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Christmas in Salcombe, Devon: why it’s the loveliest winter escape (and what’s on)
- Harriet Taylor
- Dec 3, 2025
- 5 min read
Salcombe in December is a different sort of beautiful to the summer version — quieter, softer around the edges, and wonderfully festive without feeling busy. The harbour is calm, the lanes glow with lights, and the whole town has that cosy, local energy that makes you slow down in the best possible way. If you’re craving a proper coastal reset before the big day (or a Christmas week that feels special but still relaxed), Salcombe delivers.
Below is everything you need to know about why to visit Salcombe this Christmas and what’s on in 2025, with a few insider ideas to help you make the most of it.
Why visit Salcombe at Christmas?
1. Winter coastline, all to yourselves
Salcombe’s beaches and coastal paths are at their most peaceful in winter. South Sands, North Sands and the Coast Path feel beautifully open — perfect for a brisk walk, rosy cheeks, and that “we’ve earned a pub lunch” glow afterwards.
2. The town feels genuinely festive (not commercial)
Christmas here is led by the community. There are twinkly lights along Fore Street, little windows dressed up for the season, and a gentle harbour sparkle after dark. The annual Salcombe Christmas Lights Switch-On is the moment the town properly turns festive and keeps its glow right through December.
3. Cosy pubs and seasonal cheer
Salcombe does winter warmth very well. Think glowing fires, friendly locals, and a calendar of festive little happenings that make a stay feel like Christmas in a community, not next to one.
A standout is The Victoria Inn, right in the heart of Salcombe — a wonderfully snug, classic-Devon pub with roaring log fires and that cheerful hum you only get in a great local. Better still, The Vic runs weekly festive events throughout December, so there’s always something going on during a Christmas stay. Expect a brilliant mix of:
Christmas quiz nights
Sip & paint evenings
Christmas bingo
Wreath-making workshops
Breakfast with Father Christmas
Kids’ Christmas crafts
It’s exactly the sort of easy, feel-good fun that turns a winter break into a festive tradition.
See our full guide to the pubs in Salcombe here.
4. Brilliant local shopping for gifts
Salcombe’s independent shops are a joy in December — no crowds, no rushing, just a relaxed browse for thoughtful gifts and little treats. This is the time of year for picking up things you won’t find on the high street: cosy knitwear, beautiful homewares, locally made foodie gifts, and proper stocking fillers.
5. The South Hams is festive too
You’re perfectly placed for a Christmas market day out without needing to go far. Nearby towns put on lovely festive events, so you can mix Salcombe’s calm with a bit of seasonal buzz when you fancy it.
What’s on in Salcombe & nearby this Christmas (2025)
Salcombe Christmas Lights Switch-On — Tuesday 2 December 2025
The moment the town properly turns festive. Harbour reflections, glowing shop fronts, and that quietly buzzy “Christmas is coming” feeling in the air.
Kingsbridge Celebrates Christmas — Saturday 6 December 2025
Just a short hop from Salcombe, Kingsbridge hosts a brilliant Christmas fair with stalls, festive food, music, and family activities. It’s a great one for gift-buying and a proper market feel, then back to Salcombe for the evening.
Father Christmas visits Salcombe & Malborough — Thursday 18 December 2025 (Rotary Club)
A proper highlight for families: Father Christmas tours Salcombe with the Rotary Club, spreading festive cheer around the town.
Carols around the Christmas Tree at Whitestrand (Rotary Club) - 23rd December 6.30pm
One of those classic, heart-warming Salcombe evenings: gather at Whitestrand for community carols around the big Christmas tree. It’s the sort of low-key, lovely event that makes a winter stay here feel properly festive. Enjoy the mulled wine and mince pies to the sound of South Hams Choir and Kingsbridge Silver Band.
Christingle Service — Holy Trinity Church, Salcombe - 24 December 2025 at 3:30pm.
A beautiful seasonal tradition for locals and visitors alike. The Christingle Service takes place at Holy Trinity Church on 24 December 2025 at 3:30pm.
Weekly festive events at The Victoria Inn — throughout December
If you’re staying in town, this is the easiest way to add sparkle to the week. From quizzes and bingo to wreath-making, sip-and-paint evenings and family-friendly mornings with Father Christmas, there’s something on most weeks in December — and it’s all right on your doorstep.
Dartmouth Steam Railway “Train of Lights”
A magical evening out and a brilliant one for kids (and secretly for grown-ups too). The Christmas Train of Lights on the Dartmouth Steam Railway runs 28 November–30 December 2025, with vintage carriages, illuminated lineside displays, and a proper festive show on rails. Easy to combine with a Dartmouth wander beforehand.
RNLI Resolution Run — Salcombe, New Year’s Eve (31 December 2025)
Start New Year’s Eve with fresh air and a good cause. The Salcombe RNLI Resolution Fun Run is a 7km road/trail route around Snapes Point, starting from Island Street at 9:30am on 31 December 2025. Every participant gets a free drink voucher for the Salcombe Brewery Tap Room, and there’s a festive finish-line atmosphere. This year the winner of the run wins a night at South Sands Hotel.
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New Year’s Eve celebrations in Salcombe
Salcombe does New Year beautifully — lively, but never too rowdy, and always with the harbour as a backdrop. If you fancy a glam night out, both South Sands Hotel and Harbour Hotel / Harbour Beach Club host New Year’s Eve gala dinners and dancing with live entertainment and a midnight toast. Pre-booking is essential.
How to make a Christmas stay in Salcombe feel extra special
Plan for slow mornings. Winter Salcombe is at its best when you’re not rushing: coffee looking over the water, a late-start walk, a long lunch.
Bring layers and decent shoes. Crisp sun and coastal breezes are the usual combo.
Mix quiet days with one festive outing. A Train of Lights evening or Kingsbridge market day, plus peaceful Salcombe days, is the perfect rhythm.
Book key events early if you’ve got your heart set on one
Not sure where to start? Ask us what’s on during your visit and we’ll put together a few tailored recommendations to suit your dates — from festive local events to the best winter walks and cosy fireside spots.
Stay in Salcombe the way it’s meant to be: luxury self-catering with Taylor Made Salcombe
Christmas in Salcombe pairs perfectly with a luxury self-catered holiday home — the kind of stay where you can do the season your way. With Taylor Made Salcombe you get:
space for everyone to properly relax
a beautiful kitchen for festive cooking (or effortless grazing)
coastal walks right on your doorstep
a warm, elegant base to come back to after crisp winter days out
Whether you’re planning a pre-Christmas getaway, a Christmas week by the sea, or a New Year reset, our homes let you enjoy Salcombe in luxury.
Browse our luxury holiday homes in Salcombe for Christmas and New Year, and we’ll help you find the perfect festive base.
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