Guest blog: Step inside the House of Christmas

The decorations are up, the big red bow is in place and Boringdon Hall has become the House of Christmas once more.

Discover this 16th-century Elizabethan manor house hotel and settle into the season for magical days and cosy evenings on the edge of Dartmoor, just 20 minutes from Plymouth. Whether visiting for an afternoon or staying for the festivities, this is Christmas where 5-star opulence meets tradition.

Festive afternoons at the manor

From 13th November, Boringdon Hall’s Festive Afternoon Tea is served daily between 1pm and 4pm, offering a quiet setting for an unhurried catch-up with loved ones. From savoury delights to sweet patisserie, enjoy a little indulgence amid the seasonal splendour of the Great Hall or in the intimate Mayflower Brasserie.

On 24th December, Christmas Eve Afternoon Tea offers a peaceful few hours as anticipation builds before the big day. Whether it’s an early celebration or just some time together, savour that special kind of magic in the air the night before Christmas.

This is the season for making something personal. On 1st December, join award-winning local florist Hannah Burnett for her Christmas Wreath Making Workshop, and craft something unique to adorn your home, or to give with love to someone special.

Get together to celebrate

Gather colleagues, friends and family for a Christmas Party Night at the manor. Arrive to a welcome drink, sit down to a delicious three-course dinner, then take to the dancefloor as the DJ sets the tone for the night. If you are looking for a Christmas party venue near Plymouth, there are few settings quite like it.

All-inclusive Christmas breaks

This year, leave the Christmas hosting to Boringdon Hall. An all-inclusive four-night Christmas Break in Devon has every detail taken care of, from festive entertainment to exceptional dining.

Arrive on 23rd December and make yourself at home in your luxurious room. Spend your days in Gaia Spa, with a 60-minute treatment included during your stay. On Christmas Eve, there are clues to piece together and a crime to solve at the Murder Mystery Dinner. Christmas Day brings a decadent Christmas lunch, followed by a relaxed evening buffet. The celebrations carry on into Boxing Day, beginning with brunch, perhaps a little more time in the spa, then festive afternoon tea. In the evening, a black-tie dinner completes another wonderful Christmas stay at Boringdon Hall.

Twixmas breaks

In those quiet days between Christmas and New Year, Boringdon Hall offers time for stillness and calm. Stay between 27th and 30th December and enjoy restful hours in Gaia Spa, a gentle wellness class or two, and a chance to restore inner balance before the new year begins.

On the two-night Twixmas Break at the manor, unwind in the spa and reset with a 60-minute GAIA spa treatment each. Each evening brings exquisite dining, with one night in the hotel’s MICHELIN-starred restaurant, Àclèaf, and the next at the 2 AA Rosette Mayflower Brasserie.

Or escape on a Signature Spa Break, including a 60-minute spa treatment per person, with a GAIA Skincare gift waiting in the room on arrival, offering a little spa luxury to take home. Each day starts with breakfast, then the hours unfold at your pace: join a wellness class, take a swim, step into the warmth of the saunas and steam rooms, and spend quiet moments in the suspended relaxation nests. It’s the perfect recipe for restorative days on a winter spa break in Devon.

New Year at Boringdon

Welcome 2027 in style with a night to remember at Boringdon Hall. The New Year’s Eve Dinner and House Party begins with a champagne reception, followed by a four-course dinner in the 2 AA Rosette Mayflower Brasserie, before dancing the night away in the Great Hall and counting down to midnight together.

Make a night of it with the one-night New Year Break, with the option of dining in Àclèaf for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve. Arrive in the afternoon and spend a few hours in Gaia Spa before dressing up for the evening’s celebrations. New Year’s Day begins with a leisurely brunch, then perhaps head to nearby Dartmoor for a bracing walk – the perfect way to round off a Devon escape.

However you celebrate the festive season, Boringdon Hall offers a warm welcome. From afternoon tea beneath twinkling lights and tranquil hours in the award-winning spa to luxury breaks, this 5-star hotel near Plymouth sets the scene for a truly enchanting Christmas.

Step inside the House of Christmas at Boringdon Hall