AS the nights draw in and the festive season gets closer, many of us are looking forward hanging up some Christmas lights.
But it’s not just the halls that get decked.
Many gardens and unique spaces across the country transform into glimmering wonderlands – the perfect places to get in the festive spirit.
Here are 12 of the most magical light shows that are set to illuminate England with holiday cheer this winter.
Kew Gardens, London
Dates: November 14, 2025 – January 4, 2026 (selected dates)
Tickets: Adults £27.50, children £18, under 4s free
Year on year, the light trail at Kew Gardens is firm favourite of the seasonal calendar.
Christmas at Kew is a true spectacle, illuminating the UNESCO World Heritage site with sustainable LED lights and installations by leading artists.
Visitors can enjoy projections and music dotted all around the natural space, including at iconic spots like the Palm House fountain.
The three kilometre trail has a range of entertainment beyond lighting too.
Spot Father Christmas on your walk and enjoy delicious treats from food stalls along the route.
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Last entry is between 7-8pm and tickets are limited, so book while you can.
Longleat, Wiltshire
Dates: November 8, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Tickets: Adults £34.95, children £26.20, under 3s free
Longleat is usually famous for its drive-through safari park, but come Christmastime it is its light show that really shines.
The trail displays thousands of imaginative lanterns, this year celebrating the theme of British Icons.
Look out for Wallace & Gromit, various British singers and authors, and landmarks like Tower Bridge and Stonehenge all aglow.
A Twilight ticket will give you access to this Festival of Light plus the Enchanted Christmas Tree Show, but you can also upgrade to a Day ticket to include the safari or book a ride on the Santa Train as an add-on.
Dunham Massey, Cheshire
Dates: November 14, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Tickets: Adults £19, children £12.50, under 3s free
Just outside Manchester lie the stunning grounds of Dunham Massey, a Grade I listed building and National Trust property.
Its light show is an after-dark experience complete with sparkling trees and colourful, 5m-tall stars.
Expect an immersive evening of sights and sounds created by award-winning producers, and the option to enjoy the fairground for an extra charge.
Entry is timed, so securing a slot is advised.
Winter Glow, Worcestershire
Dates: November 21 – December 31, 2025
Tickets: Adults £12.50, children £6.50, under 3s free
Local craftspeople and lighting designers are behind the show at Winter Glow in the Worcestershire countryside.
The trail is transformed into a winter dreamland with twinkling bulbs and fairytale structures.
It’s a super accessible experience, with sensory-friendly trails available on selected dates, dog friendly sessions on offer and full wheelchair access.
Northern Lights, Newcastle
Dates: November 27 – December 31, 2025
Tickets: Adults £15, children £5, under 3s free
Winding along the mile-long path at Leazes Park in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne is fun for all the family.
Take in its 15 different illumination zones from Lantern Lane to the Butterfly Blizzard, and even a marshmallow roasting station.
More winter warmers are available from the park’s Christmas Village, access to which is included in the ticket price.
Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
Dates: November 14, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Tickets: Adults £24, children £18, under 3s free
This year, the illuminated trail at Blenheim Palace promises to be “bigger, better and brighter than ever before”.
The light show has already earned a place as one of the UK’s most popular trails.
Visitors can buy a combined ticket to access both the light trail and the palace or a ticket for the illuminations only.
Allow around an hour to explore the route, with extra time factored in to meet Father Christmas along the way or to stop at the chalet-style huts for tasty food and drink.
Helmingham Hall, Suffolk
Dates: November 14 – December 19, 2025
Tickets: Adults £20, children £10, under 2s free
Helmingham Hall’s gardens and parkland attract visitors all year round.
Where its flowers bloom in spring, lights glint in winter along the illuminated garden trail.
The mesmerising experience takes place after dusk, when you’ll cross a historic drawbridge and weave through shining walkways.
If that isn’t enough reason to go, grown-ups can enjoy a complimentary mulled wine with their ticket while kids can toast snacks at the firepits along the route.
And if you have a pooch, you can can bring them too.
Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool
Dates: November 28 – December 6, 2025
Tickets: Adults £9.50, children £7.50, under 3s free
The Light Before Christmas comes to Liverpool Cathedral for a fourth year running, and attending the show has become a yuletide tradition in the city.
As they journey through the building, ticket-holders will find enchanting scenes ranging from the nativity to Santa’s reindeer, plus candlelit areas.
There are even bean bags to lie on to take in the acoustics of Britain’s biggest cathedral and marvel at the projections on the ceiling.
A visitor last year said: “It’s the perfect thing to get you in the mood for Christmas”, while another commented: “I come every year and it’s always beautiful.”
Kids are also big fans of the event, with one saying: “It was really Christmassy and magical.”
Hever Castle, Kent
Dates: November 21, 2025 – January 2, 2026
Tickets: Adults £24.50, children £16, under 5s free
Follow the yellow brick road to Hever Castle for a themed light extravaganza.
This year the castle will be decked out in all things Wizard of Oz.
From spotting the flying monkeys in the Christmas tree forest to arriving at the Emerald City as the castle glows bright green, it promises to be an other-worldly visit.
Hever has traditional Christmas offerings too, with log fires burning inside the beautifully decorated rooms of the castle and fairy lights glittering in the grounds.
And don’t worry – despite being in Oz and not Lapland, little ones will still be able to pay a visit Father Christmas’ grotto.
Fairground ride tickets are just £2 each and can be purchased on the day.
Stockeld Park, Yorkshire
Dates: November 22, 2025 – January 5, 2026
Tickets: Adults & children £17.50, under 2s free
The Enchanted Forest at Stockeld Park transforms for the Christmas season.
Its woodland boasts interactive adventure playgrounds as well as an enormous snowflake-shaped maze made from 2,000 trees and lined with glistening lights.
After getting lost in the maze – which is included in the ticket – you can stop by cosy cabins in the woods for a hot chocolate and explore animations and soundscapes further along the trail.
Light Up Trails, Hampshire
Dates: November 27, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Tickets: Adults £20, children £12.50, under 2s free
Nestled among the greenery between Winchester and Southampton you will find a dazzling light display with all the trimmings.
The trail is divided into eight zones, each one offering a different feast for the eyes.
Catch the fibre-optic flowers in the Bloom and Glow zone, golden lanterns at Step into the Magic and a laser show at The Rhythm of Light.
Halfway along the trail you can warm up at its ski-themed Christmas Village and indulge in food from bratwurst to crepes.
Ashridge House, Hertfordshire
Dates: November 27, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Tickets: Adults £23.50, children £14.40, under 4s free
Ashridge House was once a royal residence of King Henry III, and its grounds are referred to to by insiders as the ‘Garden of Gardens’.
The stately home puts on a proper show at Christmas, where gentle gleaming lights meet impressive pyrotechnics and festive music.
A 115ft Ferris wheel gives you sweeping views of the 190 acres of garden below – book this at the online checkout.
On the ground, showstoppers include the star-shaped tunnel and giant bauble field.
Dog-friendly nights are on Wednesdays and Thursdays.