Keep up to date with festive happenings in the capital on our Christmas 2026 in London page.
London’s absolutely buzzing with light festivals in winter — and so are its surrounds. Take a look at some of the best light, lantern and illumination festivals near London around Christmas 2026, and book yourself a day (well, evening) trip in south-east England, pronto.
Windsor Great Park Illuminated 2026 (Berkshire)
Both woodlands and water in Windsor Great Park are lit up for the 2.2km Illuminated trail, which offers lights, projections and flood-lit fountains. Begin at the Festive Village and wander around the lake ogling lasers, enchanted lanterns and a glowing prism. There are two spots along the way where you can make a pitstop for warming food and drink, with plenty of options back at the Festive Village too.
Windsor Great Park Illuminated, 13 November 2026-3 January 2027.
Christmas 2026 at Blenheim Palace (Oxfordshire)
One of the most famous festive events in the country, Christmas at Blenheim Palace is back for 2026, with an outdoor trail, and new Palace interior decorations themed on Cinderella. Outside, wander through glittering arches and glowing tunnels on the after-dark trail. Santa may well make an appearance too. The ice rink returns to the grounds, while a giant observation wheel gives you a bird’s-eye view of the festivities, including the Christmas market.
Christmas at Blenheim Palace, 13 November 2026-3 January 2027.
Christmas at Bedgebury 2026 (Kent)
Once again, this huge forest on the Kent/East Sussex border hosts an enchanting 1.9km trail through the trees. Previous years have included a vortex tunnel, colour-changing tree lights, illuminated boats floating on the lake, jumping jets of light and a fire garden — and we’re promised new installations included for 2026.
Street food vendors pop up for all your hot choccie and toasted marshmallow needs (with firepits along the route for you to toast the latter). Keep an eye out, and you might get a glimpse of Father Christmas along the way.
Christmas at Bedgebury, 20 November-31 December 2026. There are special Relaxed Sessions on 21 November, and 2 and 14 December, for both children and adults with additional needs who would benefit from visiting the trail when it’s less crowded.
Glow 2026 at RHS Gardens (Surrey and Essex)
RHS Gardens all over the country — including RHS Wisley right next to the M25 in Surrey — bring back their enchanting Glow trails for Christmas 2026.
At RHS Wisley, that translates into a magical winter light trail through the gardens at night, featuring a field of fire, gigantic crocuses and an illuminated enchanted garden inside the Glasshouse giant conservatory. Little ones will love hunting out the fairy village in the Rock Garden. Don’t miss the spectacular fire and fountains grand finale at the Jellicoe Canal.
The Terrace Restaurant and Wisley Café are both open for refreshments, with further festive food chalets dotted along the route, and the RHS Wisley Garden Centre is open for Christmas shopping.
Glow 2026 at RHS Wisley, 20 November 2026-3 January 2027.
Glow events also take place at the other RHS gardens: Hyde Hall in Essex, Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire, Bridgewater in Salford, and Rosemoor in Devon.
Ashridge House Illuminated 2026 (Hertfordshire)
Ashridge House near Tring takes ‘family-friendly’ to a new level, offering an illuminated event which is dog friendly too. For two nights a week (Wednesdays and Thursdays), four-legged friends are welcome to join their humans on Hertfordshire’s biggest light trail, set in 190 acres of Grade II* listed gardens with a new route this year.
For 2026, it’s themed on the festive poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, including a spectacular projection show on the exterior of the house. Start and end at the Christmas market, with seasonal food and drinks and Christmas shopping.
Ashridge House Illuminated, 20 November 2026-2 January 2027.
Glow Wild 2026 at Wakehurst (West Sussex)
Christmas at Kew is one of our favourite annual events in London — so it’s no surprise that we’re also huge fans of the light trail at Wakehurst, Kew Gardens’ sister site in the Sussex countryside. On a still night, the reflections on the lake are sublime, and the UK’s tallest Christmas tree towers over it all.
We’ve always found Glow Wild to be better suited to younger visitors than the Kew spectacular, with a shorter route, and focus more on lanterns than lasers — and under-fours go free! For 2026, new installations include a giant iceberg — the largest lantern Glow Wild has ever had — with a colony of penguins perched on top, illuminated alongside 2,000 other lanterns.
Other highlights include Moon River (13,000 individually programmed lights tracing the river’s journey through the landscape), the Flutterby Garden consisting of delicate glass wings and wind chimes, and Time Sleeps in the Seeds, a projection onto the front of the Elizabethan Mansion.
The food village is bigger this year, serving up street food, sweet treats and warming winter bevvies. On selected nights you can upgrade your experience with a special dining experience inside the beautifully decorated mansion.
Glow Wild at Wakehurst, 26 November 2026-2 January 2027.
Port Lympne Illuminated 2026 (Kent)
After its inaugural event last year, Port Lympne Illuminated is back for 2026, marking the 50th anniversary of the wildlife park’s launch. The glittering trail wends its way through the 600-acre Kent animal park with light and water shows, holograms and other interactive experiences. Look out for 3D projections in the tree canopy above your head, dance at a high-energy elf disco in the Orangery with synchronised light and sound, and keep an eye out for hyper-realistic holographic tigers in the shadows.
Children can visit Santa and take home a gift from the on-site grotto, and you can extend your fun with an overnight stay at Elfwood, a festive reimagining of the site’s year-round accommodation.
Port Lympne Illuminated includes access to Port Lympne Reserve’s walking route from 2pm on the day of your booking, so arrive early for a chance to see the animals before their bedtime. A festive afternoon tea is served in the Port Lympne Mansion over Christmas too.
Port Lympne Illuminated, 27 November 2026-2 January 2027.
