Christmas Light trails

[redskytonight]

Interesting in hearing about your favourite Christmas light trails. How long were they and did they have the "wow" factor?

Chatsworth is the one to beat for me. I am considering Kew or Blenheim as ones of a similar size. Are they worth the cost?

Or alternatively perhaps going to a more local and cheaper display.

Surprised no one has mentioned Dunham Massey. The first one we ever did and the one we always return to. So artistic and wholesome- we love it

Thank you so much for all the suggestions in here -some I'd not heard of.
Think this will keep me busy for quite a few Christmases!

Is it quite far north? I think there is a mix of people on MN, but a lot live in the South of England. I am Irish but live near London fwiw.

Stourhead is my favourite but these days I like the more boutique offerings - Sudeley castle and the bishops palace at Wells are two crackers for smaller feet.

Did Blenheim once, a couple of years ago. It was good, but it had previously been very wet, and the most memorable thing was Gds (human hurricane, then about 7) charging along and falling flat on his face in the mud!

I did enjoy some mulled wine, available somewhere en route….

Did RHS Wisley four years ago which was really good.

Did Leeds castle two years ago, which was also good.

Out of the two, preferred Wisley, but I think that’s partly because it was my first one, so I didn’t know what to expect. Leeds was good, but the element of surprise wasn’t there.

We're members of Yorkshire Wildflife Park - so go regularly (but have to pay for the lights as it's not included in our annual passes).

The first year I was really impressed, but it's gone steadily downhill so we aren't going this year.

Just to caveat, the park itself has got better and better over the years.

We did Kew and while it was nice, it was long. You need to pre-book parking, food is super expensive (but that applies to all of these).

We did Leeds Castle - never again, short and boring.
Hever Castle - nice but more because we also did the house but the trail itself wasn't that good.

We are going back this year to Bedgebury in Kent, so far that was the best of all we did.

Has anyone been to Leondarslee near Horsham?

Has anyone been to Wimpole? Considering it for this year

Yes Wimpole is pretty good. Changes slightly from year to year but has the same basic elements. You can make a day of it and go to the house as well (separate charge, free for NT members) but they close the house earlier than the light trail opens so you have a bit of time in limbo.

Yes Dunham Massey is near Manchester.

Yes alot of people live in the south but there are plenty of us from further north too, and given OP has done Chatsworth its reasonable to recommend this as its <1.5 hour drive away

I enjoyed Kew but we went in 2021 when things were still Covidy, so I think it was probably a lot quieter than it is now. We also did their Halloween trail last year which was excellent.

Ive also been to Belton House a couple of times and last year we went to Alnwick Gardens. I’d say the lights at Belton were better than Alnwick but the kids enjoyed going on the adventure playground/fairy grotto bit at Alnwick afterwards.

Anyone around Edinburgh? We do the Botanics every year but wondering about the Castle this year. I just can't seem to find much information about that is actually involved in the Castle of Light - looks like a much smaller area than the Botanics and I'm worried it might not be worth the cost.

I know the Zoo Lanterns are also back this year but not too fussed about those so it's definitely a toss up between the Botanics and Castle.

Awaiting your answers! How long is the botanics one please? I can't find the answer online but I'd like to go this year.

I've been continually impressed by the Botanics - I think it strikes the right blend of super-impressive lighting effects and christmas spirit. Some of the areas can get busy with selfie-hoggers, so I'd ensure you have a good amount of time to take it at a fairly slow pace and ensure you see everything properly. You could probably get around in 60 minutes but 90+ would be more comfortable. A lot of it is the same year-to-year but there's always a really good light and music show projected onto the walls of Inverleith house - which takes around 10 minutes to run through.

Last year, we were impressed by the food on offer - it was expensive but some thought had gone into Germanic/Bavarian style street food vans, which added to the christmas vibe, rather than standard burgers. The pretzels were very tasty. And the marshmallow firepit always goes down well.

The other thing I'd say about the Botanics is that, IME, they always have a very good santa claus - someone who takes on the role with gusto, rather than an embarrassed teenager forced into the costume. This may or may not be important to you.

Sorry @PearlTeapot - that last response was to you. Also I misread your post and through you had asked "how is the Botanics?" I've probably given a lot of extraneous information these but at least I did also answer the question about duration inadvertently.

I would also say that you don't get chucked out at the end, so you can repeat the trail as many times as you want once you are in.

We've done Dunham Massey two years and really liked it so I think that's on for this year too.

I'm going to look at Dunham Massey as I've only been there in the daytime but really like the deer, gardens and occasional arty things in the house.

I wouldn't book anything like this too early because I wouldn't want it to be pissing it down on the day but we've had good late booking discounts for the Yorkshire Wildlife Park booked a day or two ahead between Christmas and New Year.

We've been able to arrive at about 2 pm and spend a couple of hours in the park before going round the lights after 4 when it gets dark for less than the cost of park entry alone

@AgentCooperdreamsofTibet thank you- that’s made my mind up, I’m going to book!

Glow Wild at Wakehurst was so pretty - I loved the paper lantern style animals

I don’t have much experience of them to compare, but we have been to Wimpole Hall for the last 2 years and very much enjoyed it.

i don’t think anything will beat 2020 however.. the light trail at Silverstone. The lights weren’t much to look at but you got to sit in your lovely warm car and drive the Grand Prix circuit whilst looking at them!

We go to Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s every year and it’s brilliant. I especially like it because I have children aged between 5-15 and they can all enjoy it equally, unlike many other Christmas events geared at younger children.

Oh I disagree and think it’s improved year on year! Last year’s was brilliant, loved the landmarks.

I love the Bedgebury Forest trail, mainly in that each light "event" is designed by a different company, so they go all out, and the trees really add to the experience. I enjoyed the Cambridge Botanic Gardens last year too for similar reasons, although not quite as impressive. Hampton Court a few years back was, by comparison, rather boring and samey, all run to a particular theme and each display being rather limited and ground based, until you get back to the castle. This year we're going to Leeds Castle, which apparently isn't quite as good as Bedgebury, but is easier to push my grandmother around in a wheelchair (Bedgebury tends to go on some steeper routes at times), and I'll go to Cambridge Botanic Gardens again with work colleagues.

We did Kew years ago, think it might have been the first one, and it was shockingly bad, didn't help that it was raining & muddy but there seemed to be very few lights, really poor. I believe it improved in subsequent years but it put me right off. Did Waddesdon a few times which was lovely inside the house & outside in the gardens. We once went to the Enchanted Woodland at Syon Park which was fab but I don't believe they do it anymore. Thinking of booking Wisley between Christmas & New Year (no chance before Xmas now) and we're looking for something to do then so suits me!