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Osborne House will also 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 – during a Victorian Christmas weekend on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November.
From 10am to 4pm each day a cast of costumed characters from to Ebenezer Scrooge to Jack Black the Rat Catcher will entertain visitors with Victorian festivities played out around the grounds and lower floor of the house.
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 whilst Jack Black, Rat Catcher to Queen Victoria, will regale tales of how he rid her royal palaces and parks of rats and mice.
Festive family fun includes a travelling theatre show with magic, juggling and illusion, children can enjoy traditional Punch & Judy and there will be fast-paced, quick-change theatre performances of traditional Christmas stories to watch. Adding to the atmosphere will be seasonal 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.
Visitors can take a stroll through five sumptuous ground floor rooms which will be bedecked with festive decorations just as they would have been when Queen Victoria celebrated Christmas at Osborne. The sights and scents of colourful trees decorated in the style favoured by Prince Albert, garlands of dried herbs, ferns and floral arrangements, sweet treats from the royal table and real gifts given to Queen Victoria by her family will add to the intimate festive atmosphere.
A 10% discount on themed gifts in the Osborne shop will be on offer, so pick up some early – and unusual - Christmas shopping during the weekend.
Admission to this wintry event, including entry to the ground floor of the house is: Adults £11.80, Concessions £10.10, Children £5.90, Family Ticket £29.20. Reduced entry price for English Heritage members. Tickets can be pre-booked by calling 0870 333 1181.