I went to see the new Christmas light trail in Eltham Palace and Gardens with a special installation in homage to a part of its history.
The popular light trail at Eltham Palace and Gardens has returned for 2023, with a brand new trail this year.
Created in partnership with Kilimanjaro Live and English Heritage, the trail has been redesigned for 2023.
The trail itself took us around an hour to complete, with a stop off for a hot drink along the way, so compared to some I’ve been on it isn’t too long and doesn’t require a great deal of walking.
This year the trail takes a shorter route through the grounds, and one that didn’t require the use of any steps like it has in previous years, making it more suitable for people with mobility issues and pushchairs.
Compared to other years the theme of the light show seemed to be more modern, using sequencing and bright lights over the course of the trail.
The trail begins with a walk through the “Luna Rays”, which were made up of brightly coloured long poles that were illuminated, followed by the “Shimmering Chandeliers”, which were hung from the trees on the walk.
The trail then passes through the “Tree of Reflections”, which features a series of glittering disco balls suspended from overhanging tree branches.
Later we passed through the “Illuminated Rose Garden”, which featured red and white illuminated roses set amidst the topiary hedges of the rose garden, and rather put me in mind of Alice in Wonderland.
The next part of the trail was the “Carpet of Colour”, which featured a wide spread of coloured lights that changed colour in synchronisation.
The trail also features a number of other displays from “Dancing Foundations” to illuminated Christmas trees.
If you get hungry or thirsty there is also a stop off point where you can have a festive hot chocolate or glass of something before continuing with the trail.
There are also a number of photo opportunities dotted around the trail for visitors, including an illuminated heart, a picture frame, and a ‘Christmas at Eltham Palace” sign at the start of the trail.
My personal favourite installation took place towards the end of the trail, featuring an appearance of “Jongy”, the beloved pet lemur of the aristocratic family who once lived there.
During this installation Jongy seems to flit from place to place, appearing on the different rocks down below as you walk across the bridge.
Eltham Palace and Gardens' Christmas trail isn’t one of the longest trails, however this year's trail is a lot more accessible and may offer a great option for people looking for a local light trail this Christmas.
What you need to know
The light trail at Eltham Palace and Gardens will be running until December 30, 2023 with slots available from 4pm until 8:30pm.
Tickets start from £20.25 for adults and £15.25 for children during off-peak times and £25.50 for adults and £19.25 for children during peak times.
Children under the age of three and carers are admitted free of charge and English Heritage members can save 33 percent on their tickets.
The trail also hosts Quiet Slots at 4pm and 4:30pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, where the capacity is lower and sound levels are reduced during these times.
Blue badge parking is also available, although booking in advance is required as places are very limited.
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