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Christmas at the museums!

Have a magical family Christmas with Museums Worcestershire! 🎄

Check out what’s on during the festive period as Christmas comes to The Commandery and Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum.

At The Commandery

christmas at the commandery

Santa is coming to The Commandery on Saturday 12 December and Sunday 13 December! 💫

Christmas at The Commandery is a magical day out for all the family – with lots fun festive activities, seasonal music, and even an opportunity to meet Santa himself!

Follow the fantastic Christmas family trail as you venture around the building decorated for the season, and the day wouldn’t be complete without making your very own elf in the craft room to take home with you. Children can settle in for a jolly story from Mother Christmas under the Christmas tree in the beautiful Great Hall at 12noon and 1.30pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Festive refreshments – from mulled wine and mince pies to hot chocolate – will be served in the Great Hall. Please bring along cash for refreshments.

🎅 Exclusive meetings with Santa – and his Head Elf – in The Commandery’s cosy Victorian Kitchen can be booked in below. You’ll get a whole 10 minutes with him and an exciting present for each child booked in. You can book up to 6 children into each 10-minute grotto visit.

Get your festive season underway with a wonderful family experience at The Commandery, a place that has seen many merry Christmases before!

Admission info 🎄
Booking is essential for all Santa’s Grotto visits – you can choose your timeslot via the link below.
You can arrive at The Commandery any time after 10am, but please be in plenty of time for your Grotto Visit slot. You will also need to purchase general admission* to The Commandery, this can be booked online too or paid for on the day in The Commandery Shop. 
For Under 5s, admission to The Commandery is free, but Santa’s Grotto tickets still apply.

*General admission is free for anyone with a Commandery Residents’ pass, season ticket or Commandery Membership; if you are visiting Santa you will need to book and pay for your Grotto Visit.

If there are more than 6 children in your party, please book two consecutive slots – or contact us to make special arrangements commandery@museumsworcestershire.org.uk.

You’re welcome to enjoy the event even if you’re not visiting Santa’s Grotto! General admission applies to The Commandery and can be pre-booked online, but this is not essential – you can pay in the shop on the day.

Follow a magical trail of festive elf doors around The Commandery.

From glowing log fires to candy canes, come and see how the elves have decorated their doorways!

Then, head to the craft room to make your own elf decoration, enjoy Christmas colouring, and a few seasonal puzzles too.

£3.50 for trail and activity bag from The Commandery’s shop. General admission applies to all visitors.

The Commandery is closed on: 24, 25 and 26 December.

It is open on: 27, 28, 30 and 31 December.

The Commandery is closed throughout January. See you on Monday 1 February 2027!

At Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum

Bags of Fun Christmas Crafts

Delve into the elves’ workshop at the Art Gallery and Museum!

Children can get hands-on and creative with making in this fun, festive morning inspired by Santa’s elves.

In the workshop, children can sew their own felt teddy bear, who’ll have their very own birth certificate!

Create a magical world by making a snow globe in a jar, and have fun with wooden tools and trains at the play table.

£5.50. Book your spot below.

There’s been a mix up at the North Pole Post Office, and we need your help!

Can you find all eight missing Christmas presents, have a look inside each gift box, and draw the toy you can see?

Find them all in time to save Christmas, and collect your reward from the shop when you have completed the trail!

£1 from the Art Gallery and Museum’s shop.

Free entry to the Art Gallery and Museum. Plan your visit.

It’s the festive season – which means the elves are busy getting ready for Christmas…

Pick up an activity bag (of mischief!) to make three elf-themed crafts inspired by Effie – Santa’s naughtiest elf!

  • Decorate your own magical wooden elf door, complete with a pipe-cleaner wreath and candy cane
  • Make an elf washing line pop-up card
  • Create Effie’s mischievous disguises – paper-plate masks! Choose from Santa or a snowman

The Art Gallery and Museum is fully equipped for young creatives to get going on their making. Each activity bag has multiple themed activities inside along with colouring and puzzle sheets.

£2.50, purchase your activity bags from the Art Gallery and Museum shop.

Free entry to the Art Gallery and Museum. Plan your visit.

The Art Gallery and Museum is usually open: Tuesdays to Saturdays: 10am – 4pm. Sundays: 10am – 3pm.

Christmas opening hours:

  • Closed Thursday 24 – Monday 28 December
  • Open Tuesday 29 – Thursday 31 December
  • Closed Friday 1 January

Have fun! 

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Christmas at The Commandery – with Santa’s Grotto!

Christmas at the Commandery