Christmas With the UK National Trust

Imagine childhood images of Christmas, picture books, movies and greeting cards and chances are you'll be thinking about Christmas with the National Trust because these are the kinds of settings and houses that are The National Trust's stock in trade. As one of the UK's most important organizations for the protection and preservation of its stately homes, historic houses, important landscapes and gardens, the National Trust maintains dozens of 16th, 17th and 18th century manors, Victorian and Edwardian country estates. It's hard to imagine more appropriate settings for gigantic Christmas trees, punch bowls full of mulled wine, Christmas music and all the other festive elements of the holiday season.

Spending Christmas with the National Trust

The National Trust agrees and, every year many of its most important homes and landscapes are open for special events throughout the holiday season. There are decorating and Christmas cooking workshops, late night gift shopping, Christmas concerts and special meals, Dickens readings and lots of twinkling, decorated houses and gardens.

Here are just a few of the 2008 highlights. (Hint: Click on the "Events at this Property" links at each website for full details):

• The Shugborough Estate. Candelit Christmas Evenings. The Staffordshire estate becomes a winter wonderland. The Mansion House and Servants' Quarters are candlelit and decorated with flowers, holly and traditional trimmings. Costumed characters will tell the story of Christmases past amid a festival of music and entertainment.
• Clandon Park Christmas Carol evenings with the Epsom Chamber Choir at the 18th century Palladian mansion in Surrey.
• Chastleton House, in Oxfordshire stages Christmas decorating workshops. Learn tips about using natural materials while decorating a 400-year-old family home for Christmas.
• Trerice in Cornwall. Decorations in the Great Hall, Christmas shopping, holiday treats in the tea room, daily holiday entertainment and weekend craft workshops for kids.
• Polesden Lacey "Mrs. Greville's House at Christmas." The Queen's parents honeymooned here. Lavish Edwardian decorations and costumed volunteers and staff welcome visitors to the holidays as they might have been celebrated by one of the house's famous hostesses.
• Castle Ward, Co. Down, Northern Ireland Santa and the Missus hold forth by the open fire with mince pies and mulled wine for grownups, nice presents for the kids.
• The Christmas Garland at Cotehele Decorations in the Hall and a welcoming log fire at this Tudor house in Cornwall.
• Killerton A Very Green Christmas workshop and lunch at this 18th century Devon house. Make recycled candles, hedgerow wreaths and other stylish decorations with a local designer.
• Ickworth House Festive Foods workshop at the Suffolk property. Make shortbread, cinnamon nuts, homemade mincemeat, whiskey truffles.
• Speke Hall Celebrate a Victorian Christmas at Liverpool's famous black and white, half-timbered estate.Victorian decorations, tours, craft displays, carols, children's activities, food and drink.
• Birmingham's Back-to-Backs Dressing the Houses for Christmas. Join in making wreaths, garlands and paper chains to decorate this unusual landmark - a fully restored courtyard of 19th century working people's houses.
• Moseley Old Hall , in Staffordshire. Swags, Wreaths and Pudding Stir. Make traditional, 17th century decorations and help give the Christmas pudding a stir in this Elizabethan house with connections to Charles II.

Find out what's on during Christmas with the National Trust all over the UK