Top 7 Dog-Friendly Christmas Light Trails

It’s time to wrap up warm with your hats and mitts and get ready for a magical journey through a Christmas Light Trail. The wonderous twinkling lights, enchanting illuminations, and dazzling displays would even get a Scrooge or Grinch (human or furry) into the Christmas spirit!

As a dog-friendly travel company, we don’t like to leave our dogs alone at home either. So, we have scoured the UK and discovered the best dog-friendly Christmas light trails that you can explore with your four-legged friend by your side.

Windsor Park — Photo Credit: Windsor Great Park Illuminated Official Website,

1. Enchanted For Dogs Christmas Light Trail at Cotswold Farm Park Cheltenham

For the first time ever, one of the Cotswold’s most popular Christmas events is now dog-friendly! When you visit Cotswold Farm Park, you’ll experience marvellous creations and illuminations with your beloved canine companion in tow. Not only that, but furry friends also go FREE! The trail should take 60-90 minutes to complete if you participate in all the experiences on offer. Just ensure your furry friend stays on a lead at all times.

And you don’t have to worry about forgetting this magical experience – capture the moment at the endless picture-perfect selfie stations. With the on-site professional photographer, you can also choose to take home a printed souvenir!

But this enchanting light trail isn’t just about the sparkling lights, you can also meet Father Christmas himself at the Grotto, explore the Reindeer snack station, and embrace the chance to meet and feed adorable animals in the stables. Please note though, furry friends are not permitted in the Father Christmas Experience or stables – a member of the family will need to wait outside with them.

Photo Credit: Cotswold Farm Park Official Website

Location: Cotswold Farm Park, Cheltenham
Dates: 29th – 1st December, 6th – 8th December, 13th -15th December, 18th – 23rd December, 28th – 31st December.

Entry Times: 4pm – 7pm

Where To Stay: Ellenborough Park Hotel, Gloucestershire

dog-friendly ellenborough park

2. AGLOW in Auckland Palace, Durham

One of the North East’s best Christmas light trails is now dog-friendly! Stroll through a range of glittering installations spread across this beautiful, picturesque parkland with your whole family in tow. Your journey through twinkling lights on this magical 1.5 mile trail will begin at Auckland Palace. From there, you will wander through Auckland Palace’s wonderfully decorated gardens with surprises around every corner!

It’s recommended to allow an hour and a half to complete the trail, as this gives you enough time to try the delicious festive food and warming drinks on the way. Just remember to always keep your canine companion safely on a lead throughout.

Once you have seen all of the glowing lights, visit the upgraded Santa’s village and workshop, post office, and a special Santa show that little ones especially will love.

Photo Credit: Auckland Glow

Location: Auckland Palace, Durham.
Dates: 22nd November – 31st December 2024 (closed on Mondays & Tuesdays until 16th December as well as on Christmas Day).
Entry Times: 4:30pm – 8pm.
*Dogs must be on a lead at all times.

Where to Stay: Lumley Castle Hotel, County Durham

Dog-Friendly Lumley Castle Hotel

3. Windsor Great Park Illuminated, Berkshire

Set within beautiful woodlands, the dog-friendly Windsor Great Park Illuminated has returned for the fourth time and we couldn’t be happier! This year features new magnificent installations amongst the favourites. The stand-out features for us were the fairy illuminations and the fabulous disco in the woods where guests mingled and danced!

As you wander, you will come across multiple huts that serve food and hot drinks – mulled wine and delightful hot chocolates included. You’ll be spoilt for choice with the mouth-watering snacks as well – will you be tempted by a cinnamon churro? a toasted marshmallow? or perhaps some chips with toppings tickle your fancy?

Following completing the trail, why not warm-up and dine inside a cosy festive cabin or tavern? This way, you can really make the most out of the festive experience!

Photo Credit: Eric Aydin Barberini via Windsor Great Park Illuminated

Photo Credit: Joshua Atkins via Windsor Great Park Illuminated

Location: Windsor Great Park
Dates: 15th November – 4th January 2025
Entry Times: 4:30pm (15th – 28th November), 4:15pm (29th November – 4th January). Last entry at 8:30pm. The attraction will close daily at 10:30pm.
Dogs welcome on leads.

Where to Stay: De Vere Beaumont Estate, Windsor

Dog-Friendly Hotel

4. Christmas at Bute Park, Cardiff

The award-winning illuminated light trail in the heart of Cardiff City Centre is simply unmissable. This year, you can experience a completely reimagined route – including a lighting display of glowing strands and clusters of mushrooms that pulsate with colour.

Within the Bute Park this winter, expect jaw-dropping illuminations, fantastic audio compositions, and of course, dynamic choreography with your four-legged friend at your side throughout. Plus, enjoy comforting stops along the way as you will be tempted by the many stalls of mouth-watering food from local traders and festive drinks in the Christmas Market Village.

Photo Credit: Christmas at Bute Park

Location: Bute Park, Cardiff
Dates: 22nd November – 31st December 2024.
Entry Times: 4:15pm – 8:30pm
Well-behaved dogs welcome on leads.

Where To Stay: The Cardiff North Hotel, Glamorgan

Dog-Friendly Cardiff Hotel

5. Christmas at Bedgebury, Bedgebury

Organisers say that guests can enjoy a “magical” and “unforgettable” experience with their friends and family at the Christmas at Bedgebury in Kent at Bedgebury National Pinetum And Forest. And they aren’t wrong. This is a massively popular event full of festive fun that has been delighting visitors for 7 years! The 2.3km enchanted light trail is dog-friendly and is truly magnificent – it must have taken such a long time to decorate. Along the way, you will spot carousel horses, life-size Nutcracker soldiers, sparkling tunnels of light, and fibre optic cables resembling sprouting mushrooms!

If you start getting peckish on-route, there are several street food vendors selling all the favourites like macaroni cheese, pizza, and festive sausages. If you’re looking for a sweet treat instead – we recommend the delicious waffles and toasted marshmallows!

Photo Credit: Christmas at Bedgebury 2024 via Forestry England UK

Location: Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Bedgebury.
Dates: Friday 15th November – Wednesday 1st January 2025
Entry times: 4:15pm – 8:00pm
Dogs welcome on a lead.
Where To Stay: The Bell in Ticehurst (10 min drive)

6. Illuminated Garden Trail at Helmingham Hall, Suffolk

Experience the enchantment of Christmas at the dog-friendly Illuminated Garden Trail at Helmingham Hall in Suffolk. During the 15th November – 18th December 2024, Helmingham Hall Gardens will be transformed into a wonderland of a million lights, colours, and sounds. Whilst visiting the sparkling trail, savour festive treats, toast marshmallows around the crackling firepits, and browse the stable shops for unique gifts.

Photo Credit: Helmingham Hall Gardens

Location: Helmingham Hall, Suffolk
Dates: 15th November – 18th December 2024.
Entry Times: 4:15pm – 9:00pm
Well behaved dogs welcome on leads – please remember to clean up after them.

Where To Stay: The Ickworth, Suffolk

Dog-Friendly Ickworth

7. Winter Glow, Malvern, Worcestershire

The pawfect op-paw-tunity to celebrate the festive season with your furry best friends. Explore the great outdoors like never before, along a wonderful Christmas lights trail where you can capture the ulti-mutt festive selfies with your furry friend.

As Winter Glow is dog-friendly on selected dates, this means your Santa’s Little Helper will have the opportunity to meet Santa Paws himself and receive their own gift! Miss Claus’s Bakery will also open its doors to four-legged friends, offering their brand-new dog-friendly biscuit recipe.

Brand-new for 2024, is the UV Glow Crazy Golf – an indoor elf-themed 18 crazy golf course that the younger ones in your family will especially love!

There’s so much to do here from Santa experiences, wandering through the light trail, enjoying the fairground, to exploring the delightful Christmas market.

Photo Credit: Winter Glow Official Website

Location: Three Counties Showground, Malvern
Dates: Entire event runs from 22nd November – 31st December 2024.
Dog-Friendly Sessions: 22nd, 23rd, 29th November and 11th – 13th December, 16th December, 19th December, 27th – 31st December 2024.
Entry Times: 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Where To Stay: Colwall Park Hotel, Worcestershire (13 minute drive)

Dog-Friendly Hotel

*Santa Paws can be booked via the personalised Santa Experience page.

*Dogs welcome on the Illuminated Light Trail, Food Quarter, Cafe, and Bar. Always remember to clean up after your pup and keep them on a short lead at all times.

Exploring Dog-Friendly Christmas Light Trails with PetsPyjamas

There’s nothing quite like a magnificent light trail to get you in the Christmas spirit! We hope you and your four-legged friends enjoy the beautiful lights, interactive displays, street food stalls, and toasting marshmallows on the crackling fire pits this winter.