Christmas Countdown • 2026 directory
97 Christmas light trails across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
From Kew, Longleat and Blenheim to lantern-lit zoos, woodland walks and a drive-through lap of Silverstone.
Most Christmas light trails open between mid-November and the first week of December, and Friday 20 November is the big night, with 24 opening at once. Tickets are already on sale at 85 of the 97 here, and 17 venues warn that popular slots sell out, so if you have a particular Saturday in mind, book it now rather than in December.
To find Christmas lights near you, pick a region or type a town, county or postcode. Each card shows walk or drive, price, dogs and relaxed sessions, with parking, access and last entry under Tickets and details. If a venue has not yet announced its 2026 dates, the card says so rather than recycle last year’s.
The big names at a glance
- Christmas at Kew Richmond · 13 Nov – 3 Jan
- The Longleat Festival of Light Warminster · 7 Nov – 17 Jan
- Christmas at Blenheim Palace Woodstock · 13 Nov – 3 Jan
- Christmas at Chatsworth Bakewell · 7 Nov – 3 Jan
- Lap of Lights at Silverstone Towcester · 11–31 Dec · drive-through
- Christmas at the Botanics in Edinburgh 19 Nov – 30 Dec
- Lanterns & Light at Chester Zoo 13 Nov – 3 Jan
- The Wollaton Hall Winter Light Trail Nottingham · 25 Nov – 3 Jan
Further down Good-value trails · Toddlers, grandparents, adults only · Relaxed sessions · Dog-friendly trails · Questions
Christmas light trails in London 2
Two trails: Christmas at Kew and Chelsea Winter Village & Illuminations. Both run relaxed sessions.
Chelsea Winter Village & Illuminations
Royal Hospital Chelsea (Ranelagh Gardens), Chelsea, London, Greater London
2026 dates confirmedWed 25 Nov – Mon 28 Dec 2026 (closed Christmas Day)
Central London families and couples who want a step-free festive trail without a trek out of town; there is no public parking.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at Kew
Kew Gardens, Richmond, Greater London
2026 dates confirmed13 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027, selected datesFrom £25.50
A long, big-production evening of light tunnels and soundscapes, with separate adult-only and Quiet Access nights; book well ahead.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas light trails in the South East 21
Twenty-one trails across eight counties. Start with Christmas at Blenheim Palace, A Nutcracker’s Christmas at Hever Castle and RHS Glow at Wisley. Three run relaxed sessions and five take dogs on some or all nights.
Illuminate Reading
Forbury Gardens & Abbey Ruins, Reading, Berkshire
Returning in 2026; full dates to followThe venue says it is returning; dates to follow
A short, central evening trail of 30–50 minutes through Forbury Gardens and the abbey ruins, with mulled wine and a bar.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Windsor Great Park Illuminated
Egham, Berkshire
2026 dates confirmed13 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027Adults from £19.80
Families west of London after a projection-and-sound spectacle in a royal parkland setting.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at Waddesdon
Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
2026 dates not yet publishedThe venue's page still shows last year's run; check back for 2026
Bucks families wanting a grand-house light trail with a set-piece projection on a French-château façade.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Land of Lights Milton Keynes
Gulliver’s Dinosaur & Farm Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Returning in 2026; full dates to followThe venue says it is returning; dates to follow
Families with children of all ages who love giant lanterns, with dog-friendly nights on selected dates.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at Marwell: Fire & Ice
Marwell Zoo, Winchester, Hampshire
2026 dates confirmed20 Nov – 30 Dec 2026, selected dates (Fire & Ice after dark 4pm–7.30pm; not 25–26 or 31 Dec)
Younger families who want a zoo day that rolls into a short, lively evening of lights and fire.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at West Green House
West Green House Gardens, Hartley Wintney, near Hook, Hampshire
Returning in 2026; full dates to followThe venue says it is returning; dates to follow
A smaller, storybook-style trail through historic Hampshire gardens, with a Petting Manger and a Christmas choir, for those who prefer intimacy to spectacle.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Enlightened Moments at Staunton Farm
Havant, Hampshire
2026 dates confirmed3 Dec 2026 – 2 Jan 2027Adults from £13.50
An hour-long trail on the Hampshire–Sussex border at a modest price, bookable in 15-minute slots.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Light Up Trails at Hillier Gardens
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey, Hampshire
2026 dates confirmed26 Nov 2026 – 1 Jan 2027Adults from £22
Hampshire families wanting a polished, mid-length trail with clear off-peak pricing and free parking.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
The Gift by Luxmuralis
Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, Hampshire
2026 dates confirmedMon 14 – Sat 19 Dec 2026, 6.30pm–9pmAdults from £12
Projections across the cathedral’s vaulted ceilings for £12 a head — six nights only, and some slots have already gone.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Illuminate Isle of Wight
Robin Hill, Newport, Isle of Wight
2026 dates confirmed4 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
The island’s own light trail — a festive evening for Isle of Wight families without the ferry.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
A Nutcracker’s Christmas
Hever Castle & Gardens, Edenbridge, Kent
2026 dates confirmed20 Nov 2026 – 2 Jan 2027, selected datesAdults from £20
A Nutcracker day into evening for families with younger children: castle, lit lake, fairground rides and Father Christmas, with at least two and a half hours needed.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at Bedgebury
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Goudhurst, Kent
2026 dates confirmedFri 20 – Sun 22 Nov, Fri 27 – Sun 29 Nov, Wed 2 – Sun 6 Dec, Wed 9 – Thu 24 Dec, Sat 26 – Thu 31 Dec 2026Adults from £19
Kent families bringing the dog: short leads welcome, and off-peak adult tickets are £19.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle
Maidstone, Kent
2026 dates confirmed20 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027
A classic big-ticket Kent evening out with fire and laser set pieces around the castle.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Port Lympne Illuminated
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, Hythe, Kent
2026 dates confirmed27 Nov 2026 – 2 Jan 2027Adults from £18
Animal-mad children, who will want the holographic tiger: this is the safari-park take on the light trail.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at Blenheim Palace
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
2026 dates confirmedFri 13 Nov 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027
Over a million lights, a Cinderella experience in the State Rooms and an ice rink: an Oxfordshire day out rather than a quick evening walk.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Illuminate Oxfordshire
Millets Farm Centre, Frilford, Abingdon, Oxfordshire
2026 dates confirmedOpening Sat 14 Nov 2026; runs into January (full calendar on site)Adults from £15.50
A proper-length trail of 60–80 minutes, with a food court and Alpine bar halfway round for a hot supper.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Illuminate Guildford
Guildford Castle grounds, Guildford, Surrey
2026 dates confirmedOpen from Sat 14 Nov 2026 (closing date not stated)Adults from £12.95
A short town-centre trail the organiser pitches at families and little legs.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
RHS Glow
RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey
2026 dates confirmed20 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027, selected dates (including Christmas Eve)
Surrey gardeners and families who want a big RHS show without going into London.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Glow Wild
Wakehurst, Ardingly, West Sussex
2026 dates confirmedSelected evenings, 26 Nov 2026 – 2 Jan 2027Adults from £21
Handmade lanterns and a projection on the mansion, with free parking — a Sussex alternative to the London trails.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Leonardslee Lights
Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, Lower Beeding, Horsham, West Sussex
2026 dates confirmedSelected evenings, 27 Nov – 30 Dec 2026Adults from £18.50
Sussex families with a dog in tow who want a woodland trail with a sense of theatre.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Tulleys Christmas Light Festival
Tulleys Farm, Turners Hill, Crawley, West Sussex
2026 dates confirmedFri 27 Nov – Wed 30 Dec 2026, selected evenings (27 Nov is press night with limited public tickets; closed 30 Nov–2 Dec, 7–8, 14 and 24–26 Dec)Adults from £22.95
Groups and older children after a lively, festival-style night out rather than a quiet garden walk.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas light trails in the South West 15
Fifteen trails across seven counties. Start with the Longleat Festival of Light, Christmas at Westonbirt and Christmas at the Eden Project. Five run relaxed sessions and three take dogs on some or all nights.
Luminate at Ashton Court
Ashton Court Estate, Bristol
2026 dates confirmedFri 27 Nov – Mon 28 Dec 2026
Bristol’s own woodland light trail, easy for city families to reach on a school night.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at the Eden Project
St Austell, Cornwall
2026 dates confirmedChristmas Lights evenings 20–22, 26–29 Nov; 3–6, 10–23, 26–31 Dec 2026; 1–2 Jan 2027Adults from £12.50
Good value for families, since under-16s go free on the lights pass, and the Biomes are warm when the Cornish weather is not.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Heligan Night Garden
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan, near St Austell, Cornwall
2026 dates confirmed13–15, 20–22, 27–29 Nov; 4–6, 10–13, 16–23 Dec 2026; 26 Dec 2026 – 2 Jan 2027Adults from £23.60
Cornwall’s dog-friendly garden trail, so the family walk does not have to leave anyone at home.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at the Castle
Powderham Castle, Kenton, near Exeter, Devon
2026 dates confirmedSun 29 Nov – Wed 30 Dec 2026, closed 25 and 26 Dec (By Night 4.15pm–8.30pm, last entry 7.30pm)Adults from £11
A good-value evening near Exeter, with a Ferris wheel, marshmallow huts and room for the dog on a short lead.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Glow at RHS Rosemoor
RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon
2026 dates confirmedSelected dates 27 Nov – 30 Dec 2026
Gardeners who want to see Rosemoor’s champion trees after dark; off-peak nights are the cheaper way in.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Zooluminate
Dartmoor Zoo, Sparkwell, near Plymouth, Devon
2026 dates not yet publishedThe venue's page still shows last year's run; check back for 2026
One to watch for Plymouth families; 2026 dates are not out yet.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Abbotsbury Illuminate 2026
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Abbotsbury, near Weymouth, Dorset
2026 dates confirmed20 Nov – 31 Dec 2026, selected dates
Subtropical planting lit after dark, with free parking and no booking fee; handy for a Jurassic Coast weekend.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Nutley Farm Christmas 2026
Winfrith Newburgh, near Dorchester, Dorset
2026 dates confirmedFri 27 Nov – Wed 30 Dec 2026, selected dates
A farm-based family night out in West Dorset with plenty to fill an evening beyond the trail itself.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at Westonbirt
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum (Forestry England), Tetbury, Gloucestershire
2026 dates confirmed27–29 Nov, 3–6 Dec, 9–13 Dec, 16–24 Dec, 26–31 Dec 2026Adults from £19.50
Kew-style production values in a Cotswold treescape, with off-peak dates that make it kinder on a family budget.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Festive Illumination Light Trail
Old Down Estate, Tockington, near Bristol, Gloucestershire
2026 dates confirmed28 Nov – 28 Dec 2026, from 4.30pm
A local evening trail on Bristol’s northern edge for families who want something close to home.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Spectacle of Light 2026: Alice’s Amazing Adventures in Wonderland
Sudeley Castle & Gardens, Winchcombe, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
2026 dates confirmed20 Nov – 30 Dec 2026, from 4.45pmFrom £20
A storybook trail in castle gardens that suits children who know their Alice, and the adults who read it to them.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Wild Lights
Bristol Zoo Project, Bristol, Gloucestershire
2026 dates confirmed27 Nov – 23 Dec 2026
A brand-new trail among the Bristol Zoo Project’s trees, with free wheelchairs and scooters to borrow and two relaxed evenings.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at the Palace: The 12 Days of Christmas illuminations
The Bishop’s Palace & Gardens, Wells, Somerset
2026 dates confirmedTue 1 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 (closed 24, 25, 26 and 31 Dec)Adults from £10
A quieter, musical evening among medieval rooms and gardens, better suited to older children and grandparents than to a fairground crowd.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at Stourhead
Stourhead (National Trust), Mere, Wiltshire
2026 dates confirmed27 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027, selected dates
A mile of lights around the lake, as good for a grown-up evening as with children.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
The Festival of Light: Legendary Worlds
Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire
2026 dates confirmed7 Nov 2026 – 17 Jan 2027, selected datesFrom £34.95
A big-ticket lantern day out that doubles up with the safari park, so best for families making a full day of it.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas light trails in the East of England 12
Twelve trails across six counties. Start with Christmas at Wimpole, Luminate at Sandringham and Cambridge Botanic Lights. Two run relaxed sessions and five take dogs on some or all nights.
Shuttleworth in Lights
Shuttleworth (Swiss Garden and Collection), Biggleswade, Bedfordshire
2026 dates confirmed4–6, 11–13, 18–20 Dec 2026 and 1–3 Jan 2027From £17
Aircraft lit up in the hangars and the Swiss Garden in colour, run by the Collection’s own staff and volunteers.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Cambridge Botanic Lights 2026
Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
2026 dates confirmed27 Nov – 23 Dec 2026 (17 nights); entry 4.30pm–7pmAdults from £18.15
Glasshouses, woodland and lake lit up in the heart of Cambridge, for families and couples, with off-peak adult tickets at £18.15.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at Wimpole
Wimpole Estate (National Trust), Royston, Cambridgeshire
2026 dates confirmedFri 20 Nov 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027
A proper walk: 1.5 miles through the Wimpole estate, with a new house show this year.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Enchanted Trail of Light
Colchester Zoo, Colchester, Essex
2026 dates confirmed27–29 Nov; 4–6, 11–13, 18–20 Dec; 23 Dec; 27–28 Dec 2026Adults from £15.50
Young children who will enjoy a road-train ride, a rainbow tunnel and life-sized illuminated animals; the real animals are not on view.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Enlightened 2026
Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex
2026 dates confirmedFri 27 Nov 2026 – Sat 2 Jan 2027; entry slots every 15 minutes from 4.30pmAdults from £12
Essex families wanting an hour-long, dog-friendly trail at Hylands Park, from £12 an adult.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Enlightened — Markshall Estate
Coggeshall, Essex
2026 dates confirmedFri 11 Dec – Thu 24 Dec 2026; entry every 15 minutes, 4.30pm–8pmAdults from £13.50
A short two-week run before Christmas, with adults from £13.50, parking included and dogs welcome on a lead.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
RHS Glow
RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Chelmsford, Essex
2026 dates confirmedSelected dates, 26 Nov – 30 Dec 2026
Essex gardeners curious to see Hyde Hall after dark, on a brand-new route that includes a surprise in the glasshouse.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Ashridge House Illuminated: ’Twas the Night Before Christmas
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
2026 dates confirmed20 Nov 2026 – 2 Jan 2027Adults from £24.50
’Twas the Night Before Christmas told in more than 20 installations and a projection on the house: big, theatrical and in Hertfordshire, with free parking.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Enchanted Journey of Light
Thursford, Fakenham, Norfolk
Returning in 2026; full dates to followThe venue says it is returning; dates to followFrom £18
Young families and grandparents wanting a step-free, partly indoor walk.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Luminate at Sandringham
Sandringham Estate, Sandringham, Norfolk
2026 dates confirmed21 Nov – 24 Dec 2026; entry 4.30pm–8.30pm
A mile of lasers and glow arches on the royal estate in Norfolk; it closes on Christmas Eve and many slots sell out, so book early.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Illuminate Ipswich
Christchurch Park (Arboretum), Ipswich, Suffolk
2026 dates confirmedOpen from Fri 20 Nov 2026 (closing date not stated)
Ipswich families after an easy town-park trail with supper built in.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Illuminated Garden Trail
Helmingham Hall Gardens, Stowmarket, Suffolk
2026 dates confirmed12 Nov – 19 Dec 2026: Thu–Sun in Nov, daily in DecFrom £10
A dog-friendly Suffolk garden trail with mulled wine included and s’mores by the fire.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas light trails in the West Midlands 8
Eight trails across four counties. Start with the Warwick Castle light trail, Luminate at Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Illuminated at the National Memorial Arboretum. Two run relaxed sessions and two take dogs on some or all nights.
Festive Lights
Biddulph Grange Garden (National Trust), Biddulph, Staffordshire
2026 dates not yet publishedThe venue's page still shows last year's run; check back for 2026
Biddulph Grange’s garden lit with thousands of Christmas lights: a gentler, smaller-scale evening for garden lovers.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Illuminated
National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire
2026 dates confirmed4–22 Dec 2026; entry every 30 minutes 4.30pm–6.30pm (7pm on peak evenings)Adults from £20
A reflective, self-paced trail for families and older visitors, with a Changing Places facility, trackway over uneven ground and relaxed 4.30pm sessions.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Winter Light Trail
Trentham Estate, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Returning in 2026; full dates to follow20 Nov – 3 Jan (the venue says the trail returns in Nov 2026)
Staffordshire families with a dog and younger children: a new route, a kids’ funfair and marshmallows at the end.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Light Trail (Christmas at the Castle)
Warwick Castle, Warwick, Warwickshire
2026 dates confirmed21 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027Adults from £17
Half a million lights across 64 acres of castle grounds, with a castle-entry ticket from £27 if you want to make a day of it.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Luminate at Coombe Abbey
Coombe Abbey Park, Coventry, Warwickshire
2026 dates confirmedSat 28 Nov 2026 – Fri 1 Jan 2027; entry 4.30pm–8.30pm
Coventry and Warwickshire families after a longer walk: 2.4km of woodland and parkland, with fire pits for marshmallows along the way.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Luminate Light Trail 2026
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands
2026 dates confirmed28 Nov 2026 – 2 Jan 2027, 4.30pm–8pm
Light tunnels, lasers and marshmallows on a wheelchair-accessible route of nearly a mile, in the botanical gardens in Edgbaston.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at Croome — after-dark illuminated light trail
Croome (National Trust), Pershore, Worcestershire
2026 dates not yet publishedThe venue's page still shows last year's run; check back for 2026
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Winter Glow Illuminated Light Trail
Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire
2026 dates confirmed20 Nov – 31 Dec 2026, selected dates
Skating, UV crazy golf and a fairground alongside the trail in one evening, and children currently go free on the Light Trail itself.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas light trails in the East Midlands 9
Nine trails across five counties. Start with Christmas at Chatsworth, the Wollaton Hall Winter Light Trail and Lap of Lights at Silverstone. Two run relaxed sessions and five take dogs on some or all nights.
Christmas at Chatsworth — light and sound trail
Bakewell, Derbyshire
2026 dates confirmed7 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027
The house, garden and farmyard by day, then the trail and a light show on the South Front, all on one Christmas at Chatsworth ticket.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Heritage Wood Illuminated Walk
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
2026 dates confirmedFour weekends, Fri 27 Nov – Sun 20 Dec 2026Adults from £14.50
A smaller, good-value woodland mile near Ashbourne on four weekends, with children at £8 and the dog at £1.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Lights of Abraham — A Winter Lights Trail
Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
2026 dates confirmed20 Nov – 30 Dec 2026 (closed 24–26 Dec); 4pm–8pm, last entry 7pm
Families who want the novelty of a cable car to a lights trail in the Peak District.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Lanterns of the Wild
Twycross Zoo, Atherstone, Leicestershire
2026 dates confirmed6 Nov 2026 – 21 Feb 2027; opens 4.30pmAdults from £19
Animal-mad children and anyone needing a step-free route.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at Belton
Belton House (National Trust), Grantham, Lincolnshire
2026 dates confirmedFri 20 Nov 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027
A full evening on a grand Lincolnshire estate, with a Fire Garden and a projection on the house, and dogs on short leads welcome on all but one night.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Lap of Lights
Silverstone, Towcester, Northamptonshire
2026 dates confirmedFri 11 – Thu 31 Dec 2026 (closed Christmas Day)From £50 per car
For wet nights or small children: drive the Grand Prix circuit after dark with the heating on, and pay per car, not per head.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Winter Light Trail
Delapré Abbey, Northampton, Northamptonshire
Returning in 2026; full dates to follow27 Nov – 3 Jan (year not confirmed by the venue)
A dog-friendly evening in the grounds of Delapré Abbey, with private chalets for groups of eight to ten.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
The Magic Lantern Festival
Wheelgate Park, Farnsfield, near Newark, Nottinghamshire
Returning in 2026; full dates to followThe venue says it is returning; dates to follow
Up to 30 rides, animals and indoor play as well as 1.5km of lanterns, all on one evening ticket.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Winter Light Trail
Wollaton Hall & Deer Park, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
2026 dates confirmed25 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027
Nottingham families wanting a dog-friendly trail with plenty of extras for small children.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas light trails in Yorkshire 5
Five trails across three counties. Start with Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Enchanted Illuminations at Stockeld Park and RHS Glow at Harlow Carr. One runs relaxed sessions and one takes dogs on some or all nights.
RHS Glow
RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
2026 dates confirmedSelected dates 26 Nov – 30 Dec 2026
A calm garden light trail in Harrogate for families who prefer colour and planting to fairground bustle.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
The Enchanted Illuminations
Stockeld Park, Wetherby, North Yorkshire
2026 dates confirmed21 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027Adults from £18.50
A full evening near Harrogate and Leeds for children who want playgrounds, a snowflake maze and optional skating as well as the lights.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Land of Lights Rotherham
Gulliver’s Valley Resort, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Returning in 2026; full dates to followThe venue says it is returning; dates to follow
Families on the Sheffield–Rotherham border wanting an all-ages lantern trail, with dog-friendly nights on selected dates.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Winter Illuminations
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
2026 dates confirmedSelected dates 14 Nov 2026 – 9 Jan 2027 (14–15, 20–22, 26–29 Nov; 3–6 Dec; 10–24 Dec; 26 Dec–3 Jan; 9 Jan)
A long, flat, step-free circuit that keeps going until 9 Jan.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Northern Lights Leeds: The Lost Light of Christmas
Temple Newsam, Leeds, West Yorkshire
2026 dates confirmedFri 20 Nov – Thu 31 Dec 2026
A festival-style evening out in Leeds that suits families with primary-age children.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas light trails in the North West 14
Fourteen trails across four counties. Start with Lanterns & Light at Chester Zoo, Christmas at Dunham Massey and Lights of Lowther. Three run relaxed sessions and five take dogs on some or all nights.
BeWILDerwood Presents Christmas
BeWILDerwood Cheshire, near Northwich, Cheshire
2026 dates confirmed28 Nov – 23 Dec 2026Adults from £19.50
A twilight trail, a 20-minute pantomime and Father Christmas in one booking, for families who already know the Boggles.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail
Arley Hall & Gardens, near Northwich, Cheshire
2026 dates confirmed22 Oct 2026 – 3 Jan 2027Adults from £32
Fans of the 1993 film, and anyone who prefers spooky-festive to a traditional Christmas trail.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Enchanted Winter Walk at Quarry Bank
Quarry Bank (National Trust), Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire
2026 dates confirmedFri 4 – Thu 31 Dec 2026, selected dates (4, 5, 11, 12, 18–23, 28–31 Dec)Adults from £9.95
A half-hour walk with Mrs Claus and a hot drink, for when a full-scale trail is too much.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Land of Lights
Gulliver’s World, Warrington, Cheshire
Returning in 2026; full dates to followThe venue says it is returning; dates to follow
Lanterns from monuments to dinosaurs at Gulliver’s, with dog-friendly nights and free parking.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Lanterns & Light
Chester Zoo, Chester, Cheshire
2026 dates confirmedFri 13 Nov 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027
One of the North West’s big-ticket trails, good for mixed-age families who want puppetry and spectacle.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Magical Woodland at Christmas
Magical Woodland, Blakemere Village, Northwich, Cheshire
2026 dates confirmedFri 20 Nov – Thu 24 Dec 2026Adults from £17.50
A character-led woodland trail for young children who want to meet Father Christmas and see reindeer on the same night.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Yuletide in the Gardens
Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
2026 dates confirmedSelected dates 15 Nov – 23 Dec 2026Adults from £20
A storytelling-led garden trail in Cheshire for families who like folklore more than fairground.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Lights of Lowther
Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria
2026 dates confirmedSelected dates 14 Nov – 30 Dec 2026 (Sat–Sun 14–15 Nov, then Fri–Sun to 13 Dec; daily 18–23 and 27–30 Dec)Adults from £20
A dramatic, dog-friendly Lake District trail among the castle ruins.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Winter at Sizergh
Sizergh (National Trust), Kendal, Cumbria
2026 dates confirmedFri 20 Nov – Thu 24 Dec 2026Adults from £13
A gentler, smaller-scale Lake District trail that suits younger children and grandparents, with dogs welcome on leads.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas at Dunham Massey
Dunham Massey (National Trust), Altrincham, Greater Manchester
2026 dates confirmedFri 20 Nov 2026 – Sat 2 Jan 2027Adults from £19
A reliable, flat mile-long trail for families across Greater Manchester and Cheshire, with the fairground as a bonus for younger children.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Northern Lights Manchester
Heaton Park, Manchester, Greater Manchester
2026 dates confirmedThu 19 Nov – Thu 31 Dec 2026
Festive nostalgia by the decade along a mile of Heaton Park, with a fairground village at the end.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
RHS Glow
RHS Garden Bridgewater, Salford, Greater Manchester
2026 dates confirmedSelected dates 26 Nov – 30 Dec 2026
A completely redesigned route for Greater Manchester families, with interactive illuminations and a colourful playground for the children.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Enchanted
Knowsley Safari, Prescot, Merseyside
2026 dates confirmedSelected dates 20 Nov – 23 Dec 2026
An affordable Merseyside trail from £9.95 for families with younger children, with free marshmallows if you book before 1 Nov.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas light trails in the North East 3
Three trails across three counties: Winter Lights at The Alnwick Garden, AGLOW at Auckland Palace Deer Park and Northern Lights Newcastle. Two run relaxed sessions and one takes dogs on some or all nights.
AGLOW
Auckland Palace Deer Park, Bishop Auckland, County Durham
2026 dates confirmedFri 20 Nov 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 (closed 23–26 and 30 Nov, 1 Dec, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day)Adults from £23.50
A big, dog-friendly County Durham trail for families happy to walk a mile and a half.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Winter Lights at The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei
Alnwick, Northumberland
2026 dates confirmed20 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027From £11.50
The garden’s light-and-sound trail plus the run of Lilidorei’s lit play village, with saver tickets from £11.50.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Northern Lights Newcastle
Leazes Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
2026 dates confirmedFri 20 Nov – Thu 31 Dec 2026
A city-centre Tyneside trail with a Christmas Village, easy to combine with an evening in Newcastle.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas light trails in Scotland 4
Four trails across three counties. Start with Christmas at the Botanics in Edinburgh, Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns and Illuminations at Five Sisters Zoo. Two run relaxed sessions.
Christmas at the Botanics
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
2026 dates confirmed19 Nov – 30 Dec 2026
An Edinburgh fixture in the run-up to Christmas, with off-peak evenings and family tickets to take the edge off the cost.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
2026 dates confirmedFri 13 Nov 2026 – Sun 21 Feb 2027 (60 selected nights)From £14
A lantern trail that runs well past Christmas, handy for families who want a January or half-term outing.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Evening Christmas Trail
Brodie Castle (National Trust for Scotland), Forres, Moray
2026 dates not yet publishedThe venue's page still shows last year's run; check back for 2026
A 30-minute gingerbread-man hunt round Brodie Castle in Moray, with accompanying adults at £4 and a light-up gift for each child.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Illuminations 2026
Five Sisters Zoo, West Calder, West Lothian
2026 dates confirmedFri 20 – Sun 22 and Fri 27 – Sun 29 Nov (5pm–9pm); Thu–Sun 3–20 Dec plus Mon 21 – Wed 23 Dec (4pm–9pm)Adults from £20.50
A West Lothian alternative to the Edinburgh trails, with a heated bar, market stalls and two evenings for visitors with additional support needs.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas light trails in Wales 3
Three trails across three counties: Christmas at Bute Park, Luminate at Margam and the Pembrey Country Park light trail. Two run relaxed sessions and one takes dogs on some or all nights.
Christmas at Bute Park
Cardiff
2026 dates confirmedThu 19 Nov – Thu 31 Dec 2026
A mile of lights in the middle of Cardiff, easy to pair with Christmas shopping in town.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas Light Trail – Forest of Forgotten Tales
Pembrey Country Park, Pembrey, near Llanelli, Carmarthenshire
2026 dates confirmed2–6, 9–13 and 16–20 Dec 2026 (Wed–Sun), 5pm–9pm
A free-entry festive evening for West Wales families, with plenty of extras for those who want them.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Luminate at Margam
Margam Country Park, Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot
2026 dates confirmedWed 25 Nov 2026 – Sat 2 Jan 2027
A castle-backed trail between Swansea and Cardiff, with dog-friendly nights.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Christmas light trails in Northern Ireland 1
One trail so far: the Enchanted Winter Garden at Antrim Castle. It runs relaxed sessions and takes dogs on leads.
Enchanted Winter Garden
Antrim Castle Gardens, Antrim, County Antrim
2026 dates confirmed2–28 Dec 2026
Light trail, funfair and grotto in one night out, with inclusive evenings for those who need it quieter.
Tickets and details
Checked on the venue’s or organiser’s site: 27 September 2026
Nothing matches those filters — try a wider region or press reset.
Light trails that needn’t cost a fortune
A family of four can spend the thick end of £100 at the big names before anyone has bought a hot chocolate. These are the ones where the sums are kinder.
- The Pembrey Country Park light trail: free to walk; you pre-pay for parking and nothing else.
- Christmas at the Eden Project: adults £12.50 on the Christmas Lights Pass, under-16s free.
- Enchanted Winter Walk at Quarry Bank: adults £9.95, for a half-hour twilight walk that suits toddlers.
- Christmas at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells: off-peak adults £10 and a family ticket at £30, Monday to Thursday from 1 to 17 December.
- Christmas at Powderham Castle: adults £11, children £8.80.
- Enlightened at Hylands Park: adults from £12, children from £8.50, plus a £2.50 booking fee.
Mind the extras. Off-peak is worth having: 29 of the 97 price by date, and an adult pays £19 rather than £27.50 at Christmas at Bedgebury, or £19.50 rather than £26.50 at Christmas at Westonbirt. Parking is often extra: Christmas at Blenheim Palace, Christmas at Belton and Christmas at Wimpole want it booked in advance, and at Magical Woodland at Christmas, booking ahead cuts it from £15 to £5.
Book-by dates worth knowing
- Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park: early-bird discounts of up to half off until midnight on 1 October.
- Illuminated at the National Memorial Arboretum: advance prices until 30 October, £5 less than standard for an adult.
- A Nutcracker’s Christmas at Hever Castle: 15% off selected tickets booked by 1 November.
- Enchanted at Knowsley Safari: free marshmallows at the fire pits if you book before 1 November.
Toddlers, grandparents and a night off
With small children
Go short and go early: bedtime does not wait for the finale. Enchanted Winter Walk at Quarry Bank takes about half an hour, Illuminate Guildford 30 to 40 minutes, and the Warwick Castle light trail and Winter at Sizergh about 45. BeWILDerwood Presents Christmas starts in the twilight, with a pantomime from 3.30pm and Father Christmas folded in. Where the youngest go free, the cut-off runs from under-ones to under-fives; each card says which.
With the grandparents
National Trust membership will not get you into the big Christmas trails: members pay like everyone else at Christmas at Belton and Christmas at Wimpole, though parking is free if booked ahead. Winter at Sizergh is the exception, at £6.50 for members against £13. Ashridge House Illuminated sells a 65-plus ticket at £22 and Arley Hall’s reduced ticket covers over-65s. Christmas at Chatsworth puts house, garden and trail on one £40 ticket, which makes a proper afternoon of it.
Without the children
Christmas at Kew has adult-only evenings on 3 and 9 December and runs until 10pm. Lanterns & Light at Chester Zoo sells adult-only tickets on selected dates, and Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns has adults-only evenings.
Relaxed and quiet light-trail sessions
Lower sound, gentler effects, fewer people: sessions for visitors with autism, sensory needs or hidden disabilities. They range from quiet evenings to Longleat’s daytime Sensory Day, and places are limited, so book as early as you would for the main event.
- Chelsea Winter Village & Illuminations (Greater London): Neuro-inclusive slots 4.30pm–5.45pm on Thu 26 Nov, Wed 2 Dec and Thu 17 Dec 2026
- Christmas at Kew (Greater London): Quiet Access sessions on 21 Nov, 1, 16 and 26 Dec for visitors with hidden disabilities such as autism
- Christmas at Marwell: Fire & Ice (Hampshire): Quiet Sessions Thu 10 and Thu 17 Dec 2026 with lower music volume, fewer visitors and modified light displays; Santa’s Grotto runs with low-level sound and sensory lighting
- Christmas at Bedgebury (Kent): Relaxed sessions for adults and young people with additional needs: Sat 21 Nov, Wed 2 Dec and Mon 14 Dec 2026
- Leonardslee Lights (West Sussex): Quiet Night on 10 Dec 2026
- Luminate at Ashton Court (Bristol): Dedicated sensory-friendly slots on certain dates with reduced capacity and volume
- Christmas at Westonbirt (Gloucestershire): Relaxed sessions Sat 28 Nov, Fri 4 Dec, Thu 10 Dec, Wed 16 Dec
- Wild Lights at Bristol Zoo Project (Gloucestershire): Relaxed sessions Thu 10 Dec and Thu 17 Dec 2026, 4.30pm–6pm, with reduced numbers
- Christmas at Stourhead (Wiltshire): Quiet sessions Sun 29 Nov and Thu 3 Dec at 4pm
- The Longleat Festival of Light (Wiltshire): Sensory Day on Sun 8 Nov: lights on in daylight, reduced visitor numbers, no music
- Christmas at Wimpole (Cambridgeshire): Quiet access session on Wed 2 Dec 2026 — less crowded and more relaxed, before public opening; carers free
- Enchanted Journey of Light at Thursford (Norfolk): A Relaxed Day with adjusted sound and lighting; date on the Thursford website
- Illuminated at the National Memorial Arboretum (Staffordshire): Relaxed sessions at 4.30pm on 9, 13 and 15 Dec, limited capacity with muted light and sound
- Winter Glow at Malvern (Worcestershire): Sensory sessions offered; see the venue’s accessibility FAQs
- Lanterns of the Wild at Twycross Zoo (Leicestershire): SEN-friendly evenings on 26 Nov and 10 Dec 2026, 15 Jan and 7 Feb 2027 — reduced capacity, gentler light and sound, sensory maps, calm spaces
- Christmas at Belton (Lincolnshire): Quieter, dog-free session at 4pm on Wed 16 Dec 2026, limited capacity
- Northern Lights Leeds (West Yorkshire): Two neuro-inclusive evenings
- Christmas at Dunham Massey (Greater Manchester): Quieter sessions with reduced audio levels on four dates with 4pm/4.15pm starts (assistance dogs only on those dates)
- Northern Lights Manchester (Greater Manchester): Neuro-inclusive evenings; dates on the booking page
- Enchanted at Knowsley Safari (Merseyside): New for 2026: an Enchanted SEN (special educational needs) Night with a quieter, more relaxed setting
- AGLOW at Auckland Palace Deer Park (County Durham): Sensory sessions on 3, 10 and 15 Dec with reduced capacity and quieter music
- Northern Lights Newcastle (Tyne and Wear): Two neuro-inclusive evenings
- Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns (City of Edinburgh): Quiet night evenings on selected dates; also adults-only evenings
- Illuminations at Five Sisters Zoo (West Lothian): Additional support needs evenings on Wed 2 and Mon 14 Dec
- Christmas at Bute Park (Cardiff): Two neuro-inclusive evenings
- The Pembrey Country Park light trail (Carmarthenshire): Sensory-friendly Christmas Light Trail evenings on 2, 9 and 16 Dec 2026
- The Enchanted Winter Garden at Antrim Castle (County Antrim): Inclusive evenings on Thu 3 and Wed 9 Dec 2026: reduced capacity, static lighting, lower sound and sensory/quiet rooms
Dog-friendly Christmas light trails
These 29 trails take dogs on short leads, every night or on named dog-friendly nights. The small print varies (Heritage Wood charges £1 a dog; Shuttleworth admits them on Fridays only), so check the card before you load the Labrador.
- Land of Lights Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire) — selected dog-friendly nights only
- A Nutcracker’s Christmas at Hever Castle (Kent)
- Christmas at Bedgebury (Kent)
- Christmas at Blenheim Palace (Oxfordshire) — selected dog-friendly nights only
- Leonardslee Lights (West Sussex)
- Luminate at Ashton Court (Bristol) — selected dog-friendly nights only
- Heligan Night Garden (Cornwall)
- Christmas at Powderham Castle (Devon)
- Shuttleworth in Lights (Bedfordshire) — selected dog-friendly nights only
- Enlightened at Hylands Park (Essex)
- Enlightened at Markshall (Essex)
- Ashridge House Illuminated (Hertfordshire) — selected dog-friendly nights only
- Illuminated Garden Trail at Helmingham Hall Gardens (Suffolk)
- The Trentham Winter Light Trail (Staffordshire)
- Winter Glow at Malvern (Worcestershire) — selected dog-friendly nights only
- Christmas at Chatsworth (Derbyshire)
- Heritage Wood Illuminated Walk (Derbyshire)
- Christmas at Belton (Lincolnshire)
- The Delapré Abbey Winter Light Trail (Northamptonshire)
- The Wollaton Hall Winter Light Trail (Nottinghamshire)
- Land of Lights Rotherham (South Yorkshire) — selected dog-friendly nights only
- Enchanted Winter Walk at Quarry Bank (Cheshire)
- Land of Lights at Gulliver’s World, Warrington (Cheshire) — selected dog-friendly nights only
- Lights of Lowther (Cumbria)
- Winter at Sizergh (Cumbria)
- Christmas at Dunham Massey (Greater Manchester) — selected dog-friendly nights only
- AGLOW at Auckland Palace Deer Park (County Durham)
- Luminate at Margam (Neath Port Talbot) — selected dog-friendly nights only
- The Enchanted Winter Garden at Antrim Castle (County Antrim)
Christmas light trails 2026: your questions
Is there a Christmas light trail near me?
Probably, if you are in England: every English region has at least two, the South East has 21 and the North West 14. Scotland has four, Wales three and Northern Ireland one, at Antrim Castle Gardens. Choose your region above the listings, or type a town, county or venue into the search box.
When do Christmas light trails open in 2026?
Mostly between mid-November and the first week of December: 75 of the 83 trails with confirmed 2026 dates start between 13 November and 4 December, and Friday 20 November is the busiest opening night, with 24 starting then. The earliest are The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at Arley Hall (22 Oct), Lanterns of the Wild at Twycross Zoo (6 Nov), the Longleat Festival of Light (7 Nov) and Christmas at Chatsworth (7 Nov). Of the 80 with a published last night, 36 run into January (the most common finish is Sunday 3 January) and 15 close on or before Christmas Eve; the Longleat Festival of Light, Lanterns of the Wild at Twycross Zoo, Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park and Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns carry on beyond Twelfth Night.
How much does a Christmas light trail cost?
For the walk-through trails that publish a from-price, adult tickets run from £9.95 to £34.95, and the middle of the range is about £18.50. Children pay less, and where a venue publishes child prices the youngest go free, with the cut-off anywhere from under-ones to under-fives. Off-peak nights are worth having: 29 of the 97 price by date, and an adult pays £19 rather than £27.50 at Bedgebury. One, the Pembrey Country Park light trail, is free to enter; you pay only to park. The drive-through at Silverstone is from £50 a car, however many are in it.
Is there a drive-through Christmas light trail in the UK?
Yes, though we could verify only one for 2026: Lap of Lights at Silverstone in Northamptonshire. It runs from Friday 11 December to Thursday 31 December (closed on Christmas Day) and costs from £50 a car. You drive a two-mile route round the Grand Prix circuit without leaving the car, and because you pay per car rather than per head, a car of eight costs the same as a car of two. It is the answer for a baby in a car seat, or a night when the shipping forecast has been unkind. The other 96 trails here are on foot.
Do I need to book a Christmas light trail?
Yes, for almost all of them. Tickets are already on sale at 85 of the 97, and 17 venues warn that popular slots or dates sell out. Some, Thursford and Helmingham among them, sell nothing on the gate. The exception is the free trail at Pembrey Country Park, where you pre-pay only for parking.
How long does a light trail take?
Allow an hour to 90 minutes for most, for a route of around a mile; that is what the majority of venues that give a time suggest. The shortest, such as Quarry Bank and Illuminate Guildford, take half an hour. A trail with a funfair, a grotto or a marshmallow queue will take the evening if you let it, and 45 of the 97 have hot chocolate, a fire pit or a fairground somewhere along the way. Timed entry is the norm, at 66 of the 97, and some venues are strict about arrival windows, so aim to be early rather than fashionably late.
Which Christmas light trails allow dogs?
Of the 97 trails here, 29 take dogs on a lead: 19 on every night and 10 on named dog-friendly nights. Tick 'Dogs welcome' in the filters to see them. The rules differ (Heritage Wood charges £1 a dog; Shuttleworth admits them on Fridays only), and so do assistance-dog policies: Colchester Zoo advises against bringing one because of the effects.
What is a relaxed session at a light trail?
A session with lower sound, gentler effects and fewer people, for visitors with autism, sensory needs or hidden disabilities. Twenty-seven trails in this directory offer one for 2026, and they vary: Longleat's is a daytime Sensory Day with the lights on and no music, while Bedgebury's is aimed at adults and young people with additional needs. They are listed further down this page and flagged on each card.
Do National Trust members get into Christmas light trails free?
Not at the big ones. At Belton and Wimpole members pay the same as everyone else, though parking is free if booked ahead. Sizergh is the exception worth knowing, at £6.50 for members against £13. Forestry England members park free at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
Are there adult-only light trail nights?
A few. Christmas at Kew has adult-only evenings on 3 and 9 December 2026, Chester Zoo sells adult-only tickets on selected dates, and Edinburgh Zoo's Giant Lanterns has adults-only evenings.
What should I wear to a light trail?
Dress for standing about in the cold rather than for a brisk walk: layers, a hat, gloves that still work a phone, and boots. Paths can be muddy or uneven when wet (Chelsea and the Bristol Zoo Project both say so), and Arley's trail runs in the rain, so assume yours will too. A hood beats an umbrella in a queue.
Are light trails suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs?
It depends on the ground. Garden and parkland trails on hard paths are often manageable; castle and woodland routes are more likely to involve gravel, slopes or steps. Port Lympne and Margam warn of steep paths, Magical Woodland is not wheelchair accessible and Hever does not allow prams inside the castle, while the Bristol Zoo Project lends wheelchairs and scooters. Each venue's own access notes are on its card, under Tickets and details.
How up to date is this directory?
Every entry was checked on the venue's or organiser's own website or booking page on 27 September 2026. Five venues still showing last year's page are marked '2026 dates not yet published', and nine more say they are returning without full dates; we re-check those as dates are announced.