Christmas
Grottos, lights switch-ons and festive days out across the villages and beyond.
Illuminate Guildford — 14 Nov – 1 Jan, After dark, selected dates — check their page before booking
Guildford Castle
A winter light trail around the castle grounds, half an hour or so end to end, with a hot chocolate at the gate. The route is new this year.
Pre-booked tickets only
RHS Glow at Wisley — 20 Nov – 3 Jan, Selected dates, 4pm–9pm (last entry 7.30pm)
RHS Garden Wisley
The winter light trail through the gardens after dark, with fire pits, food and the glasshouse lit up. Selected dates, and tickets must be booked in advance.
From £7.50 adults, £6 children · under 5s free · book ahead
A Magical Christmas at Bocketts Farm — 20 Nov – 24 Dec, 10am–5pm · the grotto visit lasts about 40 minutes
Bocketts Farm Park, Fetcham
Father Christmas and his elves are back in the traditional grotto, with a farm visit to make a morning of it. Tickets go early.
Farm admission, with the grotto and a gift included in a child ticket · book ahead
Guildford Cathedral Christmas Fair — 20–21 Nov, 10am–4pm
Guildford Cathedral
Two days of stalls under the cathedral roof — the start of Christmas for a lot of Guildford families.
£3 per person
Christmas at Polesden Lacey — 21 Nov – 3 Jan, 10am–4pm
Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham
Lavish Twelve Days of Christmas displays through the showrooms, and a festive family trail around the grounds with games along the way. Closed 24 and 25 December.
National Trust admission — free to members
Christmas at Hatchlands — the Christmasaurus trail — 28 Nov – 3 Jan, 10am–4pm (house 11am–3pm) · closed 24 and 25 December
Hatchlands Park, East Clandon
The house dressed for Christmas and a family trail through the parkland following Tom Fletcher's Christmasaurus. No booking needed.
National Trust admission — free to members
Christmas Lantern Parade — Sun 29 Nov, From 4.15pm
West Horsley Place
Make a lantern, then walk it through the grounds as the light goes. For younger children, and a pound each.
£1 per child · adults free
Sleeping Beauty — 5 Dec – 10 Jan
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
The Yvonne Arnaud's pantomime, running from early December into January, with relaxed, captioned and signed performances among the dates.
The Snowman with Live Orchestra — Sat 12 Dec, Three performances: 2pm, 3.45pm and 6.30pm
Guildford Cathedral
The film on the big screen with the score played live beneath it, in the cathedral. One day only.
Tickets from about £20