Christmas returns to Auckland Palace with an expanded festive food experience

26th November 2025

Christmas is returning to Auckland Palace in Bishop Auckland, bringing with it an expanded festive food experience for visitors to enjoy throughout the season.

From indulgent afternoon teas in Bishop’s Kitchen to festive tapas at El Castillo and street food in Santa’s Village, this year’s celebrations promise to make Auckland Palace a destination for delicious food as well as festive fun.

At the heart of the Palace - which will be dressed for the season with garlands, glittering trees and themed decorations - the meticulously restored medieval Bishop’s Kitchen will offer visitors a new festive menu launching on Friday 21st November. It will comprise hearty soups, artisan pies, sandwiches, and cakes, alongside Festive Afternoon Tea, served daily from 12–3 pm and featuring firm favourites, including turkey and stuffing, cheese and pickle, and mini prawn cocktail sandwiches, as well as warm festive scones and indulgent sweet treats. Guests can also upgrade to a High Tea with Prosecco.

Another highlight will be the Festive Cheese Board, featuring a selection of local cheeses served with grapes, Christmas cake, crackers, and The Auckland Project’s own spiced apple and pear chutney.

This year, AGLOW, the 1.5-mile festive light trail through Auckland Palace grounds, will also feature an expanded range of festive food options as Santa’s Village will be transformed into a lively festive food hub filled with wooden cabins serving stone-baked pizzas from Bute Pizza Co., and bratwurst sausages and chicken schnitzel from Edelwurst Catering.

Guests can also visit Reindeer’s Rest to indulge in an array of artisan pies served with mash and gravy, with the option to add mushy peas. There will also be deliciously crispy roast potatoes and Walled Garden winter vegetable soup with a mini cheese scone. For something sweet, there is Crumble Cabin, serving apple or winterberry crumble or a rich chocolate brownie, served with custard. Families can also toast marshmallows over the fire pits.

New for 2025 is Twinkling Tipi, which will take pride of place in the Palace’s Arrivals Court, offering a warm welcome with mulled wine, cider, beer, and rich hot chocolate. Also, Coco Corner will be serving a range of hot drinks and festive biscuits.

Across the Market Place, El Castillo, the Palace’s Spanish tapas restaurant, will offer a festive menu with dishes such as Spanish-spiced roast lamb with trimmings, Lomo de Bacalao – a silky confit cod – and Calabaza Asada, a roasted squash dish inspired by traditional tapas. For younger diners, the Niños Tapas Tower lets them build their own feast, choosing one main hero and two tapas, including options like bravas, croquettes, calamari, or mini paella.

Simon Wright, Director of Food and Beverage at The Auckland Project, said: “Food is such an important part of the festive experience, and this year we’ve really expanded what’s on offer across the estate to pair perfectly with a day out at Christmas at Auckland Palace or an evening exploring AGLOW.

“Whether it’s festive afternoon tea and cheese boards in Bishop’s Kitchen, tapas with a seasonal twist at El Castillo, or street food and mulled wine at AGLOW, there’s something for everyone.”

Cheryl Durkin, Head of Events and Programming at The Auckland Project, said: “We’re delighted to bring AGLOW and Christmas at Auckland Palace back for another year. The events have become a real festive tradition for families across the region, and the Palace and its grounds provide the perfect setting for a magical Christmas experience.”

AGLOW will once again transform the grounds of Auckland Palace into a spectacular light trail from 21 November to 31 December 2025 (excluding Christmas Day). Now in its third year, the event has become a much-loved North East tradition, featuring more than 24 large-scale illuminations, a 100-metre tunnel of lights, and one of the tallest Christmas trees in the region, standing at 32 metres.

Tickets for AGLOW start at £13.50, while entry to Christmas at Auckland Palace is included with a Bishop’s Key or Christmas at Auckland Palace ticket, which starts from £6.00. With high demand expected, families are encouraged to book early to avoid missing out.

Free parking, accessible routes, sensory sessions, and festive food and drink ensure every detail is covered for a special family day out. Visitors are encouraged to contact the team at enquiries@aucklandproject.org for help choosing the most suitable ticket option.