For the first time in many years, Father Christmas will be in his magical grotto as he returns to the Royal Pavilion Estate. Little ones can tell Father Christmas what they’re most looking forward to this Christmas and receive a present. Forget the queues and long waits, this year you can book a private time slot and enjoy an exclusive experience. There are even winter wonderland activities for kids to keep everyone happy before or after meeting the man himself.

To make a day of it, visitors can immerse themselves in the splendour of lavishly decorated trees and delve into the rich history of Royal Christmases past at the Royal Pavilion.

The mischievous Royal Pavilion Mice make their return and are ready to spread festive cheer. Will you be able to spot them with our free family trail?

Look for the magical mice as they enjoy a wonderful traditional festive season with parties, delicious food and gifts in mini-sized scenes throughout the historic palace. Their little cousins are popping up at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery and Hove Museum of Creativity too this year.

Royal Pavilion visitors can spot them on with our mice trail hiding by the spectacularly decorated Christmas trees on display including one inspired by the exotic interior of the pavilion. This Christmas tree is a recreation of Victoria and Albert’s Christmas tree which appeared on the cover of the Illustrated London News in 1848. This captured the public imagination, and soon Christmas trees could be found in homes across Britain. Find out more by listening to our history of Christmas audio guide tour.

Don’t forget to take a selfie before heading to the Royal Pavilion shop to buy wonderful gifts for all the family. Kids can discover their own mouse to take home – there are mice chefs, artists, dancers and even a space mouse. Then enjoy some festive fare in our Royal Pavilion tearoom, run by Sugardough.

For a more modern take on A Christmas Carol, families can crack the codes and puzzles for a fun game at Preston Manor run by Pier Pressure. Teams will bring the characters to life in an original half escape room, half immersive theatre experience.

But Christmas isn’t just for the kids and there are lots of traditional evenings for the grown-ups such as glamorous Christmas Banquets. Tickets are selling fast, so book now.

If you enjoy a good singsong, tickets are still available for a joyous carol concert in the Royal Pavilion Music Room to get everyone in a festive mood.

Over at the Booth Museum of Natural History, they are celebrating Christmas with some fun arts and crafts with pop-up workshops and some rather peculiar animal exhibits, including a reindeer, getting into the festive mood.

Check out our website https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/ to book tickets and find out more.

CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums Hedley Swain said: “This year we’re thrilled to welcome back a very special guest to the Royal Pavilion estate. Families will be able to have a magical day visiting Father Christmas and enjoying our fun Regency mice trails and festive Christmas decorations.

“There is so much to do in our venues with Christmas craft workshops to fascinating talks about the history of Christmas.”

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Royal Pavilion

Christmas Mice at Brighton Museum
18 November 2023 to 2 January 2024
Free with Brighton Museum admission, members free
The mischievous Christmas mice scurried through the secret tunnel from the Royal Pavilion to Brighton Museum. How many playful mice can you spot as you explore the Museum galleries?

Father Christmas
Friday 1 December 2pm-5pm, Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 December 9am-6pm,
Friday 8 December 2pm-5pm, Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December 9am-6pm
Friday 15 to Saturday 23 December 9am-6pm
Sunday 24 December 9am to 4pm
Entrance in the Royal Pavilion Garden
Child £14.50, members child £12.50, accompanying adults £2.
Come and meet jolly Father Christmas in his magical grotto as he returns to the Royal Pavilion Estate. Little ones can tell Father Christmas what they’re most looking forward to this Christmas and receive a present. Forget the queues and long waits, this year you can book a private time slot and enjoy an exclusive experience. We’ve even got winter wonderland activities for kids to keep everyone happy before or after meeting the man himself.
In partnership with Pier Pressure

Christmas at the Royal Pavilion
18 November 2023 to 2 January 2024
10am-4.30pm Free with Royal Pavilion admission, drop-in. All ages.
Step into a world of festive wonder as the popular Christmas at the Royal Pavilion returns for 2023! Immerse yourself in the splendour of lavishly decorated trees and delve into the rich history of Royal Christmases past.
The mischievous Royal Pavilion Mice make their return and are ready to spread festive cheer. Will you be able to spot them with our free family trail?

Events and workshops

Wreath Making Workshop
Saturday 25 November
Art Room
1pm-3.30pm £40, members £35. Ages 14+
Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as we guide you through the process of creating a seasonal wreath using greenery sourced from the magnificent Royal Pavilion Garden. You will be encouraged to experiment with different combinations of foliage, exploring the textures, colours and scents that each element brings to your creation. While you work you can enjoy a short talk about Christmas traditions, a mince pie and a hot drink.

Christmas Tree Decorating Masterclass
Saturday 25 November
William IV room
11am-12pm £20, members/patrons £15. Ages 14+
This year make your Christmas tree fit for King! Join Marcus Bagshaw, Royal Pavilion Christmas tree decorator-in-chief, as he reveals top tips and secrets that will help you to create a spectacular Christmas tree at home.
A short tour of selected decorated trees in the Royal Pavilion will be followed by a Christmas tree decorating demonstration in the William IV room.

George IV and Christmas at Windsor Castle
Tuesday 5 December
William IV Room
11am-12pm £20, members/patrons £15
We are delighted to welcome Nicola Turner Inman, Curator of Decorative Arts at the Royal Collection Trust. This talk offers a special insight into how Nicola and her colleagues curated Windsor Castle’s interpretation of Christmas revelries in the time of George IV.

Christmas Banquets
Friday 8, Saturday 9, Friday 15 & Saturday 16 December
7pm £150, members £135. Over 18s only
The Royal Pavilion invites you to celebrate Christmas in regal splendour. Join us for a drinks and canapé reception in the palace’s historic Great Kitchen, followed by a musical interlude in the spectacular Music Room, before taking seats for a three-course dinner with wine in the magnificent setting of the Banqueting Room.
Seating will be allocated by booking, please book the number of tickets required for your group to sit together. Groups of up to 10 will be seated together, smaller groups will be asked to share a table.

Christmas Carol Concert
Thursday 14 December
Doors 7pm, Concert 7.30pm £35, members £30 (includes an interval drink). Ages 14+
Join us in the sparkling Royal Pavilion for a special evening of Christmas carols performed by two talented Sussex based choirs. The Music Room is the setting for the entertainment and during the interval you are invited to enjoy a glass of prosecco and a mince pie in the palace’s beautiful Banqueting Room.
Choirs:
Brighton Chamber Choir brightonchamberchoir.org.uk
Heber Opera heberopera.co.uk/

PRESTON MANOR

A Christmas Carol
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December, Friday 15 to Saturday 31 December (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day)
10am to 6pm £29pp for 4-5 people in a team, £26pp for 6+. Ages 8-80
Book in advance https://pierpressure.co.uk/escape-room/a-christmas-carol/
Experience Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas tale like you’ve never experienced it before. Be part of the story as you go from room to room meeting the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come while solving escape room style puzzles and watching the story unfold.
This unique Christmas adventure is fully interactive as you represent the characters of Tiny Tim, Clara, Mr Fezziwig and, of course, Mr Scrooge himself. Move around this genuine Edwardian manor house encountering the next part of the story and lots of fun challenges as you go. It’s a wonderful Christmas treat for all the family as well as groups of friends and colleagues.