Victorian Christmas at Osborne House

Osborne House on the Isle of Wight will once again offer a glimpse into the nineteenth century holiday season when it takes on a festive Victorian scene - complete with Christmas trees, Dickensian characters and traditional entertainments - when it hosts a Victorian Christmas weekend on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November.
From 10am to 4pm each day a cast of costumed characters, from Ebenezer Scrooge to Freddy the tap dancing fish, will entertain visitors with Victorian festivities played out around a Christmas tree.
Clad in rags and with sooty faces, the Singing Chimney Sweeps will push a handcart lit with period lanterns as they perform popular Victorian carols. Festive family fun includes hoopla stalls and a coconut shy, a travelling theatre show with magic, juggling and illusion and children can enjoy traditional Punch & Judy. There will be fast-paced, quick-change performances of ‘A Christmas Carol’, with favourite characters like Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit and Marley’s Ghost playing strictly for laughs. Adding to the atmosphere will be traditional carols and song from the Garden Isle Ladies Barber Shop Choir.
Queen Victoria puts in a guest appearance inside Osborne House, where she and her lady in waiting will give visitors a lesson in Victorian etiquette and hold audience as they recall life at Osborne House over 100 years ago. Other costumed characters will be on hand to talk about life ‘below stairs’ in the Royal household at Christmas time.
The sumptuous ground floor rooms are bedecked with festive decorations as they were when Queen Victoria celebrated Christmas at Osborne, with colourful trees decorated in the style favoured by Prince Albert, garlands of dried herbs, ferns and floral arrangements.
Her dining table and sideboard will be groaning with sweet treats - from wobbling jellies and elaborate cakes to intricate confections - copied from photographs taken in the 1890s. Real gifts given to Queen Victoria by her family will also be on display.
Visitors can also take advantage of a 10% discount on themed gifts in the Osborne shop to pick up some early Christmas shopping during the weekend.

Dates

2008 22 Nov 2008 - 23 Nov 2008

Tickets Information

Road Directions

From Fishbourne ferry, B3339 (Fishbourne lane), A3054 to Newport, A3021 to East Cowes.
From Yarmouth ferry, A3054 to Newport, A3054 to Ryde, A3021 to East Cowes.

Public Transport Directions

From West Cowes Red Jet Hi-speed ferry, go through High Street (pass Fountain pub on the left), Shooters Hill, Birmingham Road, Medina Road to the floating bridge to East Cowes.
From Ryde Catamaran/Hovertravel: No. 4 bus route to East Cowes
From Yarmouth ferry: No. 7 to Newport and change to No. 5 to East Cowes.
For further information please visit the Southern Vectis travel office at Ryde, bottom of pier or the Tourist Information Centre at Yarmouth, left of terminal.