Unique Christmas shopping at Living Crafts for Christmas at Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace

Experience a Christmas shopping extravaganza in a majestic setting, as Blenheim Palace hosts around 150 British designer-makers of high quality contemporary craft at Living Crafts for Christmas, from 15th – 17th November. A magical seasonal atmosphere awaits with roasting chestnuts, Dickensian street theatre and a festive duo singing Christmas favourites, while in The Great Court beautiful Christmas trees will be adorned with twinkling lights. 

The inspiring choice of handmade presents from simple stocking fillers to special commissions includes ceramics, studio glass, original works of art, exquisite jewellery and toys. Also designer fashions, soaps, vibrant photography and many more high quality, contemporary crafts, perfect for special Christmas gifts. Choose beautifully designed, handcrafted decorations, cards, garlands and wreaths to complete your festive style ‘At home’.

‘Tastes of Christmas’ features specialist food producers with Christmas treats and foodie gifts, handmade fudges, chocolates, coffees and connoisseur chutneys. Try seasonal preserves, marinades, waxed Cheddar truckles and festive pies or embrace the festive spirit and sample Christmas liqueurs, mulled wines and winter cordials. 

Blenheim Palace will be dressed for the season, celebrating a ‘Dickensian Christmas’ with ornate red, green and gold decorations and Victorian inspired displays.  The parkland and formal gardens in their full winter glory are waiting to be explored with the crisp winter scenery making a stunning backdrop to the Palace and don’t forget a ride on the specially decorated train running to The Pleasure Gardens.

Shop in style this year at Living Crafts for Christmas and enjoy a festive day out with all the family at Britain’s Greatest Palace.

For further event information please visit www.livingcrafts.co.uk

Wedding Open Day - Castle Howard 10th November 2013

Meet our professional wedding team and a handful of our carefully selected wedding suppliers and discover Yorkshire’s most romantic venue dressed for a civil ceremony and wedding breakfast.

Open for viewings from 11am until 3pm.

Pre-register online to receive complimentary admission.

To book an appointment with our wedding coordinator, please contact Jane Nordli on 07971 094338 or visit our wedding pages.

Simply Smart Sunday 10th November at Beaulieu

Simply Smart 10th November

Sunday 10th November will see the welcome return of Beaulieu’s popular Simply Smart rally, when all Smart car owners can drive into the grounds of the National Motor Museum to join a colourful display of these quirky motors. 2013 marks the 10th anniversary of the Smart Roadster, so owners of this model are particularly encouraged to take part. The event, now in its third year, has built up a loyal following and there is always a wonderful variety of creative designs and colour themes to be seen.

This event is well supported by owners’ club, SmartManiacs, with a large number of their members attending. At the club’s request, the event is always held around the time of Remembrance Day, 11th November, which this year falls the day after the event. To honour this special day, a two minutes silence will be held at 11am, which visitors are invited to take part in, with Mr Tod Sloan, a retired Royal Navy CPO, providing a reading.

Smart cars lined up in front of Beaulieu

The Ridgeway Group, which owns a number of dealerships throughout Hampshire, will also be in attendance, bringing along a small selection of their pristine Smart models.

On the day, visitors to Beaulieu will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite Smart car on display in the People’s Choice Award. The awards will be presented in the afternoon, with the winner receiving a Beaulieu Trophy and the chance to lead the top ten cars voted for, in a cavalcade through the parkland.

Participants can also enjoy all the delights of the Beaulieu attraction and can take advantage of one of the last chances to see BOND IN MOTION before it closes permanently on the 5th January 2014. This fantastic exhibition showcases 50 vehicles from the James Bond films, including the Lotus Esprit submarine car from The Spy Who Loved Me, affectionately referred to as ‘Wet Nellie’, the iconic Aston Martin DB5 from Goldeneye and the Rolls-Royce Phantom III from Goldfinger.

For entrants arriving on the day in a Smart car and participating in the event, individual ticket prices are £10 per adult and £5 per child.

Book advance tickets online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or on telephone number 01590 612888, which you can also call for information on group/club entry. For all enquiries regarding trade stands, telephone 01590 614614.

If you buy your Simply Smart event tickets in advance (before 5pm on the 8th November 2013), you will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win an Autoglym Concours Collection Valet Gift Pack. The winner will be announced on the day, during the awards presentation ceremony.*

Entry into the Beaulieu parkland with your Smart car is from 9.30am, when refreshments will be available.

All other visitors who wish to see the event, but not participate in a Smart car should enter Beaulieu via the Main Reception from 10am at normal attraction admission prices.

Admission to the event includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction; the National Motor Museum and BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, Beaulieu Abbey, and Palace House and gardens.

Simply Smart is part of a growing calendar of Simply rallies which has rapidly expanded to include a wide variety of themes covering many makes and models. All Simply rallies are run and organised by Beaulieu and take place in the grounds of the National Motor Museum.

For more information please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #simplysmart.

*The prize draw is only available to advance ticket holders, aged 18 years or older, who participate in the event with their Smart car and have their car on display in the showground. The winner must be present to receive the Gift Pack in person. If the first drawn person does not come forward, the prize will go to the next person drawn who is present.