Everything you need to know: Christmas at Milestones

How much do events cost? 
 

Milestones Christmas Market: £7.50 per person, under 5s go free (ticket valid for one day entry). Please note that this event is not included with a Milestones annual ticket. Christmas Market tickets are valid for the day of booking only. 

Meet Father Christmas: £17.50 child, £7.50 accompanying adult, please see further details below 'Can I enter with my Milestones annual ticket?'; annual tickets do not grant entry to Meet Father Christmas; ticket valid for one day entry. Babes in arms under aged 1 go free when accompanying another paying child (in this instance, babes in arms will not receive a gift from Father Christmas). Tickets include an opportunity to meet Father Christmas in his Grotto, plus a special gift from Father Christmas for children. Please note that bookings are limited to five people per group.  

Basing House Christmas Fayre: £3.50 per person, under 5s go free. Please note that this event takes place at Basing House, Old Basing. Basing House standard admission ticket is not valid for this event. Christmas Fayre tickets are valid for the day of booking only. 

Christmas trail: £3 per trail, including prize. Please note that purchase of a trail does not include admission to Milestones Museum, a valid ticket is required. 

All other events except Milestones Christmas Market and Meet Father Christmas are included in regular admission. Please see our booking page for further information on standard admission pricing. 

When do the events go on sale? 

For previous ticket-holders, tickets will go on sale on Monday 19 August, 10am. For new bookers, tickets will go on sale on Monday 2 September, 10am. 

Do I need to pre-book? 

We recommend pre-booking tickets for the Milestones Christmas Market to avoid disappointment.  

Meet Father Christmas experiences must be pre-booked. Please book tickets as early as possible to avoid disappointment. 

It is not essential to pre-book for our other events and activities, although pre-booking is encouraged. 

Can I enter with my Milestones annual ticket? 

The Milestones Christmas Market, trail activities and Basing House Christmas Fayre are not included with an annual ticket and need to be purchased separately. 

Although our Meet the Reindeer event will be taking place outside the museum, a valid museum ticket is still required. 

How many people can book to meet Father Christmas in one session? 

Father Christmas sessions are for a maximum of five and must include at least one child and one adult. 

What if I want to book more than five people onto a Father Christmas session? 

Due to capacity, only five people can visit Father Christmas per session (including a minimum of one adult and one child). If you are visiting the museum in a group larger than five and wish to meet Father Christmas, please consider splitting your party. 
If you are visiting the museum in a group where some people do not wish to meet Father Christmas, they will need to purchase a regular admission ticket (or a Christmas Market ticket if visiting 30 November – 1 December). 

If I am booking for Father Christmas, do I need to buy a general admission ticket to the museum, too? 

No. Any ticket for Father Christmas also grants day entry for that individual. This includes those that book Father Christmas during the Christmas Market weekend. 

Will I receive a gift from Father Christmas? 

Each child with a Meet Father Christmas ticket will receive a gift. Babes in arms without paying tickets do not receive a gift. 

Can I purchase tickets as a gift? 

Yes, absolutely - we are pleased to now offer ticket gift vouchers! Buy a Hampshire Cultural Trust eGift ticket voucher to give the gift of arts and heritage to your family and friends. Our ticket gift vouchers can be used to buy tickets for exhibitions, shows, events and activities at any of our venues, as well as for entry tickets to our museums and attractions, including Milestones Museum and Basing House. Please note these ticket gift vouchers cannot be used in our shops or cafés. Take a look at our full list of museums, galleries and arts centres across the county. 

Do you sell Christmas gifts? 

Our Christmas Market event offers the perfect opportunity to purchase something unique, supporting local business. 

Our award-winning Milestones gift shop also offers a fantastic array of gifts and souvenirs for all pockets and sizes and your purchases support our work as a charity. 

Are you open on bank holidays? 

We are closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. 

Is it safe to buy tickets from a third-party? 

Please do not purchase tickets for any Milestones or Basing House events elsewhere, we do not use any other ticketing sites or social media platforms aprt from our own. Unfortunately, social media scams are on the rise in recent years, which is why we're also deleting all comments about selling tickets. It's nothing personal, we just want to keep everyone safe! Please purchase tickets from Milestones or Hampshire Cultural Trust official platforms only. 

I can no longer make it, what are my options? 

Please help us combat social media scams and do not re-sell tickets online. You are welcome to transfer your tickets to a loved one. Contact us to be added to our waiting list. 

Do you still have market stalls available for rental? 

Market stallholder applications close in the spring of each year. Market stall applications are now closed and under review. If you are interested in applications for 2025, please email us in March 2025 for an application form link milestones.museum@hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk. 

Please note applications for tables will come through an official Milestones channel only. We do not offer rental of tables from personal social media accounts.