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From the winter’s darkest nights emerges one of the year’s highlights with luminescent light trails and experiences switching on across Hampshire this Christmas and New Year.
Illuminate your imagination with neon trains, glowing gardens, and twinkling woodland – these winter light trails in Hampshire are sure to bring beaming smiles all around, just add hot chocolate and woolly hats.
Glow Marwell Savannah Animals by Pangea Sculptures. Photo by Kat Gollock
Glow at Marwell Zoo, Winchester
Selected dates 28 November 2025 – 3 January 2026
Glow Marwell returns for another incredible illumination experience to round off 2025 in glimmering gorgeousness.
Synonymous with Marwell’s conservational core, experience the natural wonders of fire, earth, air and water: dive under the sea with jellyfish in a new ocean display, drift amongst neon clouds in the new Sky Zone, stroll in the snow beside the glowing ancient woodland, and tuck into toasted marshmallows at the firepits.
There’s a chance to meet Father Christmas in his festive grotto in Marwell Hall.
Find out more about Glow Marwell at Marwell Zoo
Steam Illuminations at the Watercress Line, Alresford
Selected dates from 28 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
Neon nostalgic steam trains? See the locomotives of the Watercress Line as you’ve never seen them before at the Steam Illuminations when the traditional trains get a modern makeover and are adorned with LED lights inside and out.
With train-tertainment including the Christmas Chart Crackers DJ mix up and New Year Pop Anthems, interactive LED wrist bands, and onboard karaoke, this is one unmissable festive light party!
Find out more about Steam Illuminations at the Watercress Line
Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens at Christmas, Romsey
27 November 2025 – 3 January 2026
Returning for a fourth year in 2025, a new resplendent rendition of Light Up at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens will again add a new depth of winter colour to the beautiful gardens near Romsey.
A breathtaking array of glittering installations will lead visitors around the gardens on this magical trail with a Christmas Wonderland theme featuring mesmerising fire jugglers, breathtaking aerial artists, and larger-than-life characters.
Find out more about Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens at Christmas
White’s Eco Light Festival, Gilbert White's House
20 November - 20 December 2025
Returning for 2025, White’s Eco Light Festival at Gilbert White's House is a light trail experience about wildlife and the natural world using renewable energy sources, solar power and low-level lighting with environmental consciousness at its core, remembering Gilbert White and his internationally important legacy to ecology.
Find out more about White’s Eco Light Festival
Winter Woodland Lights at Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover
Selected dates from 16 January - 1 February 2026
Continuing the bright cheer into the New Year, the Winter Woodland Lights at the Hawk Conservancy should be the first date in your 2026 diary.
After exploring the beautiful woodland light trail, visitors will be treated to a breathtaking evening owl flying display set against the glorious glowing trees.
Find out the Hawk Conservancy Trust
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The Christmas Illuminated Garden Adventure at West Green House Garden, Hook
29 November – 30 December 2025
North Hampshire’s stunning West Green House is known as the Opera Garden and its Christmas Illuminated Garden Adventure has equal theatrical flair with spectacles including a ten-acre wonderland of gigantic shimmering flowers, glowing fairies, a forest of illuminated field flowers, enormous lit waterlilies floating on the lake, and five bridges turned in tunnels of lights.
Find out more about the Christmas Illuminated Garden Adventure at West Green House Garden
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Enlightened Winter Light Trail at Staunton Farm, Havant
4 December – 28 December 2025
Returning to Staunton Farm in Havant from 4 December, Enlightened is a magical outdoor light trail with illuminated installations and interactive elements for the whole family to enjoy.
Expect twinkling tunnels, enchanted woodlands, and immersive lights, all accompanied by ambient music.
Find out more about Enlightened at Staunton Farm
Christmas Evening Lights Trains at Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway
5, 6, 12 & 19 December 2025
The miniature locomotives at Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway near Southampton are a joy any time of the year, but on selected evenings in December, the trains look their Christmassy best when they are illuminated especially for rides around the country park in the dark.
The station will also be decorated with lights for the occasion and yuletide music will bring all the Christmas cheer.
Find out more about Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway
See our full guide to what’s on this Christmas in Hampshire
See our guide to winter in Hampshire
Planning a Christmas break? Take a browse our huge range of accommodation. Hampshire has something for all budgets including hotels, bed and breakfasts, self-catering properties, and cosy traditional holiday cottages.
Related
Make memories to last a lifetime as Glow Marwell's magical light experience returns this winter brighter than ever before! Join Marwell Zoo once again as they invite you to explore Marwell in a whole new light. Follow the enchanted nature light trail through a magical world of breathtaking new displays and interactive experiences that will fill you with wonder.
Steam Illuminations returns to The Watercress Line (November to January). Experience an incredible light show on and in a steam train, consisting of thousands of coloured lights and LED wristbands, creating a kaleidoscope of different colours and flashing patterns, includes 'Canopy of Lights' a sound to light show inside every carriage.
Follow the glow... and experience Hampshire's most magical festive event. Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens returns for 2025 — bigger, brighter and more breathtaking than ever.
A ten-acre wonderland of gigantic shimmering flowers, glowing fairies, and a forest of illuminated field flowers. There are enormous lit waterlilies floating on the lake and the five bridges turned in tunnels of lights. All the garden's follies are wonderfully lit for your enjoyment. An outdoor event with a trail of a mile in length, it is loved by all ages.
Light up your December with a truly magical evening at Staunton Farm's Enlightened trail. From 4 to 28 December, over a mile of the farm will be transformed into an enchanted wonderland filled with specially curated illuminations. Book now and prepare to be dazzled by Enlightened's biggest year yet.
Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway runs every weekend throughout the year and daily during all school holidays. The railway runs from its main station, Eastleigh Parkway, to Monks Brook Halt and then back to Eastleigh Parkway. Trains are usually steam hauled and the journey of 1¼ miles takes about 15-20 minutes. Monks Brook Halt gives an opportunity to visit the lakes, children’s playground or use the adjacent picnic tables.
Our magical Winter Woodland Lights event is back! Unlike any light show, or owl flying display, that you will have ever seen before, you'll experience beautiful illuminations and a live owl display set in a stunning, colourful woodland.
Delve into the story of Gilbert White, discover our collections in a whole new light, and unlock your passion and an excitement for wildlife and the natural world around us. Journey through the house and gardens as we open the pages of The Natural History of Selborne and bring your imagination to life, learning more about the creatures which 18th century naturalist White identified, and how we can protect them today. Prepare to discover the plight of the harvest mouse, the noctule bat, follow the mesmerising journey of swifts and swallows, and then head out into the starry night to be enchanted by a mystical world of captivating light installations in a unique light trail.
