The countdown to Christmas has started, and the National Trust's world-famous garden at Stourhead in Wiltshire is getting ready to welcome its glittering Illuminated Trail back this year, between 27 November 2020 – 3 January 2021.

Christmas at Stourhead is the perfect way to get outside in the fresh air and into the festive mood. Wrap up warm, get your Christmas sparkle on, and be surrounded by over a million twinkling lights, colourful trees and amazing illuminated installations as Stourhead's majestic garden is transformed into a winter wonderland!

It takes between one to two hours to complete the magical mile-long trail, with special light installations along the way set to classic Christmas music.

Wander beneath unique tree canopies drenched in Christmas colour surrounded by giant baubles, glowing flowers, glittering snowflakes, and clusters of trees wrapped in ever-changing ribbons of colour.

The trail's installations and sparkling lights provide picture-perfect social media opportunities around every corner. And don't forget to look out for Father Christmas along the way.

Trail highlights for 2020:  

*NEW* for 2020: 

• Field of Crocuses – Discover giant luminescent flower sculptures rising high into the night sky, bursting with light, colour, energy and imagination.
• Giant Lily Flowers – Watch reflections of giant lily sculptures dancing playfully on Stourhead's famous lake.
• Origami Cranes – This new sculpture work represents these mystical creatures in Japanese culture that are said to live for a thousand years, denoting good fortune and longevity and are a symbol of hope and healing through challenging times.
• Rudolph Nose the Way – Suspended up between the trees, Rudolph's cheery, shining red nose and antlers will guide you on your way through the trail.
• Heart Walk – Stroll along the Heart Walk, framed by larger-than-life colourful glittering hearts in the trees around you.

Back by popular demand for a second year: 

• Fire Garden – Pause for a moment of quiet reflection at the fire garden, aglow with flickering flames and watched over by artist Woody Fox's '12 Days of Christmas' sculpted out of willow.
• Tunnel of Light – This majestic tunnel, adorned with over 100,000 pea-lights and almost 50 metres long, is stunning to look at from a distance or to immerse yourself within – making it an Instagram showstopper.

“Seeing Stourhead's garden lit up at night, shimmering with winter magic, is a wonderfully uplifting festive experience for all ages,” said Philip Niemand, General Manager at Stourhead. 

“We can't wait to welcome visitors to Stourhead this winter to enjoy the trail,” he added. 

Covid-19 guidelines are being followed, and processes are in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.  Book your tickets safe in the knowledge that if Covid-19 Government legislation requires cancellation, you can re-book your slot or get a refund. 

Christmas at Stourhead is brought to you by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music, in partnership with the National Trust.  The trail is created by Culture Creative.

What:              Christmas at Stourhead - the magical, after-dark, illuminated trail
When:             From 27 November 2020 – 3 January 2021 – selected dates. Open from 4.30pm, last entry 8pm and closes at 10pm. The festive trail is open on selected dates

Why Visit:       Discover a Christmas illuminated trail for all the family set within the beautiful landscape of Stourhead.

Admission:     Advanced From: Adult £19.00, Child £13.00, Family £58.00 (2 adults & 2 children).  Free entry for carers and children aged 2 & under.

Parking £8 per car. Free for National Trust members when booked in advance.

Website & Book Tickets: nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead
Address:         Stourhead, Mere, Wiltshire, BA12 6SH

ENDS

Notes to Editors 

• For more information please contact:

Sarah Runnacles | sarah@flamingo-marketing.co.uk | 01637 873379 or 07788490146

• For full pricing details and booking please visit: org.uk/stourhead
• For information about COVID19 and booking tickets with confidence visit: https://mychristmastrails.co.uk/covid-19/

About Stourhead
Stourhead is a Palladian house and world-famous landscape garden. When it first opened in the 1740s, a magazine described it as 'a living work of art'. The world-famous landscape garden has at its centrepiece a magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, mystical grottoes, and rare and exotic trees, and offers a day of adventure.

The history of Stourhead can be uncovered in the house with its unique Regency library, Chippendale furniture and inspirational paintings.

The Palladian house is set amid 'picnic perfect' lawns and extensive parkland (2,650 acres), where chalk downs, ancient woods and farmland are managed for wildlife.

nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead

About the National Trust

The National Trust is a conservation charity founded in 1895 by three people, Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley who saw the importance of the nation's heritage and open spaces, and wanted to preserve them for everyone to enjoy. 

This year, the charity celebrates its 125th anniversary, and these values are still at the heart of everything it does. 

To help mark this significant moment in its history, the Trust has committed to achieving carbon net zero emissions by 2030, and establishing 20 million trees to help tackle climate change, creating green corridors for people and nature near towns and cities, running a year-long campaign to connect people with nature and continuing investment in arts and heritage.

Ensuring everyone who visits feels welcome, and more people can access its places continues to be another key aspect of the charity's work.

Entirely independent of Government, the National Trust looks after more than 250,000 hectares of countryside, 780 miles of coastline and hundreds of special places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The National Trust receives more than 26.9 million visits each year to the places it cares for that have an entry fee, and an estimated 100 million visits to the outdoor places looked after by the charity. Together with 5.9 million members and more than 65,000 volunteers, they help to support the conservation charity in its work to care for nature, beauty, history.  For everyone, for ever.

About RGL, a division of Sony Music

Leading events promoter, RGL (Raymond Gubbay Limited), a division of Sony Music, has been delivering illuminated Christmas and Lightscape trails for over seven years.  The chosen partners for national and international heritage and prestigious venues including Blenheim Palace; The National Trust; The Forestry Commission; The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Botanic Gardens, Chicago, USA and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.

Each trail is designed to showcase the natural and unique environment of the individual location. RGL also presents over 500 concerts annually throughout the UK.

Raymondgubbay.co.uk | FB @RaymondGubbay @MyChristmasTrails | Twitter @RaymondGubbay

About Culture Creative
Culture Creative is a creative project and production management company based in Scotland and the North East of England. The Company works across a wide-range of cultural fields including art, sport, heritage, tourism, festivals and events, developing projects from concept to delivery. Since 2013, Culture Creative has worked closely with leading entertainment promoter Raymond Gubbay Ltd. a division of Sony Music, to create Lightscape and Christmas themed trails in various venues across the UK and overseas. www.culturecreative.co.uk | FB @culturecreativeltd | Twitter @CCLCreative | Instagram @culturecreativeltd