I went to a stunning light trail at Warwick Castle and found a magical Christmas experience

Warwick Castle has launched its Christmas experience for 2024 and this year it’s even bigger. The ice rink and stories with santa return and the light trail has been extended.

The setting as you walk in is magical, an enchanting castle bathed in blue lighting, below it an ice rink with a Christmas tree at its centre and then a food market where you can toast your own marshmallows on an open fire or eat bratwursts and waffles under festoon lighting.

I was keen to see the light trail as my only experience of one has been at Blenheim Palace a few years ago and that totally blew me away. Could Warwick’s do the same?

We had time to toast a few marshmallows on the open fire (£5 for three giant ones on a stick) before we set off through a tunnel of multi coloured changeable lights and into the light trail beyond.

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The trail goes around the wider grounds of the castle so you soon reach the orangery and formal gardens covered in fairy lights, a shimmering tree the focal point inside the fountain.

Warwick has used its natural surroundings well, the trees lit up in different colours are so pretty as are the little stars and moon placed really effectively to create Warwick’s own magical skyline.

Along the trail is a talking tree and singing birds which we loved although I can imagine some younger children might be a bit cautious of it as you will find it around a quiet dark corner.

There are plenty of great spots for pictures too - the tunnel at the beginning is gorgeous and a Tudor looking dining table with candelabras and grand dining chairs is great for pictures with the family.

The red glow of the magnificent big top at the half way point is impressive too. Here you will find a little sheltered refreshment area, which means you can stop and get fish and chips or a pint of Purity ale, plonk yourself on a beanbag and take in the ‘greatest showman’ light show. The fact the beanbags were all in a line facing two grand looking elephant statues indicated something big was about to happen. But the lights accompanying the booming music didn’t quite hit. I think we were expecting much more of a ‘show’ than it actually was.

At this point you can write a letter to Santa or Rudolph and then post the note in a box further along the trail.

The light trail moves between various unconnected zones, all with different music. I loved the gingerbread house with its lights reflecting beautifully in the water and there’s a fantastic spot where you can hit a button to ‘trigger the trebuchet’ and make your own little explosion.

Over the bridge there’s a light show against the castle walls to the music of the can-can, which was fun but could have been much more impressive and was a bit of a missed opportunity.

It takes about 45 minutes to walk around the trail. For me it doesn't beat Blenheim’s spectacular light display, but it is absolutely stunning and I will definitely return. There’s also a huge price difference in the two and this is an excellent much cheaper alternative.

If you weren’t in the Christmassy mood when you arrive you certainly will feel it when you leave.

We certainly left with a warm festive glow inside and as we walked out the door a little girl shouted "This is the best Christmas ever". It is indeed a great Christmas experience for all ages.

Food prices, toilets and accessibilty

There are some toilets at the beginning and about half way around the trail route as well as refreshments in the red top. The path is plenty big enough for prams and wheelchairs and is covered in plastic mesh so you won’t get any wheels stuck. The trail is really well marked with arrows and staff are about at all areas to help but it is quite dark in places.

There’s more choice in the food market near to the ice rink before you start the light trail if you want to get something to eat before you go. The prices are what you would expect at these types of events. A bratwurst costs £7.80 and a jacket potato with two toppings will set you back £8.50. A bag of three hot doughnuts was £6 (£7 if you want sauce).

Prices

You can visit the light trail on its own at £17.50 per person but it might be better value to combine it with a daytime entry to the castle for £33. You also have to pay extra for parking.

Skating can be added on top but the price varies depending on the day - a weekday in November and early December is £11 but it goes up to £21 on Saturdays and £18 on Sundays, which for 45 minutes is quite expensive.

There is also extra cost for skating aids - you can get a whale or a penguin. The whale is perhaps more useful for young children as they can either push it around or they can sit on it and you push them along on it.

Daytime entry to the castle and a skate session costs £32 per person or choose the daytime entry and stories with santa option for little ones for £33.