THE UK isn’t short of light trails when it comes to the winter period, but high street favourite, John Lewis, is now joining the club.
This year John Lewis is bringing its 2025 Christmas advert – ‘Where Love Lies’ – to life as part of the Northern Lights Manchester at Heaton Park.
This year’s John Lewis Christmas tells the story of a teenage boy and his father who struggle to communicate, yet when it comes to Christmas the boy gives him a music record that helps them to reconnect.
Running from November 20 to December 31, the event will mark the first time the retailer has brought its annual Christmas advert off the screen.
According to the Northern Lights Manchester website, John Lewis will join this year’s “brand new large-scale winter light trail”.
The website adds that the high street brand will join “Northern Lights to firmly establish Manchester’s newest seasonal tradition from year one”.
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Visitors can expect an in-person experience with music that is designed to connect visitors to the story of John Lewis’ Christmas advert – think feelings of joy, nostalgia and festive cheer.
The Northern Lights trail at Heaton Park is brand new for this year and in total stretches a mile long.
Venturing around the trail visitors will find 14 illumination zones and there will also be a number of food spots along the way.
The illumination zones include the Frosted Forest, Laser Garden and Runway to the Sky.
In addition, there will be a Christmas Village with local food, drinks and more music.
The village will have eight foodie destinations in total including God Save the Toasties, The Sausage Factory and the Super Sweet Fry Guys – who serve Terry’s Chocolate Orange churros, battered mince pies with boozy cream and hot chocolate with a dash of Salford Rum and topped with a Tunnock’s Marshmallow Snowball.
There is also the Bees Knees Tavern, a heated alpine-themed bar, where visitors can grab a range of alcoholic and soft drinks, including mulled wine.
Hotel Chocolat will even have its own van selling velvety, hot chocolate.
There are four types of ticket prices in total.
For super off-peak tickets, it costs £15 per adult and £5 per child.
For off-peak tickets, it costs £19.50 per adult and £13.95 per child.
For a standard entry ticket, it costs £21.50 per adult and £14.95 per child.
And finally, for a peak entry ticket, it costs £23.95 per adult and £16.50 per child.
Rosie Hanley, brand director, added: “At John Lewis, we love bringing people together to create shared experiences and magical Christmas memories.
“This spectacular light trail is a brilliant way for us to share the spirit of the season with Manchester and its communities, and we are excited to be a part of it.”
For other festive experiences in the UK, here are 27 free festive experiences across the UK for families including light trails and Santa’s grotto.
Plus, the top Christmas train experiences around the UK – including a festive ‘theatre on rails’ and ‘journey of lights’.