The Most Complete Guide to the UK Christmas Light Trails 2020

Looking for things to do this Christmas? Christmas light trails are springing up all over the place in 2020. Being an outdoor event, they’re the ideal place to be able to enjoy the sparkle of Christmas and socially distance. They’re a great alternative for a Christmas family day out if you’re not able to book a Santa’s Grotto.

These festive light experiences sell out fast to so make sure to have a look at this comprehensive list to find a Christmas light trail near you.

*Please check the current Government guidelines before visiting. More details can be found on the websites for each light trail*

Christmas Light Trails in the East

Belton House

Christmas at Belton

When: Weekends from 27th November to 6th December, 11th to 24th December & 26th December to 3rd January 2021
Where: Belton House, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG32 2LW
Tickets: Adult – £19.00, Child (3-16) – £13.50, Under 3 – Free

Thursford

Thursford Enchanted Journey of Light

When: 19th November to 3rd January 2021
Where: Thursford, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21
Tickets: £15.00 per person, Under 2 Free

Lincoln Castle

Lincoln Castle Christmas Emporium

When: 14th to 22nd December 2020
Where: Lincoln Castle, Castle Square, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN1 3AA
Tickets: Adult £8.00, Child £5.50 (Family £21.50)

Anglesey Abbey

Anglesey Abbey

When: TBC
Where: Anglesey Abbey, Quy Road, Lode, Cambridgeshire, CB25 9EJ
Tickets: TBC

Helmingham Hall

Helmingham Hall Illuminated Garden Trail

When: 18th November 2020
Where: Helmingham Hall, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 6EF
Tickets: Adult – £13.00, Child (5-16) – £8.00, Under 5 – Free

Audley End House & Gardens

Enchanted Audley End

When: CANCELLED FOR 2020 (see Santa Trains instead)
Where: Audley End House, Audley End Road, Audley End, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4JF
Tickets: N/A

Christmas Light Trails in the South East

Blenheim Palace

Blemheim Palace Illuminated Light Trail

When: 20th November 2020 to 3rd January 2021
Where: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP
Tickets: Adult – £19.00, Child (3-16) – £13.00, Under 3 – Free

Waddesdon Manor

Waddesdon Manor Christmas Lights

When: 14th to 3rd January 2021
Where: Waddesdon Manor, Waddesdon, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 0JH
Tickets: Adult £19.98, Child (5-17) £9.99, Under 5 Free

Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest

Christmast at Bedgebury

When: 20th November to 31st December 2020
Where: Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest, Bedgebury Road, Goudhurst, Kent, TN17 2SJ
Tickets: Adult – £19.50, Child (3-16) – £13.00, Under 3 – Free

If you’re looking for other things to do in the area, don’t miss Rye, one of the most beautiful small towns in England.

Hever Castle

Twilight Christmas at Hever Castle – one of the most impressive castles in Kent

When: 21st November to 8th December (Wed-Sun) & 9th to 23rd December 2020 daily
Where: Hever Castle, Hever Road, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7NG
Tickets: Adult – £19.00, Child (5-17) – £11.50, Under 5 – Free

RHS Wisley

Glow at RHS Wisley

When: 21st November – 4th January 2021
Where: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB
Tickets: Adult – From £15.00, Child (5-16) – From £10.00, Under 5 – Free

Hylands Estate

Enlightened

When: 3rd to 30th December 2020
Where: The Pleasure Gardens, Hylands Park, London Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 8WQ
Tickets: Adult – from £12.00, Child – from £9.00

Christmas Light Trails in the South

Wakehurst

Glow Wild 2020

When: 26th November to 30th December 2020
Where: Wakehurst, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, Sussex, RH17 6TN
Tickets: Adult – £15.00, Child (4-16) – £9.00, Under 4 – Free

Kingston Lacy

Ignite at Kingston Lacy

When: 11th – 13th, 18th – 23rd, 24th, 26th – 30th December 2020
Where: Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster, Dorset, BH21 4EA
Tickets: Adult – £15.00, Child (2-18) – £10.00, Under 2 – Free

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens

Leonardslee Illuminated 2020

When: 4th December to 22nd December
Where: Leaonardslee, Lower Beeding, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PR
Tickets: Adult – £16.00, Child (2-15) – £8.00, Under 2 – Free

Christmas Light Trails in the South West

Stourhead

Christmas at Stourhead

When: 27th November – 3rd January 2021
Where: Stourhead, Stourton, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 6QF
Tickets: Adult – £19.00, Child (3-16) – £13.00, Under 3 – Free

Longleat

Longleat Land of Light

When: 7th November to 10th January 2021
Where: Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW
Tickets: Adult – £36.50, Child (3-15) – £27.95, Under 2 Free

Westonbirt Arboretum

Westonbirt Enchanted Christmas

When: 28th November to 21st December 2020
Where: Westonbirt Arboretum, Westonbirt, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS
Tickets: Adult – £16.00, Child (5-18) – £8.00, Under 5 Free

Bath on Ice

Glow in the Dark Mini Golf

When: From 6th November
Where: Royal Pavillion, Royal Victoria Park, Bath, BA1 2NR
Tickets: TBC

Christmas Light Trails in the Midlands

Wollaton Hall

Christmas at Wollaton Hall

When: 27th November – 6th January 2021
Where: Wollaton Hall Natural History Museum, Wollaton Park, Wollaton, Nottingham, NG8 2AE
Tickets: Adult – £19.25, Child (3-16) – £13.75, Under 3 – Free

Himley Hall & Park

Winter Lights at Himley Hall

When: TBC
Where: Himley Hall & Park, Himley, Dudley, West Midlands, DY3 4DF
Tickets: TBC

Christmas Light Trails in the North East

Castle Howard

Wish Upon a Frozen Star

When: 28th November – 31st December 2020
Where: Castle Howard Estate, York, YO60 7DA
Tickets: Adult – From £17-21, Child (3-16) – From £12-15, Under 3 – Free

Gibside Hall

Ignite at Gibside

When: 11th to 30th December 2020
Where: Gibside Hall, Near Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE16 6BG
Tickets:Adult – £15.00, Child (3-16) – £10.00, Under 3 – Free

Lightwater Valley Theme Park

Alice in Winterland

When: 21st November – 23rd December 2020
Where: Lightwater Valley Theme Park, North Stainley, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 3HT
Tickets: £12.50 per person, Under 2 – Free

Christmas Light Trails in the North West

Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey Illuminated Light Trail

When: From 20th November to 30th December 2020
Where: Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Greater Manchester, WA14 4SJ
Tickets: Adult – £20.00, Child (3-16) – £13.00, Under 3 – Free

Lightopia

Lightopia Festival

When: 20th November to 3rd January 2021
Where: Heaton Park, Sheepfoot Lane, Manchester, M25 0BP
Tickets: Adult from £21.20, Child (3-16) from £13.78 and Under 2 – Free

Chester Zoo

The Lanterns at Chester Zoo

When: 13th November to 23rd December 2020
Where: Chester Zoo, Chester, cheshire, CH2 1EU
Tickets: Adult from £16.00, Child from £13.50 and Under 2 – Free

Christmas Light Trails in London

Kew Gardens

Christmas at Kew

When: 18th November 2020 to 3rd January 2021
Where: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE
Tickets: Adult – £19.50 to £24.50, Child (4-16) – £12.00 to £14.50, Under 4 – Free

Canary Wharf

Winter Lights Canary Wharf

When: TBC
Where: TBC
Tickets: Free

Wembley Park

Wembley Park Winterfest

When: TBC
Where: Wembley Park, Wembley, HA9 0FA
Tickets: Free

Syon Park

Enchanted Woodland

When: CANCELLED FOR 2020
Where: Syon House, Syon Park, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 8JF
Tickets: N/A

Chiswick House & Gardens

Lightopia

When: TBC
Where: Chiswick House & Gardens, Burlington Lane, Chiswick, London, W4 2RP
Tickets: TBC

Eltham Palace

Enchanted Eltham Palace

When: CANCELLED FOR 2020
Where: Eltham Palace, Court Yard, London, SE9 5QE
Tickets: N/A

In the event that some of these light trails are cancelled this year, you could also pop into London to see the London Christmas lights (which are worth seeing anyway).

Christmas Light Trails in Scotland

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Christmas at the Botanics

When: 26th November 2020 – 3rd January 2021
Where: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Arboretum Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5NZ
Tickets: Tickets: Adult – £19.00, Child – £13.00 and Under 2 – Free

Festival of Light and Sound Eden Project

Faskally Woods

The Enchanted Forest

When: CANCELLED FOR 2020
Where: Faskally Wood, 3 Atholl Road, Pitlochry, Perthshire, PH16 5BX
Tickets: N/A

Dean Castle Country Park

Illuminight

When: CANCELLED FOR 2020
Where: Dean Castle Country Park, dean Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 1XB
Tickets: N/A

Christmas Light Trails in Wales

Margam Country Park

Luminate Wales

When: CANCELLED FOR 2020
Where: Margam Country Park, Neath, Port Talbot, South Wales, SA13 2TJ
Tickets: N/A

Christmas Light Trails in Northern Ireland

Antrim Castle Gardens

Enchanted Winter Garden

When: 6th to 22nd December 2020
Where: Antrim Castle Gardens, Randalstown Road, Antrim, BT41 4LH
Tickets: N/A – CANCELLED

These are all official light trails in the UK but there are also lots of unofficial ones. Have you driven around your local area and seen some incredible private light displays? There’s a great one on Beech Road in St Albans. It’s definitely worth finding out if there’s one close to you.