One of Wiltshire’s biggest Christmas attractions has returned, with more than 1,000 lanterns lighting up Longleat as the estate officially opened its Festival of Light for 2026.
The spectacular display was switched on during a special ceremony on Friday evening (6 November), with Lord and Lady Bath leading the countdown outside Longleat House.
This year’s event, titled Legendary Worlds, takes visitors on a journey through mythical landscapes, ancient civilisations and larger-than-life creatures, with the estate promising its biggest collection of lantern scenes to date.
From the Lost City of Atlantis to King Arthur’s Round Table, the displays have been designed to transport visitors into some of the world’s best-known legends.
Giant whale and mythical creatures among this year’s attractions
The Festival of Light has become a regular fixture in Wiltshire’s festive calendar since Longleat first introduced the Chinese lantern tradition to Europe in 2014.
Twelve years later, the attraction continues to grow, with this year’s illuminated trail stretching approximately 2.5 kilometres around the estate.
Among the highlights are a life-sized blue whale and an enormous Stone Giant, with visitors able to walk beneath the illuminated creations.
Other sections explore a Land of Giants and the underwater world of Atlantis, while scenes inspired by Arthurian legend bring King Arthur’s Round Table to life.
The lantern trail is accompanied by a light show projected onto the front of Longleat House, including an illuminated lion in recognition of an important anniversary for the estate.
Longleat celebrates 60 years of its safari park
This year’s Festival of Light also marks the final major event celebrating 60 years since Longleat opened its drive-through safari park in 1966.
The Wiltshire attraction made history when it became the first drive-through safari park outside Africa, changing the way visitors could experience wildlife in the UK.
Lord and Lady Bath were joined at the opening ceremony by animal keepers Jon Ovens, James Dennis and Gemma Short.
Scott Ashman, Longleat’s Head of Operations, said the lion featured in the light show was particularly appropriate during the anniversary year.
“It’s fitting that a lion is in the light show given our anniversary year and guests may hear our lions roar while on safari,” he said.
“The 2.5km trail takes guests through the largest collection of scenes we have ever had at such scale and there’s the opportunity to wander beneath a life-sized blue whale and Stone Giant, both of which create an amazing photo opportunity and are an unforgettable experience for all generations.”
He added that the opening-night response had been encouraging, with some visitors already discussing a return trip.
“There are so many elements to this year’s offer with a mix of indoor and outdoor activities that many guests at tonight’s preview were all saying they were going to come back to see it again.”
New animal arrivals to discover during a daytime visit
For families looking to make a full day of their visit, Longleat’s usual attractions will also be available to those holding appropriate daytime tickets.
The winter safari provides an opportunity to see some of the animals born at the estate during 2026.
Among the new arrivals are capybara twins, Amur tiger cubs Anya and Ginger, and wolf pups born to Meg.
Visitors may also spot Sunny, the red panda cub, near Jungle Cruise, while Half Mile Pond remains home to Longleat’s hippos.
With a combination of animal encounters during the day and the lantern displays after dark, the estate is encouraging visitors to allow plenty of time to explore.
Santa’s Grotto and snowy Christmas tree return
The Festival of Light is not the only seasonal attraction at Longleat this winter.
Santa’s Grotto will also be welcoming families, although visits must be booked in advance.
The Enchanted Christmas Tree is another returning attraction, complete with its own snowfall effect to add to the festive atmosphere.
The mix of indoor and outdoor experiences means there will be activities available throughout the day, before the lantern trail becomes the main attraction as darkness falls.
Festival of Light extended into January 2027
Longleat has confirmed that the Festival of Light will run on selected dates until Sunday 17 January 2027.
An additional January weekend has been added to the programme following demand, giving families more opportunities to visit after Christmas.
The estate will also be open on Boxing Day.
Longleat Festival of Light 2026/27
| Theme | Legendary Worlds |
| Opening date | 6 November 2026 |
| Final date | 17 January 2027 |
| Lanterns | More than 1,000 |
| Trail length | Approximately 2.5km |
| Location | Longleat, Wiltshire |
Open on selected dates. Santa’s Grotto requires advance booking. Ticket inclusions and availability should be checked before visiting.Visit the Longleat website
With the Festival of Light now underway, Wiltshire families have another opportunity to enjoy one of the region’s largest illuminated attractions, whether visiting in the run-up to Christmas or making the most of the extended January dates.
Further information and tickets are available through the official Longleat website.
