Sir Harold Hillier Gardens festive light trail is back

Using millions of LED lights, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey will be transformed into a magic festival trial.

Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens At Christmas is promised to be bigger and better than ever this year. 

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Artist designer, James Smith, said: “We’re storytellers, that’s what we do. What sets us apart is that we put the story first and this year that is a total celebration of Christmas and colour. It’s Christmas to the max.

“We listened to what our visitors told us and we learned they want Christmas and lots of it. So, whether it’s metre-high baubles with children’s designs projected on them, the photo-friendly Robin Redbreast tree, a carpet of red poinsettia flowers, or the guaranteed snow, this is Christmas… and lots of it.”

He continued: “We want people to create memories here that will last forever. If they want to create those memories with photos, film or any other media, they absolutely can, but this is so much more than a series of photo opportunities for social media posts.

"Every single person who comes to visit us becomes part of the experience, part of the show, and everybody leaves with their own story to tell.

“We are theatre practitioners applying our love of storytelling and craft to an immersive outdoor experience.”

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The magical festive lights (Image: Rob Luckins) This year, the festive treat follows a revamped route that takes in Hillier’s Centenary Border for the first time and as well as all-new installations such as the Magic Pathway and Chromatic Touch, visitors will find the return of established favourites like the reindeer and the smash hit Written in the Stars.

James said: "Magic Pathway is mind blowing – you could be walking on water and watching it splash over your feet, or leaving footprints in the sand on the seashore that the waves wash away; it’s genuinely amazing, like your best ever Christmas Day walk.

“Chromatic Touch is made up of metallic touch stones that change colour when you touch them and Tunes In Motion is four 20-metre, 32-key piano keyboards that you play with your feet.

“It’s an immersive, inter-active experience from start to finish that engages all your senses in a celebration of Christmas in sight and sound.”

The paths have been transformed into a Christmas dream (Image: Elliott Franks)

A peak family ticket costs £70, and individual adult and child tickets are £22 and £15. An off-peak family ticket will cost £51, while adult tickets are priced at £20 and it will cost £12.50 per child. 

There’s a new Super Peak ticket for a number of extra special nights when the light trail is enhanced by live entertainment, with fire jugglers, characters and aerial artistes. A family ticket for this experience costs £78, with individual adults charged £24.50 and child tickets costing £16.50.

For more about Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens At Christmas and to book tickets, visit https://www.lightuptrails.com or call