Getting festive at the Mansion


Make the festive season special this year with Christmas at Christchurch Mansion. Several activities will be running during December, beginning with festive fun from 10.30am – 3.30pm on Saturday 10th and 11am – 3.30pm on Sunday 11th December. 

There will be free craft activities for children, along with singing and dancing. Ipswich Choral Society will perform carols at 11am on each day and on the Saturday, Colchester Historical Dancers will dazzle visitors with Tudor dancing at 2pm.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without Santa himself! Children will have an opportunity to meet Father Christmas in his grotto on Saturday 17th, Sunday 18th, or Monday 19th December. Following a group Christmas storytime, each child will enjoy a short visit with Father Christmas and receive a special gift. Grotto sessions designed specifically for under threes are now also available. Make the most of the day and discover the rest of the Mansion, enjoying the decorated Christmas trees and festive music. There will also be drop-in festive craft activities and a Christmas trail. Meet Father Christmas is a popular event – so booking online in advance is essential!

Christchurch Mansion have added a new offer to their Christmas festivities, with the opportunity to receive a personalised message from Father Christmas for just £5. Just send in details of your child’s name and festive wishes, and you will receive a secure link to your personalised video to make their Christmas extra magical.

Plus, there is lots more to see at Christchurch Mansion, including the Landscape Rebels exhibition in the Wolsey Art Gallery. The exhibition explores how human impacts, including the climate crisis, have changed our landscape. Bringing together artworks from the Ipswich collection and museum objects, the displays consider what we can do to help our environment. The exhibition includes Turner’s renowned Walton Bridges painting, as well as two Monet works on loan from The National Gallery. 

Visit ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk/events to find out more about all the events and for ticket booking.