Glittering Christmas light trails in and around Birmingham 2024
There are some wonderfully festive light trails in and around Birmingham this Christmas. There's a real mixture to choose from this year. You can slip down the rabbit hole into an Alice in Wonderland themed experience at Webbs Wychbold, witness an installation of hundreds of roses at Birmingham Botanical Gardens and meet mythical puppets at Yuletide at Tatton Gardens.
Look out for the Snow Queen riding around Warwick Castle on horseback and see a festive story projected onto Chatsworth House. There's even a 3D Glowing Forest at Hatton World.
Many of these events also offer the chance to toast marshmallows on the fire, sip hot chocolates and mulled wine and most are set to musical soundscapes that really capture the Christmas spirit. Some also form part of larger attractions complete with ice rinks, Santa grottos, Christmas markets and fairground rides. Here are all the dates and times you need. Be sure to book ahead to avoid disappointment.
And, whilst not illuminated, also look out for Brum's free Reindeer Trail around the city centre too, which is free to enjoy.
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Luminate at Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Said to be 'the UK’s number one immersive light trail', Luminate is coming to Birmingham Botanical Gardens for Christmas 2024. Visitors can enjoy a mile-long illuminated journey around the grounds that's 'filled with wonder and intrigue'.
Ideal for all ages, the after-dark experience features interactive lights, fairies, batons and a wishing wall set to a beautiful soundtrack with some 'wow moments' to take your breath away. New to Birmingham this year is an installation featuring hundreds of roses.
Running from Friday, November 29 to Wednesday, January 1, there will be mulled wine and marshmallows to toast on fire pits on route. The trail is flat and on a wide, hard-surface path suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and pushchairs. Find out more and order tickets via the Luminate Live website.
Enchanted Gardens Wonderland at Webbs Wychbold
Webbs' Enchanted Gardens Wonderland gives visitors the chance to explore a light trail inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Look out for peculiar creatures, mad tea parties and curious conundrums all set against the beautiful backdrop of The Riverside Gardens.
The experience features theatrical sets, 'enchanting' lantern displays and soundscapes to transport you into Alice’s whimsical world. There's the White Rabbit’s House, Caterpillar’s Domain, the Duchess’ Kitchen, White Rabbit’s Library and, of course, the Rabbit Hole. Read our review of the 2024 light trail here
Runs from Friday November 15 to Sunday January 2, find out more and book tickets via the Webbs website.
Christmas Light Trail at Warwick Castle
There's a new light trail at Warwick Castle this Christmas which promises to transform its 64 acres of grounds into a 'sparkling wonderland' featuring more than half a million twinkling lights. New attractions for 2024 include the chance to see the Snow Queen roaming the castle grounds on horseback, a Princesses of Warwick story time and a pantomime starring Guy of Warwick and Princess Felice.
There's also a large ice rink where you can skate under the stars plus a Food and Drink Village where you can tuck into mulled wine, marshmallows and seasonal treats. Runs from November 23 to January 5. Find out more and book via the Warwick Castle website.
Yuletide at Tatton Park Gardens
There's a light trail with a difference at Tatton Park Gardens. You can wander down a rainbow walkway, play hide and seek with mischievous goblins cackling in the trees, marvel at a shy arctic fox leaping and bounding through the night sky and be dazzled by sparkling unicorns at Yuletide's Glittering Trail.
Brought by the creators of the Just So Festival, this event celebrates winter festivities rather than Santa Claus. There's story time, toasting marshmallows, fire shows and dancing to live music. Read our review of the 2024 event here
Runs on selected dates from November 16 to December 23, find out more and book tickets via the Yuletide website.
Enchanted Christmas Kingdom at Hatton World
There's a 3D Glowing Forest at Hatton Country World as part of this year's Enchanted Christmas Kingdom programme. Running every weekend from November 30 through to Christmas, families can immerse themselves in a 'magical world of lights and festive figures' on this trail.
There's also a new Mr Holly's Festive Friends Show, an interactive North Pole postal station for sending letters to Father Christmas and a chance to meet Santa in his grotto and choose a gift from his Secret Toy Shop. You can also decorate gingerbread with Mother Christmas, make reindeer food and put a wish on the Wishing Tree. Find out more and book tickets via the Hatton World website.
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Christmas Light Trail at Chatsworth
You can enjoy an interactive light trail around some of Chatsworth's best-loved garden landmarks this Christmas. The trail culminates in an animated projection on the house inspired by this year's new festive story. The house will also be decorated and you can explore the farmyard and play in the woodland adventure playground as part of your ticket entry.
There are Christmas crafts too. Runs from November 9 to January 5, find out more and book tickets via the Chatsworth website.
Spectacle of Light at Sudeley Castle
The Spectacle of Light is back for its ninth year in the grounds of Sudeley Castle near Cheltenham with a new illuminated trail. This year's theme is Sleeping Beauty so you'll get to meet the good fairies but watch out for the wicked fairy too.
You can also sip spiced mulled wine and hot chocolate and tuck into hot food and donuts from the Castle Terrace. Running from November 22 to December 30, find out more and book tickets via the Spectacle of Light website.
Winter Glow Light Trail at Malvern Showground
Organisers say this year's light trail is 'one-of-a-kind' at Malvern Showground. Winter Glow is back for 2024 with illuminations, structures and installations created by local creative artists, lighting designers and craft-persons.
You can also go enjoy ice skating on a large all-weather ice rink and visit Santa in his grotto. New for 2024 is UV Crazy Golf and there's also a fairground, Christmas market and food quarter. Runs from November 22 to December 31, find out more and book tickets via the Winter Glow website.
Luminate Shugborough
Luminate is also at Shugborough this Christmas too. The mile-long trail winds around the stunning grounds of the historic estate which features sweeping parkland, ancient woodland, unique follies and monuments.
There's light play set to ambient music for all ages to enjoy together plus food and drink too. Runs from November 29 to December 31, find out more and book tickets via the Luminate Shugborough website.
Trentham Christmas Festival
There's a new illuminated light trail throughout Trentham Gardens this winter that's promising 'festive surprises around every corner'. The trail is over a mile long, and features interactive displays and larger than life illuminations set to soundscapes.
You can enjoy an après ski lodge bar and chalets, local independent food vendors, children’s funfair amusements and marshmallow toasting too. Runs from November 29 to December 31, find out more and book tickets via the Trentham Gardens website.
Coombe Abbey Winter Light Trail
There's another Luminate event at Coombe Abbey this Christmas. Reimagined for 2024, the mile-long trail will run each night from November 30 to December 31 from 4.30pm to 8pm.
You can tuck into hot food and drink at the start and end of the trail, together with marshmallows for toasting in fire pits along the route. Organisers say they have also upgraded the access and car parking and lowered the capacity from 2023 to improve customer experience. Find out more and book via the Luminate website.