Bamburgh Castle reveals Christmas theme of this year's 'spectacular' visitor attraction

Preparations are already in full festive flow at Bamburgh Castle for this year's Christmas attraction which is set to be 'truly spectacular'.

Following the success of past years' Christmas Kingdom installations at the Northumberland castle, which transformed a labyrinth of its rooms into magical worlds, it seems this winter's event will be the best yet. Work on the plans has been under way since February and the castle now reveals that the new theme will be A Christmas Through Time.

And there also has been investment in extra elements such as new soundscapes and projections. It says: "The extravaganza will showcase Christmas from its earliest Viking beginnings and joyful medieval celebrations through to modern-day Father Christmas, the all-out Lametta-dripping glamour of retro mid-20th Century decorating and onwards to a Christmas of the future."

News of the theme comes as the castle launches its festive schedule early, with tickets due to go on sale this Friday for another of its seasonal treats: the Meet Father Christmas experiences which always sell out fast.

Bamburgh Castle is again working with award-winning theatrical designer Charlotte Lloyd Webber and her event team on this year's main event and it will be keeping details secret ahead of a big reveal in November when A Christmas Through Time will open to the public for a two-month run. And there are guaranteed to be surprises in store for visitors who will be invited to take a journey through Christmas across the centuries, as they follow a trail through the castle's staterooms, each elaborately decorated, it says, with "theatrical sets, dazzling festive foliage and adorned with full-on festive splendour".

Illustration, showing a Viking ship, for this year's festive attraction at Bamburgh Castle which has revealed the theme will be A Christmas Through Time
Illustration, showing a Viking ship, for this year's festive attraction at Bamburgh Castle which has revealed the theme will be A Christmas Through Time -Credit:Bamburgh Castle

Previous Christmas Kingdom themes have been Saints & Angels which was followed by The Twelve Days of Christmas then The Enchanted Myths and Legends of Northumbria, each of them turning the castle into the largest indoor festive experience in the North East. Charlotte Lloyd Webber said her team is thrilled to be returning to the castle which she says "shimmers with history, adventure and has lashings of its own magic".

“We’ve been working on Christmas concepts with fabulous traditions from Bamburgh’s own rich history since February," she said. "We’re bringing in a host of wonderful new elements to add further Christmas delight that will create even more unforgettable memories for visitors.

“These include new interactive features including stunning projections and dynamic soundscapes to immerse and engage visitors in what will be a truly spectacular, stellar Christmas experience that is totally unique to Bamburgh Castle.”

Claire Watson Armstrong with a festive foliage dress inspired by Queen Bebba of Bebbanburg, part of last year's Myths and Legends-theme Christmas Kingdom at Bamburgh Castle. Credit: Charlotte Graham
Claire Watson Armstrong with a festive foliage dress inspired by Queen Bebba of Bebbanburg, part of last year's Myths and Legends-theme Christmas Kingdom at Bamburgh Castle. Credit: Charlotte Graham -Credit:Charlotte Graham

And the castle visitor services manager Karen Larkin added: “We love everything about Christmas and are super-excited about this year’s theme which is bursting with enchantment and joy with something to delight everyone - even the grinchiest Grinch! People return to see our Christmas Kingdom year after year.

"It’s become a tradition for them to revel in Bamburgh Castle’s festive magic as part of their Christmas build-up and to celebrate the season.” A Christmas Through Time will launch on November 9 then will have daily openings until January 5.

Entry will be free with general admission tickets to the castle which are on sale now online and also will be available on the gate. Other upcoming festive events there will include Christmas wreath-making workshops; carol concerts; musical performances and a Christmas shop.

Tickets for its personalised Meet Father Christmas experiences will go live on the site on July 12 and early booking is advised as these tend to sell out early. For full information about upcoming castle events, which include an outdoor performance of Peter Pan on Saturday, see here.