Chichester Roman home opens its doors for free for festive craft fayre

Fishbourne Roman Palace in Roman Way, Chichester is hosting its first ever Festive Craft Fayre.

Normally £13 for an adult ticket and £6.50 for children, visitors will be able to soak up 2,000 years of history free of charge.

Stalls selling unique handmade gifts will be at the Palace’s first ever Christmas market.

Fishbourne Roman Palace is opening its doors for free for one day only (Image: Fishbourne Roman Palace)

A variety of Sussex artists and craftspeople will be showing off their wares across the site, including in the Palace garden – the oldest planted garden in Britain.

“We’re excited to be hosting our first Festive Craft Fayre this winter and welcoming local makers to sell their hand-crafted gifts across our wonderful site," said Sarah Parker, property manager at Fishbourne Roman Palace.

• READ MORE: Brighton midwives to march for better conditions amid NHS crisis

There will be a range of food and drink stands providing delicious winter warmers, as well as fun Roman-themed activities for children.

Inside the Palace, visitors can marvel at the incredible display of mosaics and explore the museum’s diverse range of artefacts, which tell the story of the Roman Empire’s conquest of Britain.

The Palace gardens looked festive in the snow earlier this year (Image: Fishbourne Roman Palace)

Ms Parker said: “In the spirit of Christmas, entry to the fair and the palace will be completely free - so it’s a great opportunity for visitors to explore our museum collection, our intricate mosaics and learn about the arrival of the Romans here in Fishbourne and the site’s historic significance."

The Fishbourne Roman Palace Festive Fayre will take place from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, November 19.

No advance booking is required and entry is free to the whole site for this one day only.

There is free parking on-site and hot food will be available at the fair as well as in the café, which serves locally sourced cakes, sandwiches and drinks all day.

“The palace will be bustling with activity, just as it would have been 2,000 years ago. Why not get some Christmas shopping done early and enjoy a great day out?” said Ms Parker.