Greater Manchester has been invaded, with so many light trails taking place this year it feels like you’ve been swarmed by fireflies.
There are light trails in parks, light trails in the city, light trails in zoos and light trails in gardens.
There’s a style to suit every taste too, whether you’re into a colourful, nostalgic Christmas, or ultra-tasteful festivities that take your breath away.
There’s even a light trail that will hit the brief if you’re particularly interested in blending winter light trails with disco music…
So we’ve travelled the length and breadth of the north west to pick out the best light trails that are worth your time and money this Christmas.
ADVERTISEMENT
Know of one we’ve missed? Reach out to us through our socials.
Christmas at Heaton Park, Manchester
Christmas at Heaton Park light trail in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupChristmas at Heaton Park light trail in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
A brand new festive light trail has opened in Manchester this winter, filling Heaton Park with glowing orbs, neon trees, and fairylit tunnels.
ADVERTISEMENT
The spectacular new festive event loops around the park’s lake, where installations on the water include colourful ships and light beams.
And down in the woods you’ll find a laser garden, a flurry of bubbles, larger-than-life glowing flowers, and twinkling pink trees.
You can stop off at a festive teepee for a mulled wine, toast your marshmallows on an open fire, and whizz around the fairground rides at the end too. Did we mention the whole trail is dog-friendly, too?
ADVERTISEMENT
Adult standard tickets £18 | Running until 31 December | Tickets here
Manchester’s newest city centre park, Mayfield Park, has been transformed into a festive ‘Twilight Trail’ for the first time ever this Christmas.
This brand-new immersive experience is made up of several spectacular light displays, unique lantern installations, and a captivation sound-scape dotted around the pristine new park – with each circuit estimated to take around half an hour.
And at the end you can dive into Winter Island, Freight Island’s Christmas season, and grab yourself some food and drink, from a build-your-own boozy hot chocolate bar from Cocoa Cabana, to the Smoking Coal German BBQ, serving a whole bratwurst menu, Schweinshaxe in a bun, and a classic hog roast butty.
Adult tickets £10 | Running until 31 December | Tickets here
ADVERTISEMENT
The Twilight Trail is now open, and running right through until the new year, and you can find out more and grab tickets here.
Put Big Light On Bolton, Bolton
Easily the light trail with the best name in Greater Manchester is Put Big Light On Bolton, which has a range of light installations installed in the town centre.
There’s everything from a giant moon by Luke Jerram to a Dan Archer creation that brings the Northern Lights to our hometown.
There are special events taking place around the light festival too – but most of it wraps up this weekend, so you’ll have to move fast.
Land of Lights Gulliver’s World. Credit: The Manc GroupToasted marshmallows at Land of Lights at Gulliver’s World
Land of Lights has transformed Gulliver’s World in Warrington into an immersive winter wonderland with 12 ‘vivid dreamworlds’.
The gigantic lanterns are inspired by animals, mega monuments, and wonders of the natural world.
As the sun goes down and the nights draw in, visitors to the North West attraction can explore an amazing array of light installations as they walk all around the park.
More than 7,000 individual lanterns and hundreds of thousands of LED lights create the spectacle.
The completely free Lightwaves Festival is back at Salford Quays this week for its 10th instalment, this time with 15 artworks – three of which are brand new commissions.
Highlights include a luminescent artwork in the shape of a six-metre-long whale shark, complete with transparent fish scales, and a tunnel of giant mirrored rings across the piazza that people can walk through.
Then there are giant glowing flowers and a fire garden you can roam around too.
7-10 December | Free, no tickets needed
Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester city centre
Castlefield Viaduct has a series of night time events including a Lantern Lates light trail. Credit: David Bewick/National Trust.
Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester, the lush National Trust site built up on a disused railway viaduct, is inviting visitors to see the urban green space by nightfall.
ADVERTISEMENT
There’ll be a free Lantern Lates series where the park will transform into a ‘magical, sparkling grotto’.
Visitors can climb up to Castlefield Viaduct , the huge industrial landmark that has views right across Manchester city centre, and savour the winter wonderland created for the coming season.
It’s before the National Trust project closes for a few weeks in the new year for work to refresh the gardens for spring and summer.
A brand-new immersive experience has opened at Chester Zoo for the festive season this week.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lanterns and Light gives visitors the chance to explore captivating light installations and be transported into enchanting lands filled with colour and festivity, all while meeting orangutans, lions, dolphins, and woolly mammoths as they make their way along the trail.
There’s also colour changing displays stretching as far as the eye can see, birds and stars adorning the zoo’s winding paths and trees, and a spectacular Winter Cathedral tunnel of lights.
Until 31 December | Adult tickets £22 | Buy tickets here.
Full list of locations announced for Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 – including NEW places
Emily Sergeant
The full list of locations for Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 has been announced.
Now in their 27th year, Manchester Christmas Markets are known and loved for bringing thousands of people into the city centre each year to fill up on the fantastic festive treats and soak up all the Christmas atmosphere.
This year will see a bigger return of Albert Square, after the headline-grabbing partial return at last year’s event, with the big wheel also set to make a comeback.
There’s also set to be some new locations too for 2026, with Lincoln Square joining in on the action. And there will also be big changes to St Ann’s Square, according to the Council, with what is being described as a ‘brand new layout’ bringing in a bigger number of market stalls.
There will be a total of 210 stalls spread out across the city centre.
And the Council has now revealed the full list of locations where you’ll find stalls this year, including giving a teaser on what types of stalls will be in each location.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 locations have been confirmed / Credit: The Manc Group | Flickr
Albert Square
Albert Square is gearing up to be a must-visit Christmas Market location this year, hosting a packed programme of festive experiences, including:
A 50-metre ferris wheel and a vintage helter-skelter.
A festive pop-up pub with live entertainment (which is new for 2026)
Food, drink, and craft stalls from local and international traders
A glittering Christmas tree with its life-size sleigh
Manchester’s very-own giant Santa sitting high above the markets in front of the Town Hall
The markets will be open here daily from Friday 6 November to Sunday 3 January 2027, except for Christmas Day.
Lincoln Square
A brand-new Christmas market location for 2026, just a step away from Albert Square.
Here you can enjoy festive refreshments, seasonal treats, and warming drinks from local and international traders – with jerk chicken, homestyle lasagne and pasta, Korean corn dogs, and so much more.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
King Street
On King Street, you can browse soaps, decorations, local spirits, and truckle cheeses, or visit the Italian deli for gourmet meats, cheeses, and Mediterranean produce. Before heading off, make sure to visit mouth-watering food stalls for chicken and waffles, mac and cheese, Hong Kong-style French toast, Greek gyros, and so much more.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
Manchester Christmas Markets are known for bringing thousands of people into the city centre / Credit: Manchester City Council
St Ann’s Square
The original home of Manchester Christmas Markets has been given a makeover and will have an exciting new layout for 2026. Grab a bite to eat and enjoy the twinkling lights of a giant Christmas tree, while sipping on a Guinness, a glühwein, or festive cocktail.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
Corn Exchange
Browse the stalls in front of the Corn Exchange for unique gifts of all kinds from crafters, take home tasty festive treats like pork pies, handmade truffles, and artisan cheeses, or shop for clothing, jewellery, fabulous accessories and more.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
Exchange Street & Exchange Square
Exchange Street and Square is back with many of the favourites you know and love.
Treat your taste buds to loaded hash browns, Yorkshire pudding wraps, traditional bratwurst, decadent hot chocolate, frosty affogatos, and Dubai-inspired chocolate-covered strawberries, before exploring the stalls selling a range of crafts and gifts against a backdrop of twinkling festive lights.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
There will be a total of 210 stalls spread out across the city centre / Credit: Manchester City Council
New Cathedral Street
New Cathedral Street is a must-visit destination for Christmas shopping. But don’t miss the traditional German bratwurst and beers, or a chance to indulge yourself in delicious steak frites with hot raclette cheese poured over the fries.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
Market Street
Market Street is back and bigger than ever, with even more craft and gift stalls to explore. And then when you’re ready for a break from shopping, test your skills with carnival-style games including darts and hook-a-duck.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
Cathedral Gardens
Expect plenty of activities for all ages at Cathedral Gardens, particularly for younger visitors, like Skate Manchester’s huge covered ice rink, mini fairground games, free live entertainment, and loads of food and drink stalls.
The markets will be open here daily from Friday 6 November to Sunday 3 January 2027, except for Christmas Day.
Find out everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 here.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
Christmas
Home Bargains has announced a special two-day closure of all UK stores
Emily Sergeant
Home Bargains has, once again, announced it’ll be closing all its UK stores on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this year.
And it’s to make sure staff get a ‘well deserved break’.
After what has been yet another busy year for the retail industry, many workers have been left feeling like they could do with a little extra time off, which is why Home Bargains is following on with what has become a now-annual tradition by shutting up shop on two bank holidays.
All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day & New Years Day.
Announcing the move in a post on social media, the discount retailer confirmed: “All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day and New Years Day. We would like to thank all our colleagues for how hard you have worked this past year, and want you to relax and enjoy the Christmas break with your loved ones.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time the retailer has kept its doors shut on bank holidays.
Many shoppers will recall it has made the same decision to give hardworking staff a break every year since 2019.
Explaining a little more about the decision taken to close all its stores, Home Bargains said: “As a family-run business, we know the importance of being together at Christmas with those we care about most, now more than ever.
Daisy Jackson -
7th December 2023 
