Festive musical celebration at the National Trust's Basildon Park, with musical-themed decorations, singing, dancing and acting through the house.
Christmas at Basildon Park opens on 14 November 2026 at Basildon Park, the 18th-century Palladian mansion just outside Reading. It runs through to 3 January 2027, so you've got plenty of time to fit it in across the festive period, though the house is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The National Trust has turned the house into a musical world this year. Inside, there are sumptuously adorned trees, twinkling lights and decorations inspired by the stories of famous musicals, with singing, dancing and acting staged throughout the house. The gardens get their own musical moments too, with installations and displays inspired by music and dance, including a giant piano you can actually play. It's a walk-through experience rather than a seated show, so you move through the house and grounds at your own pace.
Basildon Park itself has a bit of a story to it. It started as an 18th-century Palladian mansion, went through a decline after the Second World War, and was recovered in the 1950s. That history sits behind the festive layers they've added for the season.
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On the practical side, it's open 10:00 to 16:00 daily, and you don't need to book—you just walk in. Entry is the normal property admission price, which is free for National Trust members and under-fives, and carers and essential companions visit free. If you're bringing children, the only rule is that a parent has to stay with them. With the run going until 3 January, you can catch it whenever suits you best.
