Name: Christmas Open Estate Day
Start: 2025-12-14T10:00:00+00:00
Location: Hylands Park, London Road, CM2 8WQ Chelmsford, United Kingdom

Activities
This month’s Open Estate Day will be extra festive in the run up to Christmas!
The Banqueting Room will be transformed into Santa’s cosy lounge, setting the scene for the perfect photo op. You’ll find Father Christmas wandering around the house and market from 10.30am to 2.30pm. Maybe he has some last minute shopping to do!
Inside The Library you can write your letter to Santa, and be sure to join us in the Terrace Room to make festive paper headbands.
Mike Dodsworth returns to the Banqueting Room for his much-loved storytelling sessions, and this month is a special treat with selections from A Christmas Carol.
Food & Craft Market
Get into the festive spirit with Essex Foodies Market, serving up a mouth-watering array of both seasonal and classic street food and drinks just outside Hylands House—perfect for keeping you warm as you explore the day’s activities. Keep an eye on their social media closer to the time to see this month’s traders.
Inside the Grand Pavilion, you’ll find a bustling indoor craft and gift market packed with local vendors offering unique and thoughtful items for everyone on your Christmas list.
The Stables
Our resident artists throw open their studio doors and welcome you to see into their working spaces – explore upstairs as well as downstairs!
Hot Box Live provide the tunes in The Stables courtyard. Join them for live music from 11am.
Browse items #MadeAtHylands in the Artist Shop and uncover treasures in the Friends of Hylands House second-hand bookshop—ideal for thoughtful Christmas presents or one-of-a-kind finds.
Visit the Stables Information Point and pick up your handset to explore the Pleasure Gardens in a brand-new way! Our Hylands History & Gardens multimedia tour will be available for you to hire or scan the QR code and listen along with our new tour about the Estate and how it came to be.
Our popular café The Deli will be open at The Stables all day!
Parking & Getting Here
During our Open Estate Days, parking charges are in effect. If you are a Chelmsford resident, you qualify for a discount on these charges. We recommend downloading the MiPermit app for faster and more convenient payment. Find out more and how to register as a resident here: https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/parking-and-travel/car-parks/hylands-car-parks/
We expect the day to be very busy, so if you are able, please consider alternative ways of travelling here. View our sustainable routes leaflet for more information: https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/parking-and-travel/car-parks/hylands-car-parks/