WHAT’S ON DEC 2025 – Updated 4-Dec
UPDATED 4-Dec
December 2025
A “What’s On at Duff House” is issued from time to time and circulated by FoDH to a wide list; members, local interested parties and accommodation providers. For more detail on relevant events please refer to the HES website (searching “Duff House” normally results in HES being the top entry) or contact Friends of Duff House; email: friendsofduffhouse@gmail.com.
Sun 7th Dec 10am to 3.30pm Free entry day (see below) plus memories of the last 30 years
(closed for lunch 12.30-1.15pm; last entry 2.30pm)
Free entry tickets can be booked in advance for the first Sunday of December as part of HES’s Historic Sunday initiative; go now to Ticket Selection :: Duff House for tickets for 7th Dec (future months’ tickets will be available circa 2 weeks before each free open date – 11/Jan, 1/Feb. 1/Mar 2026). You must book in advance and cannot get free entry otherwise (unless you’re an HES member!). The number of tickets is limited per site on a strict time-of-booking order.
During Sunday 7th Dec will also be:
- a slide-show of newspaper articles, photos and posters to celebrate 30 years of Duff House since it’s opening in 1995;
- piano playing by Jane, the new volunteer, in the Grand Salon with the 2000 light Christmas Tree.
Well worth a visit at some point that day!
Why not make a whole day out; visit Santa’s Magical Room at Banff Castle – and visit Duff House before or after. The Banff Castle Magical Room is open Sat 6th, Sun 7th, Sat 13th and Sun 14th. Tickets and more info at this link: Santas Magical Room at Banff Castle Tickets are going fast but at the time of writing, still available for Sun 7th.
Until Sun 18th Jan – extended: EXHIBITION “The Eagle and The Unicorn”
Note: Duff House is closed from Mon 22nd Dec to Fri 2nd Jan inclusive.
A much acclaimed exhibition by Macduff Heritage Society supported by FoDH telling the stories of those Polish Soldiers from WW2 and their descendants, who made north east Scotland their home when returning to Poland was too dangerous, and who are now a vibrant part of our community.
The book, “The Eagle and The Unicorn”, is now available from Macduff Heritage Society and Friends of Duff House, and will become stocked in Duff House and The Museum of Banff. 112 pages, A5 size, includes all the information in the Exhibition and a little bit more! Priced at just £8.00, and can be posted to any UK address for an extra £3.20.
Until 23rd Aug 2026: WORK IN FOCUS “Christ Delivered to the People” by Stanley Spencer
An interesting 1950 painting, oil on canvas, depicting Christ being led away after his condemnation. Pontius Pilate is sitting on the steps washing his hands; and the disciples have turned their backs and are scuttling away. Also interesting is how the personal life of the artist is in the picture too; the cruel faced woman to the bottom right with a grasping hand is thought to be Spencer’s second wife, Patricia Preece, who was at the time involved in divorce proceedings.
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Duff House is both an Historic Environment Scotland managed fully furnished period Country House and part of the National Galleries of Scotland with an extensive collection. Tel: 01261 818181.
Winter opening hours: to 31st Mar: Fri, Sat & Sun; 10am to 3.30pm (closed for lunch 12.30-1.15pm; last entry 2.30pm)
Note: CLOSED Mon 22nd Dec re-opening Sat 3rd Jan
HES members free entry. Admission fee applicable except to ground floor, incl shop and toilets. Disabled access to all floors.