Bamburgh Castle’s stunning new Christmas installation sets sail

A Viking longship, fantastical larger-than-life creatures, and incredible festive banquets that are a feast for the eyes.

These are just some of the features in Bamburgh Castle’s remarkable new festive experience, A Christmas Through Time, which is now open. Visitors embark on a festive journey through the Northumberland castle’s grand rooms transformed into a series of magical sets by award-winning theatrical designer Charlotte Lloyd-Webber and her event design team.

Spectacular set pieces, richly decorated trees, twinkling lights and sparkling wintery foliage form the wintery extravaganza which begins with Christmas’s earliest Nordic folklore roots.

The festive journey continues, passing through lavish Tudor feasting, Georgian elegance and the very first Christmas tree. The enduring Christmas appeal of the Victorian era follows and the all-out razzle dazzle of mid-century celebrations with a nod to Christmas in the future.

Along the way are the Mummers, traditional masked, merrymaking characters, tailored to each stage of the Christmas journey.

And if you didn’t catch the Northern Lights phenomena in the night skies this year, the aurora borealis stars as a glowing lighting showstopper in the castle’s King’s Hall where a longship sails beneath the Viking god Odin, the predecessor of Santa Claus as we know him today.

Charlotte Lloyd-Webber said: “Christmas is older than Christmas. For millennia people from all over the northern hemisphere marked the cycles of the year with the winter solstice being the most celebrated. Customs have passed down through generations, many of which we still observe and cherish during Christmas time today.

“A Christmas Through Time captures the timeless endurance and sublime joy of the festive spirit. We’re proud to be paying homage to this at magnificent Bamburgh Castle.”

Francis Watson-Armstrong owner of Bamburgh Castle said: “Preparations for Christmas begin in January so it really is a case of Christmas all year round with the design, the prop and set building and the final magic when Charlotte and her team’s hard work comes together. We are absolutely delighted with this year’s installation which is utterly captivating and enthralling for all ages.

“It’s important to us that our Christmas experience is unique to Bamburgh and connects to the Castle’s own story. It’s a magical festive experience you won’t find anywhere else.”

Francis added: “We love hearing from visitors who tell us coming to Bamburgh Castle with their friends and family has become part of their own annual Christmas tradition. We look forward to welcoming you this year and for many more Christmases to come.”

The installation is the centrepiece of Bamburgh Castle’s annual Christmas Kingdom which is now in its fourth year. The winter experience has a different theme each year.

Other Christmas activities include personalised Meet Father Christmas experiences, Mrs Claus’ workshop with free activities for children, Christmas Wreath Making, a new Scullery Bauble Emporium and Christmas Shop and a one-off late night opening to see A Christmas Through Time at night on December 5^th.

Bamburgh Castle’s annual Christmas Kingdom is open daily from 10.00am until 4.00pm (last entry 3.00pm) excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day until January 5^th. Entry is free with general admission tickets which can be bought online or at the gate.

For more information visit https://www.bamburghcastle.com/a-christmas-through-time/

Tickets are priced at adults £18.75 / children £9.40 / children aged four and under free of charge. Entry is free for Bamburgh Castle annual passholders.