Quick answer
Christmas around Leeds means country house trails, Santa visits and a Grinch musical. Harewood House in Harewood runs Magic at the Mansion from 6 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Lotherton, near Aberford, runs its Christmas Experience from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Harewood and Lotherton are closed on 25 and 26 December, and Lotherton on 1 January too.
Christmas closures and changed hours
- Harewood House, Harewood: closed 25 and 26 December. On 24 and 31 December the grounds close at 4pm, and the House at 3.30pm. The Bothy Teahouse and the Ferry are closed until 19 March 2027.
- Lotherton, near Aberford: closed 25 and 26 December and 1 January. On 24 December the walk, Elf Village, Hall, Wildlife World and café close at 4pm, with last gate entry at 2.15pm.
- Leeds Playhouse: on 12 November, no Grinch performances were listed on 25 December or 1 January 2027.
- Temple Newsam House and Home Farm, Abbey House Museum, Kirkstall Abbey and Leeds City Museum: on 12 November their pages gave no Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day hours.
Christmas at the country houses
Magic at the Mansion, Harewood House
Harewood House fills its State Floor with Christmas installations. Day ticket prices vary by date. On 12 November, the booking calendar showed £24.50 to £36.50 per adult and £10 to £17.50 per child. Those online prices include a voluntary 10% donation, and apply when you book before 10am on the day. Under 4s go free. Child ticket ages differ between Harewood’s pages (4 to 15 or 4 to 17), so check when booking.
Father Christmas: the Elf Village runs on selected dates from 5 to 24 December 2026. Standard adult and child tickets each cost £39.95 to £49.95, including entry. Every child over 12 months needs a ticket, and free carer tickets do not apply. Prams stay in the pram park. Space for wheelchairs and adapted pushchairs is limited, so tell Harewood before booking.
Prams are not allowed in the House, and the grounds have steep slopes and gravel paths. At Christmas each car needs a parking pass as well as tickets. Members, Blue Badge holders and Access+ ticket holders do not need to pre-book one.
The Christmas Experience at Lotherton, near Aberford
Lotherton has a historic Hall, gardens and a zoo. During the Christmas Experience, every visitor needs a Christmas Experience ticket, members included. On 12 November, the upper penguin viewing walkway was closed until further notice. The visit page listed the Hall as open only for tours and special events in January and February.
From 21 November to 24 December, Estate Entry costs £12.50 per adult and £7.75 per child aged 3 and over. Children aged 0 to 2 are free but need a free ticket, though some pages say under 2s, so check. The terms list a 10% booking fee.
Santa costs extra and runs only before Christmas Day. Santa’s North Pole costs £16.95, £19.95 or £25.95 per child, by date. Santa’s Cabin, for pre-schoolers on term-time weekday daytimes, costs £12 per child. The FAQ says Santa does not run from 24 to 27 November, though on 12 November the price calendar listed 27 November. Arrive at least 40 minutes early. If you arrive after your slot has started, it cannot be moved or refunded.
It is mainly outdoors and can be muddy and wet. Pushchairs are not allowed in the Hall or Santa’s North Pole. A large section of outdoor play is closed for construction.
Christmas at Temple Newsam House
Temple Newsam House and Estate runs The Elf Academy on selected dates from 5 to 23 December 2026. Tickets cost £16 to £20 and include General Admission for the child taking part. Adults and other children need their own General Admission ticket.
In winter the House is entered by guided tour, Tuesday to Sunday, between 11am and 3pm. It is closed to general visitors on 14 and 15 November 2026. Admission is £10.50 per adult and £4.50 per child aged 3 to 15, with under 3s free. Buggies are not allowed in the House, but staff lend hip carriers. Estate parking is paid.
Christmas on the Farm at Temple Newsam
Temple Newsam Home Farm and Play Barn runs Christmas on the Farm from 1 to 24 December 2026, included in admission. It has a Christmas tree trail and a Living Nativity. Tickets cost £9 per adult or child aged 3 to 15, and under 3s go free. Festive tree tours and workshops cost extra. Play Barn spaces are limited, so the council recommends booking early.
Home Farm is listed as open daily, 10am to 4pm, with last entry at 3.15pm. The Play Barn has a toddler zone and a zone for children up to 12. Sessions are limited to 2 hours at weekends, on bank holidays and in school holidays. Adults must supervise children at all times. Cobbled, uneven yards make a bumpy buggy ride, and only assistance dogs are allowed.
Santa at Abbey House Museum, Kirkstall
Abbey House Museum has recreated Victorian streets. Santa at the Museum runs 12pm to 4pm on Saturdays 12 and 19 December 2026. On Sundays 13 and 20 December it runs 10am to 4pm. It costs £8 per child, plus general admission for everyone.
Admission is £7.35 per adult and £3.60 per child aged 3 to 18. The museum is closed for general visits on Mondays, except bank holidays. The entrance is on a fairly steep hill, and the streets have cobbles and narrow spaces.
The Grinch at Leeds Playhouse
Leeds Playhouse on Quarry Hill stages How The Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical. It plays on selected dates from 19 November 2026 to 16 January 2027. The age guidance is 4+. Grinch tickets on the event page range from £17 to £71.50, plus £2.95 per online or phone booking.
For ages 3 and up, Red Robin’s Winter Song plays on selected dates from 12 to 23 December 2026. Tickets are £15 plus the same booking fee. Babies under 12 months can have a free Babe in Arms ticket, and every other child needs a ticket.
Give What You Can festive trails
- Kirkstall Abbey, Kirkstall: the Following Yonder Star Trail runs on selected dates from 10am on 29 November to 12pm on 24 December 2026. Entry is Give What You Can, with a suggested £5 donation per person. In winter the abbey opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, with last entry at 3.30pm, and is closed on Mondays. Some ground is cobbled or uneven.
- Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square: the drop-in Elf Trail runs on selected dates from 1 to 31 December 2026, subject to opening hours. The museum is closed on Mondays, except bank holidays. The Elf Trail page says to check festive opening and closure times.
Frequently asked questions
Where can children meet Father Christmas in Leeds in 2026?
Harewood House, Lotherton, Temple Newsam House and Abbey House Museum run ticketed Santa visits on selected dates up to 24 December 2026.
What is open on Boxing Day near Leeds?
Harewood and Lotherton are closed. On 12 November, Leeds Playhouse listed one Grinch show at 7pm on 26 December 2026.
What is open on New Year’s Day near Leeds?
Harewood lists its Christmas opening as running to 3 January 2027, closing only on 25 and 26 December. Lotherton is closed on 1 January, and no Grinch show was listed that day on 12 November.
Is anything free at Christmas in Leeds?
Two trails have Give What You Can entry, on selected dates. Kirkstall Abbey’s Star Trail ends at 12pm on 24 December 2026. Leeds City Museum’s Elf Trail runs from 1 to 31 December 2026.
Which Christmas days out suit toddlers in Leeds?
Lotherton’s Santa’s Cabin is a gentler visit for pre-schoolers, on term-time weekday daytimes before Christmas Day 2026. Christmas on the Farm runs from 1 to 24 December 2026, included in Home Farm admission.
Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official websites, through our Leeds venue pages. Prices and opening times change, so check before you travel.
Main photo: Temple Newsam House, Leeds, in January. Photo: Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).