Windsor Great Park Illuminated runs 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Adults from £19.80, the trail is 2.2km, and parking must be bought with the ticket.
Windsor Great Park Illuminated runs from Friday 13 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, and tickets are on sale now. The one thing to get right before you book: parking is limited and must be bought at the same time as the entry ticket. There is no paying at the gate.
The Crown Estate, which runs the park, puts it directly: “Parking is limited and must be purchased in advance along with your entry ticket” (Windsor Great Park). Parking vouchers come from See Tickets with your entry tickets and are scanned at the car park entrance.
The detail
| 2026 to 2027 season | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 |
| Entry | Timed slots, last entry 8.30pm every night |
| Times, 13 to 26 Nov | 4.30pm to 10.30pm |
| Times, 27 Nov to 3 Jan | 4.15pm to 10.30pm |
| Adult | from £19.80 |
| Child, 3 to 15 | from £12.10 |
| Family, 2 adults and 2 children | from £56.10 |
| Under 3 | Free, but needs a valid £0 ticket |
| Trail | 1.36 miles (2.2km), about 1½ to 2 hours |
| Access | From The Savill Garden and Adventure Play car park |
Those prices include the ticket booking fee. Car park charges are on top and are not listed on the event page, so the cost only appears in the See Tickets basket. Tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.
Members of Windsor Great Park and Friends of The Savill Garden get one complimentary parking pass per membership, redeemed by entering the membership number at booking. It can only be used once in the season. Coach parking is bookable through the See Tickets groups team and costs £23.10 including fees.
What the trail is actually like
The route runs through woodland near The Savill Garden and around Obelisk Pond. The Crown Estate promises “spectacular light installations, enchanting displays and magical surprises”, with Santa and his reindeer somewhere along the way, and rest stops selling hot chocolate, mulled wine and toasted marshmallows. The borough’s own listing adds projections and fountain displays to that description.
Practical points from the organiser’s own FAQ, all of which matter on a cold November night:
- It is entirely outdoors and not covered. The event runs in all weather, and there is no refund if you decide not to come because of rain.
- There is no cloakroom. Bring a handbag or a small rucksack, nothing larger.
- Dogs are welcome on the trail, on a lead throughout.
- No strobe lighting, but some installations pulse and flash.
- Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and buggies will struggle in places. The Crown Estate says some woodland terrain is unsuitable for them and will be “particularly challenging in wet weather”.
Essential companion tickets are free but must be added at the point of booking, with supporting documentation attached to the order. Blue badge parking has to be selected during booking, the badge number entered then, and the badge shown on arrival.
If it is closed
The event organiser is IMG, not the Crown Estate. In the event of a closure, the Crown Estate says IMG “reserves the right to offer a refund or reschedule your booking to an alternative date/time (subject to availability)”. Weather alone is not a closure.
What else is on locally this Christmas
The Royal Borough’s own Christmas listings carry nine events for the season, and the ones with firm dates are Carols on the Hill on Friday 11 December, 6.15pm to 7.30pm, now in its 77th year, and the Howden Christmas Racing Weekend at Ascot on 18 and 19 December (Visit Windsor). Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND Windsor Resort runs from 21 November to 2 January.
The Windsor Christmas lights switch-on has no 2026 date yet. Visit Windsor’s event page for it still carries the 2025 running order and is marked “this event has passed”, and the switch-on does not appear anywhere in the borough’s nine listed Christmas events. Nothing about a 2026 date has been published anywhere we could find. We expect an announcement in October and will build a page for it then.
Getting there
Access is from The Savill Garden and Adventure Play car park, off Wick Lane at Englefield Green, on the Surrey side of the park rather than the Windsor town side. It is a different entrance from the Long Walk, so do not aim for the castle. If you are combining it with a day in Windsor, the town car park tariffs are on our parking page, and current closures on the A332 and the approaches are on our roadworks and travel page.
Frequently asked questions
When does Windsor Great Park Illuminated open in 2026?
Friday 13 November 2026, and it runs to Sunday 3 January 2027. Entry is by timed slot, with the last entry at 8.30pm every night.
How much is Windsor Great Park Illuminated?
Adults from £19.80, children aged 3 to 15 from £12.10, and a family of two adults and two children from £56.10. Those prices include the booking fee. Car parking is charged separately.
Do I have to book parking for Windsor Great Park Illuminated?
Yes. The Crown Estate says parking is limited and must be bought in advance with the entry ticket. Vouchers are issued by See Tickets and scanned at the car park entrance. Members and Friends of The Savill Garden get one free pass per membership.
How long is the light trail?
1.36 miles, or 2.2km, and the organisers allow one and a half to two hours including stops. It is entirely outdoors, so it goes ahead in any weather and there is no refund if you decide not to come.
Can I take a dog to Windsor Great Park Illuminated?
Yes, on a lead and under control for the whole trail. There is no cloakroom, so bring only a handbag or small rucksack.
Have your say
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