Every Year Since
Where traditions begin: the story behind a Hand Picked Christmas
Join a tradition centuries in the making
Christmas has unfolded in these buildings for generations, and each hotel now has traditions of its own. Carols and Champagne fill Fawsley Hall’s Tudor Great Hall, built during the remodelling of the 1530s. At Ettington Park, the Victorian house dates from 1858, while a 1920s singer brings the glamour of a later era to its Christmas celebrations. Long before the first glass is poured, the season is taking shape. At L’Horizon, the front of house team dresses the central tree. In Grand Jersey’s Tassili kitchen, chefs build a Santa sleigh from gingerbread and sweets for children to sit in.
Now it is your turn to join them, and perhaps begin a tradition of your own.
Arrive for the build-up, stay for Christmas itself, or choose the quieter days between Christmas and New Year. Each part of the season has its own character, and each hotel has its own way of marking it.
Book Festive Escapes Book Christmas Stays
Stay for the season
Choose your stay for the run-up to Christmas, giving you more time to explore Bath from Bailbrook House, relax in the spa at Brandshatch Place, follow winter paths through the New Forest from Rhinefield House, or wake beside St Brelade’s Bay at L’Horizon. All before the busy Christmas schedule takes place.
You'll enjoy mulled wine on arrival, breakfast each morning, a complimentary room upgrade and up to £100 credit towards dining, drinks or spa treatments. Selected dates also bring wreath making, Santa lunches, festive afternoon tea and Christmas shopping events, with full details on each hotel page.
For stays 1st November-1st December
Explore Festive Escapes
Christmas Day, all taken care of
Choose a two or three-night Christmas stay and leave the shopping lists, oven timings and washing up to us. Our teams prepare the meals and take care of the details, giving you time to sit down together and enjoy the festivities.
Each hotel adds a few traditions of its own, from Champagne afternoon tea at Rookery Hall to mince pies and sloe gin at Fermain Valley. There is nowhere else to rush to and nothing left to arrange.
For stays 24th-27th December
Explore Christmas Stays
TIME FOR TWIXMAS
Known as Twixmas, the days between Christmas and New Year are known to bring a little calm after the festive rush. Fawsley Hall pairs a guided Boxing Day walk with afternoon tea and a gala dinner accompanied by live jazz. Ettington Park closes the day with a murder mystery, while Rhinefield House serves afternoon tea with a festive cocktail or mocktail. £100 credit and a complimentary room upgrade are included, giving you plenty more room to indulge.
Stay on towards New Year's Eve, when a Scottish piper calls you for dinner at Rookery Hall, or simply enjoy the pleasure of having nothing to arrange. These quieter days may become the tradition you return to.
For stays 27th-29th December
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A Corporate Christmas
Treat your team this Christmas
Choose a Hand Picked venue for your luxury Christmas celebration or end-of-year corporate event. Whether you are planning a private festive dinner, a company Christmas party or bringing colleagues together to mark the end of the year, there are plenty of ways to celebrate your achievements, thank your team or plan ahead for the year to come.
Give the gift of Hand Picked this Christmas
Give someone special a reason to look forward to the year ahead with a Hand Picked Hotels gift voucher.
From country house stays and memorable meals to time spent relaxing together, a voucher offers the freedom to choose how they enjoy their gift. It is a thoughtful way to give more than something to unwrap at Christmas: the promise of time, place and experiences to remember.
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