Updated on May 12, 2023
RHS Harlow Carr Glow is a magical Christmas event in North Yorkshire. Explore the beautiful gardens at night, illuminated by a pretty light trail. Here is everything you need to know before you visit Glow at RHS Harlow Carr.
In this guide you’ll find everything you need to know about RHS Harlow Carr Glow. You will discover all the information you need before you visit, plus, a review of the Glow event.
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RHS Harlow Carr Glow: Know Before You Go
Before you visit RHS Harlow Carr Glow, here is an overview of everything you need to know before you go.
Where is RHS Harlow Carr?
RHS Harlow Carr is in North Yorkshire, in Beckwithshaw, just outside Harrogate. You will find the gardens in Harewood, located two miles west of Harrogate and 16 miles north of Leeds City Centre.
Why visit RHS Harlow Carr?
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. They inspire a passion for gardening through their five national gardens and many flower shows.
With such a wealth of experience and such a huge passion for gardening, you can guarantee a visit to RHS Harlow Carr will be awe-inspiring. Throughout the seasons the garden is an enchanting place to admire and learn about gardening from those who know it best.
How to get to RHS Harlow Carr
By car: Harlow Carr is easily accessible by car. There are plenty of free car parking spaces available. Simply navigate to HG3 1QB and follow the signs to the car park entrance.
By bus: To get to Harlow Carr by bus, catch bus six from stand three at Harrogate bus station. Get off at the Shepherd’s Dog pub on Otley Road. It is then an easy 15-minute walk to RHS Harlow Carr.
By train: RHS Harlow Carr is easiest accessed from Harrogate train station. Once you leave Harrogate train station, catch bus six as outlined above.
Car-free: If you travel to RHS Harlow Carr by bus, bicycle or on foot, you are entitled to a discount on your admission ticket (regular admission only, special events including Glow must be booked in advance). For cyclists, the garden is located on National Route 67 and offers 30 cycle racks to store you bike securely. On foot, you can walk from Harrogate in approximately 40 minutes.
Do I need to be a RHS member to visit Harlow Carr?
You don’t need to be an RHS member to visit Harlow Carr. As a non-member, you simply need to pay an admission fee when you enter the garden. Admission to all five RHS gardens is free for RHS members.
RHS membership comes with additional rewards such as unlimited gardening advice, monthly gardening magazine, discounts on RHS shows and free entry to over 200 partner gardens. Find out more about becoming a member here.
Why visit RHS Harlow Carr at Christmas?
Christmas is a truly magical time to visit RHS Harlow Carr. For the festive season, the garden is magically transformed into a colourful, illuminated wonderland. This pretty light trail guides you through the gardens, so you have the unique opportunity to see them like never before.
How much does it cost to go to RHS Harlow Carr Glow?
When purchasing tickets to RHS Harlow Carr Glow there are different price options available. Here is an indication of the ticket prices.
- RHS member prices: Adults £8.95; member guests £8.95; children (5–16) £4.35; children under 5 free
- Non-member prices: Adults £14.95; children (5–16) £7.95; children under 5 free
Become an RHS Gardens member here.
RHS Harlow Carr Glow Review
The pretty illuminated trail of RHS Harlow Carr Glow is a winter celebration with a difference. This enchanting trail takes you on a peaceful stroll through the gardens by moonlight. Here is a flavour of what is in store.
The Illuminated Light Trail
The RHS Harlow Carr Glow light trail is a picturesque light trail through the Harlow Carr gardens by night. The gardens are illuminated by coloured lights, which really portray the garden in a unique way. The purple trees, blue hedgerows and pink borders makes it feel like you are taking a step into wonderland!
Walking around the Glow trail was a unique experience from any other light trail I have visited. Many light trails during the festive season are playing Christmas songs along the route and have large sculptures and insta-worthy photo sets along the route. But Glow was a little different.
Rather than using cheery music and brightly coloured attractions on the route, RHS Harlow Carr let nature do all the work. There is no music to accompany your journey and no brightly lit characters (except for some wicker deer that is). Instead, you’ll simply find some elegant light displays that are just designed to enhance the beauty of the garden to allow visitors to admire it by night.
Because of this, it is the ideal event for anyone who wants to enjoy a more peaceful event without the typical chaos of a Christmas celebration. It is the ideal place to unwind and reflect during what is usually a very hectic time. It is a great reminder that the beauty of nature is always around us, even if we can’t see it.
To make the most of your visit, you will want to enjoy the illuminations at a leisurely pace. The route will take you 60-90 minutes to walk depending on how much time you spend taking photos and if you stop for a winter warmer! Allow up to two hours for your visit to include time to visit the shop too.
The Sculptures
Although the illuminations primarily focus on the natural beauty of the gardens, the gardens incorporate their current exhibitions into the display.
In 2021, the trail featured The Four Seasons sculptures by Philip Haas. The exhibition featured a unique collection of busts inspired by the seasons.
Each head is almost five metres tall and represents one of the four seasons. They are three dimensional interpretations of Renaissance paintings created by Italian artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo in the late 16th century.
Glow gives you the unique opportunity to see the exhibitions in a new light. Can you spot the seasonal fruit, vegetables and flowers used in each design?
Other things to do at RHS Harlow Carr Glow
As well as the light trail, here are some other things you can enjoy on your visit to RHS Harlow Carr Glow.
Warm up at Betty’s Teashop
As you approach the last leg of the trail, you will encounter Betty’s Teashop. This delightful chalet is the ideal place to stop for a warming drink. You can choose from tea and coffee, as well as seasonal delights such as rum hot chocolate and mulled wine.
There is also a delicious selection of snacks to choose from. Our personal favourites were the chocolate orange fondant fancy and the marzipan and sponge Christmas pudding.
Visit the Garden Centre
If you have felt inspired by your visit, you can treat yourself to new plants, seeds, and gardening tools in the garden centre as you exit the illuminations.
The garden centre also stocks a selection of books, homewares, local food and drinks plus many gifts. So, it is the ideal place to pick up some of those Christmas gifts that are still on your list!
Should I visit RHS Harlow Carr Glow?
Glow at RHS Harlow Carr is a magical event for all ages at Christmas. A garden is an unlikely place to visit in the winter months, but RHS has done an amazing job of transforming it into the most enchanting festive experience.
Glow is a breath of fresh air when it comes to a season filled with flashing lights and cheery music. A stroll through the gardens by night is a rare opportunity to slow down during the festive chaos and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. You don’t know how much you need it until you visit!
I would absolutely recommend a visit to RHS Harlow Carr Glow during the festive season!
Discover the magic of RHS Harlow Carr Glow
So, will you bask in the glow of the winter illuminations at RHS Harlow Carr? If you’re ready to explore this magical trail buy your tickets here.
If you want to discover more Christmas events in Yorkshire, check out this guide to 25 of them you don’t want to miss!
And if you love Yorkshire as much as I do, sign up for my weekly newsletter for even more Yorkshire adventures and tips!
Until our next adventure,
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Hello, I’m Hannah! I’m a writer and photographer who loves experiencing the wonders of Yorkshire. My guides will help you escape from your daily routine by showing you that you don’t have to go far to find an adventure.
We’ve been to a few light displays, but this one looks incredible! It seems really lit up and colorful! It’s nice when things aren’t blooming in the garden to still have something bright and colorful to meander through 🙂
Glow was such a beautiful trail and really different from all the others I have visited this year! It is such a great use of the garden during the winter months and really enhanced the natural beauty of the garden. I’d love to visit again next year!
I love experiencing Christmas events and light shows/trails throughout the holiday season – in fact, I’ve already done several this holiday season! I also love visiting gardens whenever I travel, so seeing RHS Harlow Carr Glow this time of year would be an absolute dream. Everything looks beautiful. Great review! Xx Sara
Glow is a great combination of seasonal light trail and the garden. It was lovely to stroll around and admire the garden illuminated in colour. I hope you get an opportunity to visit some time! Thanks for reading xx
I love the various RHS managed gardens in UK! Harlow Carr Glow looks awesome with lighting. I particularly like that beautifully lit Betty’s Teashop teapot. I am sure visiting Harlow Carr Glow during Christmas with music and lighting will bring cheer to every visitor. Lovely images! 🙂
I’ve never actually visited the garden during the day so I can’t wait to return this summer so see it in full bloom! I bet it looks beautiful! It was so magical visiting Glow though, it is a great way to enjoy the garden in winter!
I love the variety of events available to celebrate the holiday season. But the RHS Harlow Glow is definitely a colourful and magical way to draw people in. I am sure it truly is a peaceful stroll with so many great discoveries along the way. The sculptures are certainly a lot of fun. And chocolate orange fondant would be a lovely treat to finish off.
I really enjoyed visiting RHS Harlow Carr Glow. It was a really magical experience and so much more relaxed than some of the other Christmas events I’ve visited. It was a lovely way to enjoy the garden and the chocolate orange fondant fancy was absolutely delicious! I definitely recommend trying one!
Hannah, I love your comment about letting “nature do all the work.” It looks absolutely stunning, and while I do love myself some Christmas music, I agree that an opportunity to just be in nature the perfect way to celebrate the holidays.
RHS Harlow Carr Glow was certainly a unique event! It really stood out as it was so much more relaxed than many of the Christmas events I have visited. I love the lively atmosphere at Christmas, but the calm atmosphere in the gardens felt magical and a lovely little break from the Christmas chaos!