Getting a Head Start on Christmas, With a Castle Day Out Thrown In

It may only be October, but for parents who like to get organised early, a historic castle estate in County Durham has opened a dedicated Christmas Emporium. With festive decorations, thoughtful gifts and a deer park to explore, it offers an unhurried way to start ticking off the list well before the December rush, with a proper family day out to go with it.

Leave festive shopping until December and it tends to mean crowded car parks, packed aisles and little ones who have long since run out of patience. Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, near Staindrop, is hoping to change that. The estate has expanded its shopping space into the historic Riding School, which now houses a Christmas department store.

A festive department store with a sense of occasion

Inside the Riding School, the shelves are filled with seasonal décor, from delicate baubles and twinkling lights to unusual stocking fillers. Rich reds, golds and grees set the tone, and seasonal scents drift through the space, so it feels more like stepping into a Christmas scene than walking round a shop. For families, choosing a new decoration for the tree here could easily become a tradition in its own right.

The new space was created in response to a busy festive season last year. Stephanie Goss, who manages retail, buying and merchandising at the estate, explained that the team had been overwhelmed by the reaction to its 2025 Christmas range, which had been gathered carefully over the preceding months. Baubles and decorations were especially popular, and many had sold out within the first few weeks. Moving into the much larger Riding School allows for a wider choice of decorations and gifts this year, though if last season is anything to go by, it is worth visiting sooner rather than later for the most sought-after pieces.

Gifts for the trickiest names on the list

The estate's existing Coach House Shop continues to stock luxury homeware, furniture, fashion and gifts, displayed alongside reclaimed pieces sourced from around the estate. Accessories from Elizabeth Scarlett and homeware from Plum & Ashby sit among seasonal home pieces and a considered edit of gifts aimed at those relatives who seem to have everything already. A new food emporium within the shop will also stock an exclusive selection of premium produce brands, which may prove handy for hampers and teacher thank-yous alike.

Fashion lovers will find that Tutti has relocated to the Riding School too, bringing its new autumn and winter collection with it. The pieces are designed around the pace of real life, with soft tailoring, textured knitwear, well thought-out coats and relaxed shapes that manage to look put together without much effort, something most busy parents will appreciate.

Time for a treat

The Emporium will gain its own festive café area, giving shoppers somewhere to pause and refuel once the bags are full. For a longer break, The Vinery Café is a light, airy reimagining of the glasshouse that once stood on the same site. It seats more than 200 people, looks out across the castle and serves dishes inspired by, and sourced from, the wider estate. A festive afternoon tea will be served there over the Christmas period.

For something a little more special, the castle's grand Entrance Hall will once again host a festive afternoon tea paired with a tour of the castle, on selected dates in December. It would make a memorable seasonal outing with grandparents or older children.

More than a shopping trip

What really sets Raby apart for families is everything that surrounds the shops. Parking on site is free, the pace is unhurried and the staff are on hand to help, all with the castle and deer park as a backdrop. Red and fallow deer roam the parkland, which tends to delight younger visitors, while The Plotters' Forest Adventure Playground offers a chance to burn off energy between shopping stops.

The 18th century Walled Garden, redesigned by celebrated garden designer Luciano Giubbilei together with Lady Barnard, makes for a peaceful wander. Back at the Coach House, a free exhibition space features an interactive audio-visual table that introduces the history of the Upper Teesdale Estate, a useful primer before exploring further.

The castle itself has plenty of stories to spark young imaginations. Built by the powerful Neville family in the 14th century, it has belonged to the Vane family for almost 400 years. It was once home to the mother of two English kings, the place where the Rising of the North was plotted, and a Parliamentary stronghold during the Civil War. Lord and Lady Barnard are its custodians today.

Make a weekend of it

Families wanting to stretch the trip further can head around 30 minutes up the road to High Force Waterfall, also part of the Raby Estate. Set within the North Pennines National Landscape and European Geopark, the River Tees plunges 21 metres over rock that is more than 300 million years old. A circular woodland trail leads down to the foot of the falls, a manageable walk with a genuinely impressive reward at the end.

Nearby, High Force Hotel offers 10 individually designed en-suite rooms with plenty of character, making it a cosy base for country walks, a hearty Sunday lunch or simply a restful night away in Upper Teesdale.

Plan your visit

Raby's Christmas Emporium is now open within the Riding School at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, near Staindrop in County Durham. Opening times, festive afternoon tea dates and further details can be found at raby.co.uk.

Ollēdi © 2026

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