Longleat has never been shy about putting on a show, but this winter it seems determined to outdo even its own lofty standards. Its annual spectacle, The Festival of Light, returns with a collection of lanterns so vast and wildly imaginative that even regular visitors might find themselves doing a double take.
This year’s display feels like a celebratio sprawling 8-tonne creation that looks as if it has pushed its way up from the earth itself. And then there’s The Shard — standing at an in of scale. A 60-metre stretch of the Glenfinnan Viaduct glows in the darkness, seemingly long enough to spirit you away to another world. Nearby, the Giant’s Causeway towers above the crowd, amprobable 18 metres, complete with a familiar Wrong Trousers-wearing troublemaker scrambling up its side.
For a place already steeped in drama, Longleat has managed to add another layer of magic.
What sets this year apart isn’t simply the scale, but the sheer number of characters. More than 1,500 lanterns glow across the estate, with around 250 characters crafted especially for this year’s storyworld. Aardman favourites wander cheerfully into the mix — Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and a host of others — woven into scenes created by specialist artisans who have worked closely with Longleat’s designers to bring every detail to life.
Daisy Mercedes, Design and Project Lead, describes it as a labour of love stretching over many months. She speaks of ambition, warmth and the joy that comes from seeing beloved characters step into these illuminated landscapes. The result feels both familiar and fresh; a gentle nod to nostalgia mixed with the sort of theatricality that Longleat seems to conjure so naturally.
Head of Operations, Scott Ashman, agrees, noting how the large-scale landmarks and character moments turn the estate into something that feels unexpectedly alive. It’s not hard to see why. Walking the grounds, you find yourself drawn into a glowing patchwork of storytelling, whimsy and craftsmanship — the sort of winter experience that families return to year after year.
Running on selected dates until 11 January 2026, The Festival of Light continues Longleat’s tradition of turning cold nights into something warm, bright and strangely uplifting. And with many dates already close to capacity, those keen to soak up the glow would be wise to book ahead.
