Christmas At Belton, Lincolnshire Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS EXPERIENCE WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST/S FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.
Reviewed by Julie Hayward
Christmas at Belton is a magical event happening after dark, in the grounds of the National Trust property Belton House, located near Grantham in Lincolnshire.
The light trail is the perfect place to set the scene for the festive season. Allow about an hour and a half to make your way along the paths, lit up with hundreds of lights in fabulous scenes, with floating candles, lights dancing upon the water and Belton House itself is even used as a canvas for the illuminated images.
I think my favourite scene, is the hundreds of tiny multi coloured lights that are staked into the ground; to form a flower meadow, they covered a vast expanse into the distance. It is a simple idea that was very effective.
We were very fortunate, as there had been a recent snowfall that had settled on the grounds, which really added to the magical scenes, of being in a real winter wonderland.
You can walk through arched tunnels of bright lights and see beautifully coloured trees; the whole place is glowing with twinkly lights.
Make sure you are wrapped up warm with hats and gloves as everything takes place outdoors, there are places to eat at either end of the trail and a small fairground for the children to enjoy. There is also a much-welcomed bar to stop off at, halfway. Where you can take a break, warm up with a nice warm drink. We had a hot chocolate, which was delicious. You can also toast your own marshmallows over an open fire-pit.
Wear appropriate footwear, the paths are a bit uneven and could become slippery if icy or wet, although they were well gritted due to the recent snowfall. All the route is level, so shouldn’t be a problem if you have any mobility issues. It is well laid out and there are stewards are on hand throughout. The grounds are quite spacious, so nowhere gets too crowded, which is good for families or those who may become overwhelmed.
I enjoyed the music which is played to accompany the scenes, some are calming carols, classical pieces and poppy Christmas favourites that you can bob along to, all adding to the excitement of the Christmas period.
We were lucky enough to see Father Christmas along the route, which was a real treat for young and the young at heart. He smiled and waved wishing everyone a ‘Merry Christmas’. It was lovely to see excited little children saying, ‘we saw Santa’.
I do think it is value for money, there are family tickets available, and it is probably in the same price range as other similar events. You do need to book and pay extra for parking and blue badge holders also need to pay, so this is an additional cost to bear in mind. But I would say book in advance and have a lovely festive evening planned in your diary, to enjoy with family and friends. It is something all ages can enjoy together.
Rating: 4.5
Tickets cost from £10 for a child under 16, adults start from £15 if bought in advance.
Christmas at Belton takes place from 22nd November 2024 to the 1st January 2024
For more information or to purchase tickets click on the link below:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/belton-estate/christmas-lights-at-belton
National Trust Belton House, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG32 2LS