London Boroughs Christmas at Eltham Palace 2026: the fair and Father Christmas
Eltham Palace and Gardens, Court Yard, SE9 5NP, London · Organised by English Heritage
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- Dates
- 5 Dec 2026 – 20 Dec 2026
- Format
- In person
- Tickets
- £12 – £15
- Organiser
- English Heritage
Eltham Palace keeps Christmas properly. On the first weekend of December the medieval Great Hall becomes a makers' fair, and on every weekend until the 20th Father Christmas is in residence.
The Christmas Fair, 5 and 6 December
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, 10am to 4pm. Makers fill the Great Hall with jewellery, pottery and artwork. There are marshmallows to toast at the fire pits, mulled wine at the café, a community Wreath Trail and free tours of the gardens.
The fair is included with admission. Booking ahead saves 15 per cent, and English Heritage members go free.
Father Christmas, weekends 5 to 20 December
Sessions at 10.20, 11, 11.40, 12.20, 1.40, 2.20 and 3pm on each weekend day. A visit is £15 a child for non-members, on top of admission, and £12 for members. Every child receives a present.
Sessions must be booked in advance. One adult may accompany each child, and the palace asks families to arrive fifteen minutes early.
Finding it
Eltham Palace and Gardens, Court Yard, Eltham, SE9 5NP.
The rest of the season
Christmas at Kew lights its trail from 13 November, and the Queen's House ice rink is open in Greenwich from 18 November.
One would be wise to treat the two halves separately. The fair is a drop-in day and wants no planning beyond an admission ticket bought in advance for the discount. Father Christmas, by contrast, is booked by the session, and the 5 and 6 December sessions share the palace with the fair, which makes for a full house. A family that wants both in one outing should book a morning session on the fair weekend and see the Great Hall afterwards; a family that wants a quieter visit should choose a later weekend.
Eltham Palace and Gardens, Court Yard, SE9 5NP on the map
Christmas at Eltham Palace 2026: the fair and Father Christmas: questions
When is the Eltham Palace Christmas Fair?
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, from 10am to 4pm, in the Great Hall.
Is the fair free?
It is included with admission to the palace; booking ahead saves 15 per cent, and English Heritage members go free.
How much is Father Christmas?
£15 a child for non-members, plus admission, or £12 for members. Every child receives a present.
When can children see Father Christmas?
On weekends from 5 to 20 December, in sessions from 10.20am to 3pm. Book in advance and arrive fifteen minutes early.
Source: English Heritage checked against the source
