Christmas

London

Lewisham

Join Father Christmas at Eltham Palace this winter for a magical way to start the festive season.

Father Christmas is taking time out of his busy festive schedule to tell some of his favourite seasonal stories around the Christmas tree. After the group storytelling session, you and your children will meet the man himself, with the chance to take photographs and make memories to treasure. Father Christmas will also give every child a traditional present to unwrap.

To make sure there’s room for everyone, only one adult is allowed to accompany each child. Father Christmas needs to start the sessions on time, so please arrive at least 15 minutes before your slot.

Sessions will take place at 10.20am, 11.00am, 11.40am, 12.20pm, 13:40pm, 14.20pm, 15:00pm.

Quiet Sessions with Father Christmas will take place on Sunday 30 November at 10.20am and Saturday 6 December at 3pm. Quiet Sessions are aimed at visitors who will benefit from a more relaxed visit with Father Christmas. During these sessions, there will be reduced capacity, allowing for more time, and a calmer experience. This includes the group storytelling session and a small present.

Discover what else is happening during Festive Fun weekends at Eltham Palace and Gardens.

Father Christmas At Eltham Palace

Double Vision brings together two paintings both known as The Guitar Player. One painting, a treasure from Kenwood’s Iveagh Bequest, is signed by the great Johannes Vermeer (1632-75). The origin of the other, on loan from the John G. Johnson Collection at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA, remains a mystery.

Philadelphia’s painting depicts the same young woman playing a guitar, but with a number of small differences. Thought to be by Vermeer by John G. Johnson who bought the picture and eventually gave it to the city of Philadelphia, the question of who painted it and when has been the subject of intense debate for the past 100 years.

This new display, marking the 350th anniversary of Vermeer’s death aged 43 in 1675, sees the paintings side by side for the first time in over 300 years.

Double Vision:

Join us at Wrest Park for an exhibition commemorating 80 years since the end of the Second World War and to celebrate the people who worked here during that time.

Discover our history in a temporary display and enjoy volunteer-led talks. The displays will feature information about the WAAFS and links with Bletchley Park, The Home Guard and the Women’s Land Army.

Join us in the Library for free talks on 8, 9, 16 November at 1.30pm.

On 15 November a World War Two Choir will perform in the Dining Room.

Included in admission price to Wrest Park.

Book early and save 15%.

Second World War Exhibition At Wrest Park

Come to Marble Hill and learn about our trees and the work we've done in regard to trees across the park! Our wonderful guides will lead you around Marble Hill Park, showing you our wonderful collection of trees!

   Meet at the cafe at 1pm.

  This event runs every 2nd Friday of the Month.

Tree Tour At Marble Hill

Start the weekend energised with a spot of Community Yoga amongst the backdrop of Marble Hill and it's surroundings! Community based event, meet on the Oval Lawn (Behind House towards River) at 8am.

Community Yoga

Join us for an exclusive experience down Greenwell Pit, a mining pit in its original archaeological state that is only open for access by special arrangement ten times a year. Join expert Dickon Whitewood for a talk on the archaeology and history of the site, then take an exclusive descent into the Greenwell Pit itself, escorted by trained members of the site team.

This tour is graded as challenging access. Descent into the pit will require harnesses and a period of time spent underground in low light, uneven terrain, and surrounding some may find claustrophobic. Maximum weight for the winch system is 300lbs (136kg).

Members' Event:

We can't wait to see you all this year for our 5th annual hand craft fair in partnership with Hampshire Cultural Trust! Enjoy festive market stalls from over 50 crafters, as well as music, food, and drinks at our lovely and historic fortress.

Entrance to the fair is free. Car parking is available on site for £2 per car.

Under 16's must be accompanied by an adult and dogs on leads are welcome.

While you're here, why not visit Santa's Grotto where you can write your Christmas letter and meet the big man himself? £5 per child, lots of time slots to pick from!

Santa's Grotto tickets can be pre booked on Eventbrite:

https://bit.ly/3L1W5TK

Festive Fair At The Fort

Visit our kitchen garden, where we have a selection of fresh produce for sale. All produce is grown by our volunteer kitchen gardeners, and proceeds support our beautiful house and gardens.

Expect to find fresh vegetables, cut flowers, and other seasonal produced.

Our Kitchen Garden is in the northeast corner of the park, by the sports block.

Card payments only.

The Kitchen Garden At Marble Hill

Free outdoor sessions to help you feel better, move more, connect with nature, and meet new people—no gym needed!

Come and join us for relaxed, friendly group movement sessions at Dover's Western Heights.

Hike, stretch, breathe, run, and enjoy nature together. It’s all about feeling good in your body and mind, with no pressure and no cost.

Sessions are led by Primal Runners – friendly coaches trained to support all abilities and backgrounds.

  WHO?

Everyone is welcome—especially if you:

Feel stressed, lonely, or stuck indoors

Want to get moving but don’t like gyms

Are new to Dover or new to speaking English

Just want to try something different

Please note: These are active sessions. The walk to the Western Heights is steep and requires good mobility. If you have any questions about accessibility, please get in touch. We're happy to help you work out if the sessions will be suitable for you.

  WHAT?

Each session includes:

A welcome chat

A walk or run through nature

Simple body movement (no equipment needed)

Breathing and calming exercises

Time to talk, share, and connect

No experience or fancy gear is needed. Just wear some trainers and comfortable clothes to move in.

  WHERE?

Meet us at The Rings in Dover's Market Square. We’ll head up to the Western Heights together.

There is pay-and-display parking available in Dover town centre. The nearest railway station is Dover Priory, a 5-minute walk from the Market Square, and Stagecoach buses stop nearby in Pencester Road and Priory Street.

Postcode | CT16 1NU

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  WHEN?

All sessions run from 10am - 2pm on the following dates:

Autumn 2025

Spring 2026

Sun 7 Sep 2025 Sun 15 Mar 2026

Sun 28 Sep 2025 Sun 29 Mar 2026

Sun 12 Oct 2025 Sun 19 Apr 2026

  THIS EVENT IS PART OF ENGLISH HERITAGE'S REACHING GREATER HEIGHTS PROJECT.

Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Reaching Greater Heights is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to restore historic chalk grasslands at Dover Castle and Western Heights, protect rare wildlife and heritage, and empower local communities through volunteering, learning, and activities.

Heights Not Weights:

Join Saraband in Kenwood’s Music Room for an intimate concert to celebrate Vermeer’s The Guitar Player.

For the first time, Vermeer’s painting is on display at Kenwood alongside its mysterious ‘twin’ – a version of the painting belonging to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which may or may not also be by the Dutch master.

Saraband specialise in 17th and 18th century music, and their brilliant guitarist Johan Löfving has an instrument identical to the one in the painting. He will play pieces that were popular with wealthy Dutch women in the late seventeenth century – and which may have been known to the subject of Vermeer’s painting.

The whole quartet will then delve into the wider musical scene of Vermeer’s time, with music from Italy, France and England, as well as popular Dutch tunes that the artist may well have heard in the tavern in which he was brought up.

The 45-minute performances are seated, and feature identical programmes. Each has a capacity of just 30, so booking is essential.

Vermeer’S Guitar Player- A Concert By Saraband At Kenwood

Join English Heritage historian Will Wyeth at Stokesay Castle for a guided tour exploring the life of Laurence of Ludlow, the castle’s rich history, and its updated interpretation scheme.

Built in 1291, Stokesay remains one of the best-preserved late-13th-century aristocratic residences in England. The tour will highlight the castle’s architecture, landscape and historical significance.

This tour is graded as challenging access due to a large number of winding narrow steps and uneven terrain.

Enjoy the fresh air, pleasant surroundings, and community spirit of Marble Hill with our weekly Community Walk. The experience is led by our volunteers and is free to attend with no pre-booking requirement.

Meet outside the Coach House Café.

Community Walk At Marble Hill

From thrilling action sequences to the enchanting world of Bridgerton, join our friendly guides as they lead you through Wrest Park to discover the iconic locations where some of the most memorable scenes were filmed.

Afterwards, indulge in a delightful afternoon tea in the elegant dining room featuring a selection of sandwiches, savoury bites, homemade scones and tasty sweet treats.

Book via the 'Book tickets' button below with prices starting at £24.95 per adult and £13.95 per child.

Film Tour And Afternoon Tea At Wrest Park

English Heritage

English Heritage cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites - from world-famous prehistoric sites to grand medieval castles, from Roman forts on the edges of the empire to a Cold War bunker. 

Through these, we bring the story of England to life for over 10 million people each year. 

Father Christmas At Eltham Palace

English Heritage

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