Award-winning Christmas light trail still available to book is the perfect family day out

In our household Christmas is all about family time, but planning endless festive days out with kids can become quite difficult. I think we’ve visited our local garden centre five times already…

One for all the family, though, is a light trail. We visited Bute Park in the heart of Cardiff for our first family Christmas experience with our six month old – the ultimate sensory for little ones. The park itself is vast and beautiful, but we were particularly blown away by the backdrop of Cardiff Castle – dating back to 50AD – which sits proudly in the centre of the Welsh capital.

Before embarking on the dazzling trail, we tucked into some local goodies at the little Christmas village inside the grounds. You’ll be spoilt for choice, with all the festive treats you could think of including delicious mulled wine or cider, luxury hot chocolate, the best churros we’ve ever tasted and German sausages.

The four-time award-winning event takes you on a journey with beautifully crafted lights by world renowned artists paired with music that complements the display. Our favourite part was called End Of The Rainbow, which centres around two huge 400-year-old trees in the grounds. Wrapped in thousands of computer-programmed lights, the trees come to life as they dance to stunningly composed music. We actually caused a bit of a queue here because we wanted to stop and fully take it all in.

The most popular display though, particularly with the children, was definitely the light sabres that pierced the woodlands and made you feel like you were in a Matrix movie.

There are plenty of pit stops along the trail if you fancy another mulled wine or even some marshmallows roasted over the fire pits. We felt like we were living our American camp dream except in the UK – and a bit colder!

After this wonderful stroll we headed to Daffodil gastropub just a stone’s throw away for a taste of Welsh cuisine. Everything on the menu is sourced locally and you can also try some of the country’s delicacies, including Welsh cawl (a hearty stew of veg and meat) and Bara Brith (a rich fruit loaf made with tea). We wolfed down Welsh rarebit croquettes for starters before tucking into lamb cawl in front of a roaring fire, warming up our hands after our winter walk.

Where to stay in Cardiff

If you’re looking to stay overnight in the capital, The Parkgate Hotel is a special treat. Directly opposite the Principality Stadium, the Parkgate offers an ideal location for anyone wanting to explore what this friendly city has to offer. Expect luxury and glamour as soon as you step foot through the door, with high ceilings, stunning chandeliers and gorgeous artwork. When we checked in, we were pleasantly surprised by the spacious room, which had a large rainfall shower and decadent Elemis products.

We were certainly ready for bed and looking forward to our Welsh buffet breakfast in the morning, but if you’re up for a night out in the bustling city you’re in the perfect location, right by Mary Street, which has a number of bars, clubs and fancy restaurants to continue your night.

How much does it cost to visit Christmas at Bute Park?

Christmas at Bute Park is open until Tuesday December 31 2024. Tickets start from £19.50 for adults and £13.95 for children (off-peak). Children under two go free. Rooms at The Parkgate Hotel start from £111 for B&B.