- Play Hard
- 22nd Oct 2026
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Alnwick Garden’s Winter Light Trail is back with a full festive calendar lined up
Tickets for The Alnwick Garden’s Winter Light Trail are on sale now, and this year the Northumberland favourite is pulling out every festive stop.
From November, the whole attraction gets a Christmas makeover, with glowing installations after dark, Father Christmas settling into his Lilidorei grotto, and a diary packed with fairs, feasts and festive classes.
It’s being billed as The Garden’s most enchanting Christmas season yet. With the Light Trail a sell-out in previous years, you’ll want to get your skates on.
YULE FEEL IT BEFORE YOU’RE EVEN THROUGH THE GATE
The magic starts on the way in. Head to The Alnwick Garden and you’ll find the pathways leading up to the entrance decked out with decorations, so the excitement builds with every step.
Inside, two big hitters take centre stage this season: the Winter Light Trail and Father Christmas’ Lilidorei Grotto. Add seasonal menus, twinkling lights and a full programme of events, and November and December are well and truly sorted.
Consider your festive plans wrapped up.
A TRAIL OF TWO ATTRACTIONS
Running from Friday 20th November to Sunday 3rd January, the Winter Light Trail transforms the venue once the sun goes down. Expect spectacular installations, festive soundscapes, sweeping Christmas decor and a few interactive surprises along the way.
Here’s the clever bit. One ticket gets you into the illuminations across both The Garden and Lilidorei, so you’re getting two of Northumberland’s most iconic attractions in a single festive night out. Over in Lilidorei, that includes an illuminated Christmas tree forest.
Two attractions, one ticket. That’s what we call a Christmas cracker.
HO HO HOLD ONTO YOUR GROTTO SLOT
From Saturday 21st November to Christmas Eve, families can pay Father Christmas and his elves a visit in his Lilidorei grotto. Demand has been so high that extra slots have been added this year, but we wouldn’t leave it to chance.
It’s the kind of visit the kids will be talking about until next December.
YOUR FESTIVE DIARY, SORTED
Beyond the lights and the grotto, there’s a whole sleigh-load happening across the season. Here’s what to pencil in.
A LILIDOREI CHRISTMAS
Monday 16th November to Sunday 3rd January
Lilidorei kicks off the festivities early, going full Christmas for seven weeks of the season.
FESTIVE MENU AT THE TREEHOUSE
Wednesday 18th November to Sunday 3rd January
The Treehouse switches to its festive menu, so you can eat up among the branches in proper Christmas style.
FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA
Thursday 19th November to Sunday 27th December (Thursdays to Sundays)
Book in for a festive afternoon tea, served four days a week right up to Christmas Eve. There’s also a children’s menu available, a delicious day out for the whole family.
WINTER LIGHTS AT THE ALNWICK GARDEN AND LILIDOREI
Friday 20th November to Sunday 3rd January
The headline act. One ticket, two attractions, and a whole lot of twinkle after dark.
MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS AT LILIDOREI
Friday 20th November to Thursday 24th December
Little ones can meet Father Christmas and his elves in the grotto, with more slots than ever this year.
THE ALNWICK GARDEN CHRISTMAS FAIR
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd November
A weekend fair that’s ideal for ticking off the gift list before the December rush.
FESTIVE FEAST IN THE PAVILION
Thursday 10th and Thursday 17th December
Two nights of festive feasting in The Pavilion. Loosen your belts accordingly.
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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