Blue Puffin StaysChristmas in Hampshire gives you plenty to fill a winter weekend, from a cathedral market in Winchester and a light show on Southampton’s medieval Bargate to a Victorian Christmas on board HMS Warrior in Portsmouth. We’ve picked six events for Christmas 2026, all within easy reach of our homes in Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth and Durley. The dates below are the ones each organiser has published for 2026. Times can change, so check the event’s website before you set off.
Christmas 2026 at a glance
| Event | Where | 2026 dates |
|---|---|---|
| Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market | Winchester | 20 November – 22 December |
| Southampton Christmas Market | Southampton city centre | 12 November – 27 December |
| A Christmas Ship | HMS Warrior, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard | 5 – 6 December |
| Christmas at Marwell: Fire & Ice | Marwell Zoo, near Winchester | Selected dates, 20 November – 31 December |
| Light Up Trails | Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, near Romsey | 26 November 2026 – 1 January 2027 |
| A Celebration of Christmas | Paultons Park, near Romsey | Selected dates, December 2026 – 3 January 2027 |
1. Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
Where: Winchester Cathedral grounds, Winchester
When: Friday 20 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026. Open 10am–8pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 10am–6pm Sunday to Thursday.
This is one of Hampshire’s best-known Christmas markets, with wooden chalets set out in the cathedral grounds. You’ll find handmade gifts, decorations and seasonal food and drink, with the cathedral behind it all. Entry is free and you don’t need to book. Leave time for Winchester’s independent shops and Christmas lights while you’re in the city.
2. Southampton Christmas Market and Bargate light show
Where: Above Bar Street, the Bargate and Guildhall Square, Southampton
When: Thursday 12 November to Sunday 27 December 2026. Free to visit.
For more than six weeks, Southampton city centre fills with alpine-style chalets, bars, food stalls and fairground rides. The laser show on the medieval Bargate is back for 2026 and runs every 30 minutes from 5pm. Families can also follow the city’s free Christmas trail.
3. A Christmas Ship at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Where: HMS Warrior, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth
When: Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, 10am–4pm. Included in general admission.
HMS Warrior is decorated for a Victorian Christmas Eve in 1863. A brass band plays carols, and there’s a magic lantern show, parlour games and crafts. Father Christmas waits in the Captain’s Cabin in traditional Victorian dress and hands out a Victorian gift. If you want to see him, book a slot in advance. The Dockyard’s old Victorian Christmas festival isn’t in its 2026 listings, so this is the one to look out for. For more ideas in the city, see our guide to Christmas in Portsmouth.
4. Christmas at Marwell: Fire & Ice
Where: Marwell Zoo, Colden Common, near Winchester
When: Selected dates from Friday 20 November to Thursday 31 December 2026
Fire & Ice is Marwell’s new evening event (4pm–7.30pm), with fire performers, an illuminated ice maze and marshmallows toasted over fire pits. Daytime tickets (10am–4pm) include festive activities around the zoo, and you can add Santa’s Grotto in Marwell Hall to either ticket. Different activities run on different days, so check the calendar and book ahead, because the grotto is likely to sell out. Marwell is a short drive from Durley.
5. Light Up Trails at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
Where: Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Ampfield, near Romsey
When: Thursday 26 November 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027, evenings
This award-winning Christmas light trail winds through the gardens after dark, through themed zones of light and music. It takes 60 to 90 minutes to walk, parking is free and there’s festive food and drink on site. On quieter midweek and early-December nights, tickets start at £22 for adults and £14 for children. Peak nights cost more. Only assistance dogs are allowed.
6. A Celebration of Christmas at Paultons Park
Where: Paultons Park, Ower, near Romsey, on the edge of the New Forest
When: Selected dates in December 2026, running to Sunday 3 January 2027. The park opens at 10am and rides close at 4.30pm.
At Christmas, Paultons Park, the home of Peppa Pig World, puts up illuminations around the park, and you can meet Peppa and George in festive outfits. Santa’s Storytime runs on the show stage until 24 December and is included in your ticket. Santa’s Grotto costs extra and must be booked before the day. Many rides stay open, though some close for winter maintenance.
Also worth a look
From Saturday 21 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 (closed Christmas Day), Beaulieu’s Palace House becomes Alice’s Christmas Wonderland. For a festive meal out, see our guide to Christmas dinner in Hampshire.
Where to stay for Christmas in Hampshire
Our homes are close to all six events. In Winchester, Rapunzel on Tower is a 10-minute walk from the cathedral and its Christmas market. In Southampton, our apartment near the Mayflower Theatre is a 10-minute walk from Guildhall Square and a short drive from Paultons Park and Hillier Gardens. For a countryside Christmas with room for everyone, The Oaks Barn in Durley sleeps eight, has a hot tub and fire pit, and is a short drive from Marwell. You can see all our homes, including those in Portsmouth and Southsea, on our properties page.
