Warwick Castle Light Trail Review (Christmas at the Castle)
Last Christmas, my family and I took a visit to Christmas at the Castle at Warwick Castle to make the most of their Christmas celebrations and despite it not being cheap, we had an absolutely wonderful time. As the Christmas light trail at Warwick Castle is something that is likely to return year after year, I thought I’d share my (unsponsored) review for those who are considering going either this year. In 2024, the Warwick Castle Light Trail is open from the 23rd of November 2024 and runs until Sunday 5th January 2025. This year promises to be bigger and better than ever, with illuminations in breathtaking surroundings that’ll make it a top christmas event to visit near Birmingham and Warwick.
What is the Warwick Castle Christmas Light Trail?
The Warwick Castle Christmas Light Trail is an after dark at experience as part of Christmas at the Castle at Warwick Castle. It can be purchased as a stand alone experience, or alongside a day trip to Warwick Castle, with the latter working out the best value for money when you consider the wealth of other entertainment and history to experience at the castle itself. We have been to Warwick Castle many times over the last year, so we opted just to do the Warwick Castle Light Trail and outdoor ice skating experiences, but if you haven’t been recently, attractions such as the Zog’s Playground, Horrible Histories Maze, Trebuchet, Falconer’s Quest birds of pray show and other seasonal acts make it certainly worth a visit. You can see our full Warwick Castle review here.
The light trail involves walking through a illuminated experience around the Castle’s iconic grounds and gardens, with a combination of music and light displays, projections, light tunnels and light shows, as well as plenty of photo opportunities to capture some memories with your family.
When does the Warwick Castle Light Trail run?
In 2024, the Warwick Castle Christmas Light Trail runs from the 23rd November 2024 until 5th January 2025. Sessions need to be booked online in advance, or can (subject to availability) be added onto your day ticket on the day at the ticket booths.
How much does it cost?
The Warwick Castle light trail prices are the same as 2023 prices – starting at £16.50 each, and this is a fixed price for children over 3 years. I would have liked to have seen a reduced price for children as it makes it a pretty hefty price tag for a family of four just for a short experience, however, if you are combining it with a visit to the castle. a castle and light trail experience combination has prices starting at £27.50 which offers much better value for money.
How long does the experience last?
The Light trail lasts around 45 minutes depending on how fast you walk through the trail. There is however the oportunity to stop halfway through for a drink / sit down and warm up by the heaters. It’s also worth mentioning that in theory you can walk around the trail as many times as you like, although I think it unlikely you’d want to do it more than once, especially if you have young children who may tire easily. We did ask to pop back through the beginning once more at the end as it was a little quieter in the light tunnel as we were leaving, and I couldn’t resist a second shot at some photographs! (Standard practice from me!)
What photo opportunities are there?
If you like having your camera with you, the light trail is a photographer’s dream (although it can be very difficult to capture the lights properly on a camera – as you can see from my fairly ameteur shots!). There are three or four photo ‘frames’ dotted around the trail, allowing you to take photos of your family with the lights in the background, and they even have selfie posts, so you can prop your camera on a timer and snap a pic with you all in – helpful if you’re visiting as a solo adult with kids or even on your own.
My other favourite photo opportunities were – peeking around the star on the hill, walking through the light tunnel at the beginning, crossing the bridge over to the trebuchet, and of course in front of the giant Christmas Tree on the main castle square.
Are there toilets?
We saw two lots of toilets during the trail in 2023 – one at the very beginning by the ice rink and another around halfway through the trail. They are what I would describe as ‘posh’ portacabin toilets, and although they were a bit muddy on the floor on the night we visited, they were generally good and easily accessible.
Are there any places to eat?
If you arrive a little bit early for your light trail, there are some fun market stalls selling food which are a fun way to add to the festive experience. We bought a stick of three giant marshmallows (I think they were £5 each) and a tray of fries for £3.50 (which were absolutely delicious). There were also stands selling mulled wine, alcohol and hot chocolate which would be lovely if you fancied making more of an evening of it with friends. The girls loved toasting their marshmallows over the fire, despite the weather not being particularly generous to us on our visit!
Overall thoughts on Warwick Castle Light Trail
We really enjoyed the light trail at Warwick Castle. I particularly liked the combination of lights and music, with some really festive and classical songs where the lights triggered in time with the music, making it quite an impressive display. There were also lots of projections up the trees, and lighting up the night sky, as well as an entire section dedicated to the 12 days of Christmas. The paths were a little muddy in parts, but overall the light trail is very accessible including those in wheelchairs or with pushchairs for younger children. You may want to wear wellies if visiting after a period of heavy rain, although they had placed rubber matting to try and prevent any muddy or slippy sections from occurring.
We took around 40 minutes to walk through the trail but didn’t choose to stop at the midway point. By the end, Neve (7) was fairly tired, so we felt that this was just the right length if visiting with kids in tow.
The experience obviously doesn’t come cheap, so if were to visit again I would definitely combine it with a full day at the castle to get the most out of our experience.
Pros of the Warwick Castle Light Trail
- A fun new way to explore the castle grounds and see them like you never have before
- Plenty of festive photo opportunities including ‘frames’
- Fun music to enhance the experience
- Sensory friendly dates available for those who may find loud music or flashing lights over stimulating
- 45 minute experience with the option to go around again should you wish
- Didn’t feel too busy or overcrowded
- Food and drink options which we felt were fairly good value for money compared to some ‘festival’ prices and good sized portions.
Cons of the Warwick Castle Light Trail
- Parking is chargeable (although reduced to £3 for evening parking) so you need to factor this into the overall; price
- Car park is a relatively long walk away from the Castle which can be really tiring for younger children especially in the evenings
- Expensive for a family if visiting light trail alone.
Hints and tips for families visiting the Warwick Castle Light Trail
Here are some hints and tips to make the most of your experience:
- Wrap up warm, if its a cold and icy night it can feel quite exposed when walking around the trail
- The track is pushchair friendly but if its been particularly muddy, you may prefer to use a baby carrier if visiting with very young guests.
- Combine with a day ticket to get the best value for money
- Encourage younger children to go for a wee before you start the trail – as the loos aren’t till around half way through
- Although its nice to have a marshmallow stick each – you probably only need one as there are 3 on each stick
- Don’t rush – being at the back means you often get the best pictures without lots of other people in the background
You can learn more about the Warwick Castle Light trail (when its running) here – Warwick Castle Light Trail
