£25
- Christmas Event
Festive Afternoon Teas
24 November, 1 December and 15 December 2024
A Christmas Wish
Discover the magic of Christmas and join Santa's elves on a festive adventure at Fort Nelson.
Festive fun for the whole family
Take a leisurely stroll around an authentically restored Victorian fort and soak up the festive atmosphere. The Fort will be beautifully decorated with trees and wreaths, with delightful surprises around every corner.
There are twelve special installations featuring the magic of Santa and his elves and the joy of Christmas wishes.
Our younger visitors can train to be an elf and get hands-on with with games and workshop tasks - sorting presents, preparing reindeer food, plus lots of other magical activities. A special free trail, full of puzzles and poems will keep everyone entertained on the trail.
The Christmas Wish experience is for everyone, young and old, especially the young at heart.
Opening Hours
- Fort Nelson is open from 10am to 4pm.
- Term time: Tuesday to Sunday
- School holidays: Daily
- Christmas closing: Tuesday 24 December to Thursday 26 December
Book your arrival time, stay as long as you wish: 10am to 11am, 11am to 12pm, 12pm to 1pm, 1pm to 2pm, 2pm to 3pm, 3pm to 4pm.
- Special late opening on Thursdays and Fridays before Christmas: 28 November and 29 November, 5 December and 6 December, 12 December and 13 December, 19 December and 20 December.
- Arrival times 4pm to 5pm and 5pm to 6pm. The museum will close at 6:30pm.
Museum-only visits: The museum galleries will be open as usual during the Christmas period. Please book your visit on this page.
Christmas Craft Market
Saturday 7 December and Sunday 8 December
An ideal opportunity to tick some presents off your Christmas list.
Over 20 local crafts people and makers will be presenting an array of delightful and delicious gifts and treats.
Please book for the Christmas Craft Market using the link on this page. Just select an arrival time and stay as long as you wish.
Your ticket also includes the festive trail and the museum galleries.
Festive Afternoon Teas
Enjoy a delicious, traditional afternoon tea with festive treats on three Sundays in the run-up to Christmas - 24 November, 1 December and 15 December. £25 per person
PRE-BOOKING ESSENTIAL
This is a free event and we expect it to be very popular so please pre-book tickets for all your party to guarantee your visit.
Please consider making a donation when booking, to support our work as guardians of the national collection of artillery and historic cannon.
Pre-book nowFAQS
Come and help Santa’s elves prepare for Christmas. On this festive adventure, you'll be able to decide what would make the greatest gift in the Invention Realm, prepare dinner for Santa’s hungry reindeer, and race to stuff sacks full of presents in Elf Training. Discover how the magic of the elves’ underground workshop helps to make Christmas wishes come true!
Visit Fort Nelson for a magical experience; with twinkly lights, festive wreaths, decorated trees, and sleighfuls of delightful surprises around every corner.
Admission to the museum and A Christmas Wish is free. Car parking is charged at £3 per car.
Approximately 60 to 90 minutes. The rest of the museum is also available for you to explore
Please pre-book your tickets using the link on this page. Choose your arrival time on Eventbrite. You can stay for as long as you wish.
If you are unable to book online, please email us at fnenquiries@armouries.org.uk.
This is an experience for all ages, especially the young at heart. The trail activities are aimed at children between 5 and 9 years old, but there’ll be something for everyone to enjoy on this Christmassy adventure.
Most areas of the Fort covered by the trail are accessible. There are lifts and ramps, and staff will be on hand to assist visitors with access needs.
Yes. £3 per car, paid on arrival.
The rest of the museum will be open as normal.
Admission to the museum is free and A Christmas Wish is a free event. Please consider making a donation when booking.
Assistance dogs are welcome at Fort Nelson, including in the museum galleries, visitor centre, café and outdoor areas, and we can provide water from our café. To protect the collection, pet animals are not permitted.
Situated in the Visitor Centre, our café offers a seasonal menu of light meals, delicious cakes and freshly brewed tea and barista-style coffee, as well as Ration Packs for children.
The café will be serving hot and cold snacks until 6.30pm on late evenings.
There will be a Christmas Craft Market at the Fort on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December, with over 20 stalls of local crafts and treats. This is a free event. Please pre-book your tickets. Your ticket also includes A Christmas Wish and the entry to the museum.
Treat yourself to a delicious afternoon tea at Fort Nelson on Sunday 24 November, Sunday 1 December or Sunday 15 December. Please check our website for more information and to book your table.
