The Best Christmas Events In Cambridgeshire 2021
If you’re looking to kick start the festive season in Cambridgeshire, you’ve come to the right place! There are lots of Christmas events in Cambridgeshire this year – from festive Christmas markets to Santa’s Grottos and glittering Christmas light trails.
If you are in Cambridgeshire during the festive season and looking for things to do in Cambridgeshire at Christmas, you won’t be disappointed.
I’m always looking for Christmas events near me so that we can try something new each year – while we have two small believers at least!
Not quite Christmas yet? How about finding out where to go pumpkin picking in Cambridgeshire this year?
So – what’s going on in Cambridgeshire this Christmas?
**Not all of the Christmas events in Cambridgeshire 2021 dates have been released yet so keep checking back for updates. This post contains affiliate links. If you book something using one, we may earn a small commission but at no extra cost to you**
These are the best Christmas events in Cambridgeshire in 2021
Santa’s Grottos in Cambridgeshire
Looking for places to see Father Christmas in Cambridgeshire? The great news is that there are lots of Santa’s Grottos and places to see Father Christmas. It’s one of the most festive things to do in Cambridgeshire with kids.
Before that….if you’re going to be away on holiday over the festive season, you might be looking for a Santa’s Grotto further afield. We have a great post on 100+ Places to See Santa in the UK.
But here’s where to see Santa in Cambridgeshire this Christmas:
Wicken Fen Nature Reserve
Address: The Wicken Fen, Lode Lane, Wicken, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5XP.
Dates: 4th & 5th, 11th and 12th, 16th, 18th to 21st December 2021.
Tickets: From £10.00 per person.
Nene Valley Railway
Address: Nene Valley Railway Ltd, Wansford Station, Stibbington, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE8 6LR.
Dates: Select dates from 27th November to 24th December 2021.
Tickets: From £18.00 per person for a classic ticket and £22.00 per person for first class. Children under 1 – FREE.
If you like the idea of a festive train ride, see our blog post on Santa Train Rides in the UK or Polar Express Train Rides to see where else you can meet Father Christmas on a train.
Scotsdales Garden Centre
Scotsdales Garden Centre Santa’s Grotto
Address: Scotsdales Garden Centre, Cambridge Road, Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB22 5JT.
Dates: TBC.
Tickets: TBC.
Skylark Garden Centre
Address: Skylark Garden Centre, Manea Road, Wimblington, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 0PE.
Dates: Weekends from 27th November to 18th December and 20th to 24th December 2021.
Tickets: Child – from £18.99. Adult – £3.00 (includes a £2.00 voucher to spend in the garden centre).
Notcutts Garden Centre
Address: Notcutts, Ham Ln, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE2 5UU.
Dates: Santa won’t be visiting but there will be lots of Christmas displays and festive food.
Tickets: NA
Frosts Garden Centre
Address: Frosts, Buckden Road, Brampton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE28 4NF.
Dates: TBC.
Tickets: TBC.
Duxford Advent Market
Address: TBC.
Dates: TBC.
Tickets: TBC.
Audley End
Christmas Special 2021 (technically this comes under Christmas events in Essex, but seeing as it is right on the Cambridgeshire border, we’ve included it here. See also the best Christmas markets in Essex).
Address: Audley End, Audley End Rd, Audley End, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4JF.
Dates: 20th November to 24th December 2021.
Tickets: Adult – £18.00 – £25.00 per person, child (under 92cm) £9.00 – £12.50 and child under 1 – FREE.
Shepreth Wildlife Park
Santa at the Zoo – whilst this is one of the Christmas events in Hertfordshire, it is right on the border with Cambridgeshire.
Address: Shepreth Wildlife Park, Station Road, Shepreth, Hertfordshire, SG8 6PZ.
Dates: 13th, 19th, 20th and 24th December 2021.
Tickets: Santa and Zoo package (includes entry to zoo for 1 adult and 1 child and 5 minutes meeting Santa) – £20.00.
Christmas lights in Cambridgeshire
There are a couple of exciting Christmas light trails happening in Cambridgeshire this year. You can also wander around some of the towns and villages in Cambridgeshire and check out their light displays. If you happen to be heading into London, here is where you can find the Christmas light displays in London.
We love a Christmas light trail. There are loads happening all over the country (see more Christmas light trails here).
If you are thinking of heading further afield, we can highly recommend the Blenheim Palace Christmas lights.
Wimpole Estate Winter Lights Trail
Address: Wimpole Estate, Arrington, Royston, Cambridgeshire, SG8 0BW.
Dates: 26th November to 2nd January 2022.
Tickets: (Non member prices) Adult with parking – £26.00 / without parking – £18.00. Child (3-16) – £14.00. Under 3 – FREE.
Anglesey Abbey
Anglesey Abbey Winter Lights 2021
Address: Anglesey Abbey, Quy Road, Lode, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB25 9EJ.
Dates: 3rd – 5th, 10th – 12th and 17th – 19th December 2021.
Tickets: Adult – £17.50, Child (5-17) – £14.00. Under 5 – FREE.
Peterborough Cathedral
The Angels are Coming (sound and light show)
Address: Peterborough Cathedral, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE1 1XS.
Dates: 24th to 27th November 2021.
Tickets: Adult – £7.50, Child – £6.00. Under 3 – FREE.
Also keep an eye out for the Cambridge Christmas light switch on event.
Christmas markets in Cambridgeshire
We love a Christmas market. We usually try to go to one of the European Christmas markets each year but there are also some fantastic Christmas markets in the UK. They are a great place to pick up some handmade Christmas gifts. We usually grab a hot chocolate or mulled wine, select a decoration for the Christmas tree and soak up the festive atmosphere.
Here are the Christmas markets in Cambridgeshire worth a visit this year:
Cambridge Christmas Market
Address: Cambridge Christmas Market, Market Square, Market Hill, Cambridge, CB1 0SS.
Dates: TBC.
Tickets: FREE.
Ely Cathedral
Address: Ely Cathedral, Chapter House, The College, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4DL.
Dates: 17th to 20th November 2021.
Tickets: Adult – £4.50. Children under 16 – FREE.
March
Address: March Town Hall and Market Place, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 9JF.
Dates: 5th December 2021 (10 am – 3 pm).
Tickets: Free.
Peterborough Cathedral
Christmas Craft and Gift Market
Address: Peterborough Cathedral, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE1 1XS.
Dates: 19th & 20th November 2021.
Tickets: £2.00 per person. Under 16 – FREE.
East of England Christmas Fair
Christmas Craft, Food and Gift Fair
Address: The East of England Showground, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE2 6HE.
Dates: 11th & 12th December 2021.
Tickets: Adult – £10.00. Child (5 – 15) – £4.00.
Duxford Advent Market
German Market & Christmas Fair
Address:
Dates: 16th September to 223rd December 2021.
Tickets: Free.
Burghley House Christmas Fair
Burghley Christmas Fair (this is in Lincolnshire but very close to the Cambridgeshire border).
Address: Burley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 3JY.
Dates: 25th to 28th November 2021.
Tickets: TBC.
If you like Christmas markets, you might like to read about the best Christmas markets in London or the best Christmas markets in the UK or even the best Christmas markets in Europe!
Shows and pantomimes in Cambridgeshire
One of our favourite things to do at Christmas in London with kids is to visit one of the big Christmas Pantomimes and we’ve also visited a fair few local pantomimes too. Here are the Pantomimes to look out for in Cambridgeshire this Christmas.
The Cambridge Arts Theatre
Address: Cambridge Arts Theatre, 6 St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3PJ.
Dates: 2nd December to 9th January 2022.
Tickets: From £17.00 to £46.00.
IWM Duxford
Horrible Histories (outdoor car park panto).
Address: IWM Duxford, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, CB22 4QR.
Dates: 18th December 2021.
Tickets: £49.50 per car.
ADC Theatre
Address: ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge, CB5 8AS.
Dates: 24th November to 4th December 2021.
Tickets: From £13.50 to £16.00.
See also the Flint Street Nativity at the ADC.
Peterborough Cathedral
Address: Peterborough Cathedral, Peterborough, PE1 1XZ.
Dates: 11th December 2021.
Tickets: From £19.35 to £36.50.
Christmas carols on the river
Address: Lets Go Punting, Landing Stage, Thompsons Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8AG
Dates: TBC.
Tickets: TBC.
Kings College
It is extremely hard to get tickets to the carol services, unless you are willing to queue up the night before – but tickets are free for those who do. If you don’t manage to get tickets, you can watch the Carols from Kings on BBC2 on Christmas Eve or listen to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Radio 4 at 3pm on Christmas Eve . It’s one of our traditional things to do at Christmas with the family.
Address: Kings College, King’s Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1ST.
Dates: TBC.
Tickets: TBC.
Christmas Afternoon Tea in Cambridgeshire
Having afternoon tea is such a British thing to do – but have you tried a festive afternoon tea? It’s one of the best Christmassy things to do in Cambridgeshire after a day of Christmas shopping at the Christmas markets.
Frosts (Brampton) – 29th November to 17th December 2021. £22.95 per adult / £10.00 per child.
Cambridge Belfry (Cambridge) – through December 2021. £22.95 per person.
Quy Mill Hotel & Spa (Cambridge) – 1st to 24th December 2021 (2 – 5pm). £22.50 per person.
Browns (Cambridge) – through December 2021. From £25.00 per person.
You might also like to check out our posts on the best places to have afternoon tea in London and the best afternoon tea in London for kids.
Festive breaks in Cambridgeshire
If you feel like getting away for Christmas and having everything taken care of for you, here are a couple of suggestions for hotels to spend Christmas at in Cambridgeshire.
Quy Mill Hotel & Spa
A 3 night Alpine Retreat Christmas package costs £600 per person based on 2 adults. Family packages available by calling 01223 293383. See here to book.
The Cambridge Belfry
Christmas residential breaks start at £300 per person for a 2 night stay £90 per child (5 – 12yrs). Under 4 – FREE. See here to book.
For more inspiration if you are looking to get away this Christmas, check out our UK Christmas breaks post.
Other things to do in Cambridgeshire at Christmas
How about trying out some of these alternative things to do at Christmas in Cambridgeshire?
The North Pole
Address: The North Pole, Parker’s Piece, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 1NA.
Dates: 19th November to 3rd January 2022.
Tickets: See here for North Pole Ice Skating and Ice Slide ticket.
Choose a Christmas tree
Go and pick out your own Christmas tree at Cambridge Christmas Tree Experience in Bottisham or Fenland Trees in Wisbech.
English Heritage
Whilst there aren’t any English Heritage properties in Cambridgeshire with Christmas events this year, take a look at their site for places to visit near Cambridge as they are running Christmas days out for families (See Christmas Adventure Quest at Audley End and Wrest Park).
If you like visiting English Heritage properties, we would recommend getting an English Heritage membership. Just a couple of visits to English Heritage properties will cover the cost of the pass and will get you into many of the special events for free.
See here for more general ideas for things to do at Christmas. And once you’re done with all of the Christmas days out in Cambridgeshire and ready to settle down at home, take a look at these Christmas movies for kids.
We haven’t listed all of the things to do in Cambridgeshire in December so if there’s something you’d like to add, please let us know.
