For the first time in its nearly 300-year history, Chiswick House is opening its doors for Christmas celebrations, transforming the West London landmark into a spectacular Georgian winter wonderland.
A Festive First for Historic Venue
The grand seasonal experience, titled Twelfth Night of Christmas, will welcome visitors from Friday 21 November through to 4 January. This marks a significant departure for the Neo-Palladian villa, which has never before hosted Christmas events despite its reputation as one of London's most beautiful historic houses.
Official preview images reveal the property's elegant rooms reimagined as a sequence of opulent themed spaces and theatrical displays, all inspired by the classic 1780 carol The Twelve Days of Christmas. The journey culminates in a lavish banquet installation located in the lower tribune.
Georgian Splendour Brought to Life
The magical transformation is the work of CLW Event Design, co-founded by Charlotte Lloyd-Webber and designer Adrian Lillie. The creative team is renowned for their extraordinary heritage installations at prestigious locations including Castle Howard, Kensington Palace and Bamburgh Castle.
For this inaugural Christmas experience, they've partnered with live entertainment innovators Underbelly, the team behind multi-award-winning productions such as Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club and the warehouse-staged Macbeth starring Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma.
Visitors can expect to be immersed in a festive dreamscape brought to life through dramatic floristry, bespoke sculptures and extravagant costumes that capture the spirit of Georgian celebration.
Family Fun and Historic Setting
Younger visitors haven't been forgotten in the planning. Father Christmas will be welcoming families to his specially created 18th-century grotto from 29 November, while children can enjoy the delightful Christmas Mouse Trail, searching for cheeky mice hidden among the decorations.
Built in 1729 by the 3rd Earl of Burlington, Chiswick House is celebrated for its Neo-Palladian architecture, Baroque interiors and historic landscaped gardens. The villa was originally designed as a hub for Georgian artists, politicians and thinkers - a place of creativity, display and entertainment that now finds new purpose with this festive transformation.
The Christmas experience represents an exciting new chapter for the historic property, offering Londoners and visitors alike a unique opportunity to celebrate the season within one of the city's most architecturally significant settings.
