Quick answer
Christmas around Hull brings a pantomime, Father Christmas visits, a Victorian Christmas house and a festival of decorated trees. Peter Pan plays Hull New Theatre on selected dates from 10 to 31 December 2026. William’s Christmas Experience at North Cave runs on selected dates from 28 November to 24 December 2026. Most Christmas events below cost extra or need tickets, and some venues close for part of the season, so read the closures first.
Christmas closures and changed hours
- Hull New Theatre: no Peter Pan performances are listed on 11, 14, 18 or 25 December 2026.
- William’s Den, North Cave: on 13 November the calendar showed no opening days from 16 to 26 November 2026.
- Burton Constable Hall: the Hall is closed 2 to 20 November 2026 for Christmas preparations, and reopens on 21 November. It closes again from 21 December 2026 to 19 March 2027. The parkland and Stables Kitchen close 24 to 31 December.
- Little Astronauts: closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
Pantomime: Peter Pan at Hull New Theatre
Hull New Theatre on Kingston Square stages The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan on selected dates from Thursday 10 to Thursday 31 December 2026. Shows are at 2pm and 7pm, or 1pm and 5pm, depending on the date. Wednesday 16 December has a 2pm show only.
The theatre lists it as Suitable for All Ages. On 13 November the event page said Peter Pan prices from £21.50. That day the booking system showed Under 16 tickets at £14 to £29.50, varying by performance, before fees. Booking and facility fees may apply.
Under 14s must always be with a responsible adult. Only bags of A4 size or smaller are allowed in the auditorium. The event page warns that some productions may contain flashing and strobe lighting and haze, so ask the box office. That day one access performance was listed: BSL interpreted, at 7pm on Tuesday 15 December 2026. No relaxed, audio described or captioned Peter Pan show was listed. The circle is not accessible to wheelchair users, and there are up to 10 wheelchair spaces in the stalls.
Where to meet Father Christmas
William’s Christmas Experience, North Cave
William’s Den is an indoor and outdoor adventure play attraction at North Cave. Its Christmas Experience runs on 28 and 29 November and 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19 to 24 December 2026. It opens 9.30am to 5.30pm, or 9.30am to 4pm on Christmas Eve. On 13 November the ticket shop gave last entry as 2pm, or 12.30pm on Christmas Eve.
The time you book is your Father Christmas visit, and the ticket covers the whole day. It includes Father and Mother Christmas with a family photo, a Christmas show and all-day Adventure Play. On 13 November the ticket page said the toy, gingerbread and marshmallow were for full-paying children’s tickets only. On 13 November the ticket shop showed adults at £20.70 to £30.70 and children (1 to 18) at £33.70 to £45.70. Prices vary by date and include a £0.75 booking fee. Seniors (60 and over) and participating babies under 12 months have their own prices. Non-participating babies under 12 months go free, with no toy, gingerbread, marshmallow, letter writing or return voucher. On 13 November the ticket shop still asked for a ticket for everyone, babies included.
One adult aged 18 or over may supervise at most 5 children, and the play areas involve some risk. On 13 November the ticket shop said pushchair frames cannot go into the Indoor Den, so leave them in the designated area. Free Essential Companion tickets need an approved Digital Access Pass or a Nimbus Access Card with the +1 or +2 symbol. Show a card or pass with +1 on arrival, or the companion pays standard admission. Companions must be 14 or older. The Christmas show has live performers and larger-than-life characters. William’s Den also opens for Twixmas from 28 to 31 December 2026, 10am to 4pm.
Santa’s Starlight Grotto, Little Astronauts, Hull
Little Astronauts is an indoor soft play centre in the Prospect Shopping Centre. Its Santa’s Starlight Grotto runs at weekends from 5 to 20 December. Visits are at 10.30am, 11.30am and 12.30pm on Saturdays, and 11am, 12pm and 1pm on Sundays.
The Grotto alone is £16.95 per child, with up to 2 adults included. Grotto and Play is £26.95 per child plus £3.75 per adult, and adds 2 hours of play. Babies under 6 months go free with a paying brother or sister, but get no gift. Socks must be worn in the play areas, and an adult aged 16 or over must supervise.
A Victorian Christmas at Burton Constable Hall
Burton Constable Hall is a historic country house in Burton Constable, near Skirlaugh. From 21 November to 20 December 2026, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” recreates a Victorian Christmas Eve in the ground-floor rooms. The Hall opens 11am to 4pm, last admission 3pm, including Mondays.
Hall and parkland tickets cost £16 per adult, £8.50 per child and £42 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children. The parkland is not free. Child ages differ between official pages: 4 to 16 on the day tickets page, and 3 to 15 in the ticket shop on 13 November. Follow your booking.
Pushchairs cannot be used inside the Hall, but it lends a limited number of its own pushchairs for indoor use. One small step leads down into the Dining Room on the Christmas route. The first-floor rooms are closed in the Christmas season. Outdoors there is uneven ground, open water and livestock, so supervise children at all times.
Winterlight: The Tudor Glow is a separate 645-metre outdoor light trail after dark, with its own tickets. The event page gives 3 to 23 December 2026, and the What’s On listing shows 3 to 13 December. On 13 November the booking calendar offered 3 to 6, 10 to 13 and 17 to 23 December. That day the shop listed adults at £23.50, children (3 to 16) at £18.50, and carers and under 3s free. Entry slots run every 15 minutes from 4pm, with last entry at 7.15pm, and children must be with an adult. Paths are gravel and wood chip, and can be uneven when wet.
Christmas Tree Festival at Beverley Minster
Beverley Minster in Beverley is usually free, with a donation invited. Its Christmas Tree Festival runs from 4 to 13 December 2026, with more than 150 decorated trees. Festival tickets are £6 for adults, and accompanied under 18s go free. On 13 November the festival page sold tickets online at £6 plus a booking fee, or at the door.
The festival opens 10am to 5pm, last entry 4.15pm. On 9 and 10 December it stays open until 9pm, last entry 8pm, and the programme lists a Quiet Hour from 9am to 10am. Before 12pm on Sundays, visitors can normally use only the west end until services finish. The festival page lists 10am opening on its Sundays, 6 and 13 December, so check first. The Minster is closed on 26 December and warns of temporary closures for special events.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Hull New Theatre pantomime in 2026?
Peter Pan plays on selected dates from 10 to 31 December 2026. No performances are listed on 11, 14, 18 or 25 December.
Where can children meet Father Christmas near Hull in 2026?
William’s Den includes a Father Christmas visit in its Christmas Experience tickets. Little Astronauts runs Santa’s Starlight Grotto at weekends from 5 to 20 December.
Is Burton Constable Hall open at Christmas?
The Hall opens from 21 November to 20 December 2026, then closes until 19 March 2027. Winterlight has its own tickets.
Do babies need a ticket for the Hull panto?
Hull Theatres offers Babes in Arms tickets for under 12 months, on a parent’s or carer’s lap, at selected shows only. They must come from the box office.
Is anything free at Christmas around Hull?
Beverley Minster’s Christmas Tree Festival is free for accompanied under 18s, while adults pay £6.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official websites, through our Hull venue pages. Prices and opening times change, so check before you travel.
Main photo: the high altar of Beverley Minster, May 2024. Photo: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).