Christmas will be even more sparkling this year at England’s greatest Elizabethan house – with a free craft fair, extra seasonal shopping and a feast of festive food.

Christmas will be even more sparkling this year at England’s greatest Elizabethan house – with a free craft fair, extra seasonal shopping and a feast of festive food.

Burghley House, on the edge of Stamford, will have more Christmas decorations than ever before.

The Burghley Christmas Fair, run by the Rural Crafts Association, takes place next weekend and will nestle within the Brewhouse and courtyard, close to Burghley’s Orangery restaurant and shops.

Entry is free and stalls will feature unique textiles, unusual sculptures, artisan chocolates, jewellery and cashmere and silk pashminas.

It is open from 9am-5pm Thursday until Saturday, and 9am-4pm on Sunday.

Also next weekend (November 29-30), the free-to-enter Christmas Fine Food Market returns to offer visitors even more tasty treats.

Stall holders will be selling local cheese, meats, cupcakes, cider and much more in the festively decorated courtyards.

Or how about Christmas carols in the intimate surroundings of the family Chapel within the House?

What more traditional way to begin festive celebrations than at the Chapel Carol Concert, with music spanning the House’s five centuries of history.

Mulled wine and mince pies will be served in the candlelit Old Kitchen during the interval of the concert, held on December 14.

Tickets cost £22.50 per person.

As well as the autumn and festive menus, a Christmas afternoon tea menu (available November 19-December 21) features turkey and cranberry or Stilton and red onion marmalade sandwiches, cranberry and white chocolate blondie and dark chocolate yule log.

Burghley’s courtyard shop is also open, while extra seasonal shopping will again be available at a special Christmas Shop in the Brewhouse offering a selection of decorations, festive lighting, winter fragrances, chocolates and cosy winter accessories.

Both shops open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10am-4pm, until December 21.

While the house may be closed for winter, Burghley’s parkland, with its resident herd of deer, remains open with free entry right through the year - perfect for winter walks or a chance to blow away the Christmas cobwebs.

For full details, opening times and to book tickets, visit www.burghley.co.uk