8 Magical Christmas Light Trails in Essex 2024

For those who don’t mind wrapping up warm and embracing the chilly winter evenings, here are 8 magical Christmas light trails in Essex! Most trails take approximately one hour to complete and have various light installations with accompanying soundscapes and festival hot food and drink on offer!

Christmas Light Trail Essex

Enlightened

Hylands Estate, Chelmsford

🗺Greenbury Way Entrance, Chelmsford, CM2 8WQ

📅29th Nov 2024 – 4th Jan 2025

💰FROM £9

Returning to Hylands Park is Enlightened, an outdoor light trail running from 29th November 2024 until 4th January 2025. Tickets are pre-booked in advance for a time slot between 4.30pm – 9pm. It has both static and interactive lights with an accompanying soundscape.

The trail is approximately 1.6km (1 mile) long and takes an hour to complete. Tickets are from £9 for children and £12.50 for adults. Parking at Hylands Estate is included as part of the ticket price.

Castle Park, Colchester

🗺Colchester CO1 1UD

📅6th Dec 2024 – 24th Dec 2024

In 2024 there are 2 further Essex light trails, one at Castle Park in Colchester and another at Markshall Estate in Coggeshall. The Colchester Castle Park light trail is 1.5km long and takes around 1 hour to walk around. There isn’t parking directly at Castle Park, however, there are many car parks around Colchester (I usually park in St Marys).

Markshall Estate, Coggeshall

🗺Coggeshall, Colchester CO6 1TG

📅6th Dec 2024 – 24th Dec 2024

The trail at Markshall Estate is new to 2024. It is approximately 1 mile long and should take around 1 hour to walk the route.

Tickets to the Enlightened events are non-refundable and non-transferable. Unless the weather causes safety issues, the light trails continue to stay open in the rain/snow. Make sure to dress appropriately for the weather!

Enchanted Trail of Lights at Colchester Zoo

🗺Maldon Rd, Colchester, CO3 0SL

📅 30th Nov, 4th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 18th, 20th, 21st, 28th & 30th Dec 2024

💰FROM 12.50 (under 3yrs free)

On the 30th November, 4th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 18th, 20th, 21st, 28th & 30th December 2024, the zoo open until late as part of the Enchanted Trail of Lights event. This is a completely separate event from the Magic of Christmas day time event.

The zoo shuts at 4.30pm and reopens again at 5.30pm. Visitors can enjoy the Christmas lights on a set trail around the zoo which takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete. The trail is a one-way loop.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to see any of the animals during the Enchanted Trail of Lights. There will be various light installations and dancing fountains. Seasonal food and drink will be available for purchase. On selected nights there will be performances from local brass bands.

Timed entry tickets must be pre-booked online in advance.

Glow at Hyde Hall

🗺Creephedge Ln, Chelmsford, CM3 8ET

📅22nd Nov 2024 – 28th Dec 2024 | 5pm – 9pm

💰FROM Non Member Adults: £13.95 | Child: £7.45

Another light trail is Glow at RHS Hyde Hall. Glow 2024 is open from 22nd November 2024 until 28th December 2024 between 5pm – 9pm. It’s not open daily, so check the website for information.

Tickets must be pre-booked in advance and cost FROM £13.95 for adults (non-members) and £9.45 for children.

The trail goes around several of the different gardens at Hyde Hall. Traditional festive food and drink are available for purchase.

Nayling Road Lights in Braintree (Free)

🗺Nayling Road, Braintree, CM7 2RY

I wrote a whole post about the Nayling Road Christmas Lights! There is a street in Braintree where a large percentage of the houses all decorate for Christmas and raise money for charity.

There’s one house that creates a music light show which is awesome! One year it was Baby Shark and another was dedicated to Keith Flint where they played Firestarter by The Prodigy. Switch on is December 1st.

Nayling Road Christmas Light Display Braintree Essex — Nayling Road Christmas Lights Braintree

Parking at Nayling Road can get quite tight, especially on the weekends. Those living in Braintree should attempt to walk, or alternatively, you can park on the Springwood Industrial Estate about a 10-minute walk away.

(Disclaimer: park at your own risk. Some areas on the industrial estate are ‘no parking’. Make sure to look out for any parking restrictions and park accordingly.)

Epping Ongar Lights Express

🗺North Weald Station, CM16 6BT

📅Nov 2024 – Jan 2025 on selected dates

An alternative to the walking light trails is the Epping Ongar Light Fantastic train ride. These run on various dates between November 2024 until January 2025.

Both the steam and diesel trains are decorated with hundreds of Christmas lights as well as a light display along the route. Music and story narrations are played on the train. New to 2024 is the introduction of interactive LED wristbands which are synchronised to the music.

There are 3 departures most evenings, either 17.00, 18.30 or 20.00. Santa is not on the Lights Fantastic journeys. The experience lasts approximately 1 hour.

Enchanted Audley End

🗺Audley End Rd, Audley End, Saffron Walden CB11 4JF

📅TBA

💰Non member tickets from Adults: £18 | Child: £9

Enchanted Audley End is a 0.8 – 1 mile long through the gardens at Audley End House. (The house will be closed during the event.) Visitors are welcome to go around the trail as many times as they like until closing time at 9pm.

There are both static and interactive installations, filling the gardens with light, sound and colour. For an additional price younger visitors can enjoy fairground rides and food and drink will be available for purchase, including marshmallows for toasting! Tickets are pre-booked in advance and have timed entry.