Over the years, a few festive outings have become Christmas traditions for us. Seeing Father Christmas on the Bluebell Railway and visiting the seasonal light trails at either Leonardslee or Wakehurst.
Glow Wild at Wakehurst, Leonardslee Lights and Tulleys Christmas Light Festival have announced their 2026 dates, giving Sussex families three outdoor evening outings to consider from late November onwards.
This guide brings together the organisers’ advertised dates and prices, with addresses and the practical checks to make before booking. All three run on selected evenings, so the overall date range does not mean they open every night.
Booking guide
Compare the same date and family ages
Prices below are advertised admission rates checked on 20 October 2026, not completed checkout quotes. Check the final total, including any compulsory booking or transaction fee, before paying. Food, drinks and optional extras are separate, but keep some budget for mulled wine or cider, hot chocolate and marshmallows to roast.
Sussex Christmas light trails: 2026 dates and prices
The family examples use two adults and children aged eight and 12. That avoids treating a teenager as a child at an event where the adult price starts at 14. Parking is included at all three venues.
| Event | Selected dates | Family admission example | Price qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glow Wild, Wakehurst | 27 November 2026–2 January 2027 for the general public | £67.50 off-peak; £83.50 standard; £90.75 peak | Published non-member family ticket |
| Leonardslee Lights | 27 November–30 December 2026 | From £58 | Published two-adult, two-child family ticket; date-dependent |
| Tulleys Christmas Light Festival | 27 November–30 December 2026 | From £81.80, calculated from the lowest listed individual prices | Illustration, not a dedicated family ticket or a verified dated basket |
Map of Sussex Christmas light trails
Find Glow Wild at Wakehurst, Leonardslee Lights and Tulleys Christmas Light Festival on the map below. Select a pin for the venue address, dates and official event information.
The pins show venue locations. Follow your ticket instructions and event signs for entrances and parking, and check the access information for each trail before booking.
Glow Wild at Wakehurst
Wakehurst’s evening trail takes roughly an hour at a reasonable pace and covers just over a mile over the grounds in a directed loop. The season starts with a members’ preview on 26 November; general public dates begin the following evening. A Glow Wild ticket is separate from daytime garden admission.
Wakehurst describes the route as suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, while noting slopes and uneven surfaces. Mobility scooters must be reserved in advance. Relaxed sessions are offered nightly, with selected reduced-sensory sessions also listed in the programme. Only assistance dogs are permitted.
The route is pretty easy to walk, the decorations magical. There are a varied selection of light installations, projections onto the side of Wakehurst House, and illuminated animals along the woodland paths. The route previously ended by the biggest Christmas tree you’ll ever see, with vans serving street food and drinks.
Address and getting to Wakehurst
Wakehurst, Selsfield Road, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, RH17 6TN. Follow the event signs rather than relying solely on satnav, which can direct visitors to the wrong entrance. Under-fours need their own free ticket. Check the booked arrival slot and allow time to park.
For Wakehurst’s wider visitor arrangements and how it differs from other heritage destinations, see our Sussex National Trust and English Heritage guide. Use the Glow Wild booking information above for the separate evening event.
Leonardslee Lights, near Horsham
Leonardslee’s 2026 production, A Midwinter Light’s Dream – A Garden Awakening, combines light, sound and live performance through the gardens. The organiser advertises adult tickets from £18.50 for ages 17 and over, child tickets from £13.50 for ages two to 16, and the family option shown above. Under-twos enter free.
Quiet Night is scheduled for 10 December, with reduced capacity and lower sound levels. This does not change the terrain, there is a steep descent into the valley and an uphill gravel return, and the guide says these slopes are unsuitable for wheelchairs. It advises mobility-scooter users to assess the route carefully. The garden’s mobility scooters and wheelchairs are not available to hire during the event.
There are multiple mid-point stopping opportunities for refreshments.
Address and getting to Leonardslee
Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, Brighton Road, Lower Beeding, Horsham, RH13 6PP. The entrance is on the A281. Drivers should allow at least 15 minutes to park and reach the entrance before their slot.
A specific admission-and-shuttle ticket offers return transport from Horsham station or the Carfax on selected evenings. Check the date and return arrangements when booking; the shuttle is not automatically included with every ticket.
Tulleys Christmas Light Festival, near Crawley
Tulleys’ 2026 calendar runs from 27 November to 30 December on selected nights. The opening evening includes a press night with limited public tickets. Make sure you are booking the Light Festival, Tulleys also runs a separate Christmas Experience.
The official ticket listing advertises adults aged 14 and over at £22.95 to £33.95 and children aged two to 13 at £17.95 to £28.95, depending on the date. Under-twos enter free. A family with a 14-year-old therefore needs a different calculation from the example in our table.
The accessibility guide describes woodland terrain, gravel, inclines and uneven surfaces. Weather can affect wheelchair, mobility-scooter and buggy access, and shorter alternatives miss some displays. Accessible toilets and Blue Badge parking are available. The organiser also says strobe lighting is used, an important point for visitors who need to avoid it.
For 2026, essential-companion tickets use the Nimbus Access Card or Tulleys Digital Access Pass process. Read the companion-ticket instructions early enough to apply where necessary. Dogs on leads are permitted and the event is cashless.
Address and getting to Tulleys
Tulleys Christmas Light Festival, Turners Hill Road, Turners Hill, near Crawley; satnav RH10 4PD. Use the Light Festival’s arrival instructions and your booked entry time when planning the journey. Parking is included.
How to choose the right trail for your family
Start with the practical requirements that would rule a trip in or out. Check the whole route if anyone uses a wheelchair or mobility scooter, the age band for every child, and whether the available entry time suits your family’s evening. A quiet session and a physically accessible route answer different needs.
For families travelling without a car, plan the return journey before buying tickets as none are particularly easy.
If you are in East Sussex towards Tunbridge Wells, Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest (Cranbrook TN17 2SJ) have Christmas Lights too which is an alternate option.
Before paying
Check the complete booking
- Choose the date and arrival slot, then check every visitor’s age category.
- Confirm the final price and remove any optional extras you do not want.
- Read the event’s route, sensory and companion-ticket information.
- Check transport home and the cancellation or exchange terms.
What happens if it rains?
These are outdoor winter events, so plan for cold weather, waterproof clothing and suitable footwear. Read the terms for the event you choose, and check the organiser’s messages before setting off if the weather is poor but in my experience it’s always gone ahead (although understandably no performers on stilts).
Dates, advertised prices and visitor arrangements checked against the organisers’ official pages on 20 October 2026, including Tulleys’ event FAQs. Availability and final booking charges should be checked for the visit you choose.
More festive and family ideas
- Sussex Christmas markets for festive shopping on a date that suits your trip.
- Indoor outings across Sussex for a separate daytime activity or wet-weather alternative.
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