14 best Christmas light trails to visit in the UK over the festive season
Start off the Christmas period with a dose of holiday cheer at these spectacular light displays
-RBG-Kew-by-Ines-Stuart-Davidson.jpeg)
The most wonderful time of the year has arrived, and as well as busying ourselves by feeding the Christmas pudding, dusting off the baubles and making all the necessary arrangements for the big day, there’s plenty of festive fun to be had outdoors.
A tradition in many families is to visit a light trail, taking a stroll through an immersive array of illuminations that add a little magic to winter evenings.
Trails can be found in many places, from botanical gardens to royal grounds, and even zoos, where light artists have been busy stringing up fluorescent displays and creating glowing interactive sculptures.
While the fun fairs and opportunity to visit Santa make the trails great for those with kids, they’re also ideal to experience as a group of all ages. Many offer accessible paths, sensory evenings and dog-friendly slots.
These are our favourite light trails to visit this festive season in the UK, with some open into the New Year in 2026.
1. Christmas at Kew
Kew Gardens, London
When: 14 November to 4 January
Kew is home to the world’s largest collection of living plants and botanical gardens, and this Christmas, it has been transformed into a magical light exhibition, blending its flora and vegetation with dazzling spectacles that leads you around the grounds.
2025’s trail at Kew Gardens showcases brand new creations from world renowned artists, all lighting up its landscape in festive colours and magical illuminations. Street food vendors will be serving warming winter treats, while a family fairground serves up even more entertainment.
Price: Adults from £27.50, children from £18, under fours go free
2. Longleat Festival of Light
Longleat, Wiltshire
When: 8 November to 11 January
Wiltshire’s safari and adventure park takes a different approach to other light trails across the country, with illuminations found in the form of everyone’s favourite characters from Aardman Animations. Spot Shaun the Sheep and friends singing carols, before wandering the trail to find Wallace and Gromit posing for a pic outside a lit-up recreation of the gates of Buckingham Palace.
Other illuminated British landmarks also dot the trail, from a 15m tall Tower Bridge, Stonehenge and Giant’s Causeway. Beyond the lights, families can get lost in Britain’s biggest maze, or board a train to find Santa’s workshop, before sitting back to relax while watching an Aardman classic IN AN OUTDOOR CINEMA?
Price: Adults from £49.95, children from £37.45, under twos go free
Read more: How to visit Father Christmas in Lapland on a budget
3. Christmas at Bute Park
Cardiff, Wales
When: 21 November to 31 December
Wales’s largest trail is returning for a fifth time this year with a reimagined route and brand new illuminations, as well as some old favourites returning. Combining dazzling lights and a winter-themed soundscape, visitors can experience the spectacles while snacking on the array of street food from local traders found in Alpine cabins.
Leading the light show this year is a piece called “Water Willow”, a majestic tree decorated in thousands of light pulses evoking silver rain drips. Also new this year is “Icefall”, a cascade of light that tumbles down like a luminous waterfall moving in rhythmic harmony.
Price: Adults from £15, children from £5
4. Light UP Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
Hampshire
When: 27 November 2025 to 3 January 2026
Hampshire’s largest festive light trail is back for 2025 and this year’s theme is “Enchanted”, laid out in eight zones featuing new light and sound installations, a laser show and animated story projections.
Feast on street food and sip warm drinks as you wander round the immersive experience, with all the usual staples to choose from such as homemade crumple, bratwurst sausages and hog roast.
Price: Adults from, £20, children from £12.50. Family tickets available
5. Wollaton Winter Light Trail
Wollaton Hall & Deer Park, Nottingham
.jpeg)
When: 26 November to 31 December
Visit Nottinghman’s grand 16th century Renaissance-style mansion this Christmas for an immersive light trail, transforming the historic grounds into a spectacular sparkling wonderland. New instillations are coming to Wollation this year, from large-scale illuminated displays, to immersive soundscapes and interactive exhibits, with a few surprises along the way.
If you are feeling peckish during the stroll, check out the bar and mini chalets occupied by local independent food vendors, or toast a marshmallow alongside other trail visitors. There’s also kid-friendly rides for younger members of the family.
Price: Adults from £17, children from £12.50, under twos go free. Family tickets available.
6. Sandringham Luminate Winter Light Trail
Sandringham, Norfolk
.jpeg)
When: 14 November to 24 December
Sandringham Estate’s royal parkland has been transformed this festive season with dazzling displays of illuminations across a mile-long trail. They’ll be lit up by thousands of twinkling lights as enchanting music plays, and you can wander through the mesmerising estate grounds, featuring interactive displays. You can also grab a mulled wine and settle down near a fire pit to toast marshmallows.
Luminate, the company that is hosting the experience, has also set up trails at Birmingham Botanic Gardens, Ashton Court in Bristol (brand new for 2025) and Coventry’s Coombe Abbey.
Price: From around £15.
Read more: The world’s most magical Christmas markets for the ideal festive break
7. Christmas at The Botanics
Edinburgh, Scotland
When: 20 November to 30 December
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is hosting a Christmas after-dark trail in the lead up to 25 December. New instillations from international artists feature this year, with large bright flowers blooming from ponds and a flutter of glowing butterflies dancing between the trees.
There’s plenty of photo opportunities too, from large light tunnels to twinkling arches. Be sure to stop for a hot chocolate or a spiced winter drink before heading home.
Price: Adults from £19, children from £14, under threes go free. Family tickets available
8. RHS Glow
Nationwide
When: 19 November 2025 – 4 January 2026 (dates vary by garden)
England’s five Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gardens have had a glow up just in time for Christmas, with the introduction of new light and water shows, including immersive installations and beams of colour and luminescence that allow visitors to see the collection of plants gleam on dark evenings.
Find immersive light installations that bring the plants and architecture to life at RHS Bridgewater, Salford; discover illuminated bridges in the Robinson Garden at RHS Hyde Hall, or check out the the redesigned Winter Garden at RHS Rosemoor in North Devon. Visitors can also immerse themselves in the lights at RHS Harlow Carr, or catch the brand new show at Surrey’s RHS Wisley.
Price: Adults from £13.50, children from £7.25, under fives go free (prices vary by garden)
9. Winter Lights at Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei
Northumberland
When: 20 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
Northumberland’s Alnwick Garden will be lit up for the winter after-dark trail this year, with a ticket also allowing visitors into the grounds and the children’s play village of Lilidorei.
Expect new instillations and a brand new soundtrack this year. There’s also a chance to meet Father Christmas who is handing out presents well before the big day, while last minute Christmas shopping can be done at the gift shops.
Price: From £10
10. Christmas at the Castle
Warwickshire
When: 22 November to 4 January
This year, one of the UK’s most recognisable castles and its 64 acres of the historic grounds will be decked out in over half a million twinkling lights, all within a brand new light trail. As darkness falls, it will transform into a shimmering landscape thanks to larger than life illuminations and projections.
Catch the displays dancing on the castle walls too, before checking out the other winter experiences at the medieval landmark, including ice skating and storytime with Santa. There’s even the opportunity to stay overnight for a Santa sleepover within the grounds. WHAT DOES THIS INCLUDE?
Price: From £17
Read more: The best European Christmas markets for a magical winter break
11. Lanterns and Light at Chester Zoo
Cheshire
When: 13 November to 3 January
While the real-life animals will be tucked up in bed, visitors can see their favourite creatures in a whole new light at Chester Zoo’s after-dark trail. The Lanterns & Light experience features interactive glowing animal puppets, immersive light installations and new walk-through experiences such as the arches of ribbons, rainbows and bubbles.
With a kaleidoscope of lights, laser-lit trees and fires BONFIRES? sparked in the gardens, there’s plenty to see at Chester Zoo’s Christmas event. Be sure to look out for Father Christmas who will be waving as you traverse the trail.
Price: From £12
12. Northern Lights
Newcastle
When: 27 November to 31 December
The Northern Lights Christmas trail returns to Newcastle’s Leazes Park for another year, with a mile-long immersive light experience taking you through 15 illumination zones.
Be sure to pick up a Yorkshire pudding wrap or a box of loaded fries at the Christmas Village set in the middle of the trail, where you will also find a bar and a marshmallow toasting station.
Price: Adults from £15, children from £5. Family tickets available.
Read more: The best holidays to book for December, from skiing in Austria to Christmas in Goa
13. Christmas at the Eden Project
Cornwall
.jpeg)
When: 21 November to 4 January
The Eden Project is already known for being a spectacle itself, with the huge bubble-like enclosures looking like they have erupted from the ground, with the insides housing natural biomes where thousands of plant species thrive. This Christmas however, the attraction has become even more striking, with its theatrical light trail where Santa Clause and his playful elves are waiting to greet you.
As night falls, the biomes transform into glowing tropical light displays, casting the plants in all sorts of dancing colours. There’s also an ice rink, as well as a carousel.
Price: From £5.50
.jpeg?quality=75&width=230&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&auto=webp)
14. The Light Before Christmas
Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool
Liverpool-Cathedral-Light-Before-Christmas-2025-(NOVEMBER-2025)-Rob-Battersby-9.jpeg)
When: 28 November to 6 December
Back for a fourth year, The Light Before Christmas returns to Liverpool Cathedral with a new theme for 2025: “The Gift”. As one of the few light experiences that happen inside, this is a special opportunity to see the cathedral’s Neo-Gothic architecture be transformed into a kaleidoscope of projections, with a new soundscape to accompany the lights.
Keep an eye out for Santa on his sleigh and the story of the nativity within the cascade of swirling stars projected on the walls.
Price: Adults from £9.50, chidlren from £7.50, under threes go free, family tickets available.
Read more: The best Christmas cruises
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments