A very happy 130th birthday celebration to @nationaltrust - I’m very proud to be a volunteer and to chair the London and South East regional advisory board for the Trust (@NTlovesLondon@southeastNT ), to support & celebrate their staff, volunteers & work. For everyone, forever.
As the sun rises on another year, we wish you all the best for a wonderful 2025.
This pic was taken at Greys Court a few weeks ago. Please check websites if you'd like to visit today as many places are closed because of high winds.
📷️ National Trust / Rachel Batho
ALT View through gate posts to snowy rolling hills with an orange sunrise in the background
Feeling a bit frazzled?
We hear you. National Trust places are open for you to escape into gardens and woodland for fresh air. Or from your house to ours for a change of scene. We look forward to seeing you.
📷️ National Trust Images / Tamsin Holmes
Very proud to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of being appointed Chair of the Regional Advisory Group of @NTlovesLondon@southeastNT (London & the South East) of @nationaltrust. It’s been a great honour & great fun: recruiting fab fellow members & supporting the superb NT team.
Henry VIII started many of our Christmas traditions, including carol singing and giving presents. In his later years, a well-dressed turkey would have been pride of place on his Christmas table.
Immerse yourself in a Tudor Christmas at Ightham Mote until 5 January.
ALT high-ceilinged, dark-panelled wood hall with a dining table full of food, foliage and candles.
🌿 When you see a ball of foliage on an otherwise bare tree, that'll be mistletoe.
Mistletoe is a hemiparasitic plant. It won't kill the tree, but can weaken it if there's a lot.
At The Vyne, gardener Emma harvests mistletoe from apple trees and bunches it up for visitors.
Some of our birds head south for the winter, but to other birds, we ARE south.
Look out for winter visitors such as redwings, fieldfares and short-eared owls in fields and hedgerows near you.
📷️ National Trust / David Humphries
ALT owl on a fence post with blurry wintery background
ALT medium-sized bird with a berry in its mouth on a berry-laden twig
ALT stocky brown bird with orange flash under its wing sitting on a wire fence.
❓️Where am I ❓️
This house is known for its extensive art collection and at this time of year you'll be able to see plenty of Christmas trees too!
#GuessingGame#WhereAmI
ALT A Christmas tree covered in lights and green and gold decorations with a painting in the background.
Nothing says Christmas like a festive wreath on the front door, welcoming you into houses filled with Christmas trees and decorations.
Here’s a round up of our finest wreaths, do you have a favourite?
ALT Wreath with red apples and gold pine cones at Standen in Sussex
ALT Two green festive wreaths on the doors at Chartwell
ALT A green wreath with pine cones on the door of Lamb House
ALT Green wreaths with red berries and pine cones on the doors of Knole
If you're looking for a magical family Christmas day out, our visitors are saying these places are worth a journey:
🎄Mottisfont
🎅Nymans
🎁Hinton Ampner
❄️Sheffield Park and Garden
Why are robins associated with Christmas?
In the mid 1800s postmen wore red uniforms and were nicknamed 'Robins'. With the advent of the penny post, sending Christmas cards became popular. Red-breasted postmen delivering a card became red-breasted robins depicted on them.
ALT small bird with fluffed up feathers, brown on head and back, red breast and buff belly.
All the classic Christmas feels, wrapped up in these must visit places 🎁...
Find more inspiration for Christmas in London and the South East here: bit.ly/ChristmasInLSE24
📽️ NT/ Sarah Connolly, Caroline Hewitt, Holly Halford, Fran Leeds, Jen Reznick, Manda Pawelczyk
❓️Where am I ❓️
We love peeking into cosy Christmassy interiors as the light fades at this time of year. The bust of the Victorian statesman peeking out might give you a clue to this location.
📷️ National Trust / Hugh Mothersole
ALT light spilling out of a doorway and a Christmas tree in a window taken from the dark outside.
At Chastleton's much-loved, 1960s-themed Christmas, all the classics are there for visitors to play with - Twister, Tiddlywinks and Barrel of Monkeys (you'll remember if you're of a certain age!)
Head on over to the Cotswolds. Chastleton is open Wed - Sun until 15 December.
🎄How do you decorate your Christmas tree? 🎄 Do you favour a classic theme like the tree in the drawing room at Hughenden or go all out like Siobhan Murphy's characterful tree in the courtyard at Standen.
📷️ National Trust/Hugh Mothersole/Richard Grudzinski
#ChristmasTree
ALT A traditionally dressed Christmas tree in the red painted drawing room with red and gold decorations and warm toned lights
ALT A large Christmas tree outside in the courtyard at Standen covered in brightly coloured oversized pink, red and blue bows, baubles and flower decorations
⚠️Due to the forecast storm this weekend, some National Trust places may need to close. Please check our website before travelling. Stay safe! ⚠️
#StormDarragh#Storm
ALT White text on pink background reads "It's blowing a hoolie!" followed by the message above.