With evenings drawing in early now, dark nights can only mean one thing - it's time to plan ahead and book a Christmas light trail and get ready to celebrate festivities with friends and family. With so many upcoming festive outdoor events to look forward to - Christmas light trails and winter illuminations are at the top of the list - so you better get in there first and book now to avoid disappointment, these enchanting events book up fast!
If you've never had the opportunity to experience one of these fabulous winter light trail events you're family is in for a treat! Some of the UK’s most beloved locations turn into wintry wonderlands to amaze and entertain little ones, with woodlands and gardens that are lit up with stunning tunnels of light, and trees illuminated with all the colours of the rainbow.
There'll be amazing art installations, festive sounds, and let's not forget wintery attractions like ice-skating. Plus, favourite traditions like Christmas markets and Father Christmas himself! If that's not enough you can also expect hand-picked food vendors with festive food and drink to keep everyone warm and satisfied.
If you don't know where to start, don't worry because we've listed 11 of the best Christmas light trails to visit here in the UK. So take a look to see what's happening near you, and get ready to book your tickets now for lots of festive fun for the family in the near future...
11 of the best Christmas light trails 2024
Christmas at Bedgebury
Fancy a magical stroll through the iconic conifers at the Bedgebury Natural Pinetum and Forest after dark? The award winning light trail has over a million twinkling lights, with new lights to excite the family this year, as well as festive sounds to get everyone in the mood for Christmas.
Kids will love spotting Father Christmas along the trail, and there'll be a flock of glistening robins, giant luminous floating seed pods and neon gallopers hiding behind the trees. Make your way through tunnels of light and a forest lit up with colours.
Then Bedgebury café will be waiting at the visitor centre to warm you up with spiced drinks, warming hot chocolate for the kids, and yummy treats from hand-picked street food vendors - we're sure little ones will want a toasted marshmallow or two!
Dates: 15 November 2024 to 1 January 2025
Christmas at Belton
Christmas at Belton House in Grantham, Lincolnshire will be the making of many festive family memories - with a meadow of light as far as the eye can see, a huge string of neon colour-changing flowers, floating candles in the sky and coloured battens of light that fill every child's heart with wonder and joy.
Seasonal snacks will be available, of course, and a stroll under the stars with loved ones and a warming drink will make it an evening to treasure.
Dates: 22 November 2024 to 1 January 2025
Christmas at Blenheim Palace
If you head to Blenheim Palace in Oxford your family will get to experience the fantastic illuminations trail, as well as a swashbuckling adventure at Neverland® in the Palace, where children's dreams come true as they follow Tinkerbell's fairy dust through the stately rooms with towering Christmas trees that are overwhelmed with baubles.
They'll love prancing along a moonlit London skyline on their way to the Mermaid Lagoon as well! And for every Neverland in the Palace ticket and_Neverland Afternoon Tea_, a £1 donation at checkout will be gifted to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
Dates: 15 November 2024 to 1 January 2025
The Great Skate at Blenheim Palace
If you're heading to Oxford and Blenheim Palace for the iloluminations after dark, what could be more Christmassy than visiting the undercover ice rink in the iconic Great Court during the day? If it's little one's first time on the ice, it'll be a day to remember.
Along with all the other special events going on at the Palace - like the illuminated after-dark trail through the grounds, and the magical tour of the stately rooms reimagined as an enchanting Neverland® adventure - there'll also be a bustling outdoor Christmas market running from Friday 15 November to Sunday 22 December 2024, with fairground rides to thrill the kids.
Don't forget that all children aged three to 16 years must be accompanied by an adult (18+) on the rink, and all adults and children must have tickets for the ice rink.
Dates: 15 November 2024 to 1 January 2025
Lanterns and light at Chester Zoo
Animal lovers won't want to miss out on this uniquely special Christmas light trail held fittingly at Chester Zoo, where you'll get to walk among all kinds of illuminated puppet animals and giant beasts strung with hundreds of lights - from lions and orangutangs to elephants and giraffes!
There will be a glowing tunnel of lights, and festive treats to look forward to at the Christmas food market, and let's not forget a meeting with Father Christmas himself.
Dates: 15 November 2024 to 1 January 2025
Christmas at Dunham Massey
Celebrating Christmas in Manchester this year? The twinkling Christmas lights at Dunham Massey are for you, and will be sure to get your family feeling festive. Enjoy the magnificent installations and the seasonal music of the festive event set in the Dunham Massey gardens, moat and park, with beams of light breaking through ancient trees and dancing on the moat. It'll be an evening to remember.
Dates: 15 November 2024 to 1 January 2025
Christmas at The Botanics
Don't miss out on this amazing Christmas light trail if you're up in Edinburgh. Scotland definitely know how to do Christmas, so we know this one will be unmissable. We love that booking tickets is also a great way of helping to fund the important plant conservation work of the Botanics, a registered Scottish charity.
Dates: 21 November 2024 to 30 December 2024
Christmas lights at Leeds Castle
This historical setting in Kent will be lit up with wonderous sightings for little ones (and you) to enjoy, from larger-than-life glowing reeds that rise high into the night sky, to giant colour-changing lilies that shimmer on the lake. There will also be sparkling tunnels and illuminated rainbow-coloured trees, with delicious food and drink available too.
Dates: 15 November 2024 to 1 January 2025
Christmas at Kew
If you're looking for Light trails in London Kew Gardens light trail is the place to go at Christmas time for a family event with memories to cherish for many years to come. It's definitely a favourite, with some memorable highlights like the flickering flames in the fire garden, lakeside reflections and let's not forget those glittering light tunnels.
If you're wondering - how long does it take to walk around Kew Gardens Christmas Lights? The trail is approximately 3 km long and can take up to 2 hours or more to walk around, depending on little legs and how many times you want to stop for refreshments and to get a longer look at all the attractions - no doubt they'll want to hang around for Father Christmas, fairground rides, and. toasting marshmallows. Don't forget that taking those family photos will take up0 some of your time too!
Dates: 13 November 2024 to 5 January 2025
Christmas at Stourhead
Christmas at Stourhead promises to be an unforgettable experience for families and friends with Father Christmas making an appearance, as well as there being a sea of light stretching across the lake, and huge feathers floating into the sky where the air will be lit up with all the colours of the rainbow. Seasonal snacks will be available, and warming drinks to enjoy as you wander through the tunnel of lights or gaze up and the illuminations in awe.
Date: 29 November 2024 to 1 January 2025
Christmas at Westonbirt
The Christmas lights trails at The National Arboretum will offer families a brand new festive experience this year... never-before-seen in Westonbirt! You'll be able to explore trees from all over the globe in a completely new light with over a million twinkling lights illuminating the forest, and Christmas sounds filling the air full of fun and frolics. Kids will love seeking out the luminous birds delicately balanced on the branches of neon-coloured trees.
Dates: 29 November 2024 to 31 December 2024
Christmas at Wimpole
This stunning after-dark Christmas light trail in Cambridgeshire may be last on our list, but it's definitely not the least - During the day, Wimpole Hall will be decorated for Christmas and you can enjoy festive food and drink in the restaurant and cafés, with local choirs singing Christmas carols... and then the estate will be brought to life with their illuminations and over a million twinkling lights after dark.
Dates: 22 November 2024 to 1 January 2025
Proud aunt to her teen niece, Zara Mohammed is a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby. She has 10 years freelance writing experience creating lifestyle content for various platforms, including pregnancy, women’s health, parenting, child development and child mental health, plus lots of fun seasonal family articles and celebrity news.