A stately home adorned in lights and baubles for the festive period has welcomed thousands of visitors to the start of its Christmas season.

People flocked to Petworth House to see rooms transformed with more than 80 magnificently decorated trees, in celebration of Petworth’s "tree-mendous" Christmas.

The National Trust said children loved the miniature mice scenes in the Marble Hall’s enchanted winter forest, as well as the deer crafted from winter greenery.

In the Gothic-style chapel, visitors pencilled hundreds of personal wishes and hopes on tree-shaped tags for others to read on the Christmas wish trees.

The Argus: Putting a wish on the Christmas wish treesPutting a wish on the Christmas wish trees (Image: Megan Taylor)

“We’re really thrilled with the response to Tree-mendous Christmas at Petworth; it’s exceeded all expectations,” said Petworth’s visitor experience manager Sue Rhodes.

“Our first weekend of opening was our busiest weekend of the entire year, but we’re such a large property that it never felt crowded, and the atmosphere was really lovely; lots of chatter and smiley faces, and people taking selfies of the 80-odd Christmas trees in the mansion.

“The gardens look beautiful too this Christmas, festooned with strings of lights. I think, this year in particular, everyone just wants a bit of magical festive sparkle and an excuse to forget about other stuff for a while, and they certainly get that here.”

What visitors can expect

Over 80 decorated trees dress Petworth’s huge interiors.

One of the biggest scenes is an enchanted winter forest scene in the Marble Hall, with fairy lights and woodland creatures.

The Argus: The rooms have been transformed into a winter wonderlandThe rooms have been transformed into a winter wonderland (Image: Megan Taylor)

Wood-carved trees decorate Petworth’s famous Grinling Gibbons’ Carved Room.

Paper flowers dress the tree in the Little Dining Room, inspired by the florals in the room’s fabrics and ceramics.

A highlight is the large tree in the Red Room, with star decorations created by the town’s local community.

In the Servants’ Quarters there’s a gorgeous gingerbread village.

The Argus: Visitors enjoying kitchen's gingerbread villageVisitors enjoying kitchen's gingerbread village (Image: Megan Taylor)

People can also experience the festivities at Petworth House during a late night opening on December 21 between 6pm and 8pm.

Opening dates and times:

  • Petworth’s Tree-mendous Christmas runs until January 2.
  • Petworth House is open 10:30am-4:30pm, last entry 4pm. The garden and main car park are open 10am-5pm.
  • The house is closed on December 24 and 25.