Cheshire transforms into a wonderland of dazzling light trails every Christmas, making it a must-visit destination for festive magic. Our editor has carefully curated this list of the best Christmas light trails for 2024, blending family fun, artistic brilliance, and unforgettable winter memories.
From enchanting woodlands to award-winning festivals, these trails offer something special for everyone—whether you’re a fan of folklore-inspired spectacles or breathtaking light art.
Explore our handpicked selections of the best Christmas markets in Cheshire, where you can shop, sip, and savor the Christmas magic
Best Christmas Light Trails to Explore in Cheshire in 2024
There’s nothing quite like a festive illuminated trail to add sparkle to your Christmas. Here are the top five not to miss across Cheshire:
Magical Woodland at Christmas
Get into the Christmas spirit this year in Cheshire and experience never-seen-before light features in this 15-acre enchanted Cheshire Woodland. Fully immerse yourself into a world of pure festive magic, with special guests Mr and Mrs Claus making an appearance this year.
The organisers are bringing back some family favourites: dazzling cathedral canopies of fairy lights, interactive light features, tunnels of Boreralis-style lasers, floating umbrellas, and clouds of flying lanterns. The lights and sounds bring the woods to life allowing imaginations to run wild, making the magic of Christmas impossible to ignore.
With unlimited opportunities to re-explore your favourite areas, you can stay for as long as you like. Take time to refuel and warm up with tasty snacks and hot drinks around the firepits. Warming cold hands on an open fire, and enjoying giant toasted marshmallows, is the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit with your favourite people.
Book tickets at the Magical Woodland
Gulliver’s Land of Lights at Warrington
Thousands of people have already snapped up tickets for this year’s Land of Lights festival, set to take place at Gulliver’s World from 9 November. Some 30,000 tickets have been sold for the event, and its sister event being held at Gulliver’s resort in Milton Keynes, since the start of September, with organisers really excited to be hosting the Land of Lights festival in Warrington for the second year in a row.
Land of Lights promises to be a breathtaking spectacle, featuring an all-new collection of lanterns for 2024. This year’s theme, WonderWild, reimagines nature’s most majestic creatures and wonders, offering visitors a unique blend of animal-inspired artistry with a fantastical twist.
Guests will explore a huge array of incredible lanterns and displays, over a one-mile trail creating a wonderous, wild, and magical atmosphere suitable for all ages. The experience will also feature an eclectic mix of music and entertainment as well as a selection of street food and seasonal drink options available throughout the festival. And, recently, Land of Lights received national recognition walking away as winner of the gold award for best new event at the UK Theme Park Awards.
Ross Partridge, festival manager, says: “We have been so pleased by the reaction to our second Land of Lights festival by the people of Warrington and those from even further afield. WonderWild is our most ambitious Land of Lights festival yet and we can’t wait for everyone to experience it. We were delighted to win the gold award for best new event at the UK Theme Park Awards this year which just shows how well received the event has been. “The festival is a welcome boost to the local economy over the winter season and provides an affordable and family-friendly activity for all to enjoy,” Ross adds.
Get your tickets at the Land of Lights
Chester Zoo Light Trail and Lantern Festival
Chester Zoo has revealed its spectacular Christmas light trail will feature “more animal lantern puppets than ever before”. Announcing a raft of new additions to its much-loved Lanterns and Light spectacle, the zoo unveiled it is again teaming up with entertainment giants Sony Music to deliver this year’s festive event.
The trail promises to be even longer and more exciting than last year, with the event opening on 15 November and going all the way through to New Year’s Day for the first time. Organisers say visitors will journey through a number of distinct and vibrant lands where they’ll encounter an exciting line-up of costumed characters and new animal puppets including meerkats, peacocks, red pandas and snow leopards.
An incredible new soundscape will add to the immersion, with animal lanterns, such as dragonflies hovering over water, elephants in permafrost and exotic birds flying overhead, decorating the route of the stunning light trail.
The event will see the return of ‘selfie favourites’ such as glowing cathedral tunnels of light, while a whole new festive menu will be on offer at bustling food and drink markets stationed in various locations within the zoo.
Ticket sales will help to support the conservation zoo in its efforts to protect some of the planet’s most threatened species. Heidi Budden, Marketing Manager, says: “This Christmas our zoo will be transformed into a magical winter land and our new dazzling displays will light up the sky each night throughout the festive season. For the first time, the celebrations will continue on until New Year’s Day.
“We’ve made the light trail even longer and packed it with exciting new elements,” Heidi adds. “There’ll be more animal lanterns than ever before and never-before-seen interactive puppets including energetic meerkats, colourful peacocks and playful snow leopards- all joined by many of the family favourites from years gone by that people have grown to love.
“Returning for 2024 will be our illuminating sea of light, synchronised to an incredible soundscape of festive songs, creating a mesmerising spectacle of light and sound, plus an impressive fire garden, rainbow bridge and gigantic pea-lit lanterns. It also wouldn’t be the festivities without greeting the big man himself, Father Christmas, as he works away in his workshop with his elves as they make all of the presents.
“Not only will friends and families make lasting memories together at Lanterns & Light, in purchasing a ticket they’ll also be helping to support our charitable, global conservation efforts. It’s a wonderful evening that plays a part in helping wildlife to thrive, and that’s really special.”
The magical event will run on selected evenings throughout November and December and extra nights have now been added the week after Christmas and up until New Year’s Day.
Dunham Massey Christmas Lights
Dunham Massey will sparkle brighter than ever this winter, with a series of dazzling new illuminated artworks set to enchant visitors from 15 November to 1 January. These stunning installations, inspired by the natural world and festive themes, have been created by internationally renowned artists and are guaranteed to add extra magic to the Christmas season.
Created by Culture Creative and produced in partnership with Sony Music the National Trust, Christmas at Dunham Massey is a magical, after-dark trail for visitors of all ages. Among the new highlights for 2024 is Luminosi Trees by Sound Intervention. Four six-metre-high light trees accompanied by multi-channel music composition using gamelan gongs and based on the Fibonacci sequence of numbers. Dan Fox, the Director of Sound Intervention is an artist, musician, filmmaker and installation creator based in Cumbria.
Also debuting is On The Tide by Squidsoup is a water-based floating floral lightwork. Created from points of light floating in strands, which are moved and positioned by the natural movement of the water.
Squidsoup, an international collective of artists and technologists, has exhibited worldwide at prestigious venues such as Burning Man, Sydney Opera House, and Sundance, creating unforgettable digital and interactive experiences.
Another exciting addition is Fire Dancers by Maria Hingerty and Brian Thunder is inspired by Christmas table-top chimes and happy memories of celebratory gatherings. The installation symbolises joyful expression, human unity and gentle optimism. Originally from a theatre background, Maria co-produced Theatre of Fire 1989-1999 and was associate director of the World Famous from 1999-2013, creating large scale outdoor spectacles. Brian has been setting things alight professionally since 1991. Using fire, fireworks, theatre, music, and art, he has been a core team member of world-leading companies producing spectacular outdoor arts programmes.
The new artworks join Dunham Massey’s already popular illuminated trail, featuring thousands of twinkling lights, seasonal scents, sparkling baubles, sparkling tunnels of light, and vibrant woodland and lakeside displays.
Matthew Findlay, Head of UK trails for Sony Music/RG Live, says: “We are thrilled to be bringing back Christmas at Dunham Massey for 2024 which will feature incredible, new artistic innovations sure to delight and amaze visitors of all ages. The feedback has been fantastic for last year’s trail, but we’re determined to make the 2024 edition the ultimate seasonal experience for all the family.”
Get tickets at My Christmas Tails
Yuletide at Tatton Park Gardens
Opening on 16 November and running until 23 December, Yuletide at Tatton Park will offer a blend of festive light trail and wondrous winter festival, creating a new winter family tradition on this glittering winter adventure.
As we approach the longest night, step into an incredible, wild, glittering world at Tatton Park Gardens this Christmas. Fall into a world of folklore, festive tradition and ridiculous rituals as the characters and creatures from winter myths and stories come to life.
Expect an incredible illuminated trail, where winter witch goddesses have captured the moon and sun and shapeshifting snow hares play tricks on us all. Visit the heart of Yuletide, keeping warm as you dance to wild folk bands, crown your family’s ‘Lord of Misrule’ and gather round the fire for wondrous tales.
Walk along the glittering trail to discover stories and folklore, interactive puppets and intrigue. Join them on a beautiful, performative light trail through the gardens. Based on thrilling winter folklore, you’ll see wondrous installations, interactive light effects, illuminated puppets and costumed characters bring the stories of winter to life.
Gather round the fire for folk stories, hit the dancefloor for whirling festive folk music, and wrap up warm as you gasp at the fire jugglers. Explore the Yuletide Gathering area at your own pace, and treat yourself to some toasted marshmallows or mulled wine. The perfect festive experience.
See what’s happening around town with what’s on in Cheshire in December and make the most of the season.
