Harewood House has given a first look at its new festive experienced inspired by hit TV show Bridgerton.
A Glittering Invitation: Harewood’s Grand Christmas Ball is coming to the 18th-century stately home throughout the festive period.
Harewood has teamed up with BBC Interior Design Masters finalist Siobhan Murphy, who has brought her signature maximalist style to every corner of the house.
Working alongside digital installations specialist Tom Le Bon and BOSUN Studio, the team has combined opulent Regency-inspired interiors with cutting-edge projections that bring the fantasy of a grand Christmas ball to life.
Murphy describes the experience as a “feast for the senses”, featuring an ombre 18ft Christmas tree made from 700 second-hand ballerina tutus and over 300 pairs of pointe shoes donated by English National Ballet.
The shoes have been transformed into pink, ribboned decorations forming smaller rotating trees in the Entrance Hall.
In the Music Room, visitors will be immersed in a Bridgerton-style soundscape of elegant classical music and animated musical notes.
The Gallery will feature lifelike projections of gossiping guests surrounded by costumes from Leeds Playhouse and couture designer Julia Clancy.
In the Spanish Library, a projection shows the Ball’s fictional hostess writing her diary in real time, her voice echoing through the space as Murphy’s handcrafted “book tree”, made from 200 recycled books, stands nearby.
Inspired by Marie Antoinette’s lavish feasts, the State Dining Room will showcase bejewelled swans, rotating macaron trees and iced cakes designed by Murphy and Great British Bake Off contestant Helena Garcia.
The table will be set with Murphy’s bespoke tableware collection, created exclusively for Harewood and available to buy online and in the Christmas Shop.
The festive trail concludes in the Servants’ Hall, where it appears the staff have hosted their own celebration beneath handmade paper chains and trees made from vintage cookware. Fireworks projected over Almscliffe Cragg complete the scene.
More than 10,000 handcrafted decorations have been created using second-hand items, with the help of Harewood’s volunteers. The event also features bespoke fragrances by DOME, the Trust’s Official Christmas Fragrance Partner, adding a sensory dimension to each room.
Families can also follow a miniature Christmas trail designed by nine miniaturist artists, including Yorkshire-based Michael Robbins and 13-year-old Arabella Duffy. The intricate tiny scenes are hidden throughout the house, encouraging children to explore and discover the details.
Zoë Hughes, Head of Public Programme at Harewood, said:
“There’s nothing quite like Christmas at Harewood, and this year’s celebrations will be our most spectacular yet.
"Siobhan Murphy’s dazzling, maximalist designs will reimagine the House in true Regency style, while Tom Le Bon’s vibrant light projections will elevate the experience even further, creating show-stopping moments, unexpected surprises, and memories to treasure long after the festive season ends.”
A Glittering Invitation: Harewood’s Grand Christmas Ball runs from Saturday 8 November 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026. Tickets are available at harewood.org/christmas.
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