Wimpole Hall Christmas Illuminations, Cambridgeshire Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS EXPERIENCE WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST/S FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.
Reviewed by Gemma F
Well, what a way to kick start our Christmas celebrations! On a suitably cold and crisp night we were invited to experience Wimpole Christmas Illumination Trail at the impressive Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire. Billed as ‘a magical trail with new lights for 2024’ this seasonal spectacular is created by award-winning, internationally acclaimed light trail producers, Raymond Gubbay Ltd (Sony Music) in partnership with the National Trust.
On entering the Wimpole Estate by car you will find that there is ample car parking which is free for National Trust members. There is a short accessible walk from the car park is the main entrance and toilet facilities where we were greeted by tempting street food vendors offering a good selection of treats and fast food, from pizzas to hot chocolate. Within the same area there is a joyful mini fairground which was thoroughly enjoyed by all! Rides were priced at £3 each and tickets for this cashless event can be purchased in advance online or on site.
After a stroll around the fair (with a fantastic hot chocolate!) we walked a little further and entered the Fire Garden. This garden absolutely lived up to its dramatic name with hundreds of individually lit torch lanterns on either side of the pathway giving a dramatic first taste of what was to come; it was a fascinating sight! We excitedly began our walk along this truly amazing trail of illuminations with over a million twinkling lights, accompanied by seasonal sounds which added to the magic of the experience. The trail is fully accessible and is a 1.5 mile wonder walk that takes approximately 90 minutes to enjoy. The huge Christmas tree standing proudly in front of the majestic Wimpole Hall is incredible and was the perfect stop for a quick family Christmas photo opportunity! This experience will keep families entertained at every turn, from neon trees to larger-than-life snowdrops and cyclamen to fairy tale wicker scenes and hot air balloons, it is truly out of this world! For us, the stand out moment of this night was the mesmerizing light show, which showered Wimpole Hall with colour and was accompanied by classical music, which only added to this fabulous festive treat. It was fabulous.
And just when we thought our excitement had peaked….a certain jolly chap with a white beard dressed in red, cheerily chatted to us all along the way as he stood in front of his log cabin. Thank you Wimpole Hall for this wonderful visit from Santa!
We came to the final chapter of the trail, Candy Cane Lane, with an opportunity to purchase hot food including gyros, loaded chips and hot dogs, all very welcoming on a cold evening!
The Christmas illuminations Trail at Wimpole is a truly unforgettable seasonal experience, it’s a magical evening with wondrous sights and sounds. I challenge you to find a more Christmassy way to spend an evening!
Rating: 5/5
Wimpole Christmas Illuminations can be enjoyed from 22nd November 2024-1st January 2025.
Tickets cost from £18 for a child and £24 for an adult. Family tickets are available.
Wimpole Hall, Wimpole Estate, Arrington, Royston SG8 0BW
01332 206000