20+ Beautiful Christmas light trails

20+ Beautiful Christmas light trails

More and more stately homes and gardens are jumping on the Christmas light trail bandwagon. And I have to say, of all the festive things to do, this is one of my favourites. When it’s dark and chilly outside, it’s good to have an incentive to get outside with the kids for some fresh air and exercise.

Some of these Christmas light trails are rather pricey affairs but most of them are run by charities so it’s a win-win – we have a great evening out and they get some much needed winter funding. I just wish the spectacles continued further into January and February – Copenhagen has a February light festival which sounds like a great way to break up the monotony of winter.

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Stately home lit up at Christmas
Wimpole Hall at Christmas

Tips for visiting Christmas light trails

I know a lot of this is probably blindingly obvious, but I hope some of these tips come in handy – I would have liked to take an extra pair of socks on our first winter lights trail and perhaps telling my kids how much we would spend on post-walk pick-me-ups would have been a good idea!

  • If you’re looking to save money and you have a few trails near you, compare the child prices – some have a big discount for kids and a few are free up to age 5 (most are free only to under 3s). Some have lower prices in the late afternoon slots (getting more expensive as the evening goes on), ideal for young families. Quite a few offer family discounts – I’ve just detailed the per person price in this article so you can compare individual prices.
  • If you are a member of the place you are visiting – the RHS for example – there is a discount. If you’re considering becoming a member, now is a good time to do it.
  • Some of the locations will have Father Christmas somewhere along the trail – if this is important for your little ones, check the individual websites, they usually mention if the big man will be there.
  • Bear in mind that the trails can take up to two hours to complete – some are a mile and a half long. If you have little kids, you might also need to allow time for fairground rides and hot chocolate so it can be a late night if you’re not booked into an early slot.
  • Some of the light trails run until the end of December but others finish before Christmas. Some of the more well known trails get booked up far in advance. If the one you’re keen to visit has sold out, consider a more off the beaten track location – some of them do have late availability.
  • It can get REALLY cold on the trails if you go for one of the later times. Our feet were numb by the time we finished walking around the Blenheim Palace trail.
  • There’s plenty of ways to spend more dosh once you’ve done your walk – hot chocolate, fairground rides and delicious hot food. If your children are liable to be tired/cold/hungry at the end it’s worth agreeing a spending limit before you arrive!
  • Some of the light trail tickets will allow entry to the main destination as well as to the evening event. However, some do not allow this – ensure you check if you’re keen to experience both.

Glowing lights on tree
Christmas light trail

Bedfordshire Christmas light trails

Shuttleworth in Lights

I’m sure my kids would love this vintage vehicles and Christmas lights combo. The hangers, as well as the grounds, are lit up.

  • Where: Shuttleworth, Alder Drive, Biggleswade, SG18 9EA (SatNav use SG18 9DT)
  • When: certain dates between 5th December 2025 and 3rd January 2026
  • Price: adult from £16, child £10, under 2s free
  • Find out more about Shuttleworth in Lights 2025

Check out this article for more things to see and do in Bedfordshire

Christmas light trails in Berkshire

Wellington Country Park Neverland Illuminova

We love Wellington Country Park. I used to visit it when I was a child and I’ve enjoyed taking my kids there in recent years. The light trail sounds like a really magical evening.

Christmas light trails in Buckinghamshire

Waddesdon Manor Christmas lights, near Aylesbury

  • Where: Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 0JH
  • When: selected dates between 22nd November 2025 – 4th January 2026
  • Price: see website for full list of discounts, adult £15.50-£30, child £8-£14, under 5s free
  • Find out more about Christmas 2025 at Waddesdon

Find out more about things to do in Buckinghamshire

Christmas light trails in Cambridgeshire

Wimpole Estate Christmas light trail near Royston

We enjoyed the Christmas light trail in Wimpole last winter. It’s a really great location and we all loved the design and layout of the various light installations. The food selection wasn’t quite as impressive as what was on offer at Blenheim several years ago but the setting and spectacle more than made up for it.

Wimpole Estate Christmas light trail
Wimpole Estate Christmas light trail

Christmas light trails in Cheshire

Dunham Massey Christmas lights, near Altrincham

Cornwall Christmas light trails

Eden Project, Bodelva

I’m sure exploring this brilliant place will be really special after dark with light installations to enhance what is already a very special location.

If you’re local to the Eden Project, there is an opportunity to take advantage of one of the community days and visit the site free of charge. See the website for more details.

Devon Christmas light trails

RHS Garden Rosemoor

There’s a range of events on during Rosemoor’s winter light spectacle including live music – check what’s on before you book your slot.

You can actually stay in Rosemoor at one of the garden’s apartments – the price includes entry to Glow.

  • Where: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon, EX38 8PH
  • When: Selected dates Friday 21st November – Tuesday 30th December 2025
  • Price: adult £8.25 for members, £14.85 non-members, member child £4.95, non-member child £4.50-£7.25, under 5s free
  • Find out more about Rosemoor Glow

Essex Christmas light trails

RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Essex

I love the sound of this light trail – there’s a good viewing area at the top of the hill where visitors can take in the installations.

  • Where: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, CM3 8ET
  • When: 23 November – 30 December 2023
  • Price: adult £8.95 for members, £15.95 non-members, member child £4.45, non-member child £8.45, under 5s free
  • Find out more about Glow at Hyde Hall

Christmas lights in Gloucestershire

Westonbirt National Arboretum festive lights near Tetbury

  • Where: Westonbirt, the National Arboretum, Tetbury, GL8 8QS
  • When: selected dates from Friday 28th November – Wednesday 31st December 2025
  • Price: adult £19-£25, student £17-£22 child £12-£17, under 3s free
  • Find out more about Westonbirt Christmas lights

Christmas lights in Hampshire

Watercress Line Steam Illuminations

This is a rather different take on the traditional Christmas light trail experience. Visitors enjoy a ride on an illuminated steam train with music, entertainment and lights along the route too. Please read through the detailed explanation of ticket types on the Watercress Line website.

Find more about things to do in Hampshire

Christmas light trails in Kent

Bedgebury Christmas lights, near Goudhurst

Another Forestry Commission Christmas lights trail – this one sounds really special.

  • Where: Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Lady Oak Lane, Goudhurst, TN17 2SJ
  • When: selected evenings Friday 21st November 2025 – Wednesday 31st December 2025
  • Price: adult £18-£26, child £12-£18, under 3s free
  • Find out more about Christmas at Bedgebury

Leeds Castle, near Maidstone

I’m sure this will be a particularly special Christmas light trail with the castle and surrounding water and grounds lit up.

Christmas light trails in Lincolnshire

Belton House Christmas lights, near Grantham

London Christmas light trails

Christmas at Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath

It looks like Kenwood takes Christmas light trails to a whole new creative level.

Kew Gardens light trail

Probably the most sought after Christmas light trail – tickets to Kew sell out fast. Note, unlike most destinations, Kew’s light trail continues into the first week of January – something to look forward to if you’re liable to January blues.

  • Where: Kew Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE
  • When: 14th November 2025 to 4th January 2026
  • Price: adult £27.50-£34, child £18-£22, under 4s free
  • Find out more about Christmas at Kew

Regent Street and surrounding area

London is a brilliant city to wander through at any time of year but Christmas is, of course, extra special. Highlights include Regent Street, Bond Street, Oxford Street and Carnaby Street but there are plenty of quieter streets which will look equally lovely with fewer crowds. St Christopher’s Place is a good traffic-free place to head to for a bite to eat.

  • Where: across the West End
  • When: each street is different, Carnaby Street and Regent Street are the earliest on Thursday 6th November. Lights usually come down around 6 January.
  • Price: free!

Looking for more free activities in the capital? Read my guide to family-friendly free activities in London.

South Bank Christmas lights

I really enjoy walking along the South Bank at Christmas time. The area has a lovely atmosphere and it’s great to get away from the traffic of London’s streets. The lights are not as spectacular at those in the Regent Street area but it is more tranquil as a result.

The South Bank has a winter festival which includes Christmas markets, shows, choirs and exhibitions.

  • Where: the walk from the London Eye to Tower Bridge is about 2.5 miles but there are plenty of places to stop to refuel.
  • When: the South Bank winter festival runs from early November to early January
  • Price: free to walk – lots of payable attractions to choose from.
  • Find out more about the South Bank winter festival

Norfolk Christmas lights

Blickling Estate Christmas light trail, near Norwich

Christmas lights in Oxfordshire

Blenheim Palace light trail, near Woodstock

This was our first experience of Christmas light trails – it felt really long with our little children in tow, it’s quite a spectacle. There was an impressive range of food and drink to choose from afterwards – much needed!

Christmas light trail reflections on water
Blenheim Christmas lights

Staffordshire light trails

Shugborough Estate Illuminate trail, near Stafford

  • Where: Milford, near Stafford, Staffordshire, ST17 0UP
  • When: TBC
  • Price: TBC

Surrey winter light trails

Glow at Wisley, RHS Garden Wisley

  • Where: RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley Lane, Surrey, GU23 6QB
  • When: 21st November 2025 – 4th January 2026
  • Price: adult member £10.45, non-member £15.95, child member £5.25, child non-member £10.95, under 5s free
  • Find out more about Glow at Wisley

Christmas light trails in Wiltshire

Christmas lights at Stourhead, near Shaftesbury

Have you visited one of these Christmas light trails or can you recommend one which I have not listed? Let me know in the comments below.

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