Rotherham’s Grade I listed Wentworth Woodhouse is to be transformed into a glittering icy kingdom for its most spectacular Christmas event yet. Over 18,000 tickets have been released for The Snow Queen, the Preservation Trust’s festive fundraiser for 2025–2026. A re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic 1844 fairytale, The Snow Queen will cast a winter-white spell over the mansion from Tuesday 2nd December to Sunday 4th January, thanks to one of the UK’s leading specialists in five-star themed productions.
After two years of home-grown festive creations crafted by the Preservation Trust’s staff and volunteers, this year the Trust has teamed up with Culture Creative, a North East-based company renowned for producing magical experiences in heritage settings. With a BAFTA award-winning designer on its team, Culture Creative has enchanted audiences at major sites including Blenheim Palace and is also partnering with Great Ormond Street Hospital this winter for an outdoor touring version of Neverland, inspired by Peter Pan.
This first collaboration with Wentworth Woodhouse will see the mansion’s Palladian East Front illuminated on arrival, leading visitors into the pages of Andersen’s cherished tale of friendship and courage. Families will follow young heroine Gerda as she searches for her best friend Kai, whose heart has been frozen by the Snow Queen.
The story unfolds across 13 unique rooms in the house, each transformed with dazzling lighting, immersive sets and evocative soundscapes. Visitors can expect polar bears in the Pillared Hall, reindeer in the Marble Saloon, a glittering throne in the State Dining Room, mirrored halls, princely chambers and the icy splendour of the Snow Queen’s palace.
Thanks to a temporary lift installation provided by the RHS for this year’s Flower Show, the Snow Queen Experience will be fully accessible for visitors with mobility issues until Wednesday 31st December. The entire experience will be staged indoors, following last year’s harsh weather which affected the outdoor light trail. In the gardens, families can enjoy an animal-themed activity trail inspired by the Snow Queen’s enchanted realm. Victoria Ryves, Head of Culture and Engagement at the Preservation Trust, said: “Over the last two years our home-spun Christmas blockbusters have brought thousands of local families to visit. The Christmas experience is always our biggest fundraising event of the year, and the Trust relies on every penny to help regenerate this magnificent house for the community and boost the local economy.
“This year, we’re incredibly excited to be partnering with Culture Creative to stage our most magical festive event yet. They have a wonderful reputation for transforming heritage sites into living storybooks, and The Snow Queen promises to be beautifully atmospheric, with family selfie opportunities at every turn. “Our festive spectacular also crowns a year of child-friendly events celebrating Rotherham’s role as the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture – and there’s plenty more to come in our 2026 calendar.”
The Snow Queen at Wentworth Woodhouse runs from Tuesday 2nd December to Sunday 4th January (closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day). Entry is from 10.00am, with last entry at 6.45pm. On Wednesday 10th December, entry will be from 10.00am to 1.00pm, and on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 10.00am to 4.30pm.
Admission is free for accompanying carers and under-twos. My Wentworth members can book free tickets at off-peak times. Family tickets (two adults and two children) are £55.00, adult tickets £20.00 and child tickets (ages three to sixteen) £14.00.
For full details and to book, visit http://wentworthwoodhouse.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/71622?branches.branchID=2069.