Holidays are coming… Enjoy a festive pre-Christmas stay at Heacham Manor

All that glitters…

Our Scandi cousins are masters at using lights to cheer the darker winter months, and we’re catching on too with a number of light festivals and trails to explore here in Norfolk. Just 10 minutes’ drive from Heacham Manor, Luminate Sandringham is a magical light show which runs from 21 November to 24 December. Set over nearly a mile of the Royal Estate’s woodland trails, the displays include magical fairies, marshmallow toasting, horse riding, Christmas trees and a vintage funfair.

Further afield, Thursford is famous for its Christmas Spectacular, a three-hour extravaganza of singing, dancing, music, variety and comedy by 130 performers, said to rival The Rockettes’ New York’s Radio City show, and you can enjoy the entertainment with our special break on 22 December, just ahead of the big day. 

Even if your Norfolk break doesn’t coincide with the show, you can still enjoy Thursford’s seasonal display at its Enchanted Journey of Light, which illuminates the night sky from dusk and can also be combined with a trip to see Father Christmas.

If you prefer your festive display indoors, Holkham (LINK TO https://www.holkham.co.uk/) at Christmas is an incredible tour set in the Hall’s state rooms, which are uniquely decorated by the Countess of Leicester and her team. Look out for a giant Christmas pudding in the North Dining Room and a seasonal display of robins in the South Dining Room this year, just two of the enchanting scenes made by local creatives. Wander the rooms or take a guided tour followed by a glass of Prosecco and a mince pie in the Old Kitchen and don’t miss Holkham’s Courtyard Shop next door, a treasure trove of artisan food, drink and gifts, many made locally, which could provide the perfect Norfolk present. If you are staying at Heacham Manor between 13-15 December, the estate’s Christmas Market hosts 60 retailers, along with street food and live music to get you in the spirit.

Shop ’til you drop

Of course it wouldn’t be Christmas without presents, so ditch the big box retail parks and shop uniquely Norfolk gifts this year. Along with Holkham’s Christmas Market, the Sandringham Christmas Craft, Food & Gift Fair takes place on 15-17 November, while Creake Abbey’s Christmas Shopping Evenings on 20, 27 November and 4 December and Christmas Gift Fair on 23 November are a wonderful opportunity to discover local artisan makers and delicious Norfolk food and drinks. 

Pensthorpe nature reserve in Fakenham is holding a Christmas village of pop-up stalls on 24 November, and don’t forget the King’s Lynn Festive Merchants’ Market on 7-8 December. Plus, throughout November and December, Dalegate Market at Burnham Deepdale on the coast road has a rotation of Christmas pop-up shops on location which are well worth a browse.

Beyond these dates, many of Norfolk’s towns and villages are famous for their Christmas light displays which make shopping after dark a magical, relaxed experience. Holt’s Christmas lights switch-on takes place on 15 November and the Georgian market town is as pretty as a picture with lanes and yards to explore for gorgeous gifts – we highly recommend popping in and treating yourself to one of Norfolk Natural Living’s aromatic advent candles to count down to the big day! And, along the coast, Burnham Market’s pretty green is set to sparkle after the Christmas lights switch-on which takes place late on 16 November with stalls to shop and street food to snaffle.

Finally, for a display with a difference, along with a little retail therapy, the Wells Christmas Tide Festival sees the town’s lights switched on and the night sky lit up by fireworks over the harbour as Father Christmas arrives by boat at around 5pm on 30 November, before taking up residency at Wells Maltings, where a craft fair is taking place and which continues on 1 December.

Image "Holt Christmas Light Switch On" courtesy of Visit North Norfolk