Named Carol? The Eden Project has a £1 Christmas offer for you

Somewhere in Cornwall there may be a Carol reading this who hasn’t yet realised she’s part of a vanishing breed. Maybe a Caroline too. And the Eden Project wants to see them all this Christmas, for the price of a pound.

The Eden Project, the educational charity best known for protecting and championing endangered plants from around the world, has turned its attention to a different kind of endangered group this festive season. Its new Save the Christmas Carol campaign offers anyone called Carol, or a name from the wider Carol family, entry for just £1 between Friday 20 November 2026 and Saturday 2 January 2027.

Why the Carol is in decline

The campaign follows figures from Forebears which suggest there are just over 5,000 Carols across Devon and Cornwall.

The national picture is starker. Office for National Statistics baby names figures published in 2025 show no baby has been born in England with the name Carol since 2021.

How the £1 entry works

Anyone named Carol, or an accepted variation of the name, can visit for £1 between 20 November 2026 and 2 January 2027 inclusive. During that time the Biomes and gardens are turned into what Eden describes as a mesmerising symphony of light, colour and music.

There are a few conditions to know before you go:

• The offer applies to the qualifying person only.
• Proof of first name will be needed on arrival.
• Tickets can’t be booked in advance.
• Christmas Lights are included on the qualifying visitor’s first visit, subject to availability.

Full terms, and the list of accepted name variations, will be published on the Eden Project website.

The famous Carols with links to Eden

The name has a long list of well-known faces behind it. Carol Kirkwood on BBC weather, Carol Burnett on the Hollywood stage and Carole King in the recording studio have all helped make it part of British and international life.

Three Carols have closer ties to the Eden Project and a shared interest in the natural world.

Carol Vorderman

Carol Vorderman, whose birthday falls on Christmas Eve, has been named Eden’s Mrs Carol Claus. She is best known for her 26 years on Countdown and has been an ambassador for the King’s Trust, supporting its work for young people. She has also championed environmental action, most recently fronting the Wales Recycles Be Mighty. Recycle campaign for Global Recycling Day in March 2026.

Carol Klein

Eden Project Morecambe ambassador Carol Klein is one of the UK’s best-loved plantswomen, known for her work on BBC Gardeners’ World and for her garden at Glebe Cottage in Devon.

Carol Smillie

TV presenter Carol Smillie, a proud Scot, has supported the Eden Project’s Big Lunch, the annual celebration that brings neighbours across the UK together to share food and friendship. She will soon have an Eden on her doorstep too, with Eden Project Scotland coming to Dundee.

What Eden says about the campaign

Kate Francis, creative programme producer (and head of Christmas cheer) at the Eden Project, said: “Every Christmas at Eden, we try to create a magical space that families and friends can come together and create lasting memories in. This year, we’re taking it a step further and shining a tongue-in-cheek light on the plight of the Christmas Carol, because after all, it’s not Christmas without a Carol or two!”

She added that behind the festive fun, the message reflects something central to Eden, valuing the things that make the world richer and protecting nature and communities, which she said “starts through connection, with each other and with the planet.”

Eden has spent 25 years bringing the natural world to its gardens and Biomes in Cornwall, and has welcomed more than 25 million visitors in that time. This Christmas it is also asking people to think about what they can do to protect the environment on their own doorstep.

What else is on at Eden this Christmas

The gardens and Biomes are being transformed into a Christmas wonderland for the season, with a brand-new Father Christmas experience. Other highlights include:

• The artisan Cornwall Christmas Fair on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 November.
• Helios, Luke Jerram’s seven-metre illuminated Sun, arriving in the Mediterranean Biome on Friday 20 November.
• Northern Lights-inspired ice skating, running until 21 February.
• An immersive light and sound display across the Biomes and gardens on select evenings.

Ticket prices and other offers

Standard admission starts at £35.50 for adults and £12.50 for children, with under-fives free. Visitors receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit or UK Legacy Credit can get in for £15.

Devon and Cornwall residents can buy a Locals’ Pass from £26.80 per adult and £10.80 per child, now available all year round. The best prices are for booking online in advance.

Eden has also relaunched its Community Weekends offer, which gives eligible groups living in Cornwall and Devon, and their families, £1 entry on select weekends between now and March. NHS and blue light workers, care professionals, educators, armed forces personnel, and charity workers and volunteers all qualify.

Since opening in 2001, the Eden Project in Cornwall has generated £6.8 billion in total economic impact for the South West, according to the charity. You can read more about Eden’s mission on its website.