Winter Light Trail Goes Pole to Pole

Kew Wakehurst’s Glow Wild returns this festive season with another ambitious trail, taking visitors across uncharted waters to polar landscapes and into the wild.

Running on selected evenings from Thursday 26 November to Saturday 2 January 2027, Glow Wild invites explorers of all ages to set out on an after-dark expedition for a night of discovery, spectacle and festive escapism near Haywards Heath in West Sussex.

The one-mile-long trail is fully accessible and can be viewed from hard standing and/or flat gravel paths. Wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first come, first served basis and four mobility scooters are available per evening and can be booked in advance.

There will be a limited number of relaxed session tickets which are suitable for visitors with hidden disabilities, such as autism, to make for a more comfortable visit whilst still benefiting from the sensory elements of Glow Wild. 

Plus, on selected nights (November 29, December 4, 9 and 17, 2026 and January 1, 2027), there will be Reduced Sensory Sessions, tailored for children with special educational needs and disabilities, such as those across the autism spectrum and/or with sensory processing needs.

Now in its 13th year, Glow Wild is again raising the bar for 2026 with an extraordinary new collection of large-scale installations and artworks created exclusively for Kew Wakehurst.

At almost five metres high, a giant illuminated iceberg will become Glow Wild’s tallest lantern to date, forming part of a dramatic polar landscape featuring 68 penguins and 1,000 fish.

“Glow Wild is a chance to experience nature on an extraordinary scale,” said Louise Burton, Glow Wild Producer.

“This evocative festive trail takes inspiration from the spirit of discovery that drives Kew’s scientists, whose work is helping us understand the natural world, uncover its hidden wonders and find solutions to the challenges facing our planet.”

Voyaging from pole to pole, visitors will discover another of the trail’s standout moments in Michelle Dufaur’s astonishing Alpine flower carpet, created using 2,500 handmade petals. Inspired by the remarkable plants that survive in some of the world’s most remote environments, the installation reflects on the critical conservation work of Kew scientists to safeguard Arctic plants.

The trail culminates with one of Wakehurst’s most impressive transformations, as the historic Mansion is illuminated by a bespoke projection.

In Murmurations, birds, fish, insects, stars and seeds will dance across the building’s façade, bringing together the many natural wonders encountered along the trail and forming a breathtaking finale against the night sky.

Local community groups make a significant contribution to the Glow Wild experience, with lanterns throughout the trail and a new ‘Village of Voices’ lantern exhibition forming the closing installation. Each lantern is a personal reflection on nature’s gifts; a poignant collection that connects the landscape to its wider community.

To find out more visit https://www.kew.org/wakehurst/whats-on/glow-wild