The UK is starting to feel a little drab, dark and depressing, isn’t it? Lift those winter blues with a trip to Longleat this Christmas for a spectacle of colour, light and ‘British icons.’ The legendary lantern trail, The Festival of Light, returns to Europe’s first safari park with a little help from Bristol’s very own Wallace and Gromit.
Meet your favourite characters from the much-loved Aardman animations, like Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run, Morph and more, as you see the UK’s most famous landmarks remade in lantern form. This includes trips to a 15m tall Tower Bridge in London, as well as iconic sights of Stonehenge, Giant’s Causeway, Blackpool and West Wallaby Street—from November 8, 2025, to January 11, 2026.
“Following an incredible year for Aardman — with the much-anticipated return of Wallace, Gromit and Feathers McGraw in Vengeance Most Fowl — we’re thrilled to be bringing many of our beloved characters together in an exciting new way,” said Merlin Crossingham, Wallace & Gromit Creative Director. “We can’t wait to see how our worlds and characters will come to life in lantern form for the very first time!”
This year, Longleat’s Festival of Light will also be celebrating one of the GREATEST Britons of all time, Jane Austen, with a focus on writers, British native wildlife and landscapes, as well as iconic singers through the decades. Longleat members can experience the trail first with an exclusive Members’ Night on Friday, November 7.
What else is happening at Longleat over Christmas?
On top of the lantern trail at Longleat this Christmas, you can experience everything from the Winter Safari to see tigers and lions, to Britain’s biggest singing Christmas tree—over 15 metres tall, it’s illuminated with over 88,000 twinkling lights and fitted with snow-making machines.
Elsewhere, get lost in Britain’s biggest maze, sail across Half Mile Pond to spot hippos and sea lions, and climb aboard the magical Santa train ride to the North Pole, where you can meet the big man himself. And don’t forget to visit Longleat House, either, which has been transformed by traditional festive decorations.
How much is a trip to Longleat?
A standard day ticket costs £54.95 for an adult and £41.20 for a child (3 to 15), while the Santa Train costs an extra £7.50 for an adult and £23.50 for a child. You can just visit The Festival of Light lanterns, alongside a few festive attractions like the Enchanted Christmas Tree Show, for as little as £34.95 for an adult and £26.20 for a child if you purchase an off-peak Twilight Ticket (entry after 4pm).
To learn more about Longleat and the Festival of Light head here.