Christmas at Cliveden: The Nutcracker

Stroll beneath sparkling bauble arches with oversized candy canes inspired by the Sugar Plum Fairy's land of sweets. Wander through the Long Garden where giant Nutcracker soldiers stand guard, and discover a twinkling scene through the golden gates of the Sounding Chamber.

With decorated Christmas trees dressed in sparkling splendour and festive treats to enjoy, this is Cliveden at its most magical.

Enjoy a warming hot chocolate or mince pie at the Conservatory Café, and browse our winter range in the gift shop, along with seasonal finds in our second-hand bookshop.

Marshmallow toasting returns this Christmas 

Back by popular demand, the Marshmallow Toasting Company returns to Cliveden this festive season. From 6 December 2025 to 4 January 2026 (selected dates), gather around the glowing firepits near Clara’s Café and toast giant, fluffy marshmallows as part of your festive adventure. 

Selected dates and times: 

• Sat 6 Dec & Sun 7 Dec: 11am–4pm
• Thurs 11 Dec & Fri 12 Dec: 11am–6pm
• Sat 13 Dec & Sun 14 Dec: 11am–4pm
• Thurs 18 Dec & Fri 19 Dec: 11am–6pm
• Saturday 20 Dec – Sun 4 Jan*: 11am – 4pm (*excluding 24, 25, 26, 31 Dec and 1 Jan)

Each toasting stick includes three delicious marshmallows for £5 — a cosy treat to make your visit sparkle even more this Christmas. 

The Cliveden Estate is closed on 24 and 25 December. In addition to this, Marshmallow toasting will be closed on 26, 31 December and 1 January.

Christmas children’s crafting sessions

Festive crafting sessions will take place on Tuesday 16, Wednesday 17, Thursday 18, Monday 22, Tuesday 23, Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 December, from 11am to 1pm. Sprinkle some Christmas magic into your visit with a drop-in craft activity where children can create their own Nutcracker or Sugar Plum Fairy to take home and treasure. A suggested donation of £3 applies, and sessions run on selected dates between 16 and 31 December.

Visitors are invited to enjoy a joyful crafting experience inside the enchanting Doll’s House at Cliveden. These relaxed, family-friendly sessions are designed especially for children, though everyone is welcome to take part. Please note that all children’s crafting activities are volunteer dependent.

The meeting point for the event is the Doll’s House Café at the back of the Water Garden. Although the Doll’s House is indoors, we recommend dressing suitably for the winter weather. Dogs are not permitted inside the Doll’s House Café. There is a ramp and a small step into the building to support accessibility. Standard admission to Cliveden applies in addition to the suggested donation for the craft session.

Standard admission applies, check the website for admission prices.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/cliveden

Please note that Cliveden Estate is closed on 24 and 25 December.

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Host or Publisher Cliveden National Trust