Tuck in to a Burghley Christmas

England’s greatest Elizabethan house will play host to a seasonal spectacle featuring festive favourites including country crafts, Christmas floral arranging and fine food.

Burghley House in Lincolnshire provides the spectacular backdrop for a festive celebration including a stately food market, crafts pavilion and Christmas parties in an historic location.

While the House closed at the end of October, Burghley at Christmas offers visitors a chance to experience traditional seasonal treats in a striking heritage setting. 

There are winter walks through the Capability Brown-designed parkland, home to a herd of fallow deer, and seasonal shopping at Burghley’s own gift shop.

And Burghley’s ever-popular Orangery Restaurant - run by prestigious caterers Absolute Taste - is also open Wednesday through to Sunday in December serving tasty treats as well as traditional Christmas lunches.

Launching Burghley’s festive season will be the popular Crafts for Christmas from the Rural Crafts Association, which returns to Burghley 29th November - 2nd December 2012.

A marquee in the picturesque parkland provides a festive space for talented makers and designers from all over the UK producing top quality products all under one roof. (For ticket prices, visit www.ruralcraftsassociation.co.uk or call 01428 684494).

While over the weekend, Saturday 1st December and Sunday 2nd December, join in a celebration of local produce at the free-to-enter Christmas Fine Food Market.

Within the cobbled courtyard against the backdrop of the Elizabethan house, stall holders will be selling everything from local cheese and meats to cupcakes and Burghley venison.

Special Festive Floral Workshops, will also be staged on both days with Burghley's head gardener John Burrows. He will reveal how to make either a beautiful table centre or festive garland that visitors can take home with them, with all materials and refreshments provided (booking is essential for the workshops).

But there is plenty more Christmas cheer on offer throughout December at the historic house, which has been the home of the Cecil family for more than 400 years.

Unusually for such a historic house, you can park and visit the restaurant or walk through the parkland with no charge throughout the year. Offering sweeping vistas down to the spires of the Georgian stone town of Stamford, Burghley’s parkland creates the perfect canvas for a winter stroll. 

Christmas also brings a truly seasonal flavour to the menu at the recently refurbished Orangery restaurant. Boasting huge windows flooding the area with natural light, the Orangery – also designed by Capability Brown – will be serving homemade food right through the day as well as Christmas lunch in December.

And as well as the elegant Orangery restaurant, Burghley’s awe inspiring Great Hall offers a chance for a Christmas Party with a difference, whether choosing one of the special festive packages or creating your own special event.

Caterers Absolute Taste offer a selection of delicious mains to choose from, including truffle-basted ballotine of turkey with a chestnut and wild mushroom stuffing and classic beef Wellington, followed by mouthwatering desserts such as a trio of Christmas treats.

The gift shop and the restaurant are both are open during the winter period, from Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm (shop 11am to 4pm). 

For details of Christmas Lunch menus and bespoke dinner parties at The Orangery at Burghley, visit www.burghley.co.uk/venue/christmas

For full details of all events at Burghley, visit www.burghley.co.uk or telephone 01780 752451.