Lights, camera... carols: Christmas in the Midlands

Candlelight: Christmas at the Movies, Coventry Cathedral, Coventry 
6 December 2025  

Swap screen time for string quartets with Candlelight: Christmas at the Movies – a live, candlelit concert of music from holiday classics. From Love Actually to The Holiday, Home Alone to The Nightmare Before Christmas, these scores are performed by the London Concertante string ensemble at Coventry Cathedral. Think glowing candles and two hours of festive entertainment.   

Christmas Lunch on the Northern Belle, Coventry and Birmingham  
14 December 2025   

Step aboard the Northern Belle – a restored 1930s luxury train – for a day of vintage glamour. Departing from Coventry and Birmingham on 14 December 2025, this festive journey includes Champagne, canapés and a multi-course Christmas lunch, all served in art deco Pullman carriages with plush upholstery and heritage décor. Clients can expect top service, Christmas crackers and live entertainment along the way. It’s Downton Abbey meets the Polar Express – with lots of sparkle and scenic views of rolling hills and cityscapes. 

Black Country Living Museum at Christmas, Dudley 
From 29 November 2025 

A 26-acre open-air museum showcasing 300 years of industrial history in the West Midlands, the Black Country Living Museum transforms into a festive Victorian village from late November. Wander period shops and houses brimming with vintage decorations and experience what Christmas in the Midlands looked like in days gone by. For festive evenings visit Glad Tidings (on select dates in December 2025) where carol singers and choirs fill the night with song around an open fire. Younger visitors can take part in one of the Santa Hunts (various dates between November and December), solving clues around the village and meeting Santa in his secret grotto. All events require special tickets. 

Severn Valley Railway, West Midlands 
29 November to 24 December 2025 

The Severn Valley Railway rolls out the festive fun from 29 November with three steam-powered experiences. Santa’s Steam Specials takes families from Kidderminster to Arley in decorated vintage carriages, where they will see a new Christmas theatre show, ‘The Great Christmas Train Rescue’. On The Elf Express, running between Bridgnorth and Highley, cheeky elves entertain passengers with songs, games and mischief on a theatrical return journey. For grown-up glamour, book the Enchanted Afternoon Tea, served aboard a first-class carriage with sandwiches, scones and bottomless tea. 

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire 

William Shakespeare’s hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon, shines at Christmas. Watch Roald Dahl’s The BFG come to life onstage at the atmospheric Royal Shakespeare Theatre (25 November 2025 to 31 January 2026), then take a 75-minute Backstage Tour of the grade II-listed building. While in town, visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace Museum and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage to soak up more of the Bard’s literary past.  

Emma Bridgewater Factory, Stoke-on-Trent 

Celebrate Christmas with creativity at the Emma Bridgewater Factory - home of the British pottery brand known for its hand-decorated ceramics and nostalgic patterns. Set in a restored Victorian factory in Stoke-on-Trent, clients can design festive gifts - from mugs to plates – in the Decorating Studio, explore how pieces are made on a Factory Tour, and shop limited-edition Christmas collections.  

Festive Mediaeval Banquets, Coombe Abbey Hotel, Warwickshire 
18 November to 29 December 2025 

Dine like it’s 1499 this Christmas. Set within the historic 12th-century abbey and 500-acres of parkland, Coombe Abbey Hotel invites clients to a Festive Mediaeval Banquet. Guests are greeted by costumed hosts, seated at long banqueting tables, and served a four-course feast with mead, ale and wine. Expect live music, jesters and traditional carols, all by candlelight in the vaulted hall. 

The Nutcracker, Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham 
21 November to 13 December 2025 

From 21 November to 13 December 2025, the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker returns to dazzle audiences with dancing snowflakes and twirling tutus. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s score will fill the Hippodrome, where the Sugar Plum Fairy, candy canes and magic mice await. With choreography by Peter Wright, based on the original 19th century work by Lev Ivanov, this seasonal spectacle is a real family favourite. 

Winter Glow - Illuminated Light Trail, Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire 
21 November to 31 December 2025 

This year, the Winter Glow light trail at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern delivers serious sparkle: think glowing archways, magical creatures and themed installations that wind through a sensory wonderland. Mulled wine, fairground rides, ice skating and a Father Christmas Experience add to the festivities. 

Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Market, Stratford-upon-Avon 
29 to 30 November and 6 to 7 December 2025 

Stratford‑upon‑Avon’s Christmas Market returns for two weekends – 29 to 30 November and 6 to 7 December 2025. Expect artisan stalls in the town centre, local choirs and street performers bringing festive cheer amid Tudor backdrops and twinkling lights. 

Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham 
Dates to be confirmed 

Clients can immerse themselves in festive atmosphere at Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market, the largest German Christmas market outside Germany and Austria, stretching from Victoria Square through New Street in central Birmingham. Wander among wooden chalets and historic architecture and admire the giant Christmas tree. Sample German classics – bratwurst, pretzels, roasted almonds or schnitzel – and don’t miss Weissbier served in giant beer steins. Add the Big Wheel and ice rink at Centenary Square for panoramic city views and seasonal fun. 

Leicester Christmas Market, Leicester 
Dates to be confirmed 

Based on last year’s inaugural Christmas Market, Leicester’s city centre is expected to transform into a festive hub along Gallowtree Gate and High Street from mid-November through late December 2025. The 2024 debut featured wooden chalets selling handmade crafts, artisanal food, and festive gifts like scarves, fudge, and Christmas ornaments – details for this year’s event are still to be confirmed. 

Nottingham Christmas Market, Nottingham 
Dates to be confirmed 

At Christnas, Nottingham’s Old Market Square transforms into a sprawling Winter Wonderland, framed by historic landmarks including the Council House. Expect chalet-style stalls offering artisan gifts, mulled wine, bratwurst, and international treats. Dates and details for this year’s event are still to be confirmed. 

World of Wedgewood, Stoke-on-Trent 

Discover British classic design at World of Wedgwood in the Staffordshire countryside, which is home to the V&A Wedgwood Collection. Celebrating the work of 18th-century ceramicist Josiah Wedgwood, your clients can join a 45-minute Factory Tour to watch artisans cast, glaze, decorate and gild jasperware and black basalt. Explore the V&A Galleries to spy on more than 3,500 displayed objects, all tracing more than 200 years of Wedgwood history. Clients can also try their hand at wheel-throwing in the Clay Studio or paint a keepsake in the Decorating Studio. Shop ceramics collections, dine in the Wedgwood Tea Room, and stroll the surrounding woodland trails to complete a visit. 

Mercatum Christmas Market, Haddon Hall, Derbyshire 
Wednesday to Sunday from 12 November to 14 December 2025 

Deck the halls! Mercatum Christmas Artisan Market returns to Haddon Hall in 2025. Built in the 12th century and with original Tudor architecture still intact, this historic manor has starred in Pride and Prejudice and The Other Boleyn Girl. Explore candlelit courtyards and ancient chambers lined with stalls selling everything from handmade ceramics and jewellery to artisan chocolates and perfumes. Early Bird tickets are available – advance booking is essential for this unique shopping experience.  

Christmas at the Castle, Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire 
29 November to 30 December 2025 

With appearances in The Crown or Young Victoria, Belvoir Castle knows how to steal the scene. This winter, the 19th-century castle brings storybook magic to life with Christmas at the Castle. With a theme of The Night Before Christmas, Belvoir’s opulent interiors, packed with historic furniture, armour and paintings, will be transformed with classic Christmas decorations, candlelit rooms, and theatrical displays. Perched above the Vale of Belvoir, the ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland will also offer live Christmas choir performances and a Festive Adventure Trail in the grounds – all included in the ticket price for the event. 

Christmas at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire  
From 8 November 2025 to 4 January 2026  

Known for its starring roles in Pride & Prejudice (2005), The Duchess, and Netflix’s The Crown, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire embraces cinematic splendour – and it brings the same magic to Christmas. From early November 2025 to early January 2026, this Baroque mansion and home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire transforms into a winter spectacular with the theme ‘A Christmas Feast’. Discover 24 decorated rooms, festive gardens with an interactive light trail, and an animated projection turning the house into a giant advent calendar. Families can enjoy crafts, cuddly guinea pigs, and story time with Santa (ticketed). Plus, from 8 November to 14 December, browse more than 100 stalls at the estate’s Christmas Market.