GTOs: Leonardslee Illuminated 2023, A Magical Winter Experience

This winter, visitors to Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens in Horsham, West Sussex, can enjoy a captivating after-dark light trail as the gardens come alive with colour and sound during this year’s Leonardslee Illuminated event. Group Travel Information. 

Open between 4pm and 10pm, with light trails running from 4.15pm to 8.15pm, the event will take place on various dates from 24th November to 21st December: please visit the Leonardslee website for details of ticket prices and free and discounted offers for Leonardslee members. 

Now in its fifth year, Leonardslee Illuminated at the historic 240-acre Grade I Listed estate will transport visitors into a magical world as the gardens are transformed with illuminations, large-scale installations, and atmospheric soundscapes. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with a Victorian funfair, a small Christmas market, a selection of seasonal food and drink, and other entertainment before entering the mile-long trail. 

"Visitors can explore the lit trails and walk down through the valley, decked with fairy lights and lanterns, giant flowers and mythical animals. There will be displays of massive stars and planets suspended over the seven lakes, reflecting the sparkling lights and the towering lakeside trees," says Adam Streeter, general manager. 

“We’ve worked hard to make the event even more affordable this year, given the rising cost of living: there is a price reduction from last year, and Leonardslee members will get free entry on selected days, and 50% off at other times. 

"There are fairground attractions, mulled wine and other food and drink to enjoy either before or after the trail, which is around 60 to 90 minutes long. The market features arts and crafts and other gifts for sale from local artisans, and our shops will be open, with wines from our sister estate’s vineyards at Benguela Cove in South Africa". 

Streeter says that the illuminations and other events are vital to maintaining the estate, helping to fund the major programme of works needed to preserve the woodland gardens, which were originally created by the great Victorian plant collector, Sir Edmund Loder. The estate is now a protected ecosystem for fauna and flora that are threatened elsewhere in the UK and beyond, including several rare ‘champion’ trees.  

Tickets are available online, at a reduced price this year, from £16 for adults and £9 per child, down from £18 and £10 last year, with 10% off for groups of 15 or more. There are special free and discounted ticket offers for Leonardslee members. Annual membership at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens starts from £60. 

Visit https://leonardsleeilluminated.co.uk

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Editors notes

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens is a family-owned vineyard estate, near Horsham in West Sussex, which features ‘the finest woodland gardens in England’, Grade I Listed, as well as a Michelin Star restaurant and luxury vineyard accommodation.

The 240-acre estate was established by Sir Edmund Loder, the great Victorian plant collector, and now includes a Sussex Wine vineyard, with the first release of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier sparkling wine in 2024.

The estate features outstanding displays all year round. In the spring this includes rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, magnolias and bluebells. The collection is exceptional in its diversity and maturity, with several rare ‘champion’ trees, threatened in their natural habitat.

The gardens offer a protected ecosystem for rare wildlife such as Emperor Dragonflies and Damselflies, White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak butterflies and migratory and native birds - Kites, Great Tits, Tree Creepers, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers and Nightingales.

The estate reopened in April 2019, following acquisition and two years’ intensive work by entrepreneur Penny Streeter OBE to restore the woodland gardens after eight years of closure and neglect under previous ownership. It was the largest garden restoration project in the United Kingdom since Heligan 30 years before.

Since further restoration work in 2021, visitors can also stay in the luxury vineyard hotel after dining at Restaurant Interlude in Leonardslee House, the Grade II Listed Italianate mansion house, to experience the Michelin Star multi-course tasting menu created by chef Jean Delport.

Visitors can view a magical world in miniature at the Beyond the Doll's House exhibition, which depicts the Edwardian estate and neighbouring villages at 1:12 scale. They can then enjoy a classic afternoon tea in the mansion house, making for a great family day out. It is one of the top places to visit in Sussex and is open all year round except Christmas Day.

For great days out, there is an extensive programme of entertainment that includes winter garden illuminations and light trails, wine and beer festivals, photo and art exhibitions, live music events, cooking and gardening demonstrations, arts and crafts fairs, modelling and toy shows, and children’s events and adventure trails.

Vineyards –

Leonardslee Estate: Acquired 2018 - 3.1 Acres - 2018 First vines planted - 4,000 Estimated bottles Experimental planting of Pinotage - 2022 First estate Pinotage

Mannings Estate: Acquired 2017 - 34 Acres - 2017 First vines planted - 70,000 Estimated bottles Sparkling wine cultivars 60% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier - 2024 First release of wine