It’s the most wonderful time of the year and magic is in the air today at Bedgebury National Pinetum. We were kindly invited to Christmas at Bedgebury and we had such a brilliant time, the girls were in absolute awe of the lights and they literally didn’t stop smiling the whole time (until we had to leave and then they kicked off because they didn’t want to go home). It was our first time at Christmas at Bedgebury and it certainly won’t be our last. If you have booked tickets you are in for a real treat and if you haven’t, don’t miss out, you will seriously regret it.
As soon as you arrive you are hit with bundles of Christmas spirit, Christmas tunes are playing and the scent of Hot Chocolate and Mulled Wine fill the air. The girls wanted to jump on the Carousel and Swinging Boats first, each ride costs £2.50 and you can buy tokens at the ticket booth by the entrance. As we made our way along the trail, I was absolutely stunned by how beautiful Bedgebury National Pinetum looks lit up at night, it is truly magical. So much effort has gone into the attention to detail, I was blown away.
From the very first moment the girls laid eyes on the trail, they were completely mesmerised, it was so lovely to see their faces light up with amazement. The lights flash in time to the music which was a nice touch and there is so much to see, you don’t know where to look first, it’s a Christmas sensory overload, but in a good way. Spotting Father Christmas was a lovely surprise, Bella was straight in there for a natter but Flo was completely star struck.
There are various food and drink stations dotted along the trail, don’t miss the Marshmallow hut that sells chunky Marshmallows for £1.50 each, there’s three different flavours to choose from including; Vanilla, Candy Floss and Salted Caramel and make sure you look out for the Marshmallow toasting pits. Towards the end of the Trail, there are a few street food vendors selling hot food including Hot Dogs and Pulled Pork Baps for £6, Mulled Wine for £5 and Hot Chocolate, Tea’s and Coffees. Just be warned that there isn’t any tables or seating in this area, but there are plenty of benches and seats at The Bedgebury Cafe, where you can buy a range of seasonal treats.
There is nothing I love more than having Christmassy days out with the girls, Christmas at Bedgebury is the perfect way to kick start your festivities. The lit up arch was my absolute favourite part of the trail, it was so magical and it made the perfect picture opportunity. I also really loved the way the lights reflected and danced on the lake. Flo really liked the fire garden and the “pretty flowers” on the lake and Bella’s favourite part was “everything”, that’s definitely a sign of a good afternoon out.
It took us around an hour and twenty minutes to complete the trail and that included a food and drink pit stop. You are too busy admiring the lights to even notice that you are walking, the girls pretty much ran the whole time, their excitement levels were through the roof. The Trail is all on pavement so it’s suitable for pushing prams, just make sure you wrap up warm and you’re advised to bring your own torch, although we didn’t really need it as the lights were so bright.
This truly magical Christmas event is not to be missed, it’s running on selected evenings up until Monday 3rd January. Tickets for non members cost £28 for adults (this also includes a parking space), children age 3-16 £13.50 and children under the age of 2 go free. There’s a discounted rate for members and you can book tickets online https://christmasatbedgebury.seetickets.com/raymondgubbay/christmas-at-bedgebury or you can buy tickets on the gate, but it will cost you an extra £4 for an adult and £2 for a child. Kick start your Christmas spirit and check out Bedgebury at Christmas.