Christmas in Sussex: Petworth House has busiest weekend of the year

The rooms of the 17th-century mansion have been transformed with more than 80 magnificently decorated trees, the Marble Hall houses miniature mice scenes where mice could be found skiing down snowy slopes, and climbing ladders into the trees, and there was deer crafted from winter greenery.

In the Gothic-style Chapel, visitors pencilled hundreds of personal wishes and hopes on tree-shaped tags for others to read on the Christmas wish trees.

Sue Rhodes, Petworth’s visitor experience manager, said: “We’re really thrilled with the response to Tree-mendous Christmas at Petworth; it’s exceeded all expectations. Our first weekend of opening was our busiest weekend of the entire year, but we’re such a large property that it never felt crowded, and the atmosphere was really lovely; lots of chatter and smiley faces, and people taking selfies of the 80-odd Christmas trees in the mansion.

“The gardens look beautiful too this Christmas, festooned with strings of lights. I think, this year in particular, everyone just wants a bit of magical festive sparkle and an excuse to forget about other stuff for a while, and they certainly get that here.”

Christmas highlights include the large tree in the Red Room, with star decorations created by Petworth’s local community, and in the Servants’ Quarters there is a gingerbread village.

During the festive season Petworth House is hosting special late night openings, on Wednesday, December 21 from 6pm until 8pm, last entry to the house 7.30pm, you can see the tree display out of hours on winter solstice. Watch the lights sparkle after fark and listen to a choir sing in the courtyard.

Normal admission applies, National Trust members free. Visitors can arrive via Church Lodge reception (by St Mary's Church in Petworth town) or the main visitor car park.

Petworth’s Tree-mendous Christmas runs until Monday, January 2. Petworth House is closed on December 24 and 25, and open 10.30am until 4.30pm, last entry 4pm. The garden and main car park are open 10am until 5pm.

For more information: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth-house-and-park

What's on this Christmas in Sussex: Events to enjoy during the festive season