A Northumberland country estate was forced to turn away hundreds of festive visitors after a world record-breaking Christmas tree attracted unprecedented crowds, leading to severe overcrowding and full car parks.
Unprecedented Crowds at Record-Holding Tree
The source of the excitement was a 44.7 metre (147ft) high giant redwood in the gardens of the National Trust's Cragside property. Adorned with over 1,300 lights, the tree secured the official Guinness World Record for the 'World's Tallest Bedded Christmas Tree'. Its impressive stature, taller than ten double-decker buses, proved an irresistible draw for the public.
However, the surge in popularity led to significant logistical problems. On Saturday 27 November, just after midday, staff had to refuse entry to visitors arriving by car as all on-site parking reached capacity. The National Trust's Cragside Facebook page issued urgent warnings, stating: "Due to a high volume of visitors, all car parks are full." The message advised checking the website for updates and noted the restrictions did not apply to those using public transport.
Visitor Reactions and Trust Response
The scene was repeated on the following Sunday, with the house and gardens open but no parking available. Visitor responses were mixed. While some praised staff for remaining friendly and professional, others expressed frustration. One disappointed guest compared the queues to those at Disneyland and described the café scene as "chaos". Several questioned why a pre-booking system was not implemented to manage numbers.
In a statement, the National Trust explained they had anticipated higher demand and extended opening hours, but were overwhelmed by the scale of the turnout. "We experienced unprecedented numbers arriving within an hour of opening," a spokesperson said, adding that closing the car parks was a last resort prioritising visitor safety and keeping the main road clear.
To accommodate the public interest, Cragside added two extra late openings on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 December. The Trust strongly recommended car sharing or using public transport for the remainder of the event, which runs until Sunday 4 January 2026.
The Making of a Record-Breaking Spectacle
The tree's global recognition came after an official adjudication by Guinness World Records. Adjudicator Carl Saville commended the "breathtaking giant redwood" as a vision of growth and beauty within Cragside's historic landscape. The installation was a major undertaking, requiring three people over two days to hang the lights, using almost 800 metres of cabling and a cherry picker.
The spectacle gained further attention after featuring on BBC Two's 'Christmas Treasures of the National Trust' programme, which offered a behind-the-scenes look at the festive preparations. The combination of the record title and television exposure likely fuelled the extraordinary public response, highlighting the enduring appeal of large-scale festive attractions.
