Bedgebury's off-peak family ticket is £62 and Hever's lights are 25 minutes away. Five 2026 light trails near Sevenoaks compared: dates, prices, parking.
The Christmas lights near Sevenoaks worth driving to in 2026 are five ticketed trails, and all of them now have their dates and prices out. The cheapest family night is at Bedgebury, near Goudhurst: £62 for two adults and two children on an off-peak evening. The nearest is Hever Castle, about 25 minutes away, and it is the only one that lets you inside a decorated castle as well.
Every one of them sells timed entry slots, and the weekend slots go first. The price gap between a quiet midweek night and a Saturday in December is large: up to £29 for a family at Bedgebury.
This page compares the five on what matters before you book:
- the dates each one runs, and the nights it is shut
- what a family actually pays, including parking
- how long the trail takes, and whether you can bring the dog or a buggy
- the quieter sessions for anyone who finds crowds hard
Every price below comes from the organiser’s own website or its official ticket agent, checked on 24 October 2026. Where an organiser does not publish something, we say so. For the town’s own free lights, see our page on the Sevenoaks Christmas lights switch-on on Saturday 28 November.
Christmas light trails near Sevenoaks at a glance
| Trail | Drive from Sevenoaks | 2026 run | Adult | Family of four | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hever Castle | About 25 minutes | 20 Nov to 23 Dec, selected evenings | £26.50 to £28.50 | £89 to £95 (no family ticket) | Free |
| Leeds Castle | About 35 minutes | 20 Nov to 3 Jan | £19 to £27 | £65 to £90 | Pre-book; price not published |
| Bedgebury | About 35 to 40 minutes | 20 Nov to 31 Dec | £19 to £27.50 | £62 to £91 | £10, pre-book |
| Wakehurst (Glow Wild) | About 50 minutes | 26 Nov to 2 Jan | £21 to £28 | £67.50 to £90.75 | Free |
| Kew Gardens | About an hour, often more | 13 Nov to 3 Jan | £29.50 to £37 | £89 to £108 | £13.50 or £15, pre-book |
Drive times are our own rough guide outside the rush hour. Hever and Bedgebury’s figures match our Hever Castle and Go Ape pages.
Hever Castle: the nearest, and the only one with a castle inside
Hever’s Christmas this year is “A Nutcracker’s Christmas”, from 20 November to 2 January. The lights are an evening extra on top of it. Hever says that as darkness falls from 4pm, the castle, gardens and lake are lit with colour washes, illuminations and music (Hever Castle).
To see them you need a Twilight ticket, for entry from 4pm in 15-minute slots, with last exit at 8.30pm. Twilight tickets only exist on the evenings Hever stays open late:
- 20 to 22 November
- 27 to 29 November
- 4 to 23 December
On the other open days the grounds shut at 6.30pm or earlier, and there is no twilight session (Hever Castle).
Hever’s 2026 online prices for non-members are (Hever Castle price sheet):
- Twilight standard (27 Nov, 4 Dec, 7 to 11 Dec, 14 to 17 Dec): adult £26.50, child 5 to 17 £18
- Twilight peak (21 to 22 Nov, 28 to 29 Nov, 5 to 6 Dec, 12 to 13 Dec, 18 to 23 Dec): adult £28.50, child £19
- Friday Saver, 20 November only: adult £20, child £15, for daytime and twilight
- Under 5s free
The same sheet offers 15% off twilight standard tickets booked by 1 November. Annual members pay £16.50 or £19.50 an adult for twilight, as it is charged on top of membership.
Every ticket includes the castle and gardens, and parking is free. Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds for the twilight visit, but not in the castle, the grotto, the shops or the cafes (Hever Castle). A small booking fee applies online, and walk-up prices cost more. Hever says pre-booking is advised, even for members, and that walk-ins cannot be guaranteed (Hever Castle).
The fairground (gallopers, a big wheel and an octopus ride) runs until 8pm on late nights, at £2.50 a token or £9 for four. Hever warns that its light displays contain flashing lights. Father Christmas is a separate ticket, and many dates have sold out: our Father Christmas page has what is left.
Leeds Castle: the biggest show, and the longest run
Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle runs from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. The trail includes the Christmas Cathedral, the Fire Garden, the Laser Garden and a water fountain show, and Father Christmas appears somewhere along the route (Leeds Castle).
It is a separate event run by an outside organiser. That has two consequences. Leeds Castle annual passes and gift vouchers are not valid. And your trail ticket does not get you into the castle, which closes at 2.30pm (Leeds Castle, Ticketek FAQ).
The organiser’s 2026 price grid gives these prices (Leeds Castle price and time grid):
| Ticket | Off-peak, in advance | Standard, in advance | Off-peak, on the day | Standard, on the day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | £19 | £27 | £21 | £29 |
| Child, 3 to 16 | £14 | £19.50 | £16 | £21.50 |
| Family, 2 adults and 2 children | £65 | £90 | £73 | £98 |
Under 3s and carers go free. A £1 booking fee is added to every ticket except parking. “Anytime” tickets, which let you arrive at any point in the evening, cost £32 to £45 an adult and £25 to £30 a child, with no family version (Ticketek FAQ).
The off-peak nights, going by the timed slots on the grid, are:
- Friday 20, Sunday 22 and Friday 27 November
- 3 to 4, 8 to 10 and 14 to 17 December
- 29 to 30 December and Sunday 3 January
The trail is shut on 23 to 26 November, 30 November to 2 December, 7 December and Christmas Day. Slots run every 15 minutes from 4.15pm. The last slot is 7pm on most quiet nights and 8.15pm in the week before Christmas.
Parking must be bought in advance with your tickets. The FAQ gives £8 for a Blue Badge space but does not state the standard car price outside the booking system. Leeds Castle annual pass holders park free if they book it. The walk takes about 90 minutes, there is no exit halfway, and only assistance dogs are allowed (Ticketek FAQ).
The route is hard standing and tarmac with some slopes, and a few wheelchairs can be borrowed on the night. A quieter session runs at 4pm on Tuesday 15 December, at off-peak prices. Use the brown tourist signs from the A20 rather than the satnav, which can send you to a private entrance. If you are going to the castle’s fireworks on 7 or 8 November instead, our fireworks page has those prices.
Bedgebury: the cheapest family night
Christmas at Bedgebury runs on selected evenings from Friday 20 November to Thursday 31 December 2026 at the National Pinetum near Goudhurst. Forestry England says the trail is reimagined this year, with a new Laser Garden alongside the Christmas Cathedral (Forestry England).
It runs on these dates (Forestry England):
- Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November
- Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November
- Wednesday 2 to Sunday 6 December
- Wednesday 9 to Thursday 24 December
- Saturday 26 to Thursday 31 December
Forestry England’s prices include booking fees (Forestry England):
| Ticket | Off-peak | Standard | Anytime, off-peak | Anytime, standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | £19 | £27.50 | £33 | £46.50 |
| Child, 3 to 16 | £13 | £19 | £23 | £31 |
| Family, 2 adults and 2 children | £62 | £91 | Not offered | Not offered |
Infants up to 2 and personal assistants go free, but must be booked with a paying ticket. On the day, tickets cost £2 more for adults and children, and £8 more for a family (Bedgebury price and time grid).
The off-peak nights are Friday 20 and Friday 27 November, 2 to 3 and 9 to 10 December, 14 to 17 December, and 29 to 30 December. Every weekend and the whole week before Christmas are standard.
Parking is £10 a car and must be bought in advance with your tickets. Forestry England members get one free space, booked through Forestry England at least a day ahead (Forestry England). Your trail and parking tickets are not valid for a daytime visit.
Dogs are welcome at Bedgebury on a short lead, but extendable leads are not allowed (Ticketek FAQ).
The FAQ also says:
- the walk takes about an hour to an hour and a half, with some gradual and some steeper slopes
- there are no wheelchairs to borrow, and the trail may not suit every chair
- toilets are at the Visitor Centre, the Walled Garden and on the trail, with a Changing Places toilet at the Visitor Centre
- three relaxed sessions run at 4pm on Saturday 21 November, Wednesday 2 December and Monday 14 December
- everyone must have left the car park by 10pm
Satnav is not accurate for Bedgebury. The address is Lady Oak Lane, Goudhurst, TN17 2SJ. Our Go Ape page covers Bedgebury’s daytime parking and opening hours.
Glow Wild at Wakehurst: lanterns and free parking
Glow Wild is the Royal Botanic Gardens’ lantern trail at Wakehurst, near Ardingly in Sussex. It runs on selected evenings from 26 November 2026 to 2 January 2027, and pre-booking is essential. Parking on site is free (Kew Wakehurst).
Prices for 2026 (Kew Wakehurst, Glow Wild visitor information):
- Off-peak (27 and 29 Nov, 2, 3, 9 and 10 Dec, 1 and 2 Jan): adult £21, child 4 to 16 £14.50, family £67.50
- Standard (28 Nov, 4, 6 and 14 to 17 Dec, 28 to 31 Dec): adult £25.50, child £18.50, family £83.50
- Peak (5, 11 to 13, 18 to 23 and 27 Dec): adult £28, child £19.50, family £90.75
- Any Day / Anytime ticket: £45 an adult or child
Under 4s go free, but they still need a ticket. Standard slots start at 4.15pm, with relaxed sessions at 4pm. Last entry is 8pm on off-peak nights and 8.30pm on standard nights. Only assistance dogs are allowed, and children’s scooters are banned from the trail. Wheelchairs can be borrowed, and four mobility scooters a night can be booked on 01444 894067.
Kew Gardens: the big London one
Christmas at Kew runs on selected dates from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, from 4.20pm to 10pm. It is shut on 16, 23 and 28 November and 25 December, and it closes at 9pm on Christmas Eve (Kew).
Prices include a £1 booking fee (Kew, everything you need to know):
- adult £29.50 off-peak, £37 peak
- child 4 to 15 £20 off-peak, £24 peak; under 4s free
- family of two adults and two children £89 off-peak, £108 peak
- off-peak dates are only 17 to 19, 24 to 26 and 30 November, and 1 to 2 December
The trail is 3km and can take more than two hours. From Sevenoaks it is the furthest of the five, and the parking is extra: £15 at Kew’s Ferry Lane car park or £13.50 at the National Archives, both booked in advance. Adult-only evenings are new this year, on 3 and 9 December. Quiet Access sessions run on 21 November and 1, 16 and 26 December.
Free Christmas lights closer to home
If £60 to £100 is more than you want to spend on a walk in the dark, there are free options nearer home.
- Sevenoaks town switch-on, Saturday 28 November, High Street. The details are on our switch-on page.
- Knole’s Christmas Trail, Saturday 21 November to Sunday 3 January, closed 24 and 25 December. It is a daytime family trail in the parkland, not a light show, and the trail itself is free. Normal admission applies if you use the National Trust car park, and pre-booking is essential at weekends and in school holidays (National Trust). Our Knole Park page has the parking detail.
- Christmas fairs and markets run through late November and December, and most are free to walk round. Our Christmas fairs page lists them.
Which trail suits you
- Cheapest night out for a family: Bedgebury or Leeds Castle on an off-peak evening, at £62 or £65. Add £10 for parking at Bedgebury.
- Bringing the dog: Bedgebury or Hever. Leeds Castle, Wakehurst and Kew allow assistance dogs only.
- Shortest drive, and a castle to go inside: Hever, though it costs more and only runs to 23 December.
- Free parking: Hever and Wakehurst.
- Between Christmas and New Year: Leeds Castle and Kew run to 3 January, Wakehurst to 2 January, and Bedgebury to 31 December. Hever’s lights stop on 23 December.
- Someone who finds crowds hard: each trail has quieter sessions. Leeds Castle’s is on 15 December, and Bedgebury has three.
What none of the trails publish
We could not find these on any organiser’s own pages on 24 October:
- Leeds Castle’s standard parking price; it only shows inside the booking system
- how many slots are left on any night; Ticketek and Fever do not publish availability
Port Lympne near Hythe has also run an illuminated trail in past winters. We could not read its 2026 dates or prices on the park’s own site, so it is not listed here.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest Christmas light trail to Sevenoaks? Hever Castle, about 25 minutes away. Its castle, gardens and lake are lit from 4pm on late-opening evenings between 20 November and 23 December. You need a twilight ticket, from £26.50 an adult (Hever Castle).
Which Christmas light trail near Sevenoaks is cheapest? Christmas at Bedgebury on an off-peak night: £62 for two adults and two children, booked in advance, plus £10 parking (Forestry England). Leeds Castle’s off-peak family ticket is £65 (Leeds Castle price grid).
Can you take dogs to Christmas light trails in Kent? Yes at two of them. Bedgebury allows dogs on a short lead (Ticketek FAQ). Hever welcomes dogs on leads in the grounds for twilight visits, though not inside the castle (Hever Castle). Leeds Castle, Wakehurst and Kew allow assistance dogs only.
Does the Leeds Castle light trail include entry to the castle? No. It is a separate evening event, and the castle itself closes at 2.30pm. Annual passes and gift vouchers are not valid for it (Ticketek FAQ).
Do you have to book Christmas light trails in advance? For all five, yes in practice. Wakehurst and Kew say booking is essential. Leeds Castle and Bedgebury charge more on the day, and parking at both must be pre-booked. Hever says walk-ins cannot be guaranteed.
How long does a Christmas light trail take? Allow about 90 minutes at Leeds Castle, an hour to an hour and a half at Bedgebury, and over two hours at Kew. Add time for food stalls, the fairground and the car park queue.
Sources
- Hever Castle Christmas 2026, times, twilight sessions and fairground: Hever Castle; prices: Christmas Online Prices 2026
- Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle: Leeds Castle; prices and slots: 2026 price and time grid; rules, parking and access: Ticketek FAQ
- Christmas at Bedgebury: Forestry England; slots and on-the-day prices: 2026 price and time grid; dogs, access and relaxed sessions: Ticketek FAQ
- Glow Wild: Kew Wakehurst and visitor information
- Christmas at Kew: Kew and everything you need to know
- Knole Christmas Trail: National Trust
All prices checked on 24 October 2026.
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