{"id":28197,"date":"2025-12-11T14:14:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T14:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/?p=28197"},"modified":"2025-12-11T14:15:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T14:15:51","slug":"sussexs-favourite-winter-light-trail-returns-as-leonardslee-lights-2025-opens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/sussexs-favourite-winter-light-trail-returns-as-leonardslee-lights-2025-opens\/","title":{"rendered":"Sussex\u2019s Favourite Winter Light Trail Returns as Leonardslee Lights 2025 Opens"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"28197\" class=\"elementor elementor-28197\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a81e9e6 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a81e9e6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b36e9a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b36e9a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One of Sussex\u2019s most celebrated festive experiences, Leonardslee Lights, has officially opened for the 2025 season. Thousands of lights, immersive soundscapes and large-scale artworks now transform the Grade I listed Leonardslee Lakes &amp; Gardens into <em>A Midwinter Light\u2019s Dream<\/em>, running until 30 December.<\/p><p>The trail has become a key winter tradition for Sussex families and visitors, drawing people from Horsham, Crawley, Brighton and beyond. This year introduces several new illuminated pieces created in collaboration with local and UK-based artists, alongside returning favourites that make full use of the dramatic woodland valley.<\/p><p><strong>What\u2019s new for 2025:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>Striking new lakeside light sequences<\/strong> that ripple across the water and reveal the natural contours of the valley in a completely fresh way. This expanded section brings deeper colour and more fountains bringing movement and reflection to one of the most photographed areas of the trail.<\/li><li><strong> A reimagined Glittering Grove<\/strong>, with updated sound design and choreography from award-winning artist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.danfox.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Dan Fox<\/strong><\/a><strong>,<\/strong> creating a more enveloping sonic experience as light pulses through the trees.<\/li><li><strong>Enhanced performer moments from <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thirdspacetheatre.co.uk\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>ThirdSpace<\/strong><\/a><strong>,<\/strong> with new characters and atmospheric encounters that that shape the journey from start to finish drawing visitors deeper into its story.<\/li><li><strong>The Fire Garden<\/strong> adds a bold moment to the 2025 trail. Here, fire dance and flickers against the dark, casting moving patterns across Leonardslee House Lawn. The warm glow invites visitors to pause, soak in the atmosphere, and enjoy a powerful contrast to the cool tones of the illuminated valley. It\u2019s a highlight that blends artistry, elemental drama and a sense of shared gathering.<\/li><li><strong>New immersive artworks, <\/strong>including an installation, Star Galaxy by <a href=\"https:\/\/ithaca.studio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Ithaca Studio<\/strong><\/a><strong>,<\/strong> created exclusively for this year\u2019s trail.<\/li><li><strong>Expanded finale in Leonardslee Village,<\/strong> a vibrant new gathering place. Here, firelight flickers as marshmallows toast, mulled wine steams in the crisp air, and Christmas music bring a joyful soundtrack to the evening. With indulgent doughnuts served fresh, handmade pizzas, mac &amp; cheese and classic favourites, fish and chips, with seating both indoors and out, it is an inviting finale where guests can linger and celebrate.<\/li><\/ul><p>New images from opening weekend are available for editorial use: <a href=\"https:\/\/a24group-my.sharepoint.com\/:f:\/g\/personal\/emily_grey_leonardsleegardens_co_uk\/IgAvrQnthPG2TIW0jZr0P0SFASuaQm9fAlSapDPyFW5Ndv4?e=4x0uLJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Leonardslee Lights 2025<br \/><\/a><\/p><p>\u201cWe love welcoming local families back year after year. This trail has become part of Sussex\u2019s festive season, and this year\u2019s artistic additions make it one of our strongest yet,\u201d says Adam Streeter, Managing Director.<\/p><p>Leonardslee Lakes &amp; Gardens is just outside Horsham and offers a shuttle bus service from Horsham station and Horsham Carfax for easy access. As one of the most popular Christmas events in Sussex, tickets sell quickly and pre-booking is essential.<\/p><p><strong>Event Information<\/strong><br \/><strong>Dates: <\/strong>28 November to 30 December 2025<br \/><strong>Location: <\/strong>Leonardslee Lakes &amp; Gardens, Lower Beeding<br \/><strong>Tickets: <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/leonardsleelakesgardens.co.uk\/lights-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">book now<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of Sussex\u2019s most celebrated festive experiences, Leonardslee Lights, has officially opened for the 2025 season. Thousands of lights, immersive soundscapes and large-scale artworks now transform the Grade I listed Leonardslee Lakes &amp; Gardens into A Midwinter Light\u2019s Dream, running until 30 December. The trail has become a key winter tradition for Sussex families and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":28198,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[961],"tags":[],"directory-category":[],"event_categories":[],"class_list":["post-28197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-illuminated-trail"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-02 16:33:52","action":"change-status","newStatus":"trash","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28197"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28202,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28197\/revisions\/28202"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28197"},{"taxonomy":"directory-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/directory-category?post=28197"},{"taxonomy":"event_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/west-sussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event_categories?post=28197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}