Mottisfont's house becomes Jack and the Beanstalk from 21 November to 3 January, no booking, included in admission. Closed 24 and 25 Dec; parking free.
Mottisfont’s Christmas this year is Jack and the Beanstalk. From Saturday 21 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 the National Trust house near Romsey is dressed as the fairy tale, with decorated rooms, themed games and a festive family trail. There is nothing to book: the event is included in normal admission, and National Trust members get in free.
Everything below was read from the National Trust’s own Mottisfont pages, the event listing, the opening times calendar and the price list, on 6 October 2026.
The quick answer
- Dates: 21 November to 3 January, 10am to 3.30pm on the event listing.
- Closed: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, on Mottisfont’s opening times calendar. It reopens on Boxing Day.
- Booking: not needed. The event is free, but admission to Mottisfont applies.
- Admission: the National Trust says peak prices apply at Christmas: £24 an adult, £12 a child aged 5 to 17, £60 a family, without Gift Aid. Under 5s, Trust members and Art Fund members go free.
- Parking: free, in the car park next to the welcome centre.
What the Christmas is
In the Trust’s words, “the house is transformed with sparkle and theatrical flair, lights and laughs as you journey from a towering beanstalk to a castle in the clouds and a Giant’s Christmas banquet.” The listing promises decorated rooms, themed games and activities, and a festive family trail, and ends with a warning to listen out for the fe-fi-fo-fum.
The event page says “Booking not needed” and “Free event (admission applies)”.
Opening times over Christmas
Mottisfont’s opening times calendar gives these hours for every open day from 21 November to 31 December:
| Part of the estate | Hours |
|---|---|
| House, where the Christmas is | 11am to 3.30pm |
| Garden, shop and play area | 10am to 4pm |
| Café | 10am to 3.45pm |
| Art gallery | Closed |
Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. The calendar shows the whole property closed on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 December, even though the event listing carries times for those two days; we have gone with the calendar. The calendar had no hours for 1 to 3 January when we checked, though the event runs to 3 January, so check before a New Year visit.
Note the gap between the event times, 10am to 3.30pm, and the house hours, 11am to 3.30pm. Arrive by 3pm to get into the house before last entry.
In the week before the Christmas opens, up to 20 November, the house is closed and only the garden, café, shop and play area are open.
Prices
The National Trust’s Mottisfont page says peak admission is charged “at Christmas”, alongside bank holidays, Easter, rose season and the summer holidays. It does not say which dates count as Christmas. The three rates, without Gift Aid, with the Gift Aid price in brackets:
| Ticket | Peak | Standard | Off-peak, after 3pm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (18+) | £24 (£26.40) | £18 (£19.80) | £15 (£16.50) |
| Child (5 to 17) | £12 (£13.20) | £9 (£9.90) | £7.50 (£8.25) |
| Family, 2 adults and up to 3 children | £60 (£66) | £45 (£49.50) | £37.50 (£41.30) |
Under 5s, National Trust members and Art Fund members are free. Groups of 15 or more should book.
The off-peak rate applies after 3pm, but the house closes at 3.30pm, so that is a garden ticket in practice.
Getting there and parking
Mottisfont is near Romsey, SO51 0LP; the Trust gives SO51 0LN for sat nav to reach the car park. Coming from Andover, take the A3057 south through Stockbridge; the Trust’s directions run through Kings Somborne, with a brown sign for Mottisfont on the right about two miles beyond the village.
Parking is free next to the welcome centre. The Trust asks visitors not to park on the roadsides or verges in Mottisfont village. Dogs on leads are welcome in most of the gardens and wider estate, but only assistance dogs in the walled gardens, the formal lawns and the Old Kitchen Café. There are ten electric vehicle charging points in the main car park.
Mottisfont is also on the Test Way. Stockbridge and Romsey are each about five miles away on foot.
Before you set off, check our Andover roadworks and travel page for closures on the A3057, and our parking in Andover page if you are starting in town.
More Christmas near Andover
- Hillier Gardens light trail, from 26 November, at Ampfield on the other side of Romsey.
- Christmas at Paultons Park, from 5 December.
- Romsey Christmas lights switch-on, Saturday 21 November, the day the Mottisfont Christmas opens.
- The Hawk Conservancy Trust at Christmas.
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