Hillier Gardens from 26 November (adults £22 to £27), Steam Illuminations from Alresford (£37 a seat), Marwell, West Green House, Selborne and the Cathedral.
Six Christmas light trails are within reach of Winchester this year, and all six have published their 2026 dates and prices. The biggest is Light Up at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, between Winchester and Romsey, from Thursday 26 November. The Watercress Line’s Steam Illuminations train runs from Alresford from Friday 27 November. Inside the city, the Cathedral’s light show is the only one, and it lasts six nights.
The quick answer
- Hillier Gardens, Ampfield: 26 November to 1 January, selected dates, daily from 15 December. Adults £22 to £27, children £14 to £19. Free parking.
- Steam Illuminations, Alresford: 27 November to 2 January. £37 a seat, under-2s free. About 1 hour 45 minutes. No Father Christmas.
- Fire and Ice, Marwell Zoo: 20 November to 30 December on selected dates, 4pm to 7.30pm.
- Museum By Moonlight, Selborne: 12 evenings from 3 December. Adults from £13.50, children from £9.50.
- Once Upon a Time, West Green House: 21 evenings from 28 November. Adults £25, children £21 on the opening night.
- The Gift, Winchester Cathedral: 14 to 19 December only. Adults from £12, children £8.
Side by side
| Trail | Dates | Adult | Child | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Up, Hillier Gardens | 26 Nov to 1 Jan | £22 to £27 | £14 to £19 | £69 to £89 |
| Steam Illuminations, Alresford | 27 Nov to 2 Jan | £37 a seat | £37 a seat (under 2 free) | Compartment for 6, £265 |
| Fire and Ice, Marwell Zoo | 20 Nov to 30 Dec | See our Marwell page | ||
| Museum By Moonlight, Selborne | 3 to 22 Dec | £13.50 to £15 | £9.50 to £10 | No family ticket |
| Once Upon a Time, West Green House | 28 Nov to 30 Dec | £25 | £21 | £79 |
| The Gift, Winchester Cathedral | 14 to 19 Dec | From £12 | £8 | £36 |
West Green House prices are for 28 November, the first night; the booking page prices each date separately.
Light Up at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
The Hillier Gardens trail is the closest big trail to the city, on Jermyns Lane at Ampfield (SO51 0QA), and is run by Light Up Trails. Hampshire County Council’s event listing gives the dates: Thursday 26 November 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027, open on selected dates at first and every night from 15 December, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. You book a 15-minute arrival slot between 4.30pm and 8pm. Children must be with an adult, under-2s are free and only registered assistance dogs are allowed.
The trail has eight zones, from The Arrival to a Christmas village with food and drink, and the House of Bloom at the end. Prices depend on the night (Light Up Trails):
| Ticket | Super Peak | Peak | Off Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | £27 | £24.50 | £22 |
| Child | £19 | £17.50 | £14 |
| Family (2 adults, 2 children) | £89 | £81 | £69 |
A £2 booking fee is added to each order. Super Peak nights are the only ones with live performers on the trail, and they are Saturday 5, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December, then every night from Friday 18 to Thursday 24 December (Super Peak nights). If you want a quieter, cheaper evening, pick a weeknight before 15 December.
Parking is free across the Gardens car park, the Hillier Nurseries car park and the Ganger Farm overflow over the road. Spaces cannot be reserved. Without a car, the Stagecoach 66 between Winchester and Romsey stops at Hillier Arboretum, near the entrance (location and parking). Arrive after the final entry time and you will not be let in.
Steam Illuminations on the Watercress Line
This one is a ride, not a walk. A steam train lit inside and out with thousands of synchronised LED lights runs from Friday 27 November 2026 to Saturday 2 January 2027, with a host, live entertainers and an LED wristband for every passenger to keep (Watercress Line). Up to 28 December the soundtrack is Christmas songs; from 29 December to 2 January it switches to a “Party Anthems” edition.
- Where from: Alresford or Alton, and you return to the station you started from. Alresford has the Christmas village, the talking trees and the only accessible carriage.
- How long: about 1 hour 45 minutes; the railway says allow two hours.
- Prices: £37 a seat, £47 in First Class, £265 for a compartment for up to six, £300 for a First Class compartment. Under-2s are free on a lap; everyone two and over needs a seat. A £2.50 booking fee applies.
- Sold out? If Alresford or Alton does not appear when you pick a date, that station is sold out for that day.
- Father Christmas is not on this train. He has his own Father Christmas Express in December.
The railway warns there are many flashing lights, so the ride may not suit people with epilepsy. Alresford station’s car park is a council pay and display.
Fire and Ice at Marwell Zoo
Marwell’s evening trail of illuminations, fire and ice effects and live performance is new this year. It runs on selected dates from Friday 20 November to Wednesday 30 December, 4pm to 7.30pm, and you can add Santa’s grotto at Marwell Hall (Marwell Zoo). Every date and ticket price is on our Fire and Ice page.
Museum By Moonlight at Gilbert White’s House
Gilbert White’s House in Selborne puts on a penguin light trail through the museum and garden on 12 evenings: Thursday 3 to Saturday 5 December, Thursday 10 to Saturday 12 December, then every night from Thursday 17 to Tuesday 22 December. Entry slots run from 4pm to 6.30pm. Thursdays cost £13.50 for adults and £9.50 for children; other nights are £15 and £10. Booking by Halloween, 31 October, saves 10% (Gilbert White’s House). More on our penguin light trail page.
Once Upon a Time at West Green House
West Green House Gardens, near Hook in north Hampshire, has a kilometre-long illuminated trail of fairy-tale creatures through its lakes and gardens on 21 evenings from Saturday 28 November to Wednesday 30 December, with entry slots from 4.30pm to 7pm (West Green House). On the six weekend dates up to 13 December (28 and 29 November, 5, 6, 12 and 13 December) a petting zoo is included. For 28 November the booking page lists adults at £25, children at £21, a family ticket for two adults and two children or one adult and three children at £79, and parking at £4 (28 November booking page).
The Gift at Winchester Cathedral
The only light show in the city itself is Luxmuralis’s sound and light installation inside the Cathedral, Monday 14 to Saturday 19 December, with timed entry from 6.30pm to 9pm. Adults are from £12, children aged 3 to 16 are £8 and a family ticket is £36. The 6.30pm slots on 16 and 19 December have already sold out (Winchester Cathedral). Our Cathedral light show page has the slot times. For free lights in town, the Christmas lights switch-on is on Thursday 19 November and the Lantern Parade on Monday 23 November.
Which to pick
- Cheapest night out for a family: Museum By Moonlight on a Thursday, or Hillier Gardens on an off-peak night at £69 for four.
- Closest without a car: The Gift, in the city centre, or Hillier Gardens on the number 66 bus.
- Most of a show: a Super Peak night at Hillier Gardens, or Steam Illuminations, which has a host and entertainers on board.
- Youngest children: West Green House on a petting zoo weekend.
Driving to any of them? Check our roadworks and travel page for closures on the night. Parking in the city for The Gift is on our parking in Winchester page.
Sources
- Hampshire County Council: Light Up at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
- Light Up Trails: tickets and prices, Super Peak nights, location and parking
- Watercress Line: Steam Illuminations
- Marwell Zoo: Christmas at Marwell
- Gilbert White’s House: Museum By Moonlight
- West Green House Gardens: Christmas
- Winchester Cathedral: The Gift by Luxmuralis
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