The best Christmas trails around Britain
Get into the spirit with a walk through one of these festive light displays
It’s quickly become one of our family’s favourite Christmas traditions and every year, we bundle up warm and head into the forest to follow the magical light trail through the trees. Our local display is in the fabulous Bedgebury Forest in Kent and comes complete with everything from an enchanting forest Santa, to twinkling displays and light tunnels, with the obligatory hot chocolate, of course.
The benefits of forest-bathing are well-known – a walk through trees does wonders for your mental and physical health and I reckon a festive stroll is just the thing to get you into the spirit. So, if you’ve never done it, book now for your local trail and make it a tradition every year. Here’s my list of ten of the best around the country:
Bedgebury Forest
This lovely forest in the Weald of Kent is lit up for Christmas with light shows, a tunnel and forest Santa. Running until Jan 2, for tickets, visit here.
Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens
The beautiful Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh are lit up for Christmas, with a fire garden, floating lillies and more. Running until Dec 30, for tickets, visit here.
Blenheim Palace
This magnificent palace in the Cotswolds transforms itself for Christmas into the Kingdom of the Snow Queen, with a trail, Christmas markets and other events. Running until Jan 2, for tickets, visit here.
Kew Gardens
One of the best trails in London, Kew Gardens turns into a winter wonderland for Christmas, with a fire garden, light tunnel and more. Running until Jan 8, for tickets, visit here.
Manchester
It’s Manchester, but not as you know it, as Heaton Park transforms into Lightopia and becomes a magical wonderland of light displays, trails and sculptures. Running until Jan 2, for tickets, visit here.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan
These lovely gardens in Cornwall, are already magical, but at Christmas they turn into Heligan Night Garden with beautiful installations around the trail. There’s also a lantern-making workshop. Running until Jan 2, for tickets, visit here.
RHS Wisley
The Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at Wisley in Surrey turns into Glow for Christmas, with its trail lit up with festive lights – even its glasshouses get a luminous makeover. Running until Jan 8, for tickets, visit here.
Thursford
Norfolk’s Thursford comes ablaze with light in its Enchanted Journey of Light, with installations, light sculptures and Fantasyland Building. There’s also a Santa’s Magical Journey Experience. Running until Dec 28, for tickets, visit here.
Longleat
Over in Longleat, Wiltshire, the stately home safari park turns into a Festival of Light, with a Roald Dahl theme, Santa train and Enchanted Christmas Tree show. Running until Jan 8, for tickets, visit here.
Margam Country Park
Luminate Wales lights up Margam Country Park and Castle, Port Talbort, with illuminations, trail and interactive elements. Running until Jan 2, for tickets, visit here.
The British Travel List is the sister newsletter to The Royal List. It is a weekly guide to my favourite places to visit and stay around the country. I am an experienced travel and lifestyle journalist and am passionate about British travel. For more of my work, visit kerryparnell.com