Christmas fun at top venues

Each of the city council’s heritage sites is ready to welcome visitors over the festive season with decorated and lantern lit halls, seasonal trails, Santa and the chance to indulge in some tasty refreshments and Christmas gifts.

Heritage Christmas kicks off at Newstead with a truly traditional Christmas on December 4-6. Rooms in the magnificent historic house will sparkle with Christmas lights and be decorated with impressive floral displays and garlands and the craft fair in the cloisters is a great chance to pick up perfect last minute Christmas gifts. The site is open at weekends from 11am-4pm with last admission at 3pm.

Visitors can also experience the abbey at night. On December 4, from 2-7pm (last admission 6pm), there is a rare chance to enjoy the decorations after dark.

All these events cost £5 per person with under 16s free. Children can also visit Santa for £3. Parking is included in the ticket price.

There will be Christmas events at Wollaton Hall on December 12-13 and December 19-20, 11am-3pm, when there will be a Christmas craft fair in the Yard Gallery for a chance to find a beautiful present for friends and family. There will also be costumed guided tours of the hall. Entry is free. Children can visit Santa for £3.

On December 11 (5-8pm) there will be an atmospheric lantern lit open evening. The halls will be decked with holly and visitors can enjoy a rare opportunity to visit the Tudor kitchens after dark. Adults £5, children £3.

From 21 December to 3 January, visitors to Wollaton can take part in a Snowflake Walk in the formal gardens and lower courtyards. Between 10am and 12pm, there will be a chance to make beautiful winter crafts.

Christmas at the Castle begins with free entry over the weekend of December 12-13, when there will be a traditional Christmas Craft Fair, Santa in the Bastion between 10am-12pm and 1-3pm and a children’s trail around the castle. It is £3 to see Santa. Santa will also be at the castle on December 19-20 at the same times.

From December 27-January 3, when all the festivities are over, the castle is offering a lovely opportunity to children to say thank you, with the chance to make a card for someone special, from 2-4pm.

There is more information at www.newsteadabbey.org.uk, www.nottinghamcastle.org.uk and www.wollatonhall.org.uk