Leonardslee Gardens are a wonderful place to visit at any time of the year, but there is something unashamedly magical about Leonardslee Illuminated.
You are welcomed by the sparkling lights of a colourful carousel and the warming scents of a small Christmas market – only to be caught slightly off guard by the arrival of an enigmatic troupe of illuminated drummers.
Mesmerizing and unnerving in brilliantly equal measure, they appear to be half Pierrot, half-man, as they perform their extraordinary drumming spectacular. Bizarre yet enthralling, they also signal the start of your journey into a mythical and magical world.
From the snow queen to a singing bear, the lantern-lit, woodland trail then takes you on a fantastical journey with brightly coloured lights, music, performances, and of course, the now-famous, planetary projections over the lake.
Illuminated woodland creatures and wallabies (of course) watch from the path side as the earth and the moon hang suspended in silence over shimmering waters. It’s ethereal. It’s enchanting. And it’s a great way to start Christmas.
This is a world of storytelling, fairytales, brightly coloured lanterns and boundless imagination. It’s escapism, it’s Christmas, it’s playful and yet it’s poignant.
It really doesn’t matter if you’re 5 or 95, this is the stuff that the festive season should be made of. Grab tickets if you can, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Leornardslee Illuminated is open from: the 25-28 November, 2-5 December, 9-12 December and 15-22 December. They change the trail each year so if you’ve been before you can expect something different.
