Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park is one of the most magical Christmas events in Yorkshire. Explore the wonder of giant lanterns while sipping a cosy hot chocolate to really appreciate the magic of the festive season. Here is your guide to everything you need to know before you visit!
TLDR: Is Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park worth visiting? Yes! It is a fun and festive event for visitors of all ages. Book your tickets here.
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Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Winter Illuminations is one the of most magical Christmas events in Yorkshire. No matter your age, you’re sure to feel inspired by the warm glow of these incredible lanterns! A brisk stroll through this winter wonderland while sipping a warming hot chocolate is the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit!
I first visited Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in 2020. After an unpredictable and disappointingly short Christmas celebration thanks to Covid restrictions, it was a wonderful way to keep the festive feeling going just that little bit longer!
I was completely mesmerised by the light displays and giant lanterns. Right then, it established itself as one of my favourite Christmas events in Yorkshire. And, I’m pleased to say that it is set to return again in 2022, even bigger and better than ever!
Keep reading to discover everything you need to know before you go!
Where is Yorkshire Wildlife Park?
Yorkshire Wildlife Park is a 260-acre wildlife park near Doncaster in South Yorkshire. Year-round it is a wonderful place to visit majestic wildlife from around the world, right here in Yorkshire. But in winter, the park lights up for its annual Winter Illuminations event.
Address: Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Auckley, Doncaster DN9 3HQ
What is Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park?
Winter Illuminations is a lantern and light trail at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Walk the trail to admire a unique collection of beautiful lanterns and light displays.
These aren’t just any regular lanterns though. The trail takes you through many enchanting worlds. On your journey you will head Under the Sea, to the Fairytale Kingdom, on an Animal Adventure and much more.
It is difficult to really comprehend the scale of the lanterns without seeing them in person! Some of these lanterns are huge! Many of them are around life sized or larger!
It really feels like you are taking a stroll through Wonderland as you lose yourself in awe of the magical lanterns.
How long are the illuminations on at Yorkshire Wildlife Park?
The Winter Illuminations will be displayed at Yorkshire Wildlife Park from the 18th November 2022 until the 14th January 2023. Visitors will be admitted in pre-booked entry slots between 4:15pm and 6:15pm. The park and event will close at 10pm.
How much is it to visit the Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park?
There are a range of tickets available for the event. These include:
- £22 per adult
- £20 per senior or student
- £19 per child (3-15 years)
- Children 3 years and under visit for free
For an additional £10 per visitor, you can add day entry to the Wildlife Park. This allows entry to the park any time from 10am to see the animals prior to the event. Visitors with day entry tickets will need to leave the park when it closes at 4pm, then re-enter at their pre-booked Winter Illuminations timed slot.
Where do I park for Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park?
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has a car park that is free to use for ticket holders. Simply navigate to DN9 3HQ and follow the signs. From the car park you will have a short walk to the Winter Illuminations entry queue.
Is food and drink available at Winter Illuminations?
The cafes throughout Yorkshire Wildlife Park will be open during the Winter Illuminations event. You can pick up festive food and drinks on your route through the park. Cosy hot chocolate, anyone?
Evolution restaurant will also be taking bookings. A visit to the park, Winter Illuminations and a themed restaurant experience is a wonderful way to make a full day of your visit! Make sure you place your restaurant booking early to avoid disappointment!
How long will it take to walk around the Winter Illuminations?
The Winter Illuminations route through Yorkshire Wildlife Park is approximately 2.4 kilometres in length. On average it takes visitors approximately 90 minutes to walk the whole trail.
This does not include time for grabbing a bite to eat or picking up a souvenir in the gift shop. So, if you think you’re going to be snapping lots of photos, expect your visit to be a little longer!
Accessibility at Winter Illuminations
The Winter Illuminations trail is fully accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. The surface may be mildly uneven in certain areas but involves no steps or stairs.
There are a small number of manual wheelchairs or mobility scooters available to book for the day, but you are required to book these in advance. You can get more information about this here.
As this event takes place on an evening it is very dark, and some sections of the walk are only dimly lit.
Will I see the animals at Yorkshire Wildlife Park?
You will not see the animals as part of the Winter Illuminations event. The only way to see the animals on your visit is to book the daytime ticket alongside your Winter Illuminations ticket and visit the park before it closes at 4pm.
What to wear to Winter Illuminations
As this event takes place on a winter evening, you might get chilly! Wrap up warm and bring a hat, scarf, and gloves to avoid the chill. You will also want to wear comfortable, sturdy shoes for walking the length of the trail.
Is it worth visiting the Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park?
In my option, yes, it is absolutely worth visiting the Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The event is so magical and enchanting for visitors of all ages. The ticket prices don’t come cheap, but the event is one you will remember for years to come.
I can see a visit to this event fast becoming an annual tradition of ours. Although the lanterns are not exclusively Christmassy, the event has a distinct winter wonderland feel that makes it a fantastic festive attraction. I strongly recommend a visit so you can experience it for yourself!
Before you go
So, here is everything you need to know about visiting Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. It is a wonderful festive event for visitors of all ages and the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit! Will you be visiting Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park this winter?
If you want to discover more Christmas events in Yorkshire, here are 25 of the best ones happening this year!
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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.
I love these kinds of illuminations! They are so creative and the colours are simply fabulous! I love that they sneaked in some red roses for Doncaster (shame there wasn’t a while rose for Yorkshire too!)
Did you visit in the daytime to see the animals first?
The Illuminations are beautiful, aren’t they? I can’t remember if there was a white rose around too that I didn’t photograph but I’m sure it is more than likely there was one or two there! We didn’t visit the animals on this occasion but I have visited them in the past. It is such a lovely wildlife park, I really enjoy visiting. I especially love the polar bears. When we visited they were sliding down the hill into the pool and playing with a traffic cone! I didn’t realise they were such entertaining creatures!
Thanks for sharing. The Yorkshire Lights look amazing. I’ve never seen anything like the dragons or Yeti.
The lanterns are so unique, aren’t they? It is such a magical Christmas event in Yorkshire! Thanks for reading!
This looks like such a fun, festive activity! I love the colorful lights that looked like icicles, and the yeti is really cool, too. This really got me in the holiday spirit! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love a trip to Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park to put me in the festive spirit! It is a lovely event because it isn’t exclusively Christmassy, but it has all the cosy winter feels! I’m glad it got you in the Christmas spirit too! Thanks for reading!
Wow fantastic! I love the dragon lantern, so intricate and pretty! I also find this much more magical than firework events. I can imagine this is great to go to with kids!
The dragon lantern is the most impressive of them all in my opinion! It is absolutely huge and so detailed! I agree, fireworks are so loud and distressing for animals, but this event is just magical and so much quieter! Kids must find the experience so enchanting!
What a magical place!! Beautiful photos.. would love to visit someday soon <3
Winter Illuminations is definitely a magical experience! I hope you get an opportunity to visit!
Wow – these illuminations are all so stunning. I would love to visit this attraction – what a fun winter activity.
Aren’t they just? The lanterns are really incredible! Some of them are huge and so intricately made! It is a great way to make the most of the dark winter evenings!
Wow these light displays are incredible! I had no idea that this was a thing, I may take a quick drive to check it out!
Winter Illuminations is such a unique event! It is well worth a visit if you are in the area! I’m really pleased they look to be making this an annual event, it is such a lovely way to spend a winter evening!
Seeing the Christmas lights at the park sounds like a great evening out with friends or family. We went to Dunham Massey a few years ago where they do a similar event and we had so much fun walking around the garden.
Ah Dunham Massey has been on my list to visit for ages now! It’s not that far from me so I’ll have to see if they have the event on this year as an excuse for a trip! I find Winter Illuminations so magical, it is a lovely Christmas event!
I do love this time of year when winter illuminations bring places like Yorkshire Wildlife Park to life. We have seen such beautiful Chinese lanterns in other places and the magic of the colours and shapes delighted me. It does indeed feel like strolling through a wonderland. Good idea to get a ticket to see the wildlife too during the day.
Ooh seeing Chinese lanterns at night sounds so magical! Winter Illuminations is certainly a unique Christmas event. There is something so cosy about strolling beneath the glow of the lights! Seeing the wildlife during the day turns the outing into a wonderful day trip! Thanks for reading!
This looks like such a fun event to make an annual family tradition! I love how creative they are with all the decorations – so pretty!
A visit to Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park is definitely one of my favourite traditions! It is so magical to walk through the park at night and admire all the lights! They are absolutely spectacular in person!
Again, I wish I lived closer to all of the cool events and places you get to share and explore. This would be a lot of fun with young kids!
Ah it’s a shame you’re not close by! I hope you get an opportunity to visit some time! Winter Illuminations must be absolutely magical for young kids! I found it enchanting as an adult, so I can only imagine how amazing it would be for tiny kids!
Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park looks so magical! A beautiful Christmas event in Yorkshire.
It is such a beautiful event and a wonderful evening for visitors of all ages! Definitely one of my favourite Christmas events in Yorkshire!
wow these are some next level Christmas lights! I will have to check them out one year!
Haha! Aren’t they just? I hope you get an opportunity to visit!
This is so cute. What a lovely way to spend a holiday evening.
Winter Illuminations is the perfect way to enjoy a winter evening. The lanterns are so impressive and it is such a fun trail for visitors of all ages!
Wow this looks like so much fun! I went to a similar light show in Auckland.
It is a lovely event. It’s great to hear there are similar celebrations happening around the world!
This really does sound like a magical Christmas event. I love Christmas lights to get me in the mood & this sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate the season. Thanks so much for sharing!
Winter Illuminations is one of my favourite Christmas events in Yorkshire. It is a lovely way to celebrate Christmas and get into the festive spirit. Thanks for reading!
How wonderful! I love parks and gardens that are all lit up for the holidays. So beautiful!
The Illuminations are so magical! They have a wonderful festive feel and the lanterns are definitely beautiful to see!
I’m all in on everything winter and Christmas related. This looks incredible. Illuminations and light displays are always so nice. They really make the winter more exciting as otherwise it would just be so boring and cold (and wet). Things like this really liven up the season
I’m not really a huge winter fan but events like this certainly give me the warm and fuzzy feels! It feels remarkably cosy in the glow of the lights with a hot chocolate in hand. Winter Illuminations is certainly one of my favourite festive events in Yorkshire!
wow this looks amazing. Wish I was there to see it
It is a wonderful event and a great way to get into the Christmas spirit! I hope you get an opportunity to visit one year!
Wow 2.4 km of lights! So cool, and I love how it starts early in the season. Here we have to wait until end of the month before any Christmas markets pop up which is just not enough Christmas if you ask me. The giant flower looks so pretty, I’m very curious about the other installations!
Christmas feels like it has started super early in the UK this year! I went into Leeds City Centre at the weekend and everything is decorated for Christmas already and the shop staff were telling me it has been like that for quite some time! I think after the disappointment of last Christmas everyone is very eager to start early this year! Although I am enjoying the festive feeling! I’m hoping we can make the festive spirit last for several weeks this year! I love Winter Illumination at Yorkshire Wildlife Park because it isn’t exclusively Christmassy, so even people who don’t celebrate can enjoy it, but it has a cosy and festive feel to it nevertheless!
We came really close to spending Christmas in the UK this year and now I really regret we our choice to be back in the states! Maybe next year!
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that you’re not going to be in the UK this Christmas! I’m sure the Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park will be happening again next year though if you are around to see them!
We have something like this at the National Zoo in Washington DC. Always a fun time to walk through and see the lights with a hot cup of cocoa in hand.
Ah I’m so glad to hear you have a similar experience nearby! Winter Illuminations is such a lovely event. It really gets you in the Christmas spirit!
We have something similar in our area, but there sure is no Yeti illumination. Really wish I could visit it, as it sure looks like an amazing place to visit
The yeti is pretty cool, isn’t he? I hope you have an opportunity to visit Winter Illuminations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park one year!
I went to Taiwan a couple of years ago, and I went to one of the light festivals similar to this one. Excited to find out that Yorkshire also has a similar activity!
Ooh I bet it was a beautiful display in Taiwan! The Winter Illuminations is one of my favourite winter events in Yorkshire – it is so much fun!