First look at Raby Castle's enchanting Christmas experience
The eagerly anticipated first images of Raby Castle’s 2026 Christmas installation, including two new rooms on the ground floor route, have been revealed ahead of its opening weekend.
Following the incredible success of its inaugural season last year, which saw the castle doors open during the festive period for the first time in fifty years, Raby Castle at Christmas is inviting visitors to step into the past once more and discover an Edwardian Christmas Day at Raby with a few additional surprises.
With eleven carefully curated rooms, the experience brings together special pieces from Raby's historic collection, immersive storytelling and elaborate seasonal decorations that transport guests into the very heart of a traditional family Christmas in days gone by.
Two new rooms “below stairs” are brimming with more festive magic, providing a snapshot into the Christmas celebrations for the important team who would have worked at the Castle over the festive season.
The Servants’ Hall, a space where the Castle’s staff would have gathered to eat, sew and rest, is dressed for a traditional Christmas Day celebration with paper chain decorations hung from the ceiling and green foliage as the table's centrepiece, offering visitors a glimpse into festive life below stairs.
The staff at Raby during the Edwardian period would have made the castle come alive and Christmas wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for their incredible efforts to look after the family and the running of the castle – which they often made look easy even though such a huge amount of work went into it – so it felt incredibly important to tell their story this year.
Lady Barnard added, "And in many ways, this is still the case here at Raby – we couldn't do any of this without the amazing team who are immensely conscientious, dedicated and passionate to create the best experiences possible for our visitors throughout the year, not just at Christmas."
Nearby, the historic kitchen is also brought to life through an immersive installation created by renowned designer Tom Le Bon, showcasing the energy, anticipation and meticulous preparations behind the most important meal of the year. Animated projections, which feature traditional – and unusual – Christmas recipes from Raby's archives, come alive with a touch of humour across the architectural spaces in the medieval room.
We specialise in creating digital experiences within physical places, and we had a huge amount of fun bringing to life the river of recipes in Raby's kitchen and telling its story.
Tom added, "What surprised us the most, after reviewing Raby's archival material and historic recipes, was the mixture of traditional alongside some extremely quirky recipes. These recipes, along with a sketch found from a very old visitors' notebook, have allowed a humorous character within the kitchen installation to develop. We've been able to create a sense of personality and uniqueness to the space that hasn't been seen here before."
Tom's creative expertise has also created a new experience in the Octagon Drawing Room. Full of lighting and sound effects to evoke the feeling of being in the middle of a festive drinks party before Christmas dinner, visitors can expect an immersive and sensory encounter, as light is reflected through the impressive chandelier to create a visual treat for visitors.
Tom added, "I hope our additions, to what was already a spectacular installation, will help amplify the existing story in the rooms and dial up the sense of Christmas wonder, magic and the indescribable comfort you can only experience at this time of year."
All the other rooms in Raby Castle at Christmas have their own story to tell, from the early morning thrill of opening a Christmas stocking in front of a cosy fire to an evening of elegant dining and Christmas games, as visitors head on an enchanting journey through the family’s festivities.
Lady Barnard added, "I hope everyone who visits Raby this Christmas leaves at the end of the day, all rosy cheeked, feeling as though they've got everything out of their time here that they wanted to – whether that's visiting this year's Raby Castle at Christmas, relaxing with some festive food and drink or shopping for gifts.
"My top tip would be to leave yourself enough time to be able to soak up everything at Raby, not feel rushed and head home with a sense of excitement that the countdown to Christmas has officially started."
Raby Castle at Christmas opens on Saturday 14th November with prices starting from £22 per adult. Off-peak prices are available from Saturday 14th November to Thursday 26th November and Tuesday 29th December to Sunday 3rd January.
A candlelit experience of the installation is also available on Friday 4th, Friday 11th, Saturday 12th, Friday 18th and Saturday 19th December and visitors staying at High Force Hotel between Saturday 14th November and Sunday 3rd January 2027 can also enjoy complimentary access to Raby Castle at Christmas, the Deer Park and Walled Gardens.
For more information and to book, visit: www.raby.co.uk/christmas/
