Step into the secret after-dark world of Port Lympne and discover a bigger, brighter and more magical than ever event.

Port Lympne has almost 100 years of history creating unforgettable events. Port Lympne Illuminated, a family-friendly festive experience which we have created in collaboration with a highly experienced team of acclaimed light trail producers. Building on our animal theme, the 2026 trail will introduce brand-new installations featuring new species, bringing fresh stories and visual spectacles to the experience. Guests can also look forward to a brand-new zone, extending the journey further, a reimagined Elf Disco and a truly exhilarating grand finale, designed to leave visitors with a lasting sense of wonder.

Tickets are strictly limited. Book ahead to secure your preferred date and time!

The event will run from 27th November 2026 to 2nd January 2027.

The following ticket types are not eligible for access to Port Lympne Illuminated:

Complimentary tickets, rainy day return passes, Aspinall Foundation animal adoption tickets, school familiarisation tickets, raffle/prize tickets

One free carer will be admitted with a disabled guest to Port Lympne Illuminated when any valid ticket is purchased directly from Port Lympne.

Proof of eligibility, such as PIP, DLA, or an Access Card, will be required.

Only one free carer ticket is permitted per disabled guest.

The trail is outdoors and open to the weather. We suggest that Port Lympne Illuminated guests dress warmly and wear footwear suitable for the Reserve’s natural terrain.

Port Lympne Illuminated is an outdoor light trail. We suggest that guests wrap up warm, wear clothes for all weather conditions and footwear suitable for the natural terrain. We also suggest that you consider bringing an umbrella or waterproofs, just in case.

There will be no cloakroom at Port Lympne Illuminated. We strongly advise our guests not to bring large bags or luggage to the event. Please only bring a handbag or small rucksack which you can carry along the trail easily.

Overnight guests staying as part of a Nightlights Package will be able to store their luggage on check in.

The event will proceed in wet or inclement weather tickets will not be refunded or exchanged due to adverse weather.

Port Lympne Illuminated is an outdoor festive light trail. If the weather presents a hazard and a risk to safety, we reserve the right to cancel the event. Any decision to cancel Port Lympne Illuminated will be taken by 2pm on the day of the event and you will be notified shortly thereafter.

You will be notified by email and informed of the re-booking process. It is your responsibility to ensure you have entered correct contact details.
We advise you to check the website and social media for the latest updates before you travel. Make sure to check your junk/spam folders to ensure you have not missed any important messages from our team.
If you have not heard from our customer service team regarding a cancellation, the event will go ahead as scheduled.

In the unlikely event that the experience is closed, Port Lympne reserves the right to offer a refund or reschedule your booking to an alternative date/time.

Port Lympne Illuminated includes access to areas of Port Lympne Reserve's walking route from 2pm on the day of your booking.

You are welcome to explore the Reserve before your selected Port Lympne Illuminated time slot.

We highly recommend to arrive at your pre booked trail time.  Access to the light trail is only permitted at your booked time.

Free parking is included with all Port Lympne Illuminated tickets and packages.

Absolutely! We encourage all of our Port Lympne Illuminated guests to take and share as many photos as possible.

We ask that the images are shared only for personal use. If you wish to photograph for commercial purposes, please contact marketing@howlettsandportlympne.com. Commercial photography will not be permitted without written permission from our team.

When capturing photographs or videos in a commercial capacity or otherwise, you will need to fully comply with each or any of the following clauses:

• Before posing for images with members of our staff, or if you think they might be in shot, please ask for their consent first.
  
• You are not permitted to capture photographs or video within our parks, accommodation or facilities for personal gain or any other commercial activity, unless authorised by ourselves in a written contractual agreement beforehand.
  
• If we authorise the capture of photographs or video, we retain the intellectual property rights, and reserve the right to claim a percentage of the sale of any images. We also have the right to prevent the publication of any such image used in a manner that might unreasonably portray a false representation of actual events or be detrimental to the reputation of The Aspinall Foundation, the Howletts Wild Animal Trust and Howletts and Port Lympne Estates Ltd.
  
• We may commission professional photographers, film crews and the media to work at our parks from time to time. You will not intentionally be included in any pictures or video footage unless you are happy to be. If you believe that your image has inadvertently been captured without your consent, please make it known to those responsible to arrange for your image to be removed.
  
• We hold the image rights and copyright for all images and material published on our website, promotional products, and merchandise. You may not copy or reuse this material without gaining our permission.
• Any person found to have violated any part of this clause will be required to leave the park. No refunds will be given, and we reserve the right to refer the matter to a court of law.

All tickets purchased during our event dates (28th November 2025 – 3rd January 2026) will include access to areas of the Reserve's walking routes during the day from our revised opening time of 2pm. Day visitor safaris will not be operating during this time.

Annual Passholders/Members must book a Port Lympne Illuminated slot to access the light trail after the start of the event time

We remain open to overnight guests during this time.

During Port Lympne Illuminated, our sister site Howletts Wild Animal Park will remain open 7 days a week,(excluding 25th December 2025) offering families the opportunity to enjoy a longer visit with some of their favourite animals.

Our Annual Passholders are welcome to visit Port Lympne Illuminated. Visits must be pre-booked via our website.

For the best price, we suggest booking online and in advance. Guests booking tickets in person on the day of arrival will be charged our On-the-gate price.

Adults:
Peak dates - £30
Off peak dates - £22
Super off peak dates - £18
On-the-gate - £35

Children (aged 3+):
Peak dates - £24
Off peak dates - £14
Super off peak dates - £10
On-the-gate - £29

Students & Senior:
Peak dates - £27
Off peak dates - £20
Super off peak dates - £16
On-the-gate - £33

Family (2 adults + 2 children):
Peak dates - £105
Off peak dates - £72
Super off peak dates - £58
On-the-gate - Not available

Children aged 0-2 enter for free.

Our Gift Aid admission prices include a donation to our parks conservation work and enable us to claim Gift Aid on your admission. They are 10% more than our standard ticket prices. You will be asked to pay the donation price unless you request to pay the standard admission price. Your support helps us to fund our vital conservation work.

Requests to reschedule tickets must be made at least 48 hours prior to the booked arrival date. Rescheduling is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

No-show tickets will not be entitled to a refund, credit, or transfer.

There is not a minimum visitor age but those aged under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Toilet facilities are available throughout the trail.

To protect our animals and your own, dogs and visiting pets are not permitted at Port Lympne Reserve, except for registered assistance dogs. Please see full terms & conditions for our Assistance Dog Policy.

A selection of festive treats and tipples from the fairies’ kitchen will be available for you to enjoy.

All-new festive pop ups provide tasty snacks and treats while the Garden Room Restaurant offers family-friendly sit down dining options. Offering a menu of handpicked festive favourites, The Garden Room will be the most popular dining location on site during Port Lympne Illuminated. We strongly suggest pre-booking your table to avoid disappointment.

Please note that Port Lympne Illuminated is a cashless event. Please bring a payment card with you.

A selection of alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase during Port Lympne Illuminated. When purchasing, you will be asked for valid identification to confirm that you are aged 18 or over if you appear to be under the age of 25.

Alcohol purchased outside the event is not permitted to be brought into Port Lympne Reserve, and any alcoholic drinks purchased on site must be consumed before leaving.

Our Gatehouse shop offers a range of gifts and festive treasures to bring home.

Please see information highlighting the sound levels and lighting at each installation

1. Car park and funfair - Music, festoon lighting, flashing lights
   
2. Bridge - Twinkling lights - Fairy Lights
   
3. Reserve entrance - Neon lighting, twinkling lights, uplights, music - Fairy lights
   
4. Arrival path - Twinkling lights, low music - Fairy lights, Curtains of Fairy Lights
   
5. Trail entrance - Bright lighting, low music - Fairy lights, Coloured Lighting of Trees
   
6. Basecamp - Bright lighting, low music Fairy lights, Coloured Lighting of Trees, Selfie Feature with Neon Lighting and Fairy Lights
   
7. Fairy path - Twinkling lights, low music - Fairy lights, Coloured Lighting of Trees
   
8. Baboon house path - Low lighting, moving lighting - Fairy lights, Coloured Lighting of Trees, Gobo Projection
   
9. Golden tunnel - Low lighting, low music, Twinkling Fairy Lights
   
10. Selfie sculpture - Bright lighting - Selfie Feature with Neon Lighting and Fairy Lights
    
11. Enchanted trees - Low lighting, low music - Fairy lighting, Fibre Optic Lighting, Coloured Lighting of Trees
    
12. Fairy disco - Flashing lights, music, bubbles and smoke- Fairy Lights, Moving Lighting, Wash Lighting, Music and Bubbles
    
13. Blue gates - Bright lighting - Blue Fairy lights
    
14. Aurora fields - Moving lighting, low music - Dynamic Lighting Array on the ground, Moving Lighting Creating Beams of light in the Air
    
15. Tiger steps - Bright lighting, low music - Selife Feature with Fairy Lighting and Neon Lighting, fairy lights, coloured lighting of trees
    
16. Woodland tiger - Low lighting, low music- Wash Lighting, Fairy lights
    
17. Winter fantasy walk - Low lighting, snow effects, low music - Wash Lighting, Flickering Lighting, Snow Effects
    
18. Courtyard - Low lighting, low music - Fairy Lights and Wash Lighting
    
19. Finale - Bright lighting, flashing lighting, music, water effects - Fairy Lights, Wash Lights, Moving Lights createing Aerial beams, dynamic water jets and music
    
20. Exit and storytelling tree - Twinkling lights, audio of a poem - Fairy lights, wash lighting and audio

Please note that some areas of the trail include steep inclines and natural pathways.

We have made improvements to the trail path and we will always try to be as fully inclusive as possible. Please be aware that some areas of the trail are located in the gardens and wooded walks of Port Lympne and some of the terrain can be challenging for wheelchairs, mobility scooters or buggies, and may be particularly challenging in wet weather.

If visiting in a wheelchair, please ensure your companion can manoeuvre your wheelchair across challenging terrain.

Port Lympne Illuminated is the first ever festive light trail to be hosted at Kent’s iconic Port Lympne Reserve, near Folkestone.

By Car:
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve lies on the B2067, and is just past Ashford, Kent, 5 minutes from J11 of the M20.

If you are travelling via car and prefer to use a Sat Nav please use the postcode CT21 4LR.

By Rail:
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is approximately 60 minutes from St Pancras International, London, on the high speed service or a 90 minute train journey from Charing Cross or Victoria railway station in London (Please see Southeastern website for details). Take the train to Ashford International station, and from here take a bus journey or taxi from the domestic station side.

The following articles must not be brought into the event. Any person attempting to bring any of the below items on site will be refused entry and their ticket will not be refunded:

• Knives (including pocketknives)
  
• Work tools
  
• Torches
  
• Fireworks
  
• Smoke canisters
  
• Air-horns
  
• Spray cans
  
• Chinese Lanterns
  
• Balloons
  
• Handheld communication devices (such as radios)
  
• High Visibility clothing
  
• Skateboards, scooters, or bikes
  
• Flares
  
• Weapons
  
• Dangerous or hazardous items
  
• Laser devices
  
• Bottles/ glass vessels / cans – even if wrapped up as a present for a later time
  
• Your own alcohol – even if wrapped up as a present for a later time
  
• Drones
  
• Any article that might be used as a weapon and/or compromise public safety
  
• Open bottles of drink/liquid (unopened and sealed bottles of water will be accepted, as will empty reusable cups and bottles)
  
• Illegal drugs and related paraphernalia
  
• Chairs/Stools
  
• Banners/Flags
  
• Unauthorised professional photography equipment. Equipment considered to be professional will be permitted at the discretion of the security.
  
• Any other items which we consider to be unsafe or pose a risk to public safety and/or security

Any article that is illegal, might be used as a weapon, deemed to be offensive, abusive, or compromise public safety, will be confiscated and reported to the police

You certainly can!

Experience a magical family sleepover at Elfwood: new for Port Lympne Illuminated 2026!

The festive elves have spread their winter magic around Pinewood and transformed it into a winter wonderland full of family friendly winter fun! The lights are twinkling, elves are hiding amongst the treetops, extra marshmallows have appeared around the fire pit and our cosy, timber glamping pods have become an enchanted village of festive fun tucked amongst the pine grove opposite our lion enclosure.

Plus, stay overnight at one of our amazing accommodations, with full access to our 600-acre Reserve and after sunset you will be invited to step into the secret after-dark world of Port Lympne to celebrate Port Lympne Illuminated.