Museum By Moonlight runs on 12 evenings at Gilbert White's House in Selborne from 3 December, with glowing penguins, a giant moon and a real Antarctic tent.
Gilbert White’s House & Gardens in Selborne is running a Christmas light trail on 12 evenings in December, built around penguins, starry skies and the polar expedition of Captain Lawrence Oates. Museum By Moonlight: A Penguin Light Trail opens on Thursday 3 December and runs to Tuesday 22 December, with timed entry from 4pm. Adult tickets are £13.50 on Thursdays and £15 on other nights; children’s are £9.50 and £10.
The museum, an independent charity in the South Downs National Park, sent us the details this week. Its event page adds that anyone who books before Halloween gets 10% off.
The quick answer
- Dates: Thursday 3, Friday 4 and Saturday 5 December; Thursday 10, Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December; then every night from Thursday 17 to Tuesday 22 December.
- Entry: in time slots at 4pm, 4.30pm, 5pm, 5.30pm, 6pm and 6.30pm.
- Prices: Thursdays (off-peak) adults £13.50, children £9.50. Every other night (peak) adults £15, children £10. 10% off if you book before 31 October.
- Where: Gilbert White’s House & Gardens, The Wakes, High Street, Selborne, GU34 3JH.
- Book: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk.
What is on the trail
The museum describes the evening as “a journey of discovery inspired by penguins, starry skies and extraordinary stories of polar exploration”. Outside there is “a giant glowing moon, lit up penguins in the gardens and projections of the constellations”, along with festive lights and glowing arches. Children can do Christmas crafts, dress up as a polar explorer and “step inside a real Antarctic tent”.
Much of it is indoors. The trail goes through the Oates gallery, which tells the story of Lawrence Oates and his place in Scott’s ill-fated expedition, and through the museum’s winter exhibition on Emperor Penguins, “full of amazing facts and penguin activities”. The release suggests trying to waddle with a penguin egg on your feet. The event page lists a recreation of Captain Scott’s midwinter feast and torches for uncovering “some secrets in the museum”, and the release mentions light tunnels and a chance to explore the historic rooms by torchlight.
The café serves festive food, mulled wine and penguin biscuits. The event page gives its hours as 4pm to 8.15pm, with last orders at 7.45pm.
Lights that leave the wildlife alone
The museum says it “does their Christmas light trail differently”. The outdoor lighting “avoids wildlife-disrupting uplighting, helping to protect the garden’s wildlife while creating a special atmosphere for visitors”. On the event page it puts it this way: the lights are “designed with wildlife in mind, using carefully considered lighting that disturbs nature as little as possible”.
Closing time and the weather
The press release gives opening as 4pm to 8.30pm; the booking page says 4pm to 8.15pm. Either way the last entry slot is 6.30pm, so plan to arrive by then.
Because so much of the trail is inside, the museum says families “are guaranteed an adventure whatever the weather”. Its event page adds that in high winds parts of the outdoor section may be changed for safety and the moon may not go up as planned. If extreme weather forces it to cancel a night, everyone booked gets a full refund.
What it means for you
On the published prices a family of two adults and two children pays £46 on a Thursday or £50 on another night, before the early-booking discount. Thursdays 3, 10 and 17 December are the off-peak nights. Time slots are limited, so book through the museum’s event page rather than turning up. If you are planning other outings, our guides to the Winchester Cathedral Christmas light show and Christmas at Marwell have their dates and prices.
Gilbert White’s House & Gardens is on 01420 511275 or info@gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk.
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