New Christmas illuminated light trail an unmissable diary date, this after-dark trail makes for an unforgettable time.

Christmas at Blenheim Palace

17th November - 1st December

Christmas Lights & Festive Illuminations

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Wrap up warm and head out after-dark to one of many colourful Christmas light events in South East England.  Wander through dazzling light tunnels and colourful woodlands, marvel at exquisitely dressed Christmas trees and bespoke light installations, be amazed by animated light projections and stunning lantern festivals, all brightening up the long winter nights.  These enchanting displays will ignite your holiday spirit, bring festive cheer and are a fantastic way to celebrate this special time of the year. 

Why not catch up with family and friends at one of the free local festive light-switch on's that will be gracing our towns and villages in the lead up to Christmas Day.  With twinkling fairy lights, tasty treats, Christmas carols and late-night shopping, these events are a great excuse to get together and start the festive season as you mean to go on.   

Top 16 Outdoor Christmas Light Trails & Winter Illuminations in the South East

Our featured illuminations showcase some of the best festive lights trail throughout South East England. Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the page to find many more across the destination and to explore the seasonal light switch-on events.

  • Christmas at Blenheim Palace - 17th November - 1st January 24
    Experience the Great Outdoors with a brand-new light trail, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
  • Illuminated Abbey - 7th December - 10th December 23
    See Battle Abbey in a new light as it is bathed in dramatic illuminations for the first time, Battle, East Sussex
  • Christmas at Walmer Castle - 1st December - 1st January 24
    Interactive light trail bringing colour, lights and play to Kent - Walmer, Kent
  • Leonardslee Illuminated - 24th November - 21st December 23
    Spellbinding illuminations, large scale projections and music, Horsham, West Sussex 
  • Glow Marwell  - 24th /25th November, 1st - 30th December 23
    Magical Christmas light experience featuring new illuminations, Winchester, Hampshire
  • Steamlights at Bluebell Railway - 17th November to 30th December 23
    With a sparkling new theme and a new lighting up performance, Uckfield, East Sussex
  • Light Up Sir Harold Hillier  - 30th November, 31st December 23
    Set to shine bigger and brighter than ever before, Romsey, Hampshire
  • Christmas Maritime Trail - 25th November - 2nd January 24
    Fantastic free Christmas Maritime light trail celebrating Poole’s nautical heritagem, Poole, Dorset
  • Windsor Great Park Illuminated  16th November to 2nd January 24. 
    Light up your winter with a visit to The Savill Garden, Windsor, Berkshire
  • Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland  - 18th November - 2nd January 24
    Spectacular free Christmas tree trail through the Lower & Upper gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset
  • Glow Wild  - 24th November - 1st January 24
    This award-winning lantern trail is back for its 10th year, Haywards Heath, West Sussex
  • Enlightened Staunton - 8th November - 24th December 23
    The biggest, brightest yet - with interactive and immersive elements - Havant, Hampshire
  • Globalls - 1st December - 1st January 24
    Step into a wonderland with festive glow-in-the-dark mini-golf - Brighton, East Sussex
  • Hever Castle at Christmas - 18th December - 1st January 24
    Witness the enchantment of the Castle, gardens and lake, Edenbridge, Kent
  • Bedgebury Christmas Lights - 17th November - 31st December 23
    Tunnels of light, waterside walks, trees drenched in colour, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
  • Animated light projections at Waddesdon - 22nd November to 1st January 24
    The manor facade comes to life with spellbinding animated projections, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Christmas Light Switch On's

Why not visit one of the many towns and villages in the South East to watch and take part in their annual Christmas light events, take a look at our events near me section and start ticking off the Christmas list. Don't forget to keep scrolling to discover more at the bottom of the page.

Keep checking back, more events are being added all the time 

Light Up Christmas Events in South East England

Light Trails and Illumination Events

Take a look below for a full list of Christmas Light Trails and illumination events happening across South East England this winter, with many starting in early November and running until January 24, giving you plenty of time to head out and enjoy a sparkling-Christmas whether you live here, are on holiday or visiting friends and family over the festive season.

Number of results:

Number of results: 28

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  1. Christmas Light trail at Waddesdon

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    Aylesbury


    This Christmas at Waddesdon, enjoy a festive day out to brighten the end of your year. Be spirited away to a magical wonderland as classic tales come to life in the house and dazzling new light displays outside enchant and delight.

    As dusk…

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2023to1 Jan 2024Open 12:00 - 19:00
  2. Poole Christmas Maritime Light Trail

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    Poole

    Dates

    From:
    25 Nov 2023to2 Jan 2024
  3. Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    Maidstone

    Returning for its second year, an all-new reimagined, magical Christmas trail featuring enchanting illuminations and Christmas music, will fill the air and light up the glamorous and historic Leeds Castle!

    Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle has…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Nov 2023to31 Dec 2023
  4. St Luke’s Christmas Tree Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    Maidenhead

    St. Luke’s church is to hold its annual Christmas Tree Festival and church will, once again, be filled with real trees and twinkling lights – symbols of hope.

    Dates

    From:
    8 Dec 2023to10 Dec 2023Various Opening Times
  5. Ramsgate Royal Harbour Christmas Illuminations

    Type

    Type:

    Free Event

    Ramsgate

    Enjoy some Christmas Illuminations with a difference at the Ramsgate Royal Harbour. Pop along and enjoy the festive lights dressed on many of the boats in the harbour during December, and why not stop for dinner at one of the harbour restaurants and…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Dec 2023to30 Dec 2023
  6. GLOW Marwell

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    Winchester

    Join Marwell Zoo this winter for their magical Christmas light experience, Glow Marwell. This year's theme is an enchanted nature trail featuring brand new illuminations and immersive displays using more than 500,000 lights in a rainbow of colours.…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Dec 2023to30 Dec 2023Open 13:00 - 20:00
  7. Forest of Light

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    Fordingbridge

    Step into a mesmerizing wonderland at Sandy Balls for the Forest of Light! Prepare to be enchanted as you venture into a world of magical illumination. The forest comes alive with a breathtaking display of twinkly lights, captivating your senses and…

    Dates

    From:
    3 Nov 2023to31 Dec 2023
  8. Enchanted Woodland

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    Bognor Regis

    After the success of the ‘Alice in Winterland’ festive event hosted by the council last December, we are back this year with something even bigger and better!

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2023to17 Dec 2023
  9. Leonardslee Illuminated

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Lower Beeding, Horsham

    Walk through the beautiful grounds of Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens as they come to life with spellbinding illuminations, large scale projections, and music.

    Reduced prices for 2023

    Become a Leonardslee member and get a FREE ticket

    Dates

    From:
    24 Nov 2023to21 Dec 2023Open 16:00 - 20:00
  10. Enlightened Staunton

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Havant

    Enlightened returns to Staunton Farm in 2023!

    Enlightened 2023 will be the biggest, brightest, and boldest year yet with a trail bursting with even more interactive and immersive elements than ever before along with visitor favourites.

    Dates

    From:
    8 Dec 2023to24 Dec 2023Open 16:30 - 21:00
  11. Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    WEST WIGHT

    Celebrate the Spirit of the Season at the Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival Brighstone, Isle of Wight

    The Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival is back, spreading joy and festive cheer with the main festival running from Thursday, 7th December to…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2023to10 Dec 2023
  12. Garter Tower Christmas Illuminations

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    Windsor

    Standing over 50ft tall, Garter Tower is illuminated with stunning images of St George’s Chapel’s stained glass windows, architectural details and motifs, dating back to the 15th century, as well as images created by local schoolchildren.

    Dates

    From:
    18 Nov 2023to5 Jan 2024
  13. The Christmas Illuminated Garden Adventure at West Green House Garden 2023

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    near Hartley Wintney, Hook

    A ten-acre wonderland of gigantic shimmering flowers, glowing fairies, and a forest of illuminated field flowers. There are enormous lit waterlilies floating on the lake and the five bridges turned in tunnels of lights. All the garden's follies are…

    Dates

    From:
    25 Nov 2023to30 Dec 2023
  14. Steam Illuminations at the Watercress Line

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    New Alresford

    Steam Illuminations is a unique Christmas, pixel mappable digital LED train! It's an incredible light show on and in a steam train, consisting of thousands of fully controllable colour mixing LED lights and LED wristbands. This makes the train look…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Nov 2023to23 Dec 2023
    From:
    27 Dec 2023to6 Jan 2024
  15. Farringdon Light Switch On

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    Faringdon

    Its the Farringdon Christmas Light Switch on Saturday 2nd December. 

    With a Christmas market from 11.00am, music around the Christmas tree, a Santa Grotto, light switch on at 5pm and historic tours around All Saints Church at 3pm and 4pm (church…

    Dates

    From:
    2 Dec 2023Open 11:00 - 19:00
  16. Christmas at Waddesdon

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    Aylesbury

    This Christmas at Waddesdon, be spirited away to a magical wonderland as classic tales come to life with new decorations in the house and dazzling new light displays outside enchant and delight.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2023to1 Jan 2024
  17. Glow Wild 10th Anniversary | Wakehurst

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    Haywards Heath

    It's Glow Wild's tenth birthday! Sussex's award-winning lantern trail is back at Kew's wild botanic garden for 2023, packed with pure festive magic that's sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.

    Bring the whole family for an unmissable evening of…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Nov 2023to1 Jan 2024Open 16:30 - 22:00
  18. SteamLights at Bluebell Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Special Events

    Uckfield

    Brighten up the chilly winter evenings with a seasonal lights spectacular!

    Dates

    From:
    17 Nov 2023to30 Dec 2023
  19. Southern Vectis Christmas Lights Tour

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas

    NEWPORT

    All aboard for family festive fun - join the magical Christmas Lights Tour with Southern Vectis!

    Dig out your winter woollies and experience the magic of Christmas aboard an open top bus.

    Running from Friday 8th December right through to…

    Dates

    From:
    8 Dec 2023to23 Dec 2023
  20. St Mary's Battle Christmas Tree Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Battle

    A highlight of Battle's Christmas calendar.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Nov 2023to8 Dec 2023Open 10:00 - 16:00