Dorich House Museum

We are excited to announce the programme for Dorich House Museum’s Winter Weekend 2025! Join us this festive period for an exciting range of events, workshops, tours, a special pop-up Christmas shop featuring local artists’ work and a children’s Christmas Grotto.

Please note, we are not open for regular visits on Sunday 7 December. This day is only for those with tickets to the children’s Christmas Grotto. See further details below.

Local Artists Pop-up Christmas Shop

Thursday 4 – Saturday 6 December | All day | Free/Drop-in

A range of local artists from Kingston Artists Open Studios will be selling their work in a special pop-up shop over the weekend in our first floor Modelling Studio. Works on sale will include ceramics, paintings, drawings, stationery and textiles with all profits going to the exhibiting artists. Come along and do your bit of Christmas shopping while supporting local artists!

A Brief History of Russian Dress: A Talk with Pamela Smith

Thursday 4 December | 10:30am-12noon | Book here

Join textile historian Pamela Smith for an illustrated talk on the history of Russian dress with reference to items from Dorich House Museum’s Russian collection of art and artefacts.

The history of dress in Russia is a fascinating one which can be viewed through many of the items in the Dorich House Museum collection. Saints, tsars, nobles, peasants and servants feature in different artistic forms and represent the dramatic change in style for the nobility due to Peter the Great’s reforms, and the distinctive dress practices persisting for various layers of society until the 20th century.

Pamela will talk you through this history and show textile examples which will bring the information to life.

Kingston University Students’ Music Concert

Thursday 4 December | 1-2pm | Free/Drop-in

On Thursday afternoon we will be welcoming a group of MA Music students from Kingston University as they stage a live music concert in our first floor Modelling Studio. The music will range from classical to Christmas to pop, meaning there is something for everyone. This is a free event with no booking required, however, there are limited seats so make sure you arrive sharp!

Christmas Craft Workshop with Artist Anna Milgrom

Saturday 6 December | 1-4pm | Book here

Join us in our first floor Modelling Studio for a relaxing Saturday afternoon as experienced artist/art facilitator Anna Milgrom leads a workshop showing you how to make your own unique Christmas decorations!

The workshop will involve metal embossing, the art of creating patterns or designs in metal sheets using a stylus. Taking inspiration from the Museum’s collection, Anna will guide you through the process of shaping, embossing and designing your decorations which will be ready to take home and hang on your tree at the end of the session. This workshop is suitable for ages 10 and over – all materials provided.

Children’s Festive Grotto

Sunday 7 December | 12 noon-4pm | Book here

Join us for an extra special day of festivities as Father Christmas visits Dorich House Museum!

Our first floor Modelling studio will be set up with a range of activities including Christmas decoration and badge making to keep everyone entertained between the personal visits to our ground floor Plaster Studio which Santa will be occupying as his grotto.

This event is for SEND (Special Educational Need and Disability) families only. To read more about staging and access, please visit our booking page.

Dorich House Museum Guided Tours

There will also be two guided tours taking place during Winter Weekend at 2pm on Friday 5th and 11am on Saturday 6th. For all of our December guided tour dates please see our Eventbrite page here.