The festive season has officially arrived in Staffordshire as the spectacular Christmas at Trentham light event returns for the second year. The illuminated trail is the ultimate way to get the whole family in the Christmas spirit with a magical experience set in the stunning Grade II* park and garden.
Put together by the award-winning events team, Kilimanjaro, alongside partners like Appetite, the installation features 15 different light displays that take visitors on a journey through the grounds to see it all in a new light.
The £1 million display takes a different route to last year, making it a new and exciting experience even if you were fortunate enough to visit in 2021. Not only does the trail feel completely different with the new pathway, but one benefit of the updated course means that dogs are allowed onto the Christmas at Trentham trail, too, taking ‘fun for the whole family’ to a whole new level.
Entering the gardens from the reception, the trail starts at the bridge, with twinkling fairy lights guiding you to the Trellis of Light, where David Austin rose shrubs are surrounded by 100,000 individual bulbs, creating a 100m long tunnel of warm glowing light through the historic rose trellis that makes for the perfect photo opportunity, of which Christmas at Trentham has many.
Visitors can take a stroll through the Italian Gardens, which have been glitzed up with cool toned lights which are beautiful to look at, and can be seen through fresh eyes from different parts of the garden.
The showstopper has to be Trentham’s red and gold Christmas tree, standing 32ft tall, made up of 20,000 bulbs and topped with a glittering star – it really does look phenomenal. It’s certainly the biggest and best tree you’ll find in Staffordshire this year.
As you walk towards the lake, colour changing bulbs offer a rainbow of light as you head towards the statue of Perseus, which is surrounded by dazzling disco balls.
Taking a detour through the trees you’ll come across the tearooms, where you can stop off to toast a marshmallow in one of the two large fire pits at a cost of £3 each, or continue the trail towards the illuminated Loggia. What I love about Christmas at Trentham is that it’s designed to fit in with the natural flora and fauna of the grounds, using the beautiful architecture to accentuate the grounds.
An immersive, hidden garden of brilliant 3D beams fills the laser glade, which feels very surreal to walk through. As you head over the boardwalk through the trees, it feels like a game of laser tag as beams of light stretch from every angle. Dramatic and atmospheric, each section also has its own soundtrack to accompany the trail as guests make their way through each area.
Then you can step into the formal gardens which is home to four huge stars behind which a frost fairies projection brings the Trentham Church and Porte Cochere to life through silent storytelling
Guests venture through the arched trees towards the Love Seat, which sees a canopy of branches hang over a beautifully crafted two seater bench that, barely visible from the outside, is illuminated by vintage bulbs.
The 2km trail takes around an hour to complete, and to end the trail, there’s a number of food and drink stalls offering mulled wine, spiced rum and Bailey’s hot chocolates, as well as Yorkshire pudding wraps, loaded roast potatoes and Dutch pancakes – just to note, these are all card payment only.
There are picnic benches to sit at, as well as a ferris wheel where you can view the stunning light trail from above, offering a whole new perspective of the estate in all its festive glory.
Tickets for the multisensory experience are priced from £14.60 for children and £22.10 for adults, with under threes going free. The event runs from December 2 to January 1, with the exception of Monday, December 5 and Christmas Day.
Christmas at Trentham’s illuminated trail brings to life one of Staffordshire’s most wonderful tourist attractions, offering the perfect backdrop for a fun filled family trip out, a romantic treat, or simply a place to come together to make unforgettable memories with the whole family.
Find out more and book your tickets to Christmas at Trentham here.
