Christmas 2023: UK’s Wakehurst gardens open Glow Wild festival with UK's tallest living Christmas tree

Wakehurst* unveils UK's tallest Christmas tree standing at 37m tall
adorned with 1800 energy-saving light bulbs.
Photo: Visual Air © RBG Kew 2023 

As retailers around the country are promoting Black Friday deals (an American tradition after Thanksgiving that falls on Thursday November 23 this year), Wakehurst* gardens in Sussex get off to a festival start for the Christmas 2023 season by unveiling "UK’s tallest living Christmas tree" and open the 10th anniversary of Glow Wild, a festive trail that is brought to life after dark.

Wakehurst* hosts Glow Wild to light up its wild botanic garden, bringing festive magic and wonder with 10 new installations and myriad hand-crafted lanterns. The 2023 edition of the winter lantern trail marks a decade of mesmerising memories and community spirit.
Photo: Visual Air © RBG Kew 2023 

Glow Wild is opened on selected evenings from 23 November 2023 to 1 January 2024,  from 4.30pm to 10pm (last entry 8.20pm), offering various ticket options including flexible tickets.

Wakehurst celebrates its tenth anniversary of Glow Wild, billed as Sussex's ultimate festive trail, featuring a never-before-seen route with brand new installations, and plenty of other surprises, according to Wakehurst's press statement. 

As darkness falls, the gardens are brought to life with beautifully hand-crafted winter lanterns and captivating light installations created by leading artists.

With under 4s going free, Glow Wild is the perfect Christmas sensory experience for little ones and indeed the whole family. This year, Glow Wild celebrates the sublime, inviting visitors to become part of the trail and discover awe-inspiring moments in nature.

Photo: Visual Air © RBG Kew 2023 

During this opening week, Wakehurst offers special ticket promotion plus new flexible ticket offer that allows date swaps and upgrades up to 72 hours before visit in recognition of the strains faced by many during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Wakehurst has released accessible priced tickets for the opening week of Glow Wild and hopes this, combined with its free tickets for under 4-year-olds, helps families as they prepare for the festive season. The new flexible ticket offer allows bookers to swap or upgrade tickets up to 72 hours before their visit – available for new and existing bookings.

Photo: Visual Air © RBG Kew 2023 

There are lots to do in Glow Wild, including a series of new sessions for adult-only nights, quiet experiences, and relaxed slots adapted for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Marking a milestone 10 years, this year’s theme invites visitors to reflect on the awe-inspiring moments in the natural world – from epic examples of wildlife to delicate details of plants and fungi. In true Glow Wild tradition, over 1000 lanterns are handmade by local volunteers and community groups, with the tenth anniversary mile- long trail also boasting eight brand new bespoke installations from leading artists.

Photo: Visual Air © RBG Kew 2023 

There is a new interactive experience with Wakehurst’s ‘Starkeeper’ from Long Nose Puppets. Visitors young and young at heart are invited to make a wish on a star to hang in the ‘sky forest’ before they continue their journey. Other friendly faces can be found in giant parading peacock, Percy who give a glowing welcome to all entering the gardens.

In addition there are pop-up stalls throughout the trail offering dwelling points to admire installations whilst visitors can enjoy hot drinks and snacks. Crackling fire pits located close to the Starkeeper form the perfect spot for toasting marshmallows, whilst festive grab and go options can be found under the UK’s tallest living Christmas tree.

Quiet Sessions are available every night at 4.15pm, whilst a series of Relaxed Sessions offer gentle performances adapted especially for children with special educational needs and disabilities. For those looking for the perfect date-night, adult-only slots will run each Friday at 8pm offering a quieter, more intimate experience.

*Wakehurst is affiliated to London's Kew Gardens. It is home to the Millennium Seed Bank, with more than 500 acres of diverse landscapes and plants from across the globe.