Make the most of the nights drawing in with the most joyful of winter events – twinkly Christmas lights trails! A number of attractions in Somerset (and just over the border!) will be bringing a little bit of festive magic into our lives over the yuletide season with their Christmas lights outdoor events – expect neon illuminations, dazzling foliage and glittering light displays!
A firm favourite on our family calendar and now a seasonal tradition that I intend to keep going for many years to come, here’s my round-up of Somerset’s best Christmas lights 2024.
Christmas lights Somerset 2024
ILLUMINATE at Hestercombe House and Gardens, Taunton
2024 dates: 21 November-30 December
Hestercombe’s Christmas illumination event casts a kaleidoscopic spotlight on their historic gardens, with water features and musical accompaniments. The technicolour Christmas displays wind a route through the natural features of the Landscape Garden, towards the Great Cascade, and back down past the Pear Pond and through a ‘Christmas tree’ grove below the Formal Garden, before finishing with a show-stopping display in front of Hestercombe House.
The Bampfylde Hall will be open for hot food, snacks, cakes and drinks throughout the evening.
Opening times: limited capacity slots are available from 4.30pm- 8pm. Advance booking is required, discounted tickets for Hestercombe members.
Check ticket availability and timings on the Hestercombe Gardens website.
Christmas at the Palace 2024: Illuminations, Bishops Palace, Wells
2024 dates: 6 December (members’ only preview evening), 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21-23, 27-30, 4.30pm – 7.30pm (last entry 7pm)
The medieval ruins and magical inner gardens provide a spectacular backdrop for the Christmas illuminations emblazoning Bishops Palace. And while it’s all drenched in rainbow light and sparkly outside, inside promises to be just as eye-popping…
Festooned with Yuletide decorations ranging from Victorian to Nordic and seasonal greenery to jolly up the historic interior. There’ll also be a roaring fire, BBQ, mulled beverages and hot chocolate from the Bishop’s Brew Horsebox or the Applestore.
Check ticket availability on the Bishops Palace website.
Christmas Wonderland at Wookey Hole 2024
2024 dates: 23-24, 30 November -1 December, 7-8, 14-15, 21-24, December
These famous age-old Somerset caverns are given a scintillating festive makeover for the Yuletide season, with 100,000 festive lights turning this subterranean world into a colourful twinkling grotto.
Wookey Hole decorate their famous caves with thousands of fairy lights for their festive season, turning it into a magical twinkling grotto. Guided tours take you through the spectacular caverns and then you’re free to explore above ground, where you’ll find a giant gorilla, fairy garden, animatronic dinosaurs, festive 4D cinema, circus shows, soft play, Victorian-style arcade and as part of the Christmas festivities, a chance to meet Santa and his elves.
Check ticket availability on the Wookey Hole website
Light Trails Christmas 2024, Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park
2024 Dates: 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 December.
Follow a festive light trail around Avon Valley Wildlife park and combine sparkly Christmas lights with a miniature train ride, lit-up animatronic dinosaurs, a festive fun fair and Christmas disco!
Enhance your experience by also booking the Christmas Experience alongside your Christmas Nights ticket – which includes reindeer food-making, Mrs Claus giving gingerbread-cooking advice in her kitchen, a magical forest, adventure park attractions and theatrical Santa Sleigh.
Book Christmas Nights tickets here
Winter Lights West Somerset Railway 2024, Bishop’s Lydeard Station
*NOT RUNNING IN 2024*
Instead you can also combine theatrical seasonal frivolity with a ride on the old-fashioned railway, thanks to the introduction of the Panto Train (2024 dates: 14-15, 21-23, 27-29, 31 December, 1 January 2025).
Or step aboard the Santa Express and take an unforgettable journey through West Somerset’s winter woodlands on a round trip from Bishop’s Lydeard to Williton. Inside festively-decorated heritage carriages.
West Somerset Railway info and Santa Express ticket availability
Nearby Christmas lights events 2024
Stourhead Christmas Lights
2024 dates – 29 November-1 January 2025
Sitting on the border of Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset is the National Trust’s Stourhead – a magnificent spot and one of the best Christmas lights trails I’ve ever been to. Wander along the illuminated mile-long trail to see the beautiful gardens swathed in over a million twinkling lights.
Discover gigantic luminescent sculptures rising high into the night sky, glittering trees dripping with festive colour, giant baubles and a fire garden aglow with flames, all enhanced by a soundtrack of festive tunes.
Click here to check ticket prices at Stourhead
Festival of Light at Longleat 2024
2024 dates: 9 November 2024 to 5 January 2025
Longleat in Wiltshire is so tantalisingly close to Somerset, it would be remiss of me not to include it in this festive light trails post! This year’s Christmas lights Festival at Longleat will whisk visitors through an historical wonderland with kings and queens, a giant 12 metre clock, the spectacular colours of The Arabian Nights or with the impressive House light show in celebration of Longleat opening its doors 75 years ago.
Belt out carols with Britain’s biggest singing Christmas tree, go on a winter safari and board the Santa Train to a snow-covered winter wonderland to meet Father Christmas and his elves.
Like this post on the best places to visit for Christmas lights in Somerset 2024, discover more days out in the county here:
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