Visit the Mad Hatter’s hat shop, tumble down a rabbit hole and meet the Queen of Hearts at A Palace House Christmas, as Beaulieu announces its fabulous festive themed experience for 2026. – Yes, I know it’s still summer but advance warning for our readers is essential as the tickets go so quickly…
It gets curiouser and curiouser as designers extraordinaire Charlotte Lloyd Webber and Adrian Lillie return with theatrical installations, immersive soundscapes and multi-colour projections for a magical Christmas journey around the stately rooms by CLW Event Design. Frankly, there is no more fitting setting to explore Lewis Carroll’s imaginary world than Palace House, (see below) where the real Alice – Alice Liddell – was a guest at a tea party to celebrate the coming of age of the Hon John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, the 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu in 1887.
So, don’t be late for a very important date. Be the first to experience Alice’s Christmas Wonderland when it opens from Saturday 21st November – Sunday 3rd January(excluding Christmas Day). Head down the rabbit hole and enter a fantasy Wonderland for your festive experience. Follow the White Rabbit to see Palace House rooms dressed with twinkling lights and beautifully decorated for Christmas.
Expect to see an explosion of colour in the Mad Hatter’s hat shop, (just look at the hat below) a life-size Caterpillar on a five-foot toadstool, the grinning Cheshire Cat and the maddest tea party ever . . . with lavish festive twists at every turn.
Hunt for trees decorated with fairy woodland toadstools, cascading playing cards and pastel-coloured butterflies, as well as Beaulieu’s 20ft Wonderland-themed real tree at the foot of the grand staircase. You can even take a little of the Christmas magic home with you, from the tempting range of the Wonderland-themedbaubles and decorations on sale in the Palace House gift shop. You may be lucky to meet live characters to entertain you along your way*. Then put yourself in Alice’s shoes for ‘end-of-pier’ peep-throughs to capture memories with a selfie.Complete your festive experience with a Wonderland Tea & Treats, with delicious heart-shaped scones with cream and jam, cakes and sandwiches all served on an Alice in Wonderland stand in the historic abbey Domus – and add a celebratory glass of Prosecco.*
CLW Event Design’s team of theatre designers and artists has created award-winning installations at heritage properties across the UK, including Kensington Palace, Belvoir and Bamburgh castles, Treasure House Castle Howard and the National Trust’s Polesdon Lacey. They return to Beaulieu for the second time this year. Artistic Director Charlotte Lloyd Webber said: “CLW Event Design is delighted to return to Beaulieu for a second year to present Alice’s Christmas Wonderland. Palace House presents the perfect late Victorian interior setting to inspire us to bring this iconic Lewis Carroll story to life. We are using the house decor to influence the design and create a magical environment that will delight throughout all the rooms.”
Design Director Adrian Lillie said: “Our team is having a lot of fun designing each space in Palace House to present all the best known and favourite characters from the Alice story . . . not just Alice, the Mad Hatter and White Rabbit but also room schemes dedicated to the Queen of Hearts, the Caterpillar and Cheshire Cat. And just wait for the maddest tea party ever staged!”
Book tickets : A Palace House Christmas 2026 – Alice’s Christmas Wonderland ticket includes entry to Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum with new gallery Driven: Britain’s Motoring Story, Disney and Pixar Cars display, hands-on exhibition We Had One Of Those, fun adventure playground Little Beaulieu, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey, the Secret Army Exhibition, unlimited rides on the tree-top monorail and beautiful grounds and gardens.
Tickets go on sale in early August – sign up now to Beaulieu’s Christmas newsletter for the chance to be the first to book tickets at early-bird prices.
For more details and tickets to A Palace House Christmas at Beaulieu in the New Forest, Hampshire see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.