Admission: from £22.50 (adult), £15 (ages 4–15), £69 (family)
Dates: November 15-January 7 2024
Stay here: Consider the nearby Coach & Horses, where rooms start from £124 per night.
Christmas at the Botanics, Edinburgh
Like Kew, Edinburgh’s historic botanical gardens also have a well-established Christmas light trail. This year, the 90-minute walk is illuminated by more than a million lights and there are several new installations including giant seed heads floating high above the trees, a lawn covered in larger-than-life crocuses glowing in the dark, tunnels of light and projections with a botanical theme at Inverleith House.
Admission: From £19 (adult), £13.50 (ages 4–16), £62 (family).
Dates: November 16 – December 30
Stay here: Consider the Cheval Old Town Chambers, where rooms start from £195 per night.
The Twilight Trail, Mayfield Park, Manchester
Mayfield Park hosts its first ever winter light show this Christmas, accompanied by a special music mix produced by DJ Kenny Dope and the Manchester-based La Discotheque. The park promises immersive light displays, lantern installations, a Spirograph tunnel, fairy-light tunnel, all culminating in a disco under the bridges lit up by mirror balls. Mayfield Park childrens’ playground will also be transformed by light effects into “a night-time adventure”.
Admission: from £9 (adult), £7 (ages 3–12), £28 (families) .
Dates: November 17 – December 31
Stay here: Consider the Stock Exchange Hotel, where rooms start from £177 per night.
Windsor Great Park Illuminated, Windsor
This 2.2km light trail follows a path through the woodland near Windsor Great Park’s Savill Garden and around the Obelisk Pond. The trees are illuminated with coloured lights and you’ll spot holograms of mythical creatures, fireflies and dancing fairies as you pass through to the lakeside projections, laser displays and flood-lit fountains. Allow about 90 mins – two hours to walk including stops for refreshments along the way.
