With impressive light effects, colourful displays and dramatic music, the spectacular Helmingham Hall Illuminated Garden Trail lets you experience this magnificent estate like never before.

The Times named it one of the best Christmas light trails for 2024 along with RHS Glow (we know from our years in Surrey), Kew at Christmas and the Festival of Light at Longleat. And rightly so as we discovered when we experienced the Helmingham Hall Illuminated Garden Trail for ourselves.

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The Illuminated Garden Trail

Surrounded by a beautiful 400-acre park, Helmingham Hall has been home to the Tollemache family for hundreds of years. The charming moated hall has a stunning Grade 1 listed garden, open to the public from May to September. However, between the 15th of November and the 18th of December 2024, you can see the majestic grandeur of the hall and its tranquil gardens in a different light through the impressive garden trail.

Highlights

From the outset, visitors are surrounded by strikingly beautiful trees and glowing lanterns with one of David Harber’s wonderful sculptures reflecting nearby reds, oranges and golds. It felt like a winter wonderland with surprises around every corner from magical woodland scenes to a tunnel of lights and an ‘orchard’ of Christmas trees. By the Herb and Knot Garden and the Rose Garden, snowflakes are projected onto Helmingham Hall’s red brick exterior.

At the front of the hall is a cleverly orchestrated masterpiece – a feast for the senses and a stunning sight. See the ancient oak trees change colour and traverse in different directions with an accompanying light show on the lawn. The music here, and throughout the trail, makes the Illuminated Light Trail even more dramatic. Behind us, dainty snowflakes danced across the facade of Helmingham Hall, reflecting in the moat below. Over the drawbridge, in the cobbled courtyard, mulled wine and festive treats are on offer with everyone getting into the Christmas spirit.

Past impressive light shows and interesting special effects (including a smoking doorway), walking through the fairy light-lit woodland added another dimension. There was a canopy of fairy lights, and trees in varying colours with moon, star and heart shapes reflected in the water. The attention to detail along the trail is superb, in the woodland there’s another level of enjoyment (for adults and children of all ages) with much to see hanging from or in the trees and at ground level.

In and around the Parterre are more colourful delights and reflections await before reaching a magnificent tunnel of lights. This sparkling beauty is an astonishing sight and spans the length of the walled garden. At the end of the garden around the bridge, in the water and along Apple Walk, there are plenty more colourful displays, light effects and reflections, coupled with dramatic music which adds another layer to the experience.

Tickets

The Helmingham Hall Illuminated Garden Trail runs from the 15th of November 2024 to the 18th of December 2024. All tickets must be pre-booked in advance with none available at the gate. These are from £10 for children, from £20 for adults and from £50 for a family of four. Each adult ticket includes a complimentary mulled wine which can be redeemed in the courtyard. Children under three are free of charge.

Getting there

The Illuminated Garden Trail is located at Helmingham Hall, Helmingham, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6EF. It is about 11 miles from Stowmarket, 9 miles from Ipswich and 27 miles from Bury St Edmunds. The nearest train stations are Stowmarket and Ipswich. There is free onsite parking and the Illuminated Garden Trail entrance is a short walk away, by the carousel.

What to wear

The Helmingham Hall Illuminated Garden Trail is an outdoor event and while it isn’t that long distance-wise, you will stop frequently as it’s stunning. What to wear is weather-dependent but as a guide, you want to be in comfortable boots with a waterproof jacket over layers. Plus gloves, a hat and an umbrella, just in case. We knew it would rain when we visited so we wrapped up, spending two hours enjoying the trail and soaking up the fantastic atmosphere.

Food and drink

During the Illuminated Garden Trail you can warm your cockles with hot food and drink. Mulled wine, drinks and festive treats are available in the cobbled courtyard. The next pit stop is after the sparkling tunnel in the walled garden. Across the bridge, you will find several food and drink outlets, with fire pits for toasting marshmallows to make s’mores. There are tables and chairs in this area which is largely under cover. Wrights Cafe, in the old coach house, is serving as usual with posh cheese toasties, salads and hot drinks.

How to book

Tickets for the Helmingham Hall Illuminated Garden Trail vary with off-peak and peak options available for adults and children. Under 3’s are free of charge but do still require a ticket. To book, just select which tickets you require followed by your preferred date. The trail is on until the 18th of December 2024. This was our first time experiencing the Illuminated Light Trail having previously visited the stunning gardens. We had the most fantastic time and it’s certainly earned its place as one of the best Christmas trails in the UK.