Mudpie Fridays >> Christmas Days Out >> Leeds Castle Christmas Lights 2023 – Everything you need to know

Leeds Castle Christmas Lights 2023 – Everything you need to know

We always enjoy a Christmas light trail and have been fortunate to try a number of local ones in Sussex, Surrey and Kent. So we were delighted to try out historic Leeds Castle Christmas lights which was a new Christmas light trail last year. Back for its second year after the huge success of 2022. We were very excited to see the new Christmas trail which promised to have some beautiful larger-than-life light installations.

If you are thinking of visiting this magical festive trail then here is everything you need to know before you go.

AD Press Tickets. We were invited to the brand-new Christmas trail at Leeds Castle Christmas for the purpose of this review. All words and opinions are my own.

Table of Contents

Everything you need to know about Leeds Castle Christmas Lights

How to get to Leeds Castle Christmas Lights

Leeds Castle is located in the heart of Kent (not Leeds) around seven miles from Maidstone. When we visited we drove, it was easy to reach just off of Junction 8 on the M20. It is signposted with brown tourist signs. The castle is not easy to reach by public transport and in the evening your best option is to travel by train to either Bearsted or Hollingbourne. And then get a taxi from the station. Although I would plan ahead and arrange a booking in advance, as the smaller stations may not have taxi ranks.

On the website, it recommends that you follow the brown signs instead of your sat nav once you reach the A20. As sat nav can lead you to a private entrance which is not in use. Which is what we experienced.

The postcode for the sat nav is ME17 1RG

Leeds Castle Christmas Lights Tickets

Tickets for the illuminated trail are available through the SEE Tickets website. Prices start at £22.50 for adult tickets, over 2s are £16.00 with children 2 and under being free. They also offer a family ticket which is for two adults and two children £74. Tickets should be booked in advance due to the limited capacity. At the time of booking, you select a timed slot which runs every 15 minutes between 4.15 pm and the last entry at 8 pm each day. A number of the dates for December are already sold out. I am expecting Leeds Castle trail to be a very popular Christmas trail.

Annual admission tickets are not included. The Leeds Christmas Light trail tickets do not give you access to the castle or any of the other attractions outside of the Christmas trial.

Parking at Leeds Castle Christmas light trail

When you purchase tickets you will also need to add a parking space to your Leeds Castle Christmas light trails ticket selection. There are separate charges for the car park costs £6 and is either included in your family of four tickets or can be added to an adult ticket. You do get a reminder before you arrive but they will check that you have a parking ticket at the top of the entrance. So make sure you have it ready.

One of the things that we really liked about Leeds Castle is that it is all on a hardstanding and there is plenty of it. The carpark is well lit and there is plenty of parking. Although you will be directed into spaces by the staff. Blue badge parking is also available near the entrance to the trail. You need to select this when you purchase your tickets.

Fairground rides at Leeds Castle

You can also purchase ride tokens in advance which are £3 each. Each ride will take one token per go and they have different height requirements. The rides are located right next to the undercover eating area. Near the entrance, there is a little hut where you can buy tokens. If you buy tokens in advance then you still need to collect them at the hut before going on the rides. The hut takes card only. The following fairground rides are available at Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle:

Chair ‘O’ Planes (minimum height requirement of 1.2m)
Children’s Balloon Ride (minimum age requirement of 3 years old)
Christmas Train Ride (minimum age requirement of 3 years old)
Cups and Saucers (minimum age requirement of 3 years old)

Food & Drink at Christmas at Leeds Castle

We came straight from school so the boys were both starving when we arrived. As you enter the festive light trail, there is a small cafe opposite the shop. This sold hot and cold drinks and plenty of seasonal snack. The boys were keen to find the hand-picked street food vendors so we decided to give the cafe a miss and head into the trail.

As you enter you can check the map which shows you where the festive food is located. The magical Christmas trail takes a new route from last year with the eating area a lot closer to the start of the trail. Located opposite the castle itself.

The main options were German hot dogs and burgers. They had vegan options as well. There was also a Greek food vendor and Boo Buns. For those looking for a sweet treat there was a popcorn stand and a churros stand.

There is also the opportunity to get a cup of mulled wine or cider for the perfectly festive spiced Winter warmer. Along with the usual hot and cold drinks and the boys loved the hot chocolate. There is also a stop on the trail where you can try toasted marshmallows on fire pits over an open fire. With three different flavours of tasty treats to choose from and cost £1.80 each.

Unlike last year I was pleased to see plenty of seating under cover which is always good during this time of year.

How long do you need at Leeds Castle Christmas Light trail?

As you enter there is a map, which I would suggest taking a photo of. So that you can work out how close you are to amenities. Each of the enchanting illuminations is clearly signposted so it is easy to spot where you are. You can also find out more about each seasonal colour display by scanning the QR code on the sign.

We spent just over two hours and a half hours enjoying the larger-than-life illuminations and seasonal soundtracks. The trail itself is 2.41km long. I do think we really took our time with this trial enjoying everything it had to offer. As well as queuing for food and drink. It is buggy-friendly and another plus point is that the pathway all around the trail is hard. It does have some inclines but none are significant.

Leeds Castle Christmas lights what to expect

There is so much to see and many of the displays at Leeds Castle Christmas lights are new installations and different to the ones that I have seen elsewhere. Plus the wide range of festive music is brilliant. In our experience of visiting other trails run by the same people. They do move the light installations around to create lots of variety. Plus Leeds Castle itself is spectacular.

Here is a brief rundown of favourites and what to expect. When you pass through the entrance to the castle grounds. There is a large Christmas at Leeds Castle sign projected onto the floor. This leads down to a small lake, which you can look out over and see a Christmas Tree made of lights and its waterside reflections.

The Light Installations

There are several new displays in the after-dark trail

Chandelier Walkway – This is the first one you come across after walking along a pathway with Christmas jokes. A long avenue of trees all lit up with sparkling chandeliers hanging amongst them. The Chandelier walk sets the scene for the rest of this light display which is probably one of the classiest we have been to.
12 Days of Christmas – A beautiful display of willow figurines symbolising the well-known festive song. With Leeds Castle being the perfect backdrop and giant LEEDS CASTLE letters which light up against the night sky.
Shooting Stars – a row of shooting stars leads you to the independent street food vendors and fairground.
Leeds Castle Show – This has got to be ‘the’ display of the trail. With a stunning light show projected onto the castle that reflects onto the moat and unique landscape surrounding it. With Christmas music playing you can not help but stop to take it all in. Stunning. Absolutely stunning
Carol of the Bells – This is another beautiful display with giant baubles that change colour as the music plays. At one point all the colours of the rainbow are on show. Make sure you walk around this and see it from the different angles.
Spiral Spinners – Simple yet effective green Christmas trees in spirals, with twisting lights on the ground as well.
Father Christmas – As you make your way around the trail you will come across the marshmallows stand and catch a magical glimpse of Father Christmas.

And more…

Heart Walk – As you round the corner you come across a series of large hearts covered in different size sequins. All catching the lights slightly differently and in different directions.
Christmas Cathedral – A light trail is not a light trail without an iconic Christmas cathedral of lights. They are still my favourite display. There is something very special about the high arch and bright white lights.
Feast of Light – This is the fire garden. Where giant cut-out orbs are surrounded with paraffin lamps.
Pixel Tree – You can not help but spot this as you arrive with its reflection in the lake. We stopped and watched the Christmas tree cycle through its whole selection of colours and patterns.
Sparkly Bridge – As part of the trail you walk through various lit-up pathways and bridges.
Heart Arch Walk – Another favourite, it may not be as striking as the tunnels of light but it offers up the same photo opportunities and is a wonderful way to end the magical illuminations – with selfies under the heart

Christmas at Leeds Castle

We absolutely loved our visit to this captivating light trail with so much festive fun and had an unforgettable time. The stunning moated castle has to be one of the most magical after-dark light trail we have been on. Tickets are still available at selected dates through the rest of November into December. I would not hesitate to go again on this festive adventure.

Don’t forget to save some time to visit the gift shop by the entrance to start your Christmas shopping from the splendid array of seasonal gifts. Find out more and book your tickets on the Christmas at Leeds Castle website.

Christmas at Leeds Castle is run by light trail specialists Raymond Gubbay Ltd a division of Sony Music in conjunction with Culture Creative. The production management company operates at various prestigious venues across the UK. Including Blenheim Palace (24th November to 31st of December) and Bedgebury Pinetum (18th November to 31st of December).

Have you visited Leeds Castle Christmas lights to see the new Christmas lights or visited festive lights recently? I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.

Wishing you a wonderful festive season and the merriest Christmas.