Christmas at Westonbirt returns on selected evenings from Friday 27 November to Thursday 31 December 2026, with timed entry from 4pm and an illuminated trail of around 1.6km through the Old Arboretum at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum. Forestry England suggests allowing one and a half to two hours to walk it. We’re a short drive away in Crudwell, so if you’d rather not finish a winter evening with a long drive home, staying the night with us turns the trail into a proper festive break.
What to expect on the trail
The trail is a circular route that starts and finishes on the Downs, heading along Mitchell Drive, through the Old Arboretum and back along the Main Drive. It’s outdoors and uncovered, with some low-level lighting as part of the experience, so warm layers, waterproofs and sensible footwear make a real difference.
There’s also a Christmas Village, open before and after your trail time, with food and drink stalls and traditional fairground rides at an extra cost. If you’d like time there before you set off, it’s worth choosing a slightly later trail slot. The whole event is cashless, so bring a card.
Tickets and prices
Tickets are sold through Forestry England’s Christmas at Westonbirt page, with entry slots every 15 minutes from 4pm to 8pm. Booking early is the safest approach, since each slot has a limited capacity and early evening and weekend times tend to sell out. On-the-day tickets are sold through Ticketek only, subject to availability, and cost more than booking ahead.
| Booked in advance | Off peak | Standard |
| Adult | £19.50 | £26.50 |
| Child (3 to 16) | £13.00 | £19.00 |
| Family (2 adults, 2 children) | £64.00 | £89.00 |
Infants up to two and personal assistants go free, and Anytime tickets are available if you’d like flexibility on the night. Tickets are non-refundable, but they can be moved to another date of the same value up to a day before your visit.
Parking and arriving
If you’re driving, parking needs to be booked in advance with your tickets, and costs £10 per space. You can park from 3.45pm, and Forestry England recommends arriving about 15 minutes before your trail time, since there’s a short walk from the car park to the start. All cars need to leave the car park by 10pm.
If the weather is bad enough to put safety at risk, any decision to cancel is made by 2pm on the day and ticket holders are contacted directly, so it’s worth keeping an eye on your email before you set off.
Making a day of it
Trail tickets are only valid from 4pm, but you can buy separate day admission if you’d like to see the arboretum in daylight too. On trail days, the Old Arboretum closes at 2pm and day entry closes at 3pm while the lights are set up, so an earlier start works best. If you’re curious about the arboretum earlier in the season, our autumn guide to Westonbirt covers the colour that comes before the lights.
If you’re bringing a dog
Dogs aren’t permitted on the trail, apart from assistance dogs, because it runs through the Old Arboretum’s protected tree collection, and Forestry England asks that dogs aren’t left in the car while you’re on it. If your dog is travelling with you, it’s worth planning your evening around that before you book, and our team can talk you through our dog-friendly rooms and what works best for your stay.
Access and quieter sessions
The trail mixes hardstanding stone and tarmac paths, with some gradual slopes and uneven sections. Blue Badge parking can be booked alongside your tickets, and Westonbirt has a small number of wheelchairs and mobility scooters available to hire free of charge. Relaxed sessions, with reduced audio and lower numbers, run at 4pm on 28 November and 4, 10 and 16 December. The Christmas at Westonbirt FAQs have the full details.
Staying with us at Pettifers
Pettifers is a friendly, family-run bed and breakfast hotel in Crudwell, on the southern edge of the Cotswolds, and a comfortable place to come back to after an evening outdoors. Our rooms range from classic doubles to family rooms, with Mayfield Cottage next door if you’d like a little more space.
Asha’s, our restaurant, is closed until at least spring 2027, but you can order an Indian meal to be delivered from one of two local Indian restaurants and enjoy it in our Bar or Stoneroom restaurant area with a laid up table, which makes for an easy, unfussy supper before or after the trail. Breakfast the next morning is served in the hotel.
If you’re planning a stay over the Christmas period itself, take a look at our Christmas bed and breakfast stay. Plan your Westonbirt Christmas.
Book your trail tickets and parking first, then check availability for your stay on the same dates. If you’d like help choosing a room, or have a question about bringing your dog, get in touch with our team or call us on 01666 815060.
