For the third festive season running, the wonders of the plant world in the green oasis in the heart of Cambridge can be seen in a different light.
Families and friends have started flocking to Cambridge University Botanic Garden for an enchanting evening out in what has fast become a highlight in the city’s winter calendar.
Cambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith Heppell
Cambridge Botanic Lights is an illuminated trail that brings to life the beauty and diversity of the garden’s trees and plants at night, transforming them through dazzling displays, lit landscapes and artistic installations.
The event highlights the natural space’s beloved man-made features – the glasshouse range, the fountain and the lake – in a breathtaking blend of light, sound and nature.
And with food and drink stops along the way offering mulled wine, hot chocolate and other winter treats, it really is a treat for the senses.
Cambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith Heppell
This was my first time at Cambridge Botanic Lights, having made the 30-minute trip by train from Bishop’s Stortford. My only previous experience of illuminated gardens was at the National Trust’s Wimpole Hall.
While that is more ‘Disney’, Cambridge’s offering is very much Hans Christian Andersen, especially with its Magical Woodland Fairy Walk, featuring animations of fairies amid the branches and where visitors are encouraged to see how many ‘flying fairies’ they can find.
We may be counting down to 25 December, but the only obvious reference to the festivities was the ‘Christmas tree’ composed of illuminated wheelbarrows. A wonderfully quirky feature – a festivi-tree, if you like.
Visitors making their way around the trail match the lights themselves, switching between motionless and moving as they take in the sights from ground level to the tree tops and even the clouds themselves, lit by probing searchlights.
The music is mostly ambient. Visitors of varying ages will be familiar with Taylor Swift’s The Fate of Ophelia, Rihanna’s Diamonds and BTS’ Dynamite, and there was a nod to the pollinators theme of this year’s event in the form of Rimsky-Korsakov’s interlude The Flight of the Bumblebee.
Cambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith HeppellCambridge Botanic Garden’s Botanic Lights trail 2025. Picture: Keith Heppell
Cambridge Botanic Lights is open Thursdays to Sundays each week in the run-up to Christmas (plus Monday 22 and Tuesday 23).
There are timed entry slots, with the first at 4.40pm and the last at 8pm.
Once inside the garden, you can explore the trail as many times as you like. The garden starts to close at 9.15pm and gates shut at 9.30pm.
As for tickets, there are two pricing levels: Standard – adult £23.65, Friend of CUBG/CU student £20.35, child (4-15) £15.40; Off-peak (selected dates and times) – adult £17.60, Friend of CUBG/CU student £15.84, child (4-15) £13.20.
Entry is free to children three and under and to carers of a disabled person. Prices include a ticket office booking fee.
Cambridge Botanic Lights supports the garden’s work in conservation, horticulture and education.
All ticket income (excluding booking fees) goes directly towards maintaining and growing the living collection, ensuring it is available for scientific research, helping to protect endangered plants around the world and making the amazing world of plants accessible to all.
See cambridgelivetickets.co.uk/events/cambridge-botanic-lights-2025#ticket-overview for full details.
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