Christmas at The Story of Emily · Cornwall

A Christmas story waiting to welcome you in

Six Christmas chapters, twelve winter days.

Step inside the Rectory dressed for Christmas, with twelve special days of festive discoveries from 21 November to 23 December.

A Victorian illusionist, live music, storytelling and parlour games. Choose your day and discover what is happening around The Story of Emily.

Your Day Pass includes the Rectory, War Rooms and all Christmas activities taking place on your chosen date.
The Christmas programme is also included with a valid Annual Pass.
Book your Christmas visitExplore the Christmas dates ↓
A glimpse of Christmas at the Rectory
21 November–23 December 2026St Ive, near Liskeard, CornwallTwelve special Christmas dates

Your Christmas visit

Plan your festive visit

Choose the day you would love to join us, then book your visit below. Select an available arrival time to begin your visit. For the morning tours on 12–13 December, please reserve a tour place separately.

  1. Choose your date

    Explore the Christmas programme below and find the activities you would most like to enjoy.

  2. Reserve your visit

    Select “Book your Christmas visit”, then choose your date and an available arrival time.

  3. Enjoy your visit

    Discover the activities on your chosen date. On 12–13 December, morning tours are reserved separately, with normal visits resuming in the afternoon.

Annual and Neighbour Pass holders
Reserve using the same booking link and enter your pass code at checkout. Please bring your valid pass and photo ID.

Book your Christmas visit

Need help booking? Email our team.

Twelve winter days · Six Christmas chapters

What’s happening on your visit?

Discover what makes each Christmas weekend different. The opening Saturday and Sunday also have their own activities, so check the details before choosing your day.

Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 November

A detail from the Rectory at The Story of Emily
Chapter I

Grand Opening

Christmas Grand Opening

A Victorian illusionist joins us as Christmas begins. Explore the newly decorated Rectory, enjoy a welcome drink in the square and discover gifts ready to share with the people you love.

  • Victorian illusionist
  • Welcome drinks in the square
  • Christmas gifts and gift-wrapping

Saturday 21 November: wine tasting.

Sunday 22 November: bauble decorating.

Included with your Day Pass or valid Annual Pass.

What to expect
Begin in the square with a welcome drink beneath the gazebo, then explore the Rectory’s Christmas decorations and trees. Look out for the Victorian illusionist during your visit. Wine tasting takes place on Saturday, while Sunday brings bauble decorating. Browse gifts from The Story of Emily and our sister estates, with gift-wrapping available for your purchases.
Book your Christmas visit

Select 21–22 Nov when booking your visit.

Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 November

Inside the Victorian Rectory
Chapter II

Music

The Story of Emily in Song

Hear cello and violin, piano music and choir singing during your Christmas visit. Pause to listen between exploring the decorated Rectory and discovering the wider site.

  • Live piano
  • Choir singing
  • Live cello and violin performances

Included with your Day Pass or valid Annual Pass.

What to expect
Cello and violin duo Divertimento will be performing, alongside our pianists and choir. Enjoy the different sounds as part of your day exploring The Story of Emily, with time to pause and listen between visits to the Christmas Rectory and War Rooms.
Book your Christmas visit

Select 28–29 Nov when booking your visit.

Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 December

A room in the Victorian Rectory
Chapter III

Storytelling

Stories by Winter Light

Step into the Christmas-dressed Rectory for stories shared aloud by Frances Butt. In the Drawing Room of Emily’s childhood home, pause to listen and imagine the people and places brought to life through the spoken word. Victorian poetry readings by our hosts add more moments to discover around the site on both days.

  • Storytelling with Frances Butt on both days
  • Readings in the Christmas-dressed Rectory Drawing Room
  • Victorian poetry shared by hosts in period dress around the site

Included with your Day Pass or valid Annual Pass.

What to expect
The readings with Frances Butt take place in the Rectory Drawing Room on both days. Elsewhere around the site, hosts in Victorian dress will share poems aloud, bringing another part of the period’s storytelling traditions to your visit. The Drawing Room readings and poetry around the site are separate parts of the weekend’s programme, both included with admission.
Book your Christmas visit

Select 5–6 Dec when booking your visit.

Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 December

An archive portrait of Emily Hobhouse
Chapter IV

Behind the scenes

Christmas Away From Home

Discover another side of The Story of Emily with morning tours behind the scenes in the Rectory and War Rooms. With limited places, these tours offer a different way to explore Emily’s childhood home and the experience that tells her story. In the afternoon, both return to their usual visits, ready to explore at your own pace.

  • Morning tours behind the scenes in the Rectory and War Rooms
  • Limited tour places, reserved before your visit
  • Explore both at your own pace in the afternoon

Included with your Day Pass or valid Annual Pass.

What to expect
Behind the scenes tours take place in the Rectory and War Rooms on the mornings of Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December. Places are limited, so please reserve your tour before visiting. Tours are included with admission, but a Day Pass or pass-holder visit booking does not reserve a tour place. Normal visits to both resume in the afternoon, when you can explore at your own pace.
Book your Christmas visit

Tour reservations will open here soon. Booking admission does not reserve a tour place.

Select 12–13 Dec when booking your visit.

Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 December

A detail from the Victorian home
Chapter V

Christmas Parlour Games

The Rectory at Play

Gather family and friends for Christmas games and puzzles. Discover them around the site, enjoy a little friendly competition and explore the Rectory in its festive dress.

  • Parlour games
  • Puzzles around the site
  • The Christmas Rectory

Included with your Day Pass or valid Annual Pass.

What to expect
Games and puzzles will be spread around the site, giving you things to discover and try together as you explore. Take time for a puzzle or a little friendly competition, then continue your visit through the Christmas Rectory, War Rooms and grounds.
Book your Christmas visit

Select 19–20 Dec when booking your visit.

Tuesday 22 & Wednesday 23 December

The Rectory at The Story of Emily
Chapter VI

Grand Finale

Christmas Gathered

With Christmas Day almost here, join us for a finale of live music, poetry and play. Enjoy a welcome drink, explore the festive Rectory and find those last gifts before the celebrations ahead.

  • Choir, piano, cello and violin
  • Victorian poetry and parlour games
  • Welcome drinks and a Christmas retail offer

Included with your Day Pass or valid Annual Pass.

What to expect
Enjoy cello and violin performances, choir singing and piano music during our final two Christmas days. Hosts in Victorian dress will share poetry around the site, with parlour games to discover too. Welcome drinks and a seasonal retail offer complete the celebrations. Retail purchases are charged separately.
Book your Christmas visit

Select 22–23 Dec when booking your visit.

Books, framed pictures and green wallpaper in the Rectory

Across the threshold

Step inside the Christmas Rectory

Discover the home where Emily Hobhouse grew up, dressed for the festive season. Explore its rooms, notice the decorations and imagine Christmas in the Hobhouse household.

The Rectory will be dressed for Christmas on every day we are open from 21 November to 23 December. Visit on one of the twelve programme dates for the additional festive activities. On 12–13 December, the Rectory and War Rooms host reserved tours in the morning, with normal visits resuming in the afternoon.

Everything you need before you come

Plan your Christmas visit

The Story of Emily
St Ive, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 3LX

Bring warm layers and sturdy footwear for time outdoors. Activities take place in different areas around the site.

Admission and visitor information ↗

For help planning your day, email hello@thestoryofemily.com.

A Christmas to return to

Come back for another chapter

Come back for music, storytelling or games as the season unfolds. Annual Pass holders can reserve each visit using their pass code at checkout.

Book an Annual Pass visit

A few things you might be wondering

Your Christmas questions

When is Christmas at The Story of Emily?

The Rectory will be dressed for Christmas from 21 November to 23 December 2026, on every day we are open. Our additional Christmas programme takes place on 21–22 and 28–29 November, and 5–6, 12–13, 19–20 and 22–23 December.

Do I need a separate Christmas ticket?

Your Day Pass includes the Rectory, War Rooms and grounds, along with all Christmas activities taking place on your chosen date. There is no separate Christmas ticket or additional activity charge. The programme is also included with a valid Annual or Neighbour Pass. Morning tours on 12–13 December are included too, but places must be reserved separately.

How do I book my Christmas visit?

Select Book your Christmas visit, choose your preferred date and an available arrival time, then complete your booking. Your selected time is for arrival at The Story of Emily. The morning tours on 12–13 December need a separate reservation as places are limited. On those dates, normal visits to the Rectory and War Rooms resume in the afternoon. Annual and Neighbour Pass holders can reserve through the same link using their pass code at checkout. For help with a gift voucher, email hello@thestoryofemily.com.

Book your Christmas visit

How do I book a behind the scenes tour?

Morning tours in the Rectory and War Rooms take place on 12 and 13 December. Places are limited and must be reserved before visiting. Your tour is included with admission, but you will need both a visit booking or valid pass-holder reservation and a separate tour reservation. Normal visits resume in the afternoon.

Tour reservations will open here soon. Booking admission does not reserve a tour place.

Does every date have the same activities?

Each Christmas weekend has its own programme, so check the activities listed above before choosing your day. The opening Saturday includes wine tasting, while Sunday offers bauble decorating.

Can I see the Christmas Rectory on other open days?

Yes. The decorated Rectory can be explored on every day we are open from 21 November to 23 December. Choose one of the twelve programme dates for the additional Christmas activities. On 12 and 13 December, the Rectory hosts reserved tours in the morning, with normal visits resuming in the afternoon.

Can I return with my Annual or Neighbour Pass?

Yes. You can return on different Christmas programme dates with your valid pass. Please reserve each visit online using your pass code at checkout, and bring your pass and photo ID. If you need help finding your code, email hello@thestoryofemily.com.

How do I buy or upgrade to an Annual Pass?

Speak to a host in the Welcoming Area to purchase an Annual Pass. You can also upgrade a Day Pass to an Annual Pass for an extra £10 within one month of your visit, by returning to the Welcoming Area and asking a host to arrange it.

Annual Pass information

When are the Christmas shopping days?

Our Christmas shopping days take place on 21–22 November and 22–23 December. Discover gifts from The Story of Emily and our sister estates, with gift-wrapping available. On these dates, receive 5% off retail purchases when you spend over £50.

Are food and shopping included?

Restaurant orders and retail purchases are charged separately. All activities in the Christmas programme, including the advertised wine tasting, bauble decorating, music, readings and games, are included with admission on their programme dates.

Where can I find accessibility information?

Our visitor information page explains access around the site. The historic Rectory is not wheelchair accessible. If you would like help planning your visit around your access requirements, email hello@thestoryofemily.com.

Read accessibility and visitor information

21 November–23 December 2026 · St Ive, Cornwall

Make room for a Christmas story of your own

Choose your day, gather your favourite people and let us welcome you to The Story of Emily.

Book your Christmas visit