Winter Light Trail at The Alnwick Garden – review
We had our first ever visit to the Winter Light Trail at The Alnwick Garden so thought I would share an honest review.
To kick-start our Christmas activities and to jointly celebrate my late November birthday, I booked tickers for Steve, Elsie and yours truly and my parents.
The three of us enjoyed a visit to The Alnwick Garden to explore Lilidorei in the summer (you can read my full and honest review here) but this was our first visit to The Garden after dark!
About the Winter Light Trail at The Alnwick Garden
The award-winning Winter Light Trail at The Alnwick Garden is now in its fifth year.
This after dark spectacular is fun for all the family and will have your senses buzzing and your heart filled with seasonal spirit.
The Winter Light Tail is inside the main walled garden and is a one way trail which will take you around The Garden lasting approximately 1 hour.
Due to popular demand, for 2023 it runs from 13 November until 7 January 2024.
The experience will be more breathtaking than ever thanks to a variety of new light installations in a range of vibrant colours.
Our visit to the Winter Light Trail at Alnwick Garden
We made sure to arrive with plenty of time as The Alnwick Garden website does advise arriving 20 minutes before your time slot.
As Alnwick is about an hour’s drive away from our home in County Durham, I booked the 4:30pm slot so it wouldn’t be too late for Elsie.
Tickets cost £14.85 each and under 4s are free.
If you book early enough there’s an early bird offer too which I took advantage of.
We met my parents in the car park and had a slow walk over the road to The Alnwick Garden.
As we were quite early, we took Elsie for a quick look at the treehouse which was closed when we visited Lilidorei in the summer.
Then we made our way through to the pavillion and waited patiently at a table until it was time for us to go through.
The Winter Light Trail is a walk through, entirely outdoors, of the gardens filled with amazing Christmas lights and music.
What we wore to the Winter Light Trail
We went mid-November and it was actually quite mild weather-wise, ideal conditions.
However we were prepared with hats, gloves, scarves good footwear and warm coats.
Depending on the weather, you may need a set of wellies and a waterproof.
If you do go when the temperature is lower, a winter hat, scarf and gloves will be a must wear.
What we enjoyed about the Winter Light Trail at The Alnwick Garden
I think the winter gardens are so much more special than the usual gardens, there’s a different scene around every corner.
There’s also lots of photo opportunities to get all the family involved in – Elsie loved putting her face in these!
Each part of the gardens has a different theme, music and lights, some with water features and some projected onto trees and walls.
Elsie loved the Geordie dancing snowman, pushing the button to make snow appear as well as the miniature train and the swings of course which we loved back in the summer.
We all loved the huge tree which was decked out with massive Christmas decorations it looked amazing!
Food and drink at the Winter Light Trail at The Alnwick Garden
You can grab a hot chocolate on your way into the gardens, or a mulled cider or wine too in the tipi.
There’s a variety of food trucks when you first make your way through to the Winter Light Trail.
We bought chicken nuggets and chips for our hungry 4-year-old which cost £4.50 from the Greek food truck at the end of the Winter Light Trail near to where the sandpit area usually is.
It was mild enough to be able to sit outside so Elsie tucked into with glee watching the lights and musical display beamed onto the walls of the fountain.
Next year I think we would eat inside as I hadn’t realised the food choice available in the restaurant until we nipped inside for the toilets.
Overall thoughts on the Winter Light Trail at The Alnwick Garden
It was really lovely to walk round The Gardens exploring the different scenes and the various different festive-themed songs do help to get you in the spirit.
As it was mid-November it wasn’t too busy, we could take our time walking round without other groups getting under out feet.
This is the perfect activity you can do with all the family.
You can take wheelchairs and prams as it is accessible but I would recommend a small torch especially when you get to the swings area it’s quite dark there.
We really enjoyed the Winter Light Trail at The Alnwick Garden and I think this may become a new annual tradition for us!
Winter Light Trail booking information
Sessions for the Winter Light Trail start from 4:30pm and the last slot is 8:45pm.
General admission is £14.85 and under 4s are free.
Tickets can be bought in advance online which is recommended via the Alnwick Garden website.
Where is The Alnwick Garden?
The Alnwick Garden, Gardeners Cottage, Greenwell Road, Alnwick NE66 1FJ, Northumberland
The postcode for the car park is NE66 1FJ (parking charge is £3.50 per car per day).
If you are arriving on the A1 Northbound, to avoid congestion in Alnwick Town Centre do not take the first junction signposted for Alnwick, but instead remain on the A1 and take the Denwick turn-off, clearly signposted with the brown signs for The Alnwick Garden.
Buses connect Alnwick to the surrounding towns and the city of Newcastle. Click here for more information.
The main east coast line from London to Edinburgh stops at Alnmouth, which is 4 miles away. A taxi or bus can be taken from Alnmouth to The Alnwick Garden.
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Other festive related posts
Father Christmas’ Grotto at Beamish Museum
Festive Tales at Woodhorn Museum
You can find out all about my Christmas family traditions
Read all about how I made my very own Christmas wreath
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