Wandering through thousands of twinkling lights with festive music playing and the smell of mulled wine and hot chocolate filling the air is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit. It's no wonder festive light trails have become so popular over the last few years.
We have an abundance of trails to choose from in and around Birmingham. Many form part of larger attractions with ice rinks, Santa grottos, Christmas markets and fairground rides.
This guide brings you the very best festive trails in the area, together with all the dates and ticket details so you can plan ahead. Some of these events sell out fast at weekends in December so it's best to book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Read more: Christmas 2023 events you'll want to book tickets for now around Birmingham
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Winter Light Trail at Birmingham Botanical Gardens
The Luminate Winter Light Trail is back for 2023 at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The mile-long illuminated trail features colourful light play and atmospheric music as it weaves through the historic grounds, water features and playgrounds.
A spokesman said: "As darkness descends, join us on our enchanting journey, as we weave a captivating light trail through the stunning, historic grounds of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Immerse yourself in our mesmerising almost mile long trail, with stunning lighting elements and fabulous light play, all set to ambient music. A timeless experience to be enjoyed by all, young and old alike."
You can tuck into hot drinks at the start, toasted marshmallows halfway round and more refreshments at the end. Running from November 25, 2023 to January 2, 2024, tickets must be pre-booked online in advance. Car parking is not included with your ticket but there is limited free parking at the University and School within walking distance. Find out more and book via the Luminate website.
Listen to our Brummie Mummies 2023 Christmas Podcast here:
Enchanted Christmas Kingdom at Hatton World
Hatton will be transformed into a 'Winter Wonderland' this Christmas with a light trail featuring more than 40 dazzling light displays including light tunnels and infinity squares. There's also a 3D glowing forest and an interactive North Pole postal station for sending letters to Father Christmas. Children can see the man himself in his cosy grotto.
You can then get cosy in your car at the Drive-in Cinema to watch festive films like Frozen, The Polar Express, Nativity, The Holiday and Home Alone. There's also Mr. Holly's Magic show, gingerbread decorating with Mother Christmas, reindeer food making, Father Christmas’s secret toy shop and the return of the Create-a-Bear experience.
The shopping village will be packed with Christmas gift ideas too. The light trail runs on selected dates from November 25 to December 30. Find out more and book tickets via the Hatton World website.
Neverland Light Trail at Webbs Wychbold
There's a new Webbs Christmas light trail for 2023. This year families are invited to fly to Neverland with Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, looking out for mermaids, fairies, pirates and Captain Hook along the way!
There's a festive grotto where you can meet Santa too. This event runs from November 17 to January 3, 2024. Find out more and book tickets via the Webbs website.
Yuletide from the creators of Just So
You can walk a Glittering Trail through Tatton Park’s famous gardens at this brand new event for 2023! The creators of the Just So Festival invite you to step into a world of folklore, festive tradition and ridiculous rituals at Yuletide.
This is a place 'where winter witches have captured the moon and sun and shapeshifting snow hares will be playing tricks on guests!' Dance to wild folk bands and roast marshmallows around the campfire as you listen to enchanted stories, watch fire breathing stunts and crown your family’s ‘Lord of Misrule.’
Runs on selected dates from November 24 to December 23, 2023. Find out more and book via the Yuletide website.
Coombe Abbey Winter Light Trail
Coombe Abbey's after dark Christmas trail is back for 2023 with lights illuminating a path through the historic grounds. The mile-long trail features stunning lighting elements and fabulous light play, all set to ambient music.
Luminate Coombe will run nightly from Friday November 24, 2023 until Friday January 2, 2024. You can tuck into hot food, mulled wine, hot chocolates at the start and the end of the trail plus tuck into marshmallow toasting in the fire pits along the trail. Find out more and book via the Luminate 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 nightly from November 25 to January 1. Find out more and book tickets via the Luminate Shugborough website.
Christmas Light Trail at Warwick Castle
The festive light trail returns to illuminate Warwick Castle, 'bigger and better than ever before', with impressive new installations and thousands of shimmering lights spread across the iconic castle grounds. A spokesman said: "As dusk arrives, immerse yourself in breathtaking surroundings lit up with larger-than-life illuminations. Wander the beautiful gardens with twinkling trees and projections that light up the sky. Whatever your age, our castle light trail is sure to bring the real magic of Christmas to life."
The castle itself will be transformed with twinkling trees and decorations. You can enjoy stories with Santa in the library then take a stroll through the Christmas market and skate under the stars on the ice rink. Runs from November 25, 2023 to January 7, 2024, find out more and book tickets via Warwick Castle website.
Christmas Light Trail at Chatsworth
There's an illuminated light and sound trail around the grounds of Chatsworth House in Derbyshire this Christmas. Look out for the historic Cascade, whose 24 stone steps will be transformed into an illuminated, interactive musical instrument that visitors can play, the giant keys lighting up to the sound of handbells. The farmyard will also be transformed with lights and decorations.
This is part of the Palace of Advent event where the outside of the house will be transformed into a giant advent calendar with a light installation animating 24 Christmas scenes emerging from 24 windows on the south façade of the house.
There will be 24 themed Christmas rooms inside plus snowflake showers and a chance to join Santa for story time in his grotto. The Palace of Advent runs from November 4, 2023, to January 7, 2024 and there's a festive market from November 4 to 26 too.You can enjoy the Christmas market too. Find out more and book tickets via the Chatsworth website.
Spectacle of Light at Sudeley Castle
Thousands of beautiful lights are set to illuminate stunning grounds and historic ruins of Sudeley Castle near Cheltenham. This year's event has a special 'Wizard of Oz' theme.
Families are invited to go on a magical, moonlit journey following the characters Dorothy, Toto, the Lion, Scarecrow and Tinman, as they try to find the Emerald City without encountering the Wicked Witch! On the way, they can discover the flickering Fire Flowers of the Queens garden and the Light Wave on the Mulberry Lawn.
Look out for the sparkling water features, Harlequin trees and the columns of light in front of the castle itself. It's all part of this year's Spectacle of Light, which is said to be Gloucestershire's most popular festive light trails.
Running on selected dates from November 24 to December 30, there will also be mulled wine and warming hot chocolate plus tasty doughnuts and street food at the Castle Terrace. You'll even be able to pick up a Christmas present or two from the gift shop before heading home. Find out more about the event via the Spectacle of Light website.
Trentham Christmas Festival
There's a new ice sculpture trail at Trentham Gardens this Christmas. You can visit during the day and in the evening too. Set to festive live music, there's performers, festive food and an artisan market to enjoy plus rides and live ice sculpting too.
Members can enjoy free entry too. Runs on December 16 and 17. You can also meet Santa in his grotto in Trentham Shopping Village on selected dates between November 18 and December 24. Find out more and book tickets via the Trentham Gardens website.
Winter Glow at Malvern Showground
There's a light trail at this year's Winter Glow. The festive event will return to the Malvern Showground with an ice rink, grotto and traditional fairground plus several new activities for 2023, including elf circus skills workshops and pet experiences.
Running from Friday November 24, 2023 to Saturday January 6, 2024, families, couples and friends will have six weeks to enjoy the range of festive experiences - and you can pick and choose which activities you want to do. Find out more and book via the Winter Glow website.
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