Wallace & Gromit are heading to Leeds Castle for Christmas 2026 with a brand-new family adventure created for Aardman’s 50th anniversary. A Cracking Christmas Caper runs from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and is included with daytime Leeds Castle admission.
Latest Update
Leeds Castle has confirmed that Wallace & Gromit: A Cracking Christmas Caper will take over the Castle’s rooms and corridors from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Live performers are scheduled on weekends and during school holidays.
What Is A Cracking Christmas Caper?
The Leeds Castle Diamond has vanished just before its Christmas unveiling. Visitors join Wallace, Gromit and the Anti-Theft-O Security team to follow clues through the Castle and work out who has taken it.
The suspect list brings together familiar Aardman characters including Feathers McGraw, Preston, Piella Bakewell, Shaun and his flock. Expect clues, photo opportunities and family-friendly surprises along the way.
Dates and Tickets
Dates: 21 November 2026–3 January 2027
Location: Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent
Admission: Included with a valid daytime Leeds Castle admission ticket.
This is different from the evening Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle, which is separately ticketed and does not include daytime Castle admission.
💷 I’ve Found Cheaper Options
Before paying the standard admission price, compare the current options. Leeds Castle’s direct online Explorer ticket is currently £34.50 for an adult, while the Ultimate Explorer is £45.50. A Groupon/Viator Ultimate Explorer listing is currently £43.50, with a time-limited AUTUMN promo showing £42.29 when checked on 16 September 2026, but check the final price and exactly what is included before booking. The extra promo is due to end on 17 September, so I would treat £43.50 as the underlying deal price rather than promising £42.29.
If you are arriving car-free, Leeds Castle currently offers 20% off admission for visitors travelling by train, bus or bike, redeemed at the Visitor Centre with valid proof of same-day travel. Depending on your ticket choice, that may be the more useful saving.
Separate deal: Wowcher currently lists a Southern Segway experience at Leeds Castle with a 60-minute Adventure Tour from £15.30 and a 90-minute Twilight Tour from £27.90 when checked on 16 September 2026, with the deal page showing a recent price drop. Wowcher also displays a VIP extra £2 off for eligible members. The deal includes Segway hire and safety equipment, with routes around the Castle grounds, lakes, gardens and viewpoints. This is a separate outdoor experience and is not a Leeds Castle admission ticket, so it should be treated as an add-on/alternative activity rather than a cheaper way into the Castle.
Affiliate note: Clarissa’s Corner may use affiliate links where available. Prices and offers can change, so compare the final booking terms before paying.
Accessibility
Leeds Castle’s current access information says disabled admission includes one free carer. Accessible toilets and Changing Places facilities are available across the estate, and a free accessible mobility bus operates from near the ticket office during normal daytime visits. The Castle also asks visitors who need extra support, including Sunflower lanyard wearers, to speak to staff about shorter access times and quiet-area information.
Some transport services and facilities can change for special ticketed events, so check the current Leeds Castle access page before travelling.
Getting There Without a Car
Southeastern trains serve Bearsted and Hollingbourne. Leeds Castle says both stations are around a five-minute taxi ride or roughly a 30–40 minute walk away. The 510 Stagecoach bus also serves the Leeds Castle area; on Saturdays it enters the Castle grounds, while on other days the stop is by the Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel, around a 12-minute walk from the Visitor Centre.
Make a Christmas Day of It
The daytime Wallace & Gromit experience overlaps with Leeds Castle’s wider Christmas programme. Read the Clarissa’s Corner Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle 2026 guide for the separate evening trail. Christmas Lights runs from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 as a separate evening ticket, while Father Christmas at Leeds Castle is scheduled from 21 November to 24 December 2026 and also requires its own experience ticket plus valid Castle admission.
More on Clarissa’s Corner
If you enjoy character trails and family adventures, browse our Art & Sculpture Trails in London & the South East guide. For spooky-season planning, see our Halloween 2026 in London & the South East and Face Your Fears 2026 hubs.
FAQ
When is Wallace & Gromit at Leeds Castle?
21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Is Wallace & Gromit included with Leeds Castle admission?
Yes. A Cracking Christmas Caper is included with daytime admission.
Are there live performers?
Leeds Castle says live performers will appear on weekends and during school holidays.
Are the Leeds Castle Christmas Lights included?
No. Christmas Lights is a separate ticketed evening event, and daytime Castle admission is not included with a Christmas Lights ticket.
Official Information
Check Leeds Castle’s official Wallace & Gromit event page, ticket, access and travel information before travelling, as availability, prices and operating arrangements can change.
Campaign artwork supplied for editorial use carries the copyright wording: © Wallace & Gromit Limited 2026.
