Kew’s Enchanting Christmas Lights Trail Will Bring Over A Million Lights To The Gardens

Kew Gardens are once again bringing light, colour, and a healthy sprinkling of Christmas magic to south-west London this winter. Their lovely lights trail is amongst the very best of London’s Christmas lights, turning the gardens into a festive enchanted woodland. And as they’re now heading into the 11th year of running Christmas at Kew, they’ve got plenty of new tricks and treats up their sleeves for the celebration that runs from November 15 – January 7, 2024.

Here’s your chance to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site in a whole new light. An incredible selection of installations and projections dazzle visitors over the course of a 2.7km trail – that’s about a 40-minute walk when you’re not being distracted by an incredible light installation.

The night-time celebration of nature takes visitors through projected light shows and ornately decorated flora and fauna that absolutely amaze and boggle the mind. And they’re truly outdoing themselves this year. We’re talking over a million twinkling lights illuminating the pathways and dazzling visitors on their journey along the trail.

So, what can you expect to see?

Among the new sights to feast your eyes on are Lili by TILT, which will find guests wandering through three-metre-tall illuminated flowers that will tower over guests on winter evenings, as well as The Hive, which recreates life inside a beehive by way of LED lights. ArtAV’s ever-popular Trapezium is also new on the block, promising one of the longest light tunnels held at Kew.

Some old favourites are making a grand return, too. The hugely popular Fire Garden is back, as are the iconic Palm House projections. Kew Gardens will also bring back the Instagram-dominating Christmas Cathedral for visitors to take incredible photos in a dazzling world filled with thousands of fairy lights. And as always they’re keeping visitors warm, and appetites sated, with a selection of independent street food vendors along the trail. We’re definitely opting for some mulled wine as we make our way along the route!

What will be filling me up along the way

Visitors will be able to book a spot at The Botanical Brasseire to munch down on a Christmas dinner; with celeriac and truffle soup and turkey ballotine or beetroot mushroom wellington on the menu. Plus, vendors will be on hand to give you a selection of fine food and drink, including loaded hash browns, spiced cider, mulled wine waffles and hot chocolate.

Christmas at Kew was the first light trail of its kind across the UK when it started back in 2013. But they haven’t faded out at all. Instead, they’ve gone from strength to strength as one of the most beautiful, captivating experiences in the UK. If you’ve never been, this year is definitely the time to go.

Find out more and book your spot at the Kew Gardens website.

Also published on Medium.