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Events and Activities

Penguin Trail

Pair up the Penguins! Six baby penguins have lost their parents! Find the penguins hiding in the garden and pair them together to earn a festive sweet treat. £2 per child with garden entry, 3s and under go free. 1st– 24th December during opening times.

Winter on the Downs 55 miles

A long distance off road running event on the South Downs starting and finishing in Eastbourne.

White’s Christmas Craft Fair

Join us for Christmas concerts, gifts, and cheer at Gilbert White’s House & Gardens on December 2nd! This year at White’s Christmas Craft Fair pick up some locally handmade gifts for your loved ones (or just treat yourself!) We will have a range of stalls at our stunning 16th Century barn selling beautifully handcrafted locally […]

Midwinter’s Magical Quest

Meet the Holly King and Deer Queen in this alternative Christmas adventure! Embark upon “Midwinter’s Magical Quest” right in the heart of Hampshire and immerse yourself in the enchanting world of ancient traditions brought to life! Join us on a heart-warming journey as we celebrate winter traditions from a time long before the commercial holidays. […]

Needlefelt Santa Dogs

Craft the perfect little gift or cheery festive decoration and discover the art of needlefelting in this workshop by Anna McCallion from Quirk and Whimsy. Discover how to create this cute little dog complete with Santa hat using special felting needles and wool, perfect for beginners or improvers. Please note this workshop is for adults […]

Merry Beermas – Brewery Tour & Tastings

May your Christmas be full of festive beer! Enjoy this exclusive opportunity to visit the house after hours in all its glorious festive decoration. Join Collections Manager Kimberley James for an up close and personal look at Gilbert White’s very own brewing book, take a tour around our nano brewery and onsite brewhouse which dates […]

Holly and Ivy Watercolour Workshop

Local artist Julia Morgan will show you how to create your own charming festive Christmas cards and gift tags in this watercolour workshop. Suitable for beginners and improvers to watercolour painting, Julia will show you how to paint evergreen foliage including twisting ivy leaves and berries to create the perfect addition to your presents or […]

White’s Christmas Concert

Get fully into the festive spirit with an evening of joyful traditional Christmas music from the fabulous Otterbourne Brass Band. Providing music to Winchester and beyond since 1923, Otterbourne Brass Band regularly compete in national and regional competitions and perform to crowds. Celebrate the yuletide season in our atmospheric 16th century barn with a concert […]

White’s Festive Feast

A three course all you can eat festive banquet situated in our atmospheric 16th century barn served by our fantastic head chef Chris Williams. The spread will include three courses with all the turkey and trimmings you would expect for a perfect Christmas dinner, complete with crackers! Our stunning venue will be decorated for the […]

Guided Walk: A Winter’s Afternoon on the North Wall

Winter is the perfect time to enjoy a walk before dusk, watching birds feed and settle before nightfall. Join our guides for this wildlife walk along the North Wall at RSPB Pagham Harbour as we look for our wonderful winter visitors, including geese, ducks and waders. We’ll also be on the lookout for birds of […]

Nature’s Christmas Wreath Workshop

There is something special about creating your own traditional Christmas wreath and all the more so when it is made out of natural materials from the season. Get into the Christmas spirit and have some festive fun assembling your own unique Christmas wreath to hang up on your door. Using locally sourced foliage and other […]

Evening Christmas Tour of Stansted House

Step inside Stansted House once the sun has set and enjoy an evening guided tour of the House after it has been beautifully decorated for the festive season. On arrival, you will be welcomed in the Main Hall for delicious festive refreshments before being taken on a tour of this beautiful Edwardian property. Admire the […]

Binocular and Telescope Open Day

Come along and try our wide range of binoculars and telescopes and have a chat with our friendly optics experts. Whether you’re a complete beginner, an experienced birder or buying as a present, we’ll be happy to help and advise you. 10 am – 3 pm Free event, no need to book

An Evening with Peter Auty

Peter Auty is established as one of Britain’s leading tenors but is probably best known for being the original voice in the Cartoon ‘The Snowman’ singing ‘We’re walking in the air’. He made his professional debut at Opera North in 1998 and was a company principal of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden from 1999 […]

A Stansted Christmas

The date is 1924 and Stansted House is a flurry of activity in preparation for the traditional Servants Ball. But the staff need some help…! From the minute you arrive you’ll step back in time and be immersed in an early 20th Century Christmas. Begin your evening by sipping on a wonderful cocktail in the […]

Deck the Halls

Join Garret theatre company to be welcomed into the world of the Victorian Christmas Party, where you will have the chance to play some parlour games, perform some charades, learn a social dance, and sing some carols alongside their 19th century hosts. Each “party” is an hour and a half in length, and the entire […]

Guided Walk: Wild Winter Wonderland!

Join our guides for a walk along the west side of Pagham Harbour towards Church Norton. Along the way, we’ll be showing you how to find and identify some of our wintering birds, including waders, ducks and geese, some of which have come all the way from the Arctic! We’ll also be on the look-out […]

Christmas Tour of Stansted House

Step inside Stansted House and enjoy a guided tour of the House after it has been beautifully decorated for the festive season. On arrival, you will be welcomed in the Main Hall for delicious festive refreshments before being taken on a tour of this beautiful Edwardian property. Admire the traditional decorations as you explore the […]

Winter Explorer Day

A day of activities for 7–12-year-olds looking at wintery wildlife in winter both inside the museum and in our grounds. The day will include games, a scavenger hunt and craft activities. Lunch and snacks not included- please bring a packed lunch and a water bottle! This day will be led by our Learning Manager and […]

Guided Walk: New Year at Pagham!

Join our friendly guides for this special New Year’s holiday guided walk at RSPB Pagham Harbour, to Church Norton. We’ll help you find and identify some of our wintering birds, including waders, ducks and geese, some of which have come all the way from the Arctic! And we may even find some spectacular birds of […]

Guided Tour of Stansted House

Step inside Stansted House and join one of our knowledgeable tour guides on a guided tour of the House. Discover the family seat of the Earls of Bessborough and explore the beautiful state rooms, furnished as though the 10th Earl was still at home. Enjoy a true upstairs, downstairs experience as you learn about those […]

Guided Walk: A Winter’s Afternoon on the North Wall

Winter is the perfect time to enjoy a walk before dusk, watching birds feed and settle before nightfall. Join our guides for this wildlife walk along the North Wall at RSPB Pagham Harbour as we look for our wonderful winter visitors, including geese, ducks and waders. We’ll also be on the lookout for birds of […]

Guided Walk: Magical Medmerry!

Join our guides for this wildlife walk around the west side of our wonderful Medmerry reserve, a haven for wintering birds with its fields, mudflats, inlets, pools, beach and big skies! We’ll be helping you find and identify our visiting waders, ducks and geese, and perhaps we’ll spot some birds of prey, too! Meet at […]

Guided Tour of Stansted House

Step inside Stansted House and join one of our knowledgeable tour guides on a guided tour of the House. Discover the family seat of the Earls of Bessborough and explore the beautiful state rooms, furnished as though the 10th Earl was still at home. Enjoy a true upstairs, downstairs experience as you learn about those […]

Macmillan Mighty Hike

The Macmillan Mighty Hike series sees over 30,000 people hiking either a full or half marathon at one of 15 iconic venues across the UK raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Big Hike South Coast – Cancer Research UK

Join us for a one-day walking adventure in the wonderful landscapes of the South Coast. Choose from a half or full marathon and explore the stunning coastline passing the Seven Sisters cliffs, Cuckmere River and the Vanguard Way. Walk together and play your part to support life-saving science. Because your big steps help us make […]

"The Downs...too much for one pair of eyes, enough to float a whole population in happiness."