Christmas in Hampshire makes for the proper motive to get out and luxuriate in some festivities. From Peppa Pig World to Winchester Cathedral, there are many actions to get you within the Christmas temper…
In search of the most effective issues to do for Christmas in Hampshire in 2026? From festive days out and Christmas markets to gentle trails, Santa experiences and seasonal occasions, there’s lots taking place throughout the county this 12 months.
Whether or not you reside in Hampshire otherwise you’re planning a festive weekend or Christmas staycation, I’ve rounded up a number of the greatest Christmas occasions and actions in Hampshire for 2026. These are the locations so as to add to your December calendar, with concepts for households, {couples} and anybody who desires to take advantage of Christmas in Hampshire.
1. Spend Christmas with Peppa Pig
CONFIRMED FOR CHRISTMAS 2026: Chosen dates in December to third January 26
Paulton’s Park is likely one of the hottest theme parks within the UK, and a particular winner with the youngsters. Working all through December, the whole Peppa Pig World shall be adorned for Christmas, proper right down to characters sporting their favorite vacation outfits. There’s even Santa’s Christmas Want Present, starring the primary man himself!
One of the best half is, all the particular Christmas extras are included within the worth of a typical Paulton’s ticket.
Make certain to take a look at my information to the right way to take advantage of your Peppa Pig World day journey right here earlier than you go.
2. Sail in a Christmas Canoe with Santa
CONFIRMED FOR CHRISTMAS 2026: 12/13 and 19/20 December
Enterprise into Beaulieu within the New Forest and expertise a Christmas Canoe Paddle with Santa Claus. This lively outside exercise is thrilling (and chilling – costume heat) for the entire household.
Scorching chocolate is on faucet to maintain you good and heat as you benefit from the journey out on the Beaulieu River trying to find Santa.
What’s included?
Meet and greet along with your tremendous instructors
90 minutes of festive enjoyable
Paddle our canoes along with your certified river information to satisfy Santa
All youngsters obtain a Christmas reward
Scorching drinks and mince pies to get pleasure from on arrival
Canine are welcome (however do deliver a blanket or towel for them to take a seat on within the boat)
3. Go deer recognizing within the New Forest Nationwide Park
CONFIRMED FOR CHRISTMAS 2026: Everytime you please!
How a couple of romantic chilly stroll amidst the gathered deer and wintery bushes? There are numerous stunning winter walks to get pleasure from in Hampshire along with your important different. The New Forest is a superb place for a winter’s time out in England.
4. Go to the animals at Christmas at Marwell Zoo
CONFIRMED for CHRISTMAS 2026: twentieth November and thirty first December 2026
A go to to Marwell Zoo in Winchester deserves a spot in your Christmas Listing. This 12 months they’re internet hosting GLOW, a magical gentle expertise. The winter path is an ‘immersive gentle extravaganza’ the place the grounds of Marwell will flip right into a twinkling wonderland filled with fairy lights and magic. This enchanted nature path options model new illuminations and immersive shows with over 500,000 lights in a rainbow of colors.
New for 2025 you can even be part of Christmas at Marwell Corridor, the place you’ll get to satisfy Santa with a magical 45 minute household grotto expertise. This features a free ticket to the zoo. Purchase in a bundle with the GLOW ticket to save lots of extra.
5. See Steam Illuminations on the Watercress Line
CONFIRMED FOR CHRISTMAS 2026: twenty seventh November to 2nd January 2027
There’s one thing intrinsically Christmassy about steam trains. Who remembers Tom Hanks’ Polar Categorical?
Get the household collectively and choo-choo right down to the Steam Illuminations on the Watercress Line at both Alresford or Alton.
You’ll marvel at an unimaginable LED gentle present while chugging alongside in a steam practice on a roundtrip journey of 10 miles of Christmas magic. We did this just a few years in the past when Reggie was one and had a stunning time. He actually loved the trains chugging, and all of the leisure. He was mesmerised by all of the lights too. Such a stunning reminiscence.
6. Have fun Christmas at Highclere Fortress
CONFIRMED FOR CHRISTMAS 2026: totally different occasions from third to nineteenth December 2026
If you happen to liked Downton Abbey then you definitely’ll be additional excited as you step into Highclere Fortress for the most effective Christmas days out in Hampshire.
It is a beautiful one if you wish to go all out on the Christmas environment. With festive guided excursions, themed afternoon teas and severely spectacular Christmas bushes and staircase garlands, the entire place feels suitably grand for the season. Undoubtedly deliver your digicam!
You may discover the State Rooms, peek contained in the upstairs bedrooms and head right down to the Egyptian Exhibition within the cellars. I’d additionally depart a little bit of time for the reward store afterwards – it’s a great place to choose up a Christmas current or two and spherical off a extremely festive time out in Hampshire.
7. Mark the Winter Solstice because the ancients did
CONFIRMED FOR CHRISTMAS 2026: twenty seventh November to 12st December 2026
If you happen to fancy one thing a little bit totally different from the same old Christmas grotto, Butser Historical Farm has a superb programme of festive occasions impressed by historic winter traditions.
For Christmas 2026, households can meet Father Christmas in his cosy house among the many farm’s reconstructed historic buildings, with firelight, storytelling and festive crafts including to the environment. There’s additionally the Midwinter’s Quest, the place youngsters can meet the Deer Queen and Holly King, discover the traditional buildings and participate in seasonal actions.
There’s lots for adults too, together with a winter harp live performance contained in the Nice Roundhouse, hearth storytelling, hedgerow wreath making, conventional Christmas ornament workshops and festive procuring from native makers. I actually like that this can be a Christmas time out that feels genuinely totally different – much less business Christmas wonderland and extra fires, folklore, crafts and old style winter magic.
8. Attend the Christmas Tower Toymaker’s Workshop
UNCONFIRMED FOR 2026
Ever needed to make your personal toy? This 12 months on the Spinnaker Tower, you’ll be able to be part of Santa’s elves within the workshop as they make the final batch of toys for Christmas. Youngsters can identify their cuddly toy, stuff it, put a allure inside and seal it as much as begin the magic. Then it’s off to see Santa in his grotto!
Included on this toy making expertise is:
The possibility to make your personal cuddly toy with Santa’s elves within the Toymaker Workshop
A visit to see Santa in his grotto
The Christmas path, the place you’ll discover mischievous elves hiding
Free scorching chocolate for each little one
All day admission to Spinnaker Tower
9. Stroll round Winchester Cathedral and Christmas Market
CONFIRMED FOR CHRISTMAS 2026: twentieth November to twenty second December 2026
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market is likely one of the largest Christmas occasions in Hampshire, and doubtless probably the most atmospheric too. Set within the historic grounds of Winchester Cathedral, the market is crammed with conventional wood chalets promoting presents, crafts and festive treats, with Christmas lights, carols and the scent of mulled wine including to the environment.
It’s a stunning excuse for a festive time out in Winchester. Have a wander across the stalls, seize one thing warming to eat or drink, and mix your go to with some Christmas procuring across the metropolis centre. You too can take a look at the Cathedral’s programme of Christmas companies, live shows and occasions whilst you’re there. Once I final visited that they had this epic raclette stand which they served over the potatoes and chorizo above – it was lush.
10. Panto Season!
CONFIRMED FOR 2026: Throughout Hampshire!
If a Christmas panto is a part of your festive custom, there are some nice ones to select from round Hampshire in 2026.
In Winchester, Sleeping Magnificence is that this 12 months’s conventional household pantomime at Theatre Royal Winchester, operating from 4th December 2026 to third January 2027. Count on unique songs, loads of viewers participation and all the same old panto mayhem. Youthful youngsters may also get pleasure from Santa’s Greatest Ever Christmas on twenty first December, a 45-minute interactive musical present aimed toward ages 2–8. There’s a meet and greet afterwards and each little one will get a gift from Santa.
Over in Portsmouth, you’ll be able to see Jack and the Beanstalk on the stunning Kings Theatre Portsmouth from fifth to thirty first December 2026. There’s one other panto possibility on the Theatre Royal in Portsmouth, the place Mom Goose runs from thirteenth to thirty first December 2026, with dazzling costumes, musical numbers, comedy and loads of alternatives to shout ‘he’s behind you!’.
And in Southampton, this 12 months’s large Mayflower Theatre pantomime is Robin Hood, operating from twelfth December 2026 to third January 2027. Ashley Banjo and Variety lead the forged as Robin Hood and his Merry Males, with Max Fulham enjoying Will Scarlett. We went to look at the Captain Hook panto at The Mayflower final 12 months and it was truthfully unimaginable. Count on large units, particular results, comedy and loads of viewers participation – undoubtedly one of many largest Christmas exhibits in Hampshire this 12 months.
11. Take a Christmas beanstalk journey at Mottisfont
CONFIRMED FOR 2025: twenty first November 2026 to third January 2027
Christmas at Mottisfont goes full panto for 2026, with Jack and the Beanstalk taking on.
Observe Jack, Dame Trott and Pat the Cow via the superbly adorned rooms because the story takes you from the well-known beanstalk all the way in which as much as the Big’s citadel within the clouds. Alongside the way in which there are interactive actions, foolish picture alternatives and loads of Christmassy particulars to identify, in addition to hundreds of twinkling decorations and a few severely spectacular Christmas bushes.
There’s a festive household path to get pleasure from too, and you may heat up afterwards with a scorching drink and mince pie within the café. If you happen to’re searching for a Christmas time out in Hampshire that feels correctly festive however has lots to maintain the youngsters entertained too, Mottisfont is a superb one.
You don’t have to pre-book the Christmas expertise, however you do want to gather a timed ticket for the adorned home from Customer Reception whenever you arrive. Regular Mottisfont admission costs apply, whereas Nationwide Belief members and under-fives can go to free of charge.
12. Spend Christmas at 4 Kingdoms Journey Park
CONFIRMED FOR CHRISTMAS 2026: twenty eighth November to twenty fourth December 2026
4 Kingdoms Journey Park is paradise for adventurous children, and it’s even higher at Christmas. All 12 months spherical, you’ll be able to get pleasure from over 21 play zones, a petting zoo, laser tag, big slides, dinosaurs and rather more, however they up the ante this time of 12 months to make sure everybody leaves totally entertained.
At Christmas, you’ll be able to meet Santa there, make your personal bear, feed the reindeer, adorn cookies, and see exhibits of their theatre, amongst many different issues. It’ll be the magical day you’re searching for, whereas tiring them out simply in time for Santa to pop down the chimney!
13. Go to Winter Wonderland on Hayling Island
CONFIRMED FOR CHRISTMAS 2026: twenty ninth November to twenty fourth December 2026 (chosen dates)
Funland on Hayling Island comes alive in the course of the Christmas season, and this 12 months it’s greater than ever. This spectacular wonderland expertise sees you assembly Santa’s elves, his reindeer, and Santa himself, who offers you an early Christmas current.
Plus you’ll be able to stroll via the wonderland, and board the Funland Categorical which is able to take you previous the elf village. Maintain your wits about you although, because the Grinch has been noticed every now and then!
Whereas the youngsters play within the Kidz Kingdom Indoor Play Space, adults can get pleasure from a mince pie and a tipple on the polar bar.
14. Really feel festive in Southampton
Southampton Christmas Market runs from twelfth November to twenty seventh December 2026 round Above Bar Road and Guildhall Sq.. It’s free to go to, with conventional wood chalets, festive food and drinks, fairground rides and Santa’s Grotto close to the historic Bargate. Final 12 months we went ice skating there and Reggie liked spinning round on the ice whereas I mainly broke my again bending right down to push him round. Value it for his pleasure, in fact.
One of many highlights for 2026 is the Bargate laser gentle present, which lights up the historic constructing each half-hour from 5pm. There’s additionally a Ferris wheel for views over the town, an Ice Slide and smaller rides for kids, so there’s sufficient occurring to make the market extra than simply someplace to do a little bit of Christmas procuring. And there’s at all times all of the retailers of Westgate too.
You too can observe Southampton’s free Snow Home windows Path, with greater than 20 festive window shows dotted across the metropolis centre. It’s a pleasant one so as to add when you’re visiting with children and wish one thing Christmassy that doesn’t price something.
End the day with a Christmas present. For youthful youngsters, Mayflower Studios has The Very Hungry Caterpillar Christmas Present from 2nd to twelfth December, adopted by Peter Pan: A BIG Musical Journey from twentieth to thirty first December.
Christmas in Hampshire
There are a great deal of nice issues to do for Christmas in Hampshire. Whether or not you desire a Christmassy Hampshire time out with the youngsters, or simply with the adults, as you’ll be able to see there’s loads of festive enjoyable to select from. Portsmouth at Christmas is at all times enjoyable and Southampton at Christmas means ice rinks and festive markets – so, go!
1. Spend Christmas with Peppa Pig
2. Sail in a Christmas Canoe with Santa
3. Go deer recognizing within the New Forest Nationwide Park
4. Go to the animals at Christmas at Marwell Zoo
5. See Steam Illuminations on the Watercress Line
6. Have fun Christmas at Highclere Fortress
7. Mark the Winter Solstice because the ancients did
8. Attend the Christmas Tower Toymaker’s Workshop
9. Stroll round Winchester Cathedral and Christmas Market
10. See a panto in Hampshire
11. Take a Christmas journey up the beanstalk at Mottisfont
12. Spend Christmas at 4 Kingdoms Journey Park
13. Go to Winter Wonderland on Hayling Island
14. Hang around to really feel festive in Southampton