The Bath Christmas markets may be finished for another year, but there’s still plenty of festive fun to enjoy in and around the city this December. One of the highlights of the season has to be a brand new night-time event, an after dark light show taking place in the National Trust’s Prior Park.

Alight! is a magical exhibition of illumination, sound and special effects, all set in the beautiful surroundings of the historic Prior Park. These 18th century landscape gardens are one of the National Trust’s most popular attractions in this part of the country, now open at weekends during winter with a number of festive attractions including Georgian Christmas wreath making workshops.

From 15th-17th December, Prior Park will be home to a unique light show from renowned international artist Ulf Pedersen, who has previously exhibited all over the world including Sydney and Hong Kong. In the UK, you may have seen his work in Kew Gardens or historic properties in other parts of the country. Alight! is produced by Sound UK, working alongside the National Trust and other artists including Wayne Binitie and Kathy Hinde.

What to expect

Visitors to Alight! will move through a world of beautiful illuminated birds, spectral fish, colourful tree branches, atmospheric ice vapour creeping through the trees and mysterious boxes which produce music.

Pedersen is known for experimenting and working closely with the raw materials at his disposal, which means that a natural setting such as Prior Park landscaped gardens is ideal for enhancing the effects produced in the exhibition. The park’s most iconic feature, it’s famous Palladian bridge, will also be illuminated alongside Prior Park College.

As this is a Bath Christmas event, there will of course be mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies to enjoy around an open fire – the perfect festive treat! The light show is ideal for families and people of all ages, so ticketholders are more than welcome to bring the kids.

Alight! will take place from 4.30pm and 8pm on each of the three nights, with staggered entry into the park to allow each group to get the very best from the audio-visual experience.

Getting there

Prior Park is located south of the city centre, around a mile from Bath Spa train station. As for where to park near Prior Park, the National Trust recommends parking in Bath city centre and hopping on one of the many buses that run regularly between the park and the centre. There is only disabled parking available at the park itself.

Want to stay nearby? Prior Park is just a stone’s throw from not one but three exquisite Bath Holiday Rentals properties – The Looking Glass House, Church Cottage and the newly renovated Crescent Cottage. Any of these Bath self-catering properties would be the perfect ‘home from home’ for any weekend or week-long break, as they are the ideal distance from the city centre while also enjoying the incredible countryside surroundings Bath is famous for.