Located just a 20-minute drive from Winter Wonderland Stoke is another festive event in the shape of the Winter Light Trail at Trentham Gardens of of course we paid it a visit on a cold Sunday evening to see if it’s worth the money!
So the pricing structure for the Winter Light Trail depends on the times you visit with peak times reaching a ticket price of £24.75 for adults and super off peak costing £17 for adults. That’s quite the jump for what is essentially the same event so naturally I’m going to suggest choosing the super off peak times which for us last night was 19:40.
What confused me is that the super off peak times are the quietest so there’s less people, more time to wander around without crowds or inconsiderate families snapping photos of themselves in the middle of a bridge making everyone wait behind them or anymore niggles that these events deliver in large quantity when it comes to photo-op related activities.
It was so quiet when we were wandering around that we could really take it all in and as always, it’s beautiful.
The remarkable effort that goes into creating this well-lit wonderland doesn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated it’s a phenomenal walk-around and I’d certainly say that whilst it’s not the biggest lights walk-through event (taking around 50 minutes to navigate) it’s well worth the £17 per person we paid for the experience but I do think £24.75 is pushing it.
There are a few fairground rides dotted around the walkthrough along with a marshmallow stand but unlike Chester Zoo’s Christmas event which we visited last week they don’t serve vegetarian friendly Marshmallows here so I had one disappointed girlfriend and despite me eating just about anything put in front of me I decided to opt against a £3 giant marshmallow that I would be eating infront of her as she’s picturing ways to make it ‘look like an accident’ in her mind.
That’s certainly not the embodiment of Christmas spirit so my well-behaved self just went on my merry way to continue the trail.
Parking is free at Trentham Gardens so that’s a lovely touch for an event such as this so that’s always handy and dogs were also welcome which is great for those who want to bring out the WHOLE family for the evening.
Food stalls included some hot dogs, wraps, crepes and even a mulled wine or two.
There were cosy private chalets to book if you wanted some privacy but if you don’t mind mingling there was a heated tent to seek shelter under during these cold nights.
Organisation of the event was pretty smooth as you go straight into the event on your time slot mentioned and that’s kept within a military positions. ‘Can we go in early?’ I asked a rather friendly security staff member who told me that their machines don’t even start scanning the tickets until 5 minutes before the time slot.
Now with Trentham Gardens closing a few hours earlier than the slot we had I’d recommend heading to Willow or Frankie and Benny’s which stay open much later than Trentham Gardens does otherwise you’re going to be hanging around a while for your slot.
Winter Light Trail was a nice event to go at your own pace, once you’re inside you can stay in for as long as you like which is nice but the optional extras can certainly add up quickly (even more so for a family) so definitely budget in advance or bring a pack of marshmallows and hot drinks with you as a precaution if you’re being a little savvy this festive period.
The British winter inevitably plays a role too. Wet weather can make some paths muddy, and the gardens can get chilly in the evening, so warm clothing and sturdy footwear are almost essential. It can also become crowded during peak times, so those seeking a quieter experience may prefer weekday slots.
It’s a lovely event for families and if the weather is on your side a nice chilly but romantically festive walk through this trail is certainly a great way to spend an hour or two within Trentham Gardens.
Come dressed for the weather and you’ll have a wonderful time!
