I visited the Palace in Bishop Auckland and this is what I thought

Arriving at the Palace, I was immediately struck by its festive transformation. It was as if I was walking through a storybook - the Palace has so much grandeur and festive magic throughout. 

We were welcomed with a lovely freezing cold day so as soon as you stepped inside St Peters Chapel the warmth hit me all at once.

The Gentlemen’s Hall welcomed visitors with warm tones of red, burgundy, and gold, creating an inviting and cosy atmosphere where you could see the frost out of the stained glass windows. 

The Gentleman's Hall decorated for Christmas at the Palace (Image: Sarah Caldecott) Moving into the Ante Room, the contrast was striking. The decorations were icy and elegant, with winter whites and delicate crystal touches that felt fresh and serene.

The room was based on the pink paint which after scientifical testing was discovered that it was likely this was the colour of the room when it was first painted back in the 1800s.

The Throne Room was one of the highlights. Tall Christmas trees adorned in blush pink and midnight blue perfectly matched the room’s décor, adding a majestic yet festive charm.

The Throne Room decorated for Christmas at the Palace (Image: Sarah Caldecott) In the Long Dining Room, the table settings were stunning. It truly was a feast for the senses. Golden platters, frosted fruits, and velvet garlands complemented the famous Spanish Portraits on the walls.

The Dining room decorated for Christmas at the Palace (Image: Sarah Caldecott) The Breakfast Room added a whimsical touch with a striking peacock centrepiece, while the Bishop’s Study felt warm and traditional with gilded books and bird-themed decorations.

The room even had the original wallpaper in there that could have been put up in the 1930s which I just thought was so interesting and cool to see. 

The Bishop's Study decorated for Christmas at the Palace with the original wallpaper (Image: Sarah Caldecott) The Faith Museum’s 18th-century Neapolitan Nativity was another standout. The intricate craftsmanship of the figures added a deeper, reflective layer to the visit.

The Neapolitan Nativity at the Auckland Palace (Image: Sarah Caldecott) There were over 420 objects that were all placed by hand by volunteers at the Palace, who you can see worked so hard on pulling it together as it was so unique yet realistic- like a nativity scene I had never seen before. 

The Neapolitan Nativity scene at the Auckland Palace  (Image: Sarah Caldecott) Overall, Christmas at the Palace was a wonderful experience. I really enjoyed seeing the more traditional decorations for Christmas, rather than the blow up Santa Clauses and tacky usual displays you see this was something different and left me feeling very festive. 

Each room was thoughtfully decorated, blending the history of the space with festive cheer. It was a memorable way to step into the holiday season.