Get into the holiday spirit with opulent decor, sparkling special events calendars and in-person meet-and-greets with The Man in Red at these super-seasonal hotels — all weekend-distance from London.
Hartwell House, Buckinghamshire
Christmas extravagance reaches a whole new level in this Grade I-listed stately home, where twinkly fairy lights glow against oil-paint portraits, and flickering fires warm parlours dripping in opulent mouldings. Cosied among 90 acres of frosty parkland on the cusp of the Chilterns, National Trust-owned Hartwell House goes full Dickensian for December with timeless gold and red decorations, plush garlands and bedrooms with retro floral prints. Book in for their three-night Christmas ‘house party’ from Dec 24 and you’ll get a Champagne receptions and carols, Christmas cake to accompany the King’s Speech in the library, and a black-tie Boxing Day dinner and casino.
Details: 3-night package from £3,250. hartwell-house.com
Another Place The Lake, Cumbria
Counteract the seasonal glut of mince pies and mulled wine with an active Christmassy break, going ice skating at the first-ever rink on the shores of Ullswater. Until 4 January, overnight stays at classic-meets-contemporary Another Place, The Lake, include daily spins on the 200-square-metre freeze, which on weekends is fringed by Christmas market stalls hawking stocking stuffers and cute crafts. When you aren’t on the ice, work off excess calories on a ski expedition in the ‘English Alps’ (snow-permitting) or simply kick back in the steaming outdoor hot tub.
Details: From £205. another.place
Baur au Lac, Zurich, Switzerland
What’s more festive than a fresh dusting of snow? Up your chances of a white Christmas by trading London for Switzerland, and this palatial pile perched on the shores of Lake Zurich since 1844. Besides hosting the city’s largest Christmas tree — a sparkling outdoor skyscraper of an evergreen — the polished marble and wood corridors hold advent afternoon teas soundtracked by live music. Nestled in the sprawling, fairy light-strewn grounds, a pop-up chalet serves rib-sticking fondue and raclette until 28 December, so even if you don’t get the snow, at least you’ll have cheese.
Details: From £623. bauraulac.ch
Prestonfield House, Edinburgh
While Edinburgh is best-known for its Hogmanay celebrations on the 31st, the Scottish capital serves regal Christmas vibes the whole month through — especially when you check into this 18-room country-house-in-the-city by Holyrood Park. Log fires and candles set the mood for the series of weekend cabaret ‘party nights’ throughout December, while by day fizz-soaked festive afternoon teas and roast goose with spiced plum sauce are served up to mark the season. A backdrop of silk and velvet wall upholstery, gilded frames, vintage furniture and 17th-century architecture further enhances the atmosphere.
Details: From £425. pobhotels.com
Whatley Manor, Wiltshire
‘Tis the season to get crafty. Would-be Kirstie Allsopps can get stuck in at this sublime Cotswolds country house, where grown up festive activities include a Christmas wreath-making masterclass hosted by RHS Chelsea Silver medallist and florist Emily Hepworth. Amid the classically cosy environs you’ll also get twinkling Christmas trees in public areas, meals of turkey and brandy-tinged Christmas pud in Grey’s Restaurant, and restorative afternoons in the Aquarias Spa. Not to mention festive film screening nights in the on-site cinema (we’ll see you for The Holiday on 20 December).
Details: From £354. whatleymanor.com
Coworth Park, Berkshire
All the glittering glamour of The Dorchester on Park Lane, but an hour outside the city in the greenery of Berkshire. At Coworth Park December evenings mean mulled wines in an onsite ‘mountain lodge’, fine wine dinners with Michelin-starred plates by chef Adam Smith, and brisk walks through 240 acres of parkland. Staff will decorate your room with a tree on request, and kiddos staying on 25 December can even expect a visit from Santa himself. Other events in the holiday roster include Christmas card making, live music and free transfers to a nearby Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
Details: From £545. dorchestercollection.com
Hotel Lutetia, France
Ticking off your Christmas shopping list and getting a festive break at the same time — now that’s efficiency. Eurostar yourself to Left Bank Paris where palacial hotel Lutetia has paired with luxe nearby department store icon, Le Bon Marché, on a yuletide package including €200 shopping spree and personal shopping assistance. Back at base, indulge in chic Noël nibbles like lobster vol-au-vents with black truffle, Mont Blanc pastries and (bien sûr) Champagne. Or head to Lutetia’s serene subterranean spa, where a special seasonal treatment combines body massage, scalp rub and face sculpting.
Details: From £1,500. hotellutetia.com
Ashdown Park, East Sussex
Frosty walks to nearby Pooh Sticks Bridge, followed by turkey and stuffing lunches. Afternoon teas with mince pie crumble and Black Forest yule log, ahead of snoozes by the fire. Sounds good, right? Nineteenth-century manor house Ashdown Park is just outside London at East Grinstead and hits the holiday notes just right. There’s yuletide goings-on all through December, but a three-night stay over the big day itself kicks off with Champagne reception and carols, segueing to meet-and-greets with Santa, treasure hunts, clay pigeon shooting and an epic general manager’s quiz.
Details: ashdownpark.com
Holkham Estate, Norfolk
Checking into cosy restaurant-with-rooms The Victoria, set on the vast Holkham Estate in North Norfolk, is always a winter pleasure. But in December the coddling mood hits its apex as the wider estate kicks into holiday gear with everything from wreath-making workshops to Christmas painting sessions and a dedicated tree shop selling 7ft Nordmann firs. The centrepiece of the lot is the ticketed Holkham Hall by Candlelight experience, where the Neo-Palladian country house is festooned with countless lit trees, illuminated gingerbread-style house displays and audio-visual wizardry.
Details: From £145. holkham.co.uk
Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich
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Germany = Christmas, right? Home of the traditional Christmas market, Deutschland brims with festive energy, particularly in mountain-flanked Bavarian capital Munich. The markets here are as bountiful as the beer halls and bratwursts — try flagship Christkindlmarkt in Marienplatz square or LGBTQ+ Pink Christmas at Stephansplatz. The décor at this luxe grand dame doesn’t disappoint either. Expect a life-sized gingerbread house in the lobby (home to a festive pop-up gift shop) and a fire-warmed rooftop Polar Bar overlooking landmark domed cathedral Frauenkirche, serving warm Mai Tais.
Details: From £408. bayerischerhof.de
The Newt, Somerset
With winery, ciderie, farmshop and more on site, exclusive The Newt provides the perfect setting for a bougie countryside break — even more so in December, when the events calendar kicks up a notch. Guided dawn walks through the rambling formal gardens are followed by Christmas calligraphy, card-making sessions, decoration-making and, on 7 and 8 December, a Christmas Showcase with live music, local artisans and roasted chestnuts. Santa even has his very own on-site grotto, and will be visiting on weekends.
Details: From £1,670. thenewtinsomerset.com
The Pulitzer, Netherlands
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Whichever week you choose to visit, Amsterdam nails December. Already underway, there’s the Amsterdam Light Festival to make the city sparkle, and mid-month, the brown cafés pouring bock beers are at their cosiest, while on New Year’s Eve the city residents light firecrackers en masse. And in the heart of the chic Nine Streets neighbourhood, The Pulitzer makes the perfect festive base. It is housed in 25 canal houses linked by lifts, passages and a stunning glass-walled courtyard for a truly unique stay. Come the last week of November, the wonderfully eclectic interiors by creative director Jacu Strauss, are given a new pièce de résistance in the form of the courtyard Christmas tree. This year’s was designed by Jenny Packham, adorned with giant pearl ‘earrings’. The perfect place for a festive toast after a seasonal dinner at its popular restaurant, Jansz.
the place to make your classy festive base, with its
Details: From £246. pulitzeramsterdam.com
