A magical Christmas in Nottinghamshire

A trip to Nottinghamshire this Christmas will definitely leave you feeling merry! Here is my round-up of magical must-do Christmas events. There are also plenty of events taking place around Sherwood Forest, including visits from Santa Claus, festive markets and much more. Further details of what's coming up are available here. And don't forget you can find plenty more inspiration on our Christmas page. Christmas at Nottingham Castle Nottingham Castle will come alive and host some fantastic Christmas events for all the family. Visit Santa in the Castle’s beautifully decorated Bastion (13, 14, 20 & 21 December), enjoy a delightful high tea with a festive twist (13 & 14 December), and for one weekend only the Castle and its grounds will be FREE to enter from 11am – 3pm (13 – 14 December). Lustre, Lakeside Arts Centre: 15 – 16 November 2014 Lakeside will once again host Lustre, a prestigious event in the contemporary craft calendar which is the perfect opportunity for festive shoppers and serious collectors alike. The event features top quality work by selected UK designer makers and is a key diary date for anyone interested in discovering unique pieces of jewellery, textiles, ceramics, glass, wood and metalwork. Admission: Weekend admission £5; State pensioners £4; Under 16s FREE  Winter Wonderland, Old Market Square: 20 November 2014 – 4 January 2015 For a feast of festive fun, make your way to Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland this Christmas. The luxury Christmas market features 60 bespoke Victorian styled trading cabins with an array of quality Christmas gifts from local traders and craftspeople and mouth-watering treats, timber decked walkways, two winter bars, a bandstand, lots of authentic Christmas trees, and at the centre of it all, an outdoor ice rink which will be bigger and better than ever before! The Christmas Lights Switch-On will be on Friday 21 November 2014. It's free to walk around the Christmas Market! Fairy Grotto, D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum: 25 November 2014 Visit the birthplace of literary legend D.H. Lawrence this Christmas and make your way through the enchanted wood to meet the Christmas Fairy, plus for adults, mince pies and mulled wine will be available. This event is part of the Eastwood Lights Switch-On. Admission: £4 per child Sleeping Beauty, Nottingham Playhouse: 28 November 2014 – 17 January 2015 This Christmas, a magical family adventure awaits you at Nottingham Playhouse. Come prepared for laughs aplenty, glitter galore and thrilling musical numbers, everything you have come to love about Nottingham Playhouse pantomime. Will Sleeping Beauty live happily ever after with the handsome prince? Admission: From £22.50 – £29.50 The Christmas Art and Food Market and Harley Open Studios, Harley Gallery: 29 – 30 November 2014 Each market stall at the Christmas market has been selected by experts from The Harley Gallery and award-winning Welbeck Farm Shop, you are sure to find the perfect present, and at prices to suit all pockets. From traditional crafts to cutting edge design, top makers from across the country are coming to show off their work at the Art Market. Also on site, there will be a fabulous food market, focussing on local produce including beer, cheese, bread and chocolates made on the Welbeck Estate. This event is FREE! Santa Specials, Great Central Railway, Ruddington: 29 November – 21 December 2014 (weekends only) and 24 December 2014 Always popular with children, all-aboard a steam-train journey through the scenic Nottinghamshire countryside, with Father Christmas. All children receive a quality gift during their journey and everyone will receive seasonal refreshments. Admission: From £10 - £18 – booking is essential Abbey Christmas, Newstead Abbey: 29 & 30 November and 5, 6 & 7 December 2014 T his Christmas, experience the magic of a truly traditional Christmas at Newstead Abbey, once home to the great romantic poet Lord Byron. Part of Abbey Christmas, rooms will sparkle with Christmas lights and be decorated with impressive floral displays by local florists and Father Christmas will be greeting children in his magical grotto. What’s more, between 23 December – 3 January 2015, visitors can join the magical Christmas trail around Newstead’s beautifully decorated gardens. Admission for Abbey Christmas: FREE parking, adult entrance into the house £5; child entrance into the house £2 (Under 14); there will be an additional charge to visit Father Christmas. Admission for A Very Merry Newstead: Trail cost is £1. Snow White, Theatre Royal Nottingham: 6 December 2014 – 11 January 2015 Join the swashbuckling line-up at this year’s Snow White at one of the most beautiful Victorian theatres in Britain. With Birds of a Feather star, Lesley Joseph playing the Wicked Queen and EastEnders heart-throb and Dancing on Ice 2011 champion, Sam Attwater, as the Prince, it’s a family tradition not to be missed! Admission: From £15 - £31.50 A Victorian Workhouse Christmas, The Workhouse: 5 & 6 December 2014 Join the staff and paupers as they prepare to celebrate Christmas in The Workhouse. Sing carols with the pauper choir, listen to stories of Workhouse life and enjoy children’s crafts, gift stalls and seasonal refreshments. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/workhouse-southwell Admission: Adult £5, child £2.50 – booking is essential Yuletide Wollaton Tudor Christmas Celebrations, Wollaton Hall & Deer Park: 6 – 7 December 2014 Experience a true Tudor Christmas at Wollaton Hall; meet the Lord of Misrule, taste warm mead and tasty food at the food festival and enjoy music and merriment. What’s more, for this weekend only, it will be FREE to enter the house. Christmas at the School of Artisan Food: 27 November and 7, 8 & 15 December 2014 This Christmas, experience new festive catering skills at the School of Artisan Food, the UK’s only not-for-profit school dedicated to artisan food. Discover the art of Christmas Baking (7 & 15 December), create your very own homemade Christmas Preserves for the festive season and beyond (8 December), or  learn how to to prepare a traditional three bird roast on this special festive demonstration evening (27 November). Christmas Baking: £165 Christmas Preserves: £145 Festive Three Bird Roast: £45 A Victorian Christmas, Framework Knitters Museum: 13 December 2014 Start your Christmas celebrations at the Framework Knitters Museum and step back in time and explore a magical Victorian setting. Enjoy family festive fun, traditional music, food and activities and visit Santa in his grotto, with gifts for all, for a magical day to remember. This event is FREE!