Family Christmas stay in the countryside

There’s something truly magical about spending Christmas in the countryside. Away from any noise and crowds, during the holiday season, you can immerse yourself in a setting of peace and quiet all whilst being surrounded by tranquil countryside.

Oakley Hall Hotel offers the perfect setting for a festive getaway, combining cosy comfort with traditional charm. Picture waking up on a December morning to nothing else but the beautiful vision of frost-covered gardens and the sound of tweeting birds. Our exciting range of Christmas stays and festive breaks offers you the choice of when and how to stay with us, whether it be with our three-night Christmas Break during the Christmas Bank Holidays or a one-night stay during the Twixmas period (between Christmas and New Year). And with plenty of things to do and see nearby, from Festive Afternoon Teas at Oakley Hall to the Winchester Christmas Market, we can guarantee that this Christmas won’t be one to forget!

The best part of staying at Oakley Hall is that you can spend the most wonderful time of the year with all the family and enjoy a festive feast like no other. Tis the season for delicious food, festive celebrations and festive fun!

Oakley Hall’s Christmas celebrations are steeping in tradition. When staying on our Christmas Break, you can expect a warm welcome to our Georgian manor with the smell of mulled wine and mince pies, twinkling Christmas trees in every corner and beautiful frosty views of the countryside.

Our luxurious Christmas Break package offers you and your loved ones the opportunity to sit back, relax and let our family take care of you. Whether you choose to stay for two nights (24th – 26th) or for three nights (24th – 27th) you will be able to indulge in the mouth-watering dishes created by our award-winning chefs, unwind in one of our cosy bedrooms or suites, and relax at your own leisure in one of our snug lounges and explore the beautiful grounds of Oakley Hall.

Your luxury Christmas holiday will begin on 24th December - Christmas Eve. After checking into your bedroom or suite you will be invited to indulge in a sumptuous Festive Afternoon Tea. Whilst revelling in the delightful flavours of warm fluffy scones with clotted cream and jam, a selection of freshly made sandwiches and a range of festive sweet treats, you can take in the magical scenery of our gardens & woodlands. In the evening you will head to the Glasshouse Restaurant for a sensational three-course Christmas Eve dinner before attending midnight mass at St Leonard’s Church (optional).

Breakfast will be served on Christmas Day until approximately 11 am, giving you plenty of time to open presents beforehand. Pop on your Christmas jumpers and get ready for lunch with festive cheer from midday with a bubbling glass of Champagne in our Main House Bar. Take your seats for a mouth-watering 5-course traditional Christmas lunch with all the trimmings. Our menu will of course include the classics, such as roast turkey, but we will also offer a range of vegetarian & vegan dishes for you to choose from.

There will be exciting family-friendly entertainment for those dining with little ones as well as a visit from Santa himself! In between lunch and dinner, you will be welcome to explore our woodlands and gardens with a Christmas Day walk or a game of hide and seek – depending on how you feel! Alternatively, you can relax in one of our lounges with a glass of tipple in hand and enjoy a board game. Your Christmas Day will be rounded off with a cold, light buffet of festive treats in the evening for you to nibble and graze at.

As the festive season approaches, Oakley Hall Hotel turns into a magical winter wonderland. With festive decorations and the gentle echo of Christmas music throughout, it’s hard to not feel at home.

Oakley Hall offers a delightful blend of Christmas tradition and excitement, making it the perfect base for you and the little ones to spend quality time together in a festive atmosphere. From scrumptious Festive Afternoon Teas and Children’s Afternoon Teas to feast on in the Glasshouse Restaurant to local Christmas-themed festive activities in and around Basingstoke, there are plenty of experiences for everyone to enjoy. If you’re looking to stay within the cosiness of the Oakley Hall manor, your family can relax in one of our lounges whilst playing one of many board games. You can take a book from our Library and snuggle into a corner with a cup of tea, or you can take a refreshing walk amongst our gardens and countryside woodlands. And on Christmas Day itself - the big day, there will be a pop-up play village for little ones to enjoy!

Hampshire, with its charming towns, dramatic coastlines and stunning countryside, could quite possibly be the most picturesque county to visit during the festive period. Visit one of England’s most-known Christmas markets in the beautiful city of Winchester, which is just a thirty-minute drive from Oakley Hall Hotel. Winchester Christmas Market is held within the magical grounds of the cathedral and is host to a number of stalls, including festive hot drinks, mulled wine, hog roast and marshmallow toasting. There are also plenty of stalls and shops dotted along the cobbled high street to buy presents for your loved ones. If you’d like to experience the magic of another Christmas market in Hampshire there are plenty of other options including Beaulieu, Lymington and Petersfield.

For those who would like to make a day of shopping, the nearby towns of Basingstoke and Southampton are just a short drive away. Festival Place shopping centre in Basingstoke and Southampton’s West Quay are home to a number of well-known high-street shops and restaurants so you can head to the shops before popping into the likes of Wagamama’s, Franco Manca or Bill’s for a spot of lunch. There will also be an ice rink in Southampton from 22nd November to the beginning of January!

Hampshire is home to an exciting selection of manor homes, country estates and beautiful parks for you to explore during your visit. There are four historical National Trust properties within the county that will be overflowing with Christmas theming and activities; (Hinton Ampner in Alresford, The Vyne in Basingstoke, Winchester City Mill in Winchester and Mottisfont in Romsey), making them the perfect location for a festive day out with the whole family. Highclere Castle, the home of Downton Abbey, will be hosting various Christmas experiences as well as Basing House, Jane Austen’s House and the Watercress Line.

You and your little ones will also be able to enjoy an activity or two in and around Hampshire this festive season. The Milestones Museum, Marwell Zoo and Paulton’s Park are just a few examples of family-friendly excursions which are just a stone’s throw away from Oakley Hall. And what’s a family-friendly Christmas without an English pantomime? The Anvil in Basingstoke will be showcasing Sleeping Beauty as well as A Christmas Carol and The Owl Who Came For Christmas.

For many, Christmas cannot be complete without a refreshing countryside walk. If you’d like to adventure outside of the Oakley Hall grounds, there are plenty of national parks, beaches and woods for you to discover. Take to the New Forest and see how many wild ponies you can spot, head to the coast of Lee-on-the-Solent to enjoy the refreshing sea air or head to the breathtaking setting of the Meon Valley for a long walk.

Oakley Hall is at the heart of so many memories during the festive period, even way back when in the eighteenth century the Bramston family celebrated Christmas with goose and plum pudding!

Our manor home, adorned with twinkling lights and festive touches, could quite possibly be the most magical destination for your Christmas stay. Our spectacular Christmas menus will be hand-prepared for you to enjoy, our bedrooms and suites will be ready for you to relax in and our team will be there to make Oakley Hall your home-away-from-home.

With a huge choice of nearby Christmas experiences for you to enjoy, this festive season will certainly not be forgotten. From enchanting Christmas markets on the cobbled high streets of Winchester, Alresford and Petersfield to the family-friendly attractions of Marwell Zoo and West Quay Southampton’s ice rink, there’s so much to do and see in Hampshire this Christmas.

So, if you’re looking for a festive getaway as a couple, as a family or as a group of friends, Oakley Hall is the place for you. With cosy bedrooms and suites, delicious seasonal dining, jaw-dropping surrounding countryside to explore and plenty of local attractions at our doorstep, there’s no question as to whether you will enjoy your overnight stay with us. Put your feet up, grab a glass of your favourite tipple and let our family take care of yours this festive season!

Our Christmas Break for 2024 is currently sold out. If you would like to be the first to hear about our 2025 Christmas offerings, you can sign up for our newsletter here.