Chester Zoo Lanterns and Light, December 2025

We last did the Chester Zoo lantern walk many years ago and it was fun, but nothing special and we weren’t really interested in doing it again. Over the years since, we’d seen some of the models dotted around the park near Christmas and thought it might have improved, but it wasn’t until recently, where we’d seen some video clips of the event where we thought “now looks a great time to go again!” Four tickets for Chester Zoo Lanterns and Light 2025, please!

Lanterns and Light is Chester Zoo’s annual Christmas light show spectacular. Take a walk around the zoo as you’ve never seen it before. Expect to see festive lighting, light tunnels, illuminated animal statues, lasers, animal puppets, fun fair rides, food stalls, fire and more. Oh, and Santa!

Chester Zoo is far from a cheap day out, so don’t be expecting Lanterns to be any different. The event runs from 14^th November through to 3^rd Jan and tickets can be booked online. Adult tickets start from £19 (off-peak), £22.50 (standard) and £26 (peak). Children’s tickets are priced at £12, £17 and £19 with toddlers £2.50 for all brackets. As a Chester Zoo Member, you are entitled to a 10% discount which you have to either call to book or book in person at the zoo. Bit of a faff, but hey.

We chose an off-peak Thursday evening slot at 5pm, which was plenty dark enough by then for the light show to look fantastic. It was fairly busy then too, but not overwhelmingly so. Our kids aren’t fans of big pushy crowds and I think a peak Saturday night might have been too much. And thank god the rain kept off! It was chilly though, so wrap up warm.

As you pass through the gate, under the Lanterns and Light archway, you’re in the funfair. Tickets for the rides are £4 each. Only a few small rides including a Helter Skelter, Carousels and a Swing ride alongside some snack stalls. Around these were some giant illuminated giraffe models, reindeer, rhino, lions and the Christmas tree.

After the fun fair, you head through the turnstiles into the main zoo area where you’re greeted but multicoloured-light-wrapped trees. The Lanterns and Light path is a one way system, so it’s roped off and you follow the designated path around the lantern trail. You’re directed towards the elephant enclosure. At the foot of the bridge was our first light show animal encounter: peacocks. The illuminated peacock puppets looked great, and their operators were having a great time entertaining the kids. After this, you headed over the bridge, which was canopied with glowing lights, changing colours and patterns as you walked underneath.

At the end of the bridge were some giant snowflake lights which were flashing and changing colour in time with some festive songs. A nice touch. The hut selling drinks was open, offering some festive inspired hot drinks and treats. Queue was massive so we carried on to the next section.

Over the next bridge and you could see down to a group of illuminated swan models in the water with a few flying across. These looked great. The real ducks must have liked them too as they were huddled next to them.

After the swans were some more characters. This time, penguins. 3 people in fantastic glowing penguin costumes waddling amongst the crowds, interacting with people and taking pictures with the kids. There was even a baby penguin that the kids loved.

Off to the next section which was a laser disco leading down to where the wooden bridge to the bats is. Here were some festive tunes and purple, green and yellow lasters glowing in the misty path. Also on the path were some more animal puppets and actors. This time zebras and meerkats, dancing to the music and playing with the children.

After the lasers, the path to the left was covered with colourful fish models leading into a pathway through the trees. All of which were covered in lights themselves. Sometimes they’d display like flames, other times fireworks and others just a parade of lights. One tree just looked like a tie-dyed multicolour explosion.

After the tree lights, we followed the giant light paw prints heading to the Festival Food Village. In here you’d find several food and drink options including a bar, hot chocolate and treats, Bratwursts, Pie and Mash, Burgers, Churros, crumbles and Pizza. The food we tried was great. The kids had a pizza which did look like a good stone baked one. I tried the Steak and Ale pie, served with mash, sprouts, cranberry sauce and gravy, whilst Jo tried the bratwurst hot dog. I was so full after the pie and mash! It was really nice.

Food options all ranged at around the £10-12 mark for meal type options. The bar was serving beer, cider, a few cocktails and mulled wine/ciders. There was an issue with the beer pump however, which took far too long to sort too.

Aside from seating within the food court itself, there was additional seating outside under a tent next door.

After the food village, you’re directed back and around the back of the pub where you pass through a set of 80s looking neon blue and pink parrot lights which were pretty cool. This lead through to one of my favourite areas: the flaming Christmas trees. A bridge lead around a path with several metal Christmas tree shapes and at the end of each branch was a bucket of fire. This along with the lights in the trees really set the area aglow with a warm, festive feel.

After the fire trees you arrive in Lapland. Here was a decorated wooden cabin, surrounded with Nutcrackers, gnomes, festive garlands and swirling lights, all home to jolly old Saint Nicholas himself who was on hand to take pictures and check which kids were on the naughty list. Elliott was a bit shy at first (I think he’d remembered just how many times he’d said 6-7 lately) but eventually warmed up enough to go say hello. It wasn’t too busy around here and he made time for anyone who wanted to say hi. Santa, I mean. Not Elliott.

Heading towards the final part of the trail, and we get to go through another fantastic light tunnel. This one was long strings of lights, dangling down for you to pass through as their colours flashed and changed in various patterns. Unfortunately for us as we neared the front of the queue, they seemed to be half off and with minimal change. It still looked cool as you walked through but we’d seen it glowing a lot more frequently and brightly. Oh and watch for your face as the people in front pass through, as the plastic lights were quite hard if they hit you in the face as Elliott sadly found out.

Just after the tunnel was a spot to do some marshmallow toasting. £7.95 got you 3 large mallows to toast. Once they were gooey you could head to the next station to get them topped with Biscoff sauces and sprinkles. There was also a van selling doughnuts and drinks and some gingerbread men shaped statues that made for a fun photo.

We followed the path of giant light projections on the ground, snowman, Christmas tree, presents and Santa, towards the bridge. We’re on the final stretch of the trail now, over the bridge and back to the beginning. The bridge had several zones to it, one with bubble machines pouring into the blue light like snow, the next a multicoloured kaleidoscope effect, another light tunnel, swirling snowflake patterns, giant multicoloured Christmas lights.

After the bridge was the path back to the entrance. Here, the trees were glowing in blues and purples, each with a set of illuminated star shapes floating in the branches. On the ground we were met with the Snow Leopard puppets, which again the kids loved interacting with. The puppets were definitely a hit and they did look great.

We exited the path near the elephant bridge, back at the start. We walked back towards the bridge as it was nearing the end of the night, so it was quiet, and the Peacock puppets were still out, so we could get a closer look. Much more fun when you get them in a quiet moment, as it was like Rod Hull and Emu chasing the kids (and adults) around.

At the end of the Lanterns and Lights trail was the giant reindeer. It was about 20 feet tall and twinkled with bright lights. Amazing. A fitting end to a great light trail.

After that, we headed back out into the fairground area, the kids enjoyed their Helter Skelter ride and we headed into the gift shop to see what festive goodies they had in store. The shop itself was decorated for the holiday season and had lots of Christmas merchandise and souvenirs on sale. We picked up a fancy tree decoration as a memento.

Yes, we absolutely loved Chester Zoo Lanterns and Light. It was much different to out first visit some years previously, with a lot more to see and do. It was great. We have friends who visit regularly who’ve seen it enough that they didn’t go this year, but for us it was something new and fresh. We’d definitely do it again next year.

The lights and sounds were fantastic, the food village was great with plenty of great food options, the Santa meet and greet was done well, but the animal puppets were definitely the highlight. They looked amazing and offered some fun interactions for guests.

Lanterns and Light is definitely worth a visit if you’ve ever thought about it.

Get all the info on Lanterns and Light for 2025 at the Chester Zoo website.