You can now buy tickets for a selection of dazzling Christmas light trails across the UK, including two brand new venues. Matthew Findlay, Head of UK Trails for Sony Music/Raymond Gubbay Ltd, said: “We were thrilled with the fantastic response from visitors who enjoyed the trails last Christmas and our planning and preparation for 2023 is very detailed. Each trail will have innovative new features and light works to ensure that both returning guests and first-time visitors will have an unforgettable experience.”

Each trail around the UK showcases the natural and unique environment of its individual location. The curated trails feature installations from internationally and locally renowned artists and soundtracks include classical and contemporary festive favourites that will move you as you walk through millions of twinkling lights.

SOUTH & SOUTH WEST

CHRISTMAS AT BLENHEIM PALACE, Oxfordshire: 17 Nov 2023 - 1 Jan 2024

The much-loved Christmas experience returns to Blenheim Palace for 2023, inviting visitors to enjoy the enchanting trails inside the Palace and in the world-renowned gardens.

The Illuminated outdoor Christmas Trail in the grounds of the Palace is firmly positioned as one of the highlights of the UK festive calendar. Wander the picture-perfect gardens filled with Christmas cheer to discover heart-shaped arches glittering in the moonlight, glowing tunnels filled with stars and an eight-metre sphere filled with more than 20,000 moving LEDs - just some of the new displays to see this year.

The fairytale of Sleeping Beauty will be re-imagined within Britain’s Greatest Palace. New for 2023, explore the Palace rooms, each one exquisitely transformed and filled with toads, potions and fluttering fairies.

Christmas Market: The traditional wooden chalets will be showcasing a range of festive treats from designer-makers and artisan food and drink producers. It will run from Friday 17 November to Sunday 17 December.

Admission: Limited capacity with timed entry, early booking advised.

Indoor trail – first entry 10am; last entry 7pm (times may vary on selected dates).

Outdoor trail (closed 20, 21, 27, 28 Nov; 4, 11, 25 December) - first entry 4.30pm, last entry 8.30pm (times may vary on selected dates).

Advanced tickets from: Combined Adult £61.50, Concession: £59.50, Child (aged 3-16) £39.50, Family £179 (2 adults & 2 children).

Parking after 10am: £10. Free entry to Christmas Market, parking ticket required. For full pricing and ticket information visit blenheimpalace.com/Christmas

Website: www.blenheimpalace.com/christmas

Address: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire. OX20 1UL

CHRISTMAS AT STOURHEAD, Wilts: 1 Dec – 31 Dec

Stourhead is a Palladian house and garden described as a ‘living work of art’. The curated trail features the stunning Christmas Cathedral, in which more than a thousand pea lights will be woven into the forest landscape.

New features this year include a ‘Sea of Light’ stretching into the distance, larger-than-life crystals suspended in trees and Liquid Lake, which fills the air with all the colours of the rainbow.

Admission: Advanced From: Off Peak Adult £15, Child £10; Family £70 (2 adults + 2 children) Parking £8 per car. Free for National Trust members when booked in advance.

Website: www.christmasatstourhead.co.uk

Address: Stourhead, Mere, Wiltshire, BA12 6SH

SOUTH EAST

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AT LEEDS CASTLE, Kent: 24 Nov – 31 Dec

The magical moated castle hosts a trail for the second year following the success of last year’s inaugural event. Just some of the new displays this year include sparkling chandeliers delicately suspended in the trees, a laser garden filled with tiny beams of light, a path of twinkling mirrored hearts and Feast of Light, featuring immersive, glowing strings filled with all the colours of the rainbow.

Admission: Advanced From: Off Peak Adult £18.00, Child £13 (Age 3-16); Family £59.00 (2 adults + 2 children) Parking £6. Must be booked in advance.

Website: www.christmaslightsatleedscastle.co.uk

Address: Leeds Castle, Penfold Hill, ME17 1RG

CHRISTMAS AT BEDGEBURY, Kent: 17 Nov – 31 Dec

See the trees as you’ve never seen them before in the National Pinetum and Forest at beautiful Bedgebury this Christmas. Installations designed by a range of international artists portray the pinetum in a majestic light, beneath unique canopies drenched in seasonal colour and inspired by the landscape to create a festive adventure for all the family. This year’s trail has been reimagined and new installations include Liquid Sky.

Admission: Advanced Tickets from: Off Peak Adults £19. Children £13. Family (2 adults, 2 children) £61.

Parking £8. Must be booked in advance. Bedgebury and Forestry England National members receive one free parking space when booked through Forestry England’s website.

Website: www.christmasatbedgebury.co.uk

Address: Bedgebury National Pinetum & Forest, Goudhurst, Kent. TN17 2SJ

CHRISTMAS AT KEW, London: 15 Nov 2023 – 7 Jan 2024

A botanical world filled with seasonal cheer. With seven installations making their UK debut this year, Christmas at Kew is now firmly established as one of the UK’s leading Christmas experiences. The magical trail will showcase Kew Gardens in a whole new light, making the perfect festive winter evening.

Enjoy the annual after-dark festivities with family and friends, as you discover one of the longest light tunnels ever to feature at Christmas at Kew, dancing waterside reflections, glitter balls and trees drenched in jewel-like colour on your way to the panoramic Palm House light display. Pause at the mesmerising flickering flames in the fire garden and don’t forget to glimpse Father Christmas along the way.

Admission: Advanced From: Off Peak Adults £22.50, Child (Age 4-15) £15; Family £69 (2 adults + 2 children)

Website: www.kew.org/christmas

Address: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE

EAST

CHRISTMAS AT BELTON, Lincs: 24 Nov – 31 Dec

National Trust’s beautiful Belton House in Lincolnshire is getting ready to welcome back its glittering Illuminated trail with some beautiful new features. Get your Christmas sparkle on, and be surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights, colourful trees and amazing installations.

The lights are choreographed to a soundtrack of much-loved seasonal music, transforming Belton’s majestic gardens into a winter wonderland. New this year are larger-than-life flowers, glowing lantern trees and a sparkling flock of jolly robins – all of which provide plenty of selfie moments around the two-kilometre trail.

Admission: Advanced From: Off Peak Adult £15, Child (Age 3-16) £10; Family £47 (2 adults + 2 children)

Parking £8 per car. Free for National Trust members when booked in advance.

Website: www.christmasatbelton.com

Address: Belton House, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG32 2LW

CHRISTMAS AT WIMPOLE, Royston: 24 Nov – 31 Dec

The Christmas trail at Wimpole - pictured here - will return for a third year and will show off some brand new installations in the wonderful National Trust property near Cambridge. New displays this year will enable visitors to discover huge feathers floating high into the sky and marvel at the shimmering sea of light which stretches far into the distance.

Admission: Advanced From: Off Peak Adult £15, Child (Age 3-16) £10; Family £47 (2 adults + 2 children) Free entry for carers and infants aged 2 & under.

Parking £8 per car. Free to National Trust members if booked before the day of the visit.

Website: www.christmasatwimpole.co.uk

Address: Wimpole Estate, Arrington, Royston SG8 0BW

NORTH WEST 

NEW FOR 2O23 CHRISTMAS AT HEATON PARK, Manchester: 1 – 31 Dec 

New for 2023, Christmas at Heaton Park has everything you need for an unforgettable time with friends and family. There are breath-taking seasonal lights as never seen before.

Discover colour-changing orbs of light stretching out into the distance, larger-than-life flowers and neon strings that reach high into the sky. Wander through a laser garden filled with thousands of tiny beams of light and into a giant twinkling tunnel that surrounds you with sparkle.

Admission:     Limited availability, therefore early booking is advised.
Advanced tickets from: Off Peak Adult £15, child £10.00 (age 3-16), family £47 (2 adults & 2 children).

Early bird prices for December 1-10 are available if you book before October 1.

Website: www.christmasatheatonpark.co.uk

Address: Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Manchester M25 2SW

CHRISTMAS AT DUNHAM MASSEY, Cheshire: 17 Nov – 31 Dec

 Discover immersive installations as the magical winter trail is set to be bigger and better than ever at the Georgian house and gardens in Cheshire. New for 2023 are colour-changing batons of light stretching out into the distance; a huge silver star, Nova, shrouded in mist as if just fallen from the sky; and star-shaped arches high above you. There will also be a magical glimpse of Father Christmas along the way.

Admission:     Limited availability, therefore early booking is advised.
Advanced tickets from: Off Peak Adult £19, child £12.50 (age 3-16), family £60 (2 adults, plus 2 children).
Parking £8, National Trust members can park for free if booked BEFORE the day.

Website: www.christmasatdunhammassey.co.uk

Address: Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 4SJ

NEW FOR 2O23 LANTERNS AND LIGHT AT CHESTER ZOO, Chester: 17 Nov – 31 Dec

Explore new captivating light installations and be transported into enchanting lands filled with colour and festivity at Chester Zoo’s Lanterns and Light, where you can meet orangutans, lions, dolphins and woolly mammoths as you make your way along the trail.

Wonder at the colour changing displays stretching as far as the eye can see, while birds and stars adorn the zoo’s winding paths and trees. Take a walk through the spectacular Winter Cathedral tunnel of lights and catch a glimpse of Father Christmas in his sleigh.

Every ticket purchased helps the zoo to create a better future for wildlife.

Admission: Limited availability, therefore early booking is advised.
Advanced tickets from: Off Peak Adult £18, Child (age 3-16) £12.00,

Website: www.chesterzoo.org/lanterns-and-light/

Address: Chester Zoo, Chester, CH2 1LE

SCOTLAND

CHRISTMAS AT THE BOTANICS, Edinburgh: 16 November – 30 December

Firmly established as unmissable within Scotland's winter calendar, over a million twinkling lights and seasonal sounds will fill the air with festive fun at Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. New this year, discover huge seed heads floating high into the sky, a lawn of larger-than-life crocus glowing in the dark, brightly coloured pampas, sparkling tunnels of light and the Inverleith House projections with a botanical theme.

Admission:     Advanced From: Off Peak Adult £19, Child (4-16) £13.50, Family £62 (2 adults & 2 children).
Free entry for carers and infants aged 3 & under

Website: www.christmasatthebotanics.co.uk

Address: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, East Gate, Arboretum Place, EH3 5LP