Illuminate: Guildford Castle winter light trail
Guildford Castle, Guildford · 14 November to 1 January 2027
Photo of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Photo of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
A 30 to 40 minute light trail around the grounds of Guildford Castle in the town centre, with a new route and new installations for 2026. It suits young families, with hot drinks at the bandstand and marshmallow toasting pits.
Highlights
- New route for 2026, different from 2024 and 2025
- 30 to 40 minute trail around the castle grounds
- Hot chocolate and mulled wine at the bandstand
- Marshmallow toasting pits
Good to know
- Ticket numbers are limited per session, so book ahead
- The castle grounds have some steep paths
- Restaurants and pubs are a short walk away
Getting there
Guildford Castle, Castle Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3SX
Get directionsChecked on 19 October 2026 against illuminateguildford.co.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the organiser before you travel. How we check
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Christmas lights and light trails in SurreyChristmas days out with kids in SurreyChristmas near GuildfordMore things to do in Guildford
Nearby
Photo of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Half-term hauntings at Guildford Castle
Guildford Borough Council dresses the castle keep for Halloween before it closes for winter. Families can follow a ghost hunt, hear spooky stories and do Halloween colouring inside the medieval keep.
Photo of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Spooktacular Trail at Guildford Museum
A free self-guided Halloween trail at Guildford Museum. Children pick up a sheet and use the clues to find ghosts hidden around the galleries.
Photo of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Guildford Museum
A free museum in a run of historic buildings beside the Castle Grounds, partly built into the walls of the castle gatehouse of 1256. It covers Guildford and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to today, with a fine textile collection and changing exhibitions.