LIGHT THE WAY
The 10 most magical Christmas light shows across England in 2024
There are streets, cathedrals and whole parks transformed into light shows to make this Christmas all the more magical
CHRISTMAS is a magical time of year and one of the best ways to get into the festive spirit is to see a light show.
There are many stunning light shows across England from Kew Gardens in London to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.
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Some even serve festive treats including mulled wine and gingerbread men to help you get into the fun of the season.
Here are the ten best Christmas light shows in England.
South East
Kew Gardens Christmas light show, London
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When Christmas arrives, Kew Gardens is lit up with more than a million bulbs.
It’s an entirely new way to see the 320 acre attraction which is home to over 16,000 species of plants.
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The gardens are bathed in warm, colourful light and the trail is lined with thousands of candles, holographic laser beams and canopies of fairy lights.
Visiting Christmas at Kew doesn’t have to break the bank either, as ticket prices range from £21.50 for members at off-peak times to £26 at peak times.
For non-members, it is a little bit more expensive with off-peak tickets costing £25.50 and peak tickets costing £32.
Blenheim Palace Christmas light show, Oxfordshire
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The grounds at Blenheim Palace are already so beautiful that they have been used in Harry Potter, James Bond, and Indiana Jones — but Christmas is really something special.
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There are thousands of illuminated lights transforming the historic building and grounds into a winter wonderland.
Kids will love the Neverland in the palace experience, which gives them the opportunity to explore the sparkling state rooms, complete with a model London skyline
Also, £1 will be added at basket stage for each Neverland in the Palace ticket to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
The Polar Express offers the experience of a train ride set to the sounds and songs from the family favourite holiday movie The Polar Express
Bedgebury Christmas light show, Kent
Bedgebury is home to a one-mile magical winter trail which has fields of light and giant, luminous seed pods.
You'll get the chance to walk through sparkling tunnels of light and the forest is drenched in all of the colours of the rainbow.
It's perfect for a little Christmas warmth on a cold December day.
Christmas at Bedgebury runs from November 14 to December 31, 2024.
Tickets for the Bedgebury trail start at £17 for adults.
Leeds Castle Christmas light show, Kent
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Surprisingly, Leeds Castle is not in the north-western city that it shares a name with.
The castle is actually in Broomfield, Kent, and will host a glimmering Christmas experience from November 22 until January 1, 2025.
Giant colour-changing lilies will float out onto the lake and the ancient trees on the castle grounds will be veiled in shimmering fairy lights.
Tickets cost just £18 for adults and £13 for children.
Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market was crowned 8th place in Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2024 by European Best Destinations
West and South-West England
Longleat Christmas light show, Wiltshire
Situated between Bath and Salisbury is the beautiful Longleat House which opens its gates for visitors to welcome them to its annual Festival of Light.
The grounds, which are home to one of the UK’s most exciting safari parks, will turn back the clock and take visitors on a journey from the dawn of man to the present day.
But that's not all because this light show has a Santa train to meet Father Christmas and his elves.
The Festival of Light runs from November 9, 2024, to January 5, 2025.
Stourhead Christmas light show, Wiltshire
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Stourhead is a Palladian house, which means that its architecture dates back to the eighteenth century.
The Wiltshire garden has been described as a "living work of art" and, this Christmas, visitors will get the chance to see the grounds lit up in festive glory.
More than one-thousand lights will be woven into the landscape and the air will be filled with giant, floating dandelion seeds.
Tickets cost just £15 for adults and only £10 for children.
Westonbirt Christmas light show, Gloucestershire
Westonbirt is home to trees from all over the world and, this Christmas, they will be draped in over one million dazzling lights.
Woven, wooden statues will be lit up in a warm, festive glow and they'll be a chance for the kids to meet Father Christmas.
Tickets for the magical light trail begin at £18, but children's tickets only cost £12.
East England
Belton House Christmas light show, Lincolnshire
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The beautiful Belton House is maintained by the National Trust, who are opening the historic building's gates for Christmas.
There are huge meadows of light, complete with colour-changing larger than life flowers and warm candles strung between the trees.
Tickets for the Christmas experience start at just £15 for adults, but families-of-four can purchase a group ticket for just £47.
Wimpole Christmas light show, Royston
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Wimpole Hall is a stunning country house which dates all the way back to 1640.
This Christmas, the historic grounds will be home to an amazing two colour pea-lit tree drenching everything around it in rainbow light.
There will be long, glowing tunnels that will lead to you some hand-picked street vendors offer festive treats.
Tickets prices are the same at Wimpole as they are at Belton, so there are some great deals on offer.
North-West England
Dunham Massey Christmas light show, Cheshire
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Dunham Massey is home to a 300-acre deer park, a Georgian house and an ancient forest.
At Christmastime, the house is lit up in festive colour and fields of ethereal LEDs are lain out across the fields.
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There will be open fires to toast marshmallows and hot chocolate readily available, as the kids play on the Christmas-themed swings.
Tickets for Dunham Massey's Christmas trail begin at £19 for adults, but a family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) will cost just £60.
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