lived at Raby at the time and their gifts to their parents, what the family would have eaten on the day and the type of wine that would have been served. We even have gift boxes with labels detailing who the present was from and the year, meaning we’re able to provide a truthful snapshot of the family’s festive experiences."

For tickets to Raby Castle at Christmas, visit: www.raby.co.uk/raby-castle/group-visits/.