Christmas at Polesden Lacey runs 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, shut 24 and 25 December. No booking. Adult £18, family £45; house shut 2 to 20 Nov.

Christmas at Polesden Lacey runs from Saturday 21 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, and this year’s theme is The Twelve Days of Christmas. The showrooms of the house are dressed with displays based on the carol, and there is a festive family trail in the grounds. You do not need to book.

The National Trust estate at Great Bookham, south-west of Leatherhead, is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and open on Boxing Day. One thing to know before you plan an early-November visit: the house is shut from 2 to 20 November, though the garden and café stay open.

The quick answer

  • Dates: 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, 10am to 4pm. Closed 24 and 25 December.
  • No booking. Standard admission: £18 adult, £9 child (5 to 17), £45 family. Members free.
  • House opens 10.30am to 3pm during the Christmas season. Parking is £5 for non-members.

What is on

The National Trust’s event listing describes two parts:

  • Inside: “lavish displays based on The Twelve Days of Christmas” in the house’s showrooms.
  • Outside: a festive family trail around the grounds “with plenty of fun and games along the way”. There is a small extra charge for the trail, which includes a prize.

The Trust says only the ground floor of the house is open during 2026, and the first floor stays closed because there is no exhibition this year.

Opening times, day by day

These come from the opening calendar on the Polesden Lacey page, read on 25 September 2026.

Dates House Garden and café Car park
15 October to 1 November 11am to 3pm 10am to 4pm 7.30am to 6pm
2 to 20 November Closed 10am to 4pm 7.30am to 6pm
21 November to 23 December 10.30am to 3pm 10am to 4pm 7.30am to 6pm
24 and 25 December Closed Closed Closed
26 to 31 December 10.30am to 3pm 10am to 4pm 7.30am to 6pm

The Trust’s calendar does not yet show times for 1 to 3 January 2027, although the Christmas event listing runs to 3 January. Check the calendar before you travel on those days.

Prices

Standard admission from 1 March 2026, from the National Trust’s visitor information:

Ticket Standard With Gift Aid
Adult (18+) £18.00 £19.80
Child (5 to 17) £9.00 £9.90
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children) £45.00 £49.50
1 adult, 2 children £27.00 £29.70
  • Under-5s are free.
  • National Trust members get in free, but must bring their physical, individually named card. The Trust says it does not accept third-party apps or pictures of the card.
  • Parking is £5 all day for non-members, paid by cash at the machine, by card at visitor reception, or through the JustPark app (location code 80650). Members park free.

Getting there from Epsom

Polesden Lacey is at Great Bookham, near Dorking, RH5 6BD. The Trust’s directions say the nearest stations are Bookham (2.7 miles), Boxhill and Westhumble (3 miles), and Dorking and Leatherhead (4 miles each), with taxi ranks at Dorking and Leatherhead. By car it is signed off the A246 as you enter Great Bookham. The main drive has granite speed humps, the last one up to 200mm high, so the Trust warns drivers of low cars.

Before you set off, check our roadworks and travel page for closures on the A24 and A246.

Before Christmas: half term at Polesden Lacey

During October half term the estate runs The Great Polesden Mystery, a pumpkin trail from 17 October to 1 November at £3.50 per person plus admission, and a Moomins trail in the garden until 8 November. Details are on our Epsom October half term page.

More Christmas in and around Epsom

Still to be confirmed

  • Opening times for 1 to 3 January 2027, not yet on the Trust’s calendar.
  • The price of the family trail. The Trust says only that it is a small additional charge.
  • Any evening or ticketed Christmas events, which the Trust had not listed on 25 September.

Sources: National Trust, Christmas at Polesden Lacey 2026 event listing; Polesden Lacey visitor information, opening calendar, admission prices and directions. Checked 25 September 2026.