You won’t want to miss the magic of Christmas at Ness Gardens this December!
From enchanting visits with Father Christmas to hands-on workshops where you can craft your own festive wreath, and plenty of fun to keep the kids entertained, Ness has a stocking full of experiences that are sure to make your season bright.
Storytime with Father Christmas
Father Christmas is visiting Ness Gardens over two weekends in December to to share tales of his adventures and to hear the Christmas wishes of his visitors. There will be plenty of time for every child to have a chat and receive a special early gift. Book soon to avoid disappointment.
Date: Sunday 7 and Sunday 14 December only
Time: 10-10.45am, 12-12.45pm and 2-2.45pm
Cost: £9.50 per child (includes their entry into Ness Gardens for the day)
Book a visit to Father Christmas
Christmas Trail
Wrap up warm and head out into the gardens for a special family Christmas trail. Perfect for children aged 3-12 years. Bring a pencil to record how many reindeer you can spot.
Date: from Saturday 29 November to Monday, 15 December
Time: available during opening hours
Cost: included with garden admission
Christmas floristry and floral design
Enjoy demonstrations and hands-on practice as you craft seasonal floral designs. All materials are provided and you’ll be able to take home your festive centre piece to sit proudly on your table on Christmas day! Suitable for those aged 18 and over and especially those with an interest in floristry, design and plants.
Date: Saturday, 13 and Sunday, 14 December
Time: 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm
Cost: £50 (£45 for members)
Book a Christmas floristry workshop
Christmas wreath-making
If it’s a handmade and personalised Christmas wreath you’re after then come along to Ness to craft your own. Led by award-winning garden designer, Pip Probert, you will be guided through the build of your wreath using festive greenery and Christmas fragrances. Bring secateurs and gardening gloves. Over 18s only.
Dates and times:
- Thursday, 4 December 6-8pm
- Saturday, 6 December 11am-1pm
- Sunday, 7 December 11am-1pm
- Thursday, 11 December 6-8pm
- Saturday, 13 December 11am-1pm
- Sunday, 14 December 11am-1pm
Cost: £50 (£45 for members)
The Nosey Reindeer
Meet a curious little reindeer with a big heart and an even bigger nose for sniffing out secrets —uncovering a holiday mystery that just might save Christmas! Packed with catchy songs, silly antics, and festive fun, this actor and puppet-powered adventure will warm hearts of all ages.
Date: Saturday, 13 and Sunday, 14 December
Time: 1-2pm and 3-4pm
Cost: £10 (£8 for members)
Book a place at The Nosey Reindeer show
Christmas cooking class
Ness Gardens’ cooking classes as a fan favourite and this special Christmas edition is sure to be a very sweet treat for any bakers out there. Learn to bake Christmas biscuits from scratch, enjoy sweet and savoury bites whilst you work and enjoy it all in the festive surroundings of the Hulme Conservatory.
Date: Wednesday, 10 December
Time: 1.30-3.30pm
Cost: £35 (£32 for members)
Terms and conditions
Please review Ness Gardens workshop and event terms and conditions for important details regarding booking, participation and cancellations.
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Ness celebrates VisitEngland Welcome Accolade
Mandy Richards and Kate Hotson, receiving the Accolade at the lunch event held on 12 November 2025.
Ness Botanic Gardens has been awarded a 2025 VisitEngland Welcome Accolade. This prize is awarded annually to participants in the VisitEngland Visitor Attraction quality scheme and is a testament to the high standards Ness has achieved.
The Accolade is in addition to Ness Botanic Gardens current VisitEngland quality assessment rating of 91%, which was awarded earlier in the year.
The Accolade has been awarded based on a range of feedback, including the annual VisitEngland quality assessment, the observations of the VisitEngland assessor, customer feedback direct to VisitEngland and online customer reviews.
The accolade represents a great deal of hard work, across a number of years and at all levels and areas of the gardens and indicates a further step in Ness Botanic Gardens journey to deliver truly transformative visitor experiences to every single visitor.
Zoë Chapman, Head of Service Ness Botanic Gardens & Campus Horticulture said: “The whole team has worked incredibly hard to develop a cycle of continuous improvement, allowing is to improve our VisitEngland quality assessment rating to 91% and this year gain the VisitEngland Welcome Accolade. I am so proud of the team for their hard work in achieving this Accolade and delivering exceptional visitor experiences everyday.”
Kate Hotson, Operations Manager, Ness Botanic Gardens said: “What a fantastic achievement and what a fantastic day! We are so pleased to receive such a prestigious award alongside other highly regarded venues. The event was attended by over 100 award winners in various categories and made us extremely proud to be part of Ness.”