GENERAL INFORMATION
Bolesworth will be transformed into an illuminated winter wonderland this December. The magical 1.2 mile trail promises a dazzling after-dark experience for all of the family. You’ll travel alongside the lakeside with the backdrop of the castle lit to spectacular effect, then you’ll follow the winding pathways through the woods where you may spot a reindeer or two, travelling over bridges and through the spectacular grounds.
- Santa’s North Pole Grotto*
- Arena Light Show
- Christmas Party Nights *
- Christmas Market
- Reindeer Woods
- Champagne Island *
- Ice Skating *
*separate charges apply
26 November to 24 December 2021 inclusive.
Times vary by day. To look at times please click here and select the date you are considering attending.
The illuminated trail car park is at Bolesworth Castle. The address for entry is Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall, Cheshire CH3 9JJ.
By train:
The Bolesworth illuminated trail is approximately a 20 minute taxi journey from Chester station and around a 30 minute taxi journey from Crewe station.
By bus:
We would not recommend transportation via bus as we are not on a direct route unfortunately.
By road:
From East via M56 – M53
M56 at Junction 15 take the M53 south towards Chester. M53 becomes the A55. Leave the A55 at Junction 40 (previously Junction 37). At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto A51. Keep in the left-hand lane and take the left filter onto the A41 (Ring Road). At the next roundabout take the left filter, following signs A41 Whitchurch. Remain on the A41 for 7 miles. Approx. 3 miles after Milton Green turn left onto Old Coach Road. After 300 yards Production Gate entrance will be on your left.
From Holyhead – North Wales via a55
Take A55 towards Chester – branching left at Junction 37 onto the A55 signposted for Chester. Continue on the A55 towards Chester and take Junction 39 (was Junction 36a) towards Whitchurch. Take the right-hand lane at the traffic lights and turn right onto the A41, signposted Whitchurch. Remain on the A41 for 7 miles. Approx. 3 miles after Milton Green turn left onto Old Coach Road. After 300 yards Production Gate entrance will be on your left.
From the South via M6
Take the M6 North. Leave the M6 at Junction 10A onto
the M54. At M54 Junction 3 take the 3rd exit signposted A41/Whitchurch. Follow the A41 for approx. 29 miles. After Whitchurch continue on the A41 towards Chester. After 11 miles, at the Broxton roundabout, take the 2nd exit to Chester. After approx. half a mile take the first right onto Old Coach Road. After 300 yards Production Gate entrance will be on your left.
Booking times are for your arrival time to Bolesworth and not your actual time allocated to start the Lights Trail. Once parked and inside the event you can walk the trail and experience all other areas at your leisure. For all other pre paid experiences, please arrive at your allocated booking time – that include Santa’s Grotto, Ice Skating and Champagne Island.
Christmas at Bolesworth is suitable for all ages, both the young and the young at heart. It is an experience to be enjoyed by everyone.
We would advise arriving at the venue 15 minutes before you are due to begin the trail – this will give you time to get checked in and parked.
Yes, you are able to book a visit to see Santa. This experience should be booked in addition to your general admission tickets (an additional charge applies). You will be allocated a 15 minute slot and will get to meet the man himself, have a picture taken and the child will receive a gift.
The Ice Skating experience will last for 30 minutes, this includes check-in time and boot collection.
Yes, boot hire is included in the price of the Ice Skating experience.
The Champagne Island experience will last 45 to 60 minutes. We will take you across to a hidden island (the trip across will take 2 minutes). Upon arrival you’ll be greeted by a host who will show you to your allocated area (maximum number of visitors for your booked slot is 10 people). There will be tables, chairs, fire pits and rugs available. The experience also includes half a bottle of champagne per person or a soft drink. You must be aged 12 or above to be eligible to enter Champagne Island.
You must be aged 12 or above to be eligible to enter Champagne Island.
The Arena Light & Laser show is a 5 minute show choreographed to music that runs every 30 minutes during opening times. The first show is at 4:30pm and the last show is at 9:30pm.
There will be lighting sequences created within the design that will have some flashing lights contained within them. However, there will be no strobe lighting. We have worked to guidelines on photosensitive epilepsy and will adhere to the industry standard of synchronising effects and locking the sequences to ensure that lights do not operate at more than five flashes per second.
Christmas at Bolesworth takes place outdoors. Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear for winter weather and potentially muddy paths.
We encourage you to take photographs and to share these on social media using the hashtag #ChristmasAtBolesworth. You can also follow the developments across our Christmas Trails via ‘Bolesworth’ on Facebook and Instagram. Please note that the use of tripods is not allowed where the pathways are narrow.
Drones are not permitted.
Carden Park is only a 10-minute drive from Christmas at Bolesworth. Carden offers a range of luxury bedrooms, including six accessible rooms. Book early to avoid disappointment by clicking here.
TICKETING
General on sale for Christmas at Bolesworth is the evening of Thursday 8 July 2021.
You can buy tickets for Christmas at Bolesworth online here.
We recommend that you book early to avoid disappointment. Each timed entry has a limited capacity and the early evening and weekend slots are likely to sell out.
Prices vary depending upon whether the date of your visit is peak or off-peak. To view prices please click here and select the date you are considering attending, this will then show all ticket prices.
Family tickets are available for our Christmas Lights Trail and Ice Skating experiences.
Family tickets are based on 2 adults, 2 children (ages 3-12) and a parking space.
Infants (0-2 years) on the day of the illuminated trail and carers go free (carers should be 16+). Infant and carer tickets must be booked in advance.
Yes, subject to availability. If you require any additional entry admission tickets after placing your order, please click here and scroll down to “Already ordered tickets?” to add any ticket types you require. Please note that you will need to have your Reference Number at hand.
No, we do not have a box office facility at the venue.
No, each booking is inclusive of one parking space.
The drop off and pick up areas are within the car park itself. Please follow signs to the car park.
There is a group rate of 10% off groups of 15+ adults. Please email SEE Tickets Groups: groups@seetickets.com
Group discounts are not available to book online and apply to adult tickets only.
All customers are reminded to be aware of the latest government legislation when visiting the light trail. Please be mindful that legislation may change between time of booking and day of visit.
Yes, there is space for 2 coaches per evening. Coach parking is charged at £20.00 per coach and MUST be booked in advance by emailing See Tickets Groups on groups@seetickets.com
Your E-Tickets will be attached to your confirmation email.
Please check your Junk / Spam folders as sometimes the confirmation email falls into these folders. If you still have not received your confirmation email, you can resend your confirmation email to yourself here.
If you are unable to print your E-Tickets or if you are unable to display your tickets on your phone, please use the Chat Bot located in the bottom right corner of your screen and explain that you are unable to print your E-Tickets off.
A child ticket is for those aged 3-12 years. Infants aged 0-3 years will not be charged admission, but do require a ticket.
CHRISTMAS LIGHT TRAIL
The time taken will vary on the pace you walk, however we’d suggest you allow approximately 60 – 90 minutes to walk the trail.
Of course, dogs are important family members and we appreciate they don’t want to be left behind. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times. Please ensure that you bring some pet poop bags along with you and clear up after your dog.
In some areas the lighting will be low level as part of the experience. We do encourage visitors to bring along a torch in case of an emergency; this should not be used unless it is necessary.
The trail is not covered and all visitors are reminded that this is an outdoor illuminated trail and the weather may be inclement. Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear for winter.
We will try and accommodate you on the next available slot within the trail operational hours on the day. Please ensure you leave enough time for your journey if you are travelling a long way.
Last entry onto the trail is 8:40pm.
All customers, other than VIP and party attendees, must exit the car park by no later than 2 hours after the last trail start time and in all cases by 10:45pm.
The Arena Light & Laser show is a 5 minute show choreographed to music that runs every 30 minutes during opening times. The first show is at 4:30pm and the last show is at 9:30pm.
ACCESS PROVISIONS
The trail will be created to be as accessible as possible within the context of the natural site of Bolesworth. The route is all on hard-standing, flat paths and alternative routes will be provided should they be required for customers with mobility issues. Some interactive elements may invite the audience on to grass where additional pedestrian matting will be provided.
Accessible toilets will be available, as well as changing facilities. If you have any particular access requirements, please call the property on 01829 307676 so that the team may advise further.
Yes, there are spaces available in the visitor car park. Please note that these spaces are limited.
The illuminated trail is just over approximately one mile in length. The route is designed so that it can be viewed solely from even paths, some interactive elements may invite the audience on to grass where additional pedestrian matting will be provided.
If weather conditions mean that the trail is not fully accessible for people using wheeled mobility aids, consideration will be made on a case-by-case basis to allow tickets to be transferred to an alternative date when the ground conditions are more appropriate.
You are welcome to bring your own mobility scooter. Unfortunately, we do not have scooters available for hire.
A disabled person purchasing ticket may bring one essential carer companion free of charge.
If you require more than one carer, please visit Customer Service here. You will need your Booking Reference Number at hand.
FOOD, BEVERAGE AND RETAIL
Yes, there will be a number of food and drink stands on site throughout the event.
The Christmas village will be open during Christmas at Bolesworth until the illuminated trail closes each evening*.
*Opening times are TBC
CANCELLATION, EXCHANGES AND REFUNDS
Yes, you can protect your tickets and an option is included to add this when purchasing your tickets. This will allow you to apply for a refund if you are unable to attend this event due to accidents, unexpected illnesses or specified unforeseen circumstances. You can view the terms and conditions in relation to this policy by clicking here to view: TicketPlan’s terms and conditions.
Christmas at Bolesworth is an outdoor illuminated trail. If the weather presents a hazard and a risk to safety, any decision to cancel the illuminated trail will be taken by 2pm on the day of the illuminated trail. If the trail is cancelled, you will be notified by email and text message and you will be informed of the re-booking process.
If the illuminated trail is cancelled in line with the cancellation policy and ticket holders are not able to attend an alternative night offered, then a refund will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Where a refund is due, the ticket must be returned within 28 days following the illuminated trail date. We can also offer a voucher for the following year. The transaction fee is not refundable under any circumstances.
No, we are unable to offer exchanges or refunds once tickets have been purchased. It is noted on the website and at the point of booking that you need to make sure that you have chosen the right date and time slot at the time of making your booking.
All ticket holders whose bookings are affected by current government restrictions will receive an email from See Tickets with a rescheduled date.
If your tickets are lost or if you require your E-Tickets to be re sent to you, please contact SEE Tickets here. Please note that you will need to have your Reference Number at hand and this will render your original tickets invalid.
You can book with confidence for your chosen trail. Come along knowing that the safety and wellbeing of our visitors and staff is of the utmost importance to us and we will continue to monitor the situation.
In the unlikely event that we need to cancel your chosen trail, you can transfer your ticket to the following year, or get a refund.
SUSTAINABILITY AND ECOLOGY
The trail will be architecturally lit by experienced lighting designers who have developed sensitive ways of working in heritage and landscape settings. Responding to the natural darkness of sites is key to the success of the illuminated trails. The best visual work is sensitive to light “competition” and the brightness of one light source relative to another. We therefore take advantage of the environmental darkness to reduce the overall brightness of our lighting interventions, and allow ample space within our audience experiences for people’s eyes to attune to the darkness, then to allow them to appreciate the sights and sounds of the natural environment as a contrast to, and context, for our artistic efforts. We try to avoid continuous lighting of trails and paths, and will only use audience area lighting where it is absolutely necessary for reasons of public safety.
Sound installations are created to provide atmosphere and a sense of place for an installation. All sounds are targeted and specific to a part of the route and are therefore contained within defined spaces, therefore there is no noise pollution over and above the natural sound level created by the presence of audiences on the trail and the show held in the main arena.
Fuel for power generation is kept to a minimum by efficient use of power loadings and low wattage lighting units where appropriate.