CHRISTMAS can sometimes feel overwhelming for children and adults with sensory sensitivities. Family days out and festive events may trigger sensory overload due to Christmas lights, unfamiliar sounds, and busy spaces.
To help families with different needs plan their festive days out, National Trust Cymru has rounded up a Santa’s sleigh-full of places across Wales to help everyone join in with the magic of Christmas. Inclusive highlights include quieter mid-week visits, a Christmas silent disco, children’s sensory backpacks and wheelchair-friendly winter trails.
Christmas silent disco at Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey:
Children and adults with sensory needs may struggle with traditional discos, where loud music can cause anxiety. However, a silent disco can offer a more manageable sensory experience, as participants control the sound through their headphones. It’s also easy to take a break by turning down the volume or removing the headphones.
On weekends until 29 December, everyone’s invited to the Plas Newydd silent disco. With three sessions staggered throughout the day at 11am, 12pm and 2pm, the historic Music Room is a spacious setting for an hour of dancing under a rainbow of disco lights. All ages are welcome and Christmas party outfits are encouraged.
Quieter mid-week Christmas visits at Penrhyn Castle and Garden, Bangor:
For the first time, Penrhyn Castle opens on weekdays during the festive period from 16-20 December, offering a peaceful alternative for visitors who prefer to escape the hustle and bustle of busy Christmas events.
Enjoy a quieter visit and immerse yourself in the true magic of Christmas as you explore the magnificent rooms without the crowds. The castle sparkles with ornate decorations and a towering 25-foot Christmas tree in the Grand Hall, where there is also an interactive storytelling session for the U5s on Wednesday 18 December.
The festive magic continues into the castle gardens. A safe space to slow down and tune into nature where a cluster of hand-painted wooden stars have been decorated by local community groups. A giant Christmas wreath in the Walled Garden makes a perfect spot for a festive family photo. There is a wheelchair-friendly, a step-free circular walk around the castle and the top terrace of the Walled Garden on gravel paths.
Sensory-friendly ideas at Erddig Hall and Garden, Wrexham
and Chirk Castle and Garden, Wrexham:
Open daily, the house and garden at Erddig has been beautifully transformed with traditional decorations inspired by the famous poem ‘The Night Before Christmas’. Each room brings the poem to life, from stockings hung by the fire to sugar plums dancing in the bedrooms.
Young visitors can enjoy a special spotter trail to find hidden details including handcrafted mice and tables overflowing with festive treats and it’s easy to find a quiet space along the way in the house and garden to take time out for a sensory break. There are storytelling sessions with Jake Evans every Saturday in December leading up to Christmas. The story lasts half an hour, with four sessions starting 11am until 2pm, captivating audiences with festive adventures. No need to book, just turn up!
On Saturday 14 December, from 11am to 3pm, join the Felin volunteers at Erddig to create Christmas tree ornaments using a range of tactile recyclable and sustainable materials. This year, Erddig Hall and Garden extends their opening hours into the evening from 16 to 19 December. Visit the estate under twinkling lights until 7pm (the garden closes at 4pm). Outside, the wide, flat wheel-friendly paths leading up to, and around, the garden is made of hard gravel, which is easy to navigate and there is an accessible ramp into the garden. In the yards, life-sized willow reindeer provide the perfect photo opportunity.
New this year at Chirk Castle, visitors can explore a festive spotter trail through Pleasure Ground Wood, where they can build a star from blocks or make rubbings of textures and patterns found along the way.
On 14 December, Chirk’s rangers host a festive craft workshop to make a wooden reindeer. All the pieces are pre-cut, so children and adults can focus on assembling their unique creation in a relaxed space. There are two drop-in sessions at 10am and 12pm. Spaces are limited, so be sure to visit the ticket office upon arrival to secure your spot. Tickets are free but distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Get your daily dose of nature at Bodnant Garden, Conwy:
Being in nature can help anyone with anxiety, stress or sensory overload feel calmer and more relaxed, and can provide an escape from overstimulation that could be caused during the Christmas period.
For a festive day out in nature, head out on a family walk at Bodnant Garden. The famous winter garden is a feast for the senses and a safe outdoor space to shake off any winter blues. Follow the accessible paths to see a colourful display of winter foliage, flower, and scent, or follow the longer route around Furnace Hill with babbling streams, and the sound of birdsong.
There are many hidden corners throughout the garden to pause on a bench and enjoy the peace and tranquillity. Dogs on a lead are welcome every day until 31 March.
The garden and tearoom are open daily December, except 24-26 December.
Ignite your imagination and stimulate visual senses at Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool:
From 13 to 23 December, the multimedia Christmas illuminations at Powis Castle is a magical sensory experience with colourful moving projections lighting up the castle walls. Step outside into the courtyard from 4.30-7pm to see the castle shine against the night sky. There areno flashing lights or music. Inside, the rooms are decorated in a Dickensian style, with flickering candles, twinkling lights, and the scent of evergreen garlands. Open 10am-4pm until 5 January.
Sensory-friendly ideas at Tredegar House, Newport:
Open on selected dates until 23 December, 11am – 4pm, Tredegar House sparkles with over 80 Christmas trees decked with twinkling lights, and the warm glow of lanterns guides visitors through the gardens, where a giant 250-year-old cedar tree shines in the twilight.
From 13-23 December, Tredegar House stays open until 8pm, making it easier for visitors to enjoy the decorations after school or work.
Take to the gardens on a winter family walk and explore with a sensory backpack that suit a range of diverse needs for all ages. The backpacks highlight some natural sensory features and encourage children to explore the grounds using all of their senses.
The backpacks have been carefully developed following guidance from sensory-focussed organisations and contain a variety of sensory items, including fidget toys, ear defenders, a magnifying glass, a story book and soft toys. They are available to borrow for free from the Welcome Centre.
Unstructured free play at Dyffryn Gardens, Cardiff:
Gather up the family, wrap up warm in your best festive jumpers and head to Dyffryn Gardens for an outdoor Christmas adventure with a difference. You’ll find a Christmas assortment of festive scenes and family games nestled throughout the wheelchair-accessible Edwardian Garden.
Interactive activities include snowman hoopla and a giant snowball kerplunk. Children can create their own Christmas story in the puppet theatre, play nutcracker skittles, and race marbles in the mini marble run.
Like Tredegar House, there are also sensory backpacks available to borrow to help you and your little ones explore the gardens in new ways and help soothe over-stimulation. These backpacks contain ear defenders to help support children who struggle with unfamiliar or loud sounds, a children’s book (both English and Welsh) which can encourage some quiet or calm time reading in nature, worry stones and fidget toys to improve focus, and a kaleidoscope to create magical visual illusions. The sensory backpacks are free to borrow, ask the Welcome Team for more information.
If there is still plenty of energy to run off, there are two Log Stack play areas to choose. These wild play areas have plenty of safe outdoor space for youngsters to run, jump, explore and play.
To plan your family Christmas and winter days out, go to the National Trust website.
