Best Wintertime Light Walks in England

Winter is a magical time of year, and even though England doesn’t generally get a bunch of snow so the most magical thing to sort of walk around and look at, in my opinion, is the various Winter Light Walks! These light walks are all ones we have attended, that we enjoyed. It’s worth noting that each year they might have a different theme or new light encounters that add a bit of new flair to the event.

Glow Wild Wakehurst

Glow Wild Wakehurst has big nature themes, each and every year. I think it’s due to the use of the garden that this light walk is in – which is enhanced by all of the nature-themed lights! We really enjoy going to this lights trail as a family. This light walk actually gives everyone lanterns to carry around, which makes the darkness seem less threatening for younger ones. This light trail has a lot of different lights – including ones that reflect on the beautiful ponds along the way, creating some breathtaking moments. There are also key areas that have different performances and food stalls at the end for a bite to eat. These food stalls are more substantial in the food they offer than others!

Find out more about Glow Wild Wakehurst on their website.

Christmas at Blenheim Palace

Christmas at Blenheim Palace is a lot more than just a lights trail. Before you take on the lights trail, you will be able to walk around a rather large Christmas market, with tons of food, gifts to purchase, and things to see. There is various fair ground rides, a room where you can make a Christmas Wish, and even palace tours that are Christmas themed (for an additional ticket price). The light trail walk itself is in tune to music, with some hot chocolate stands dotted around. The palace has lights that showcase different shapes and colors, all in-time to some lovely holiday music – it’s really well put on. There are plenty of spaces to take pictures too.

Find out more about visiting Blenheim Palace at Christmas time on their website.

Enchanted Audrey End

Audrey End puts on walking trails for lots of different holidays, and their wintertime light trail is just as amazing as their others! Enchanted Audrey End is really spaced out, making the most of the grounds themselves. The building is beautiful lit up, but not with a sort of show like others, just with color. The sections themselves provide a lot of space, and it makes for a long, liesurely walk through the grounds, viewing some beautiful lights. This show doesn’t seem to follow a theme and instead just provides a bunch of different, fun lights. This show does have a small fairground area for additional cost, as well as marshmallows to roast and hot chocolate stands.

Find out more about Enchanted Audrey End on the National Heritage website.

Enlightened at Hyland Park

Hyland Park is massive, and using it for a light trail just seems to make sense. Enlightened at Hyland Park does not have a specific sort of theme, and instead makes use of the natural features of the park and buildings to create a light display. There are small fairy lights dotted around, to massive lights spotlighted on the various buildings. There are some interactive bits at Enlightened – including a Wish tree where we were able to write out our wishes and place them on the tree. At the end, there are a few food stalls for a little something to eat. We quite enjoyed the variety of lights at this park, with many set up as good backdrops for photographs! It’s a fun one to walk around with the whole family.

Find out more about Enlightened at Hyland Park on their website.

Lightopia London

I feel like this wouldn’t be a list of the best wintertime light walks in England without mentioning Lightopia, which seems to ramp up advertising each and every year. Lightopia was the first ever light show that Dann and I went too, and one we make our way back to each and every year. The start of Lightopia does have a fairground, aimed at younger children, before taking on the trail. The trail itself has different themed areas – going from one theme to another, exploring a bunch of bright, beautiful lights. Every year they do have a few different photo spots, but otherwise the lights are different and new. It’s worth noting if you are closer to Manchester, they have the same sort of light trail there too!

Find out more about Lightopia London or Manchester on their website.

If you are looking for more holiday days out, check out our Best Christmas Days Out for Families.