Christmas in Cambridgeshire

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and how could we be anything else with so many fantastic festive happenings in the local area?  We’ve rounded up some of our favourite things to do near Pringle Farm to help make the most of Christmas in Cambridgeshire.

The Cambridge North Pole

After its unfortunate 2020 cancellation, the Cambridge North Pole is back with a bang, standing proud in the centre of Parker’s Piece.  It would be almost impossible to leave the North Pole without that warm Christmas feeling, with an ice rink, festive rides (including an ice slide!) and an ice bar, plus plenty of winter treats to keep you going.  The North Pole is open every day (except Christmas Day) until Monday 3rd January with free entry, though tickets are required for some attractions.

The Wimpole Estate Winter Lights Trail

See the National Trust’s Wimpole Estate in a different light with their beautiful winter illuminations.  Discover “sparkling tunnels of light, dancing reflections and trees drenched in jewel-like colour” as you walk the grounds, and you may even catch a glimpse of Father Christmas as you go.  The lights will be twinkling at Wimpole until Sunday 2nd January.

Cambridge’s Independent Christmas Market

Cambridge is known for its rich history and stunning architecture, but over the years it has also become renowned for its incredible collection of independent shops, making it a great place for Christmas shopping.  Cambridge’s Independent Christmas Market showcases the best of these independents from the region and is perfect for picking up those last minute gifts.  The market is at The Junction on Saturday 18th December from 10am – 6.30pm.                                                                                       

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without taking in a little live music or theatre, and there are some wonderful shows on offer this season.

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is the highly anticipated annual Christmas Eve service from King’s College.  This year, King’s will be allocating tickets in advance by ballot, as they are unable to admit as many people as usual, so apply soon to be in with a chance.

The Cambridge Corn Exchange has plenty of fantastic entertainment lined up over the season, including My Christmas Orchestral Adventure with the Cambridge Philharmonic on Sunday 19th December, and for something a little more sophisticated, the Saint Petersberg Ballet will be performing The Nutcracker and Swan Lake  from Wednesday 29th December – Sunday 2nd January.

Peterborough Cathedral’s Christmas Concert features seasonal classics and carols to sing along to from the Cathedral Choir, Youth Choir, and Festival Chorus amongst the stunning setting of the beautiful Norman cathedral.

Cambridge Arts Theatre has the go-to panto with their production of Aladdin for those in search of some light entertainment and a bit of fun.  The pantomime runs til January 9th and promises to be a hit with the whole family.

Swing into Christmas with the Down for the Count Concert Orchestra on Friday 17th December at West Road Concert Hall.   You’ll be treated to the music of Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and more by wonderful guest vocalists in a fantastic orchestral setting.

As we all know, Christmas is a time for over-indulgence, so what could be more perfect than a festive afternoon tea?  A little Christmas spirit really kicks this quintessentially British tradition into overdrive, so why not try the restaurant at The Old Bridge Hotel in Huntingdon, or head into Cambridge for tea at Parker’s Tavern, Browns or local favourite Fitzbillies.

If you’d like to spend Christmas in Cambridgeshire, email reservations@pringlefarm.co.uk or call 07741 005634 to find out more about the luxury barn conversions at The Yard @ Pringle Farm.