The Best Christmas Events in Hertfordshire
To help you plan your season, here are the very best Christmas events in Hertfordshire for 2025, from magical light trails to heart-warming experiences the whole family will love.
LIGHT TRAILS
Ashridge House
Hertfordshire’s Biggest Christmas Light Trail takes place at the spectacular Grade II listed Ashridge House gardens and features over 20 installations and a festive food and drink village. New this year is the 115ft Observation Wheel, which offers incredible views of the illuminations from above. The trail is dog friendly on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
27 Nov 2025 – 1 Jan 2026
Prices; Adults £23.50. children (4-16) £14.40
Tewinbury
Tewinbury Farm Hotel, which has recently been described in The Times as an affordable alternative to Soho Farmhouse, will be home to a festive woodland light trail which loops through its grounds and features various immersive elements including interactive lighting shows, projections and Christmassy tunes. Santa will be holding fort in a storytime tent, there will be seasonal activities for kids and for adults, an Apres Ski Bar, hosting DJs and live music and serving winter cocktails, mulled wine and other treats.
Price: adults £17.60, children (2-12) £10.45
SANTA EXPERIENCES
Santa Spectacular at Willows Activity Farm
Willows Activity Farm transforms into an incredible winter wonderland featuring an impressive list of things to see and do, ensuring a full packed festive day out for families with young kids. Kids can choose a gift in Santa’s grotto, make their own soft toy at the ‘Create-A-Cuddle’ workshop, write letters to Santa, decorate gingerbread men, sing along to festive shows, tractor rides, funfair, skate on the synthetic ice rink and much more.
22 November to 24 December
From £49.95 for kids over 90 cm and £24.95 for adults.
Winter Fest at Aldenham Country Park
The Farm at Aldenham Country Park will be hosting a raft of Christmas fun activities as part of Winter Fest. Featuring a Dance Tunnel with festive tunes, Santa-oke, an Elf Hunt, elf games and a magical Santa Crotto.
29th November to 24th December
Winter Fest Farm Pass from £6.95, Santa Grotto pass from £23.90
A Palace Santa Visit at Hatfield House
Kids can enjoy a Christmasy journey through Hatfield House Gardens on a fairly lit tractor trailer whilst being retailed stories of Santa’s lost reindeer by a children’s storyteller. The story is bought to life through sculptures that can be seen throughout the journey. The journey ends at Santa’s grotto, where the man himself will pose for pictures and present a special Christmas gift.
29 November – 21 December
£35 per ticket (one child one adult) Additional accompanying adult £10
CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Christmas shopping and eating at Knebworth House
The Knebworth Christmas Fair is Hertfordshire’s biggest festive shopping event, visitors can browse Christmas gifts in three huge shopping marquees whilst enjoying delicious festive food and drink.
Taking place 21st – 23rd November
Hertfordshire Christmas Shopping Fair
Taking place on 6th and 7th December, Hertfordshire Christmas Shopping fair has 150 exhibitors selling arts and craft, fashion and beauty and food & drink.
£5 entry
Redbourn Christmas Market
Taking place on Sunday 30th November, the pretty, historic village of Redburn hosts a wonderful festive Christmas market, with over 100 stalls, to be enjoyed whilst listening to seasonal music performed by local musicians.
Free entry
CHRISTMASSY ATTRACTIONS
Christmas at Hertfordshire Zoo
During December, as well as seeing over 800 Amazing Animals and 30 Life-Size Moving Dinosaurs (one of the best animatronic dinosaur adventure trails in the UK), visitors can also get the chance to visit Santa, stroll through the Christmas Walkway, enjoy festive treats and spot the Grinch, who will be visiting the zoo every Saturday.
£32.99 per adult and £33.99 per child, includes Zoo day ticket, santa grotto visit and gift
Rudolph Trail at the Tring National History Museum
Herts has its very own National History Museum, which makes a fantastic day out year round but between 3rd December and 5th January, visits will be extra special for the little ones as the museum is hosting a festive Rudolph Christmas Trail throughout the museum.
£1 per trail
By Anna Watt
Image credit, Anna Watt and Dreamstime
