Christmas, without hosting it
Country house escapes, exclusive-use properties and Alpine stays over the festive season — chosen so the group can simply arrive.
A festive escape that actually feels like one
Christmas away only works if the hard parts genuinely go away with it. That means a property that can feed everyone properly, enough room for people to drift off and read, and a plan loose enough to survive a long lunch. We spend our time on those details rather than on tinsel.
Why go away for Christmas
Because somebody always ends up doing all of it.
Someone else does Christmas
No weeks of shopping, cooking and hosting. You arrive, the fires are lit and the work has already been done — which is the entire point of going away for it.
Built around who is coming
A quiet two-night escape for a couple and an exclusive-use house for eighteen are very different briefs. We plan around the group you actually have, including the ones who want a long walk and the ones who want a long lunch.
Festive, not themed
Proper trees, real greenery and good food — not novelty. The properties we look for feel like Christmas rather than a Christmas package.
What to expect from a Christmas retreat
Multi-night stays over the festive period
Most Christmas escapes run three to five nights across Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, with some properties opening a longer window through to New Year.
Dining as the centrepiece
Expect a full Christmas lunch, and usually a Christmas Eve dinner and Boxing Day spread alongside it — plated or served family-style, depending on the house.
Space to do very little
Fires, walks, long tables and quiet afternoons. The best festive escapes leave room in the schedule rather than filling every hour.
Where to go
Where to spend Christmas
The Cotswolds
Honey-stone manor houses, frosted fields and pubs with proper fires.
The Scottish Highlands
Lochs, low winter light and houses built for weather like this.
The Lake District
Fell walks in the cold, then somewhere warm to come back to.
Types of retreats
Exclusive-Use Christmas Houses
The whole property, just your group — the most straightforward way to have Christmas together without anyone hosting it.
ExploreCountry House Hotel Christmases
A full festive programme run by the hotel, for smaller groups and couples who would rather not take on a whole house.
ExploreQuiet Christmas Escapes
For those who would rather step out of the festive season than into it — somewhere calm, with very little scheduled.
ExploreChristmas & New Year Combined
A longer stay running through both, either in one place or split across two.
ExploreOther retreat types
Not quite what you had in mind? Explore the rest of the Cherished Retreats collection.
What to consider
How far ahead do I need to book a Christmas retreat?
Earlier than most trips. Exclusive-use properties over Christmas are commonly taken twelve months ahead, and the best country house hotel dates go by late summer. If you are enquiring for this year, tell us and we will be straight with you about what is genuinely still available.
Can you arrange Christmas for a large family group?
Yes — exclusive-use properties are usually the right answer for anything from ten people upwards, because you get the whole house and can shape the days yourselves rather than fitting around other guests.
Is Christmas lunch included?
It depends on the property. Country house hotels almost always include a full festive dining programme; exclusive-use houses vary between fully catered, a private chef for key meals, or self-catering. We will tell you which applies before you commit.
Do you arrange Christmas abroad as well as in the UK?
Yes. Alpine Austria and Bavaria are the most requested for a snow-reliable Christmas, and we also arrange warm-weather festive escapes for people who would rather skip winter entirely.
Planning Christmas away this year?
Tell us the group, the dates and roughly how far you want to travel, and we will come back with what is genuinely available.
Enquire About Christmas