The festive season is fast approaching and in order to celebrate the “most wonderful time of the year” Historic Royal Palaces has a range of events that will be perfect to instill some of the festive spirit. From ice rinks to carol singing, there is something for everyone at the Historic Royal Palaces this year.
Hampton Court Palace will be celebrating the holiday season with a series of Christmas-themed entertainment and activities. Included on the festive programme including a special Elizabethan Christmas, caroling in the courtyards. Visitors to Hampton Court Palace can take a turn on the ice at the famous Hampton Court ice rink, which will be open between the 24th November and 7th January.
The BBC Good Food’s Festive Feast is also returning to Historical Royal Palaces site, with more than 50 stalls of mouthwatering food from a range of handpicked producers. The stalls will fill the palace’s historical courtyards, as will the Christmas Music Weekend, taking place on the 16th and 17th of December, and filling the air with traditional carols as well as hymns in the Great Hall of the palace.
On selected dates throughout the festive period, visitors will be able to enjoy an Elizabethan Christmas, with Tudor-style courtyard entertainment as well as live music and dance, transporting visitors to a 1592 Christmas with Elizabeth I and her court. The Tudor Queen herself will also be in residents during these celebrations.
The Tower of London will also have an ice rink, in the famous dry moat and with Medieval Christmas festivities between 27th and the 31st of December. Kensington Palace will also be offering Victorian Christmas celebrations running throughout, with a 25 ft. Christmas tree, amazing lanterns and a display filled with illuminated Victorian scenes. On December the 16th there will be a Funtastic Saturday that will offer children the chance to hear Christmas stories and make their own Victorian puppet theatre. There is also a historical section depicting the traditional features of a Christmas table and how they became part of the popular celebration. There will also be Live Music on offer in the Queen’s State Apartments between Christmas and New Year which will fill the site with traditional festive music.
