Our night at Twycross Zoo's Lanterns of the Wild: Epic mile of glowing magic to kick off the festive season
Experience the enchanting Lanterns of the Wild at Twycross Zoo, featuring a mile-long trail of glowing magic perfect for a festive family night out.
We took my two daughters and their friends to Lanterns of the Wild and honestly it felt like stepping into a glowing storybook.
The girls were buzzing from the moment we walked in.
Twycross Zoo is just 34 minutes from Birmingham, 35 from Derby and 45 from Nottingham - so perfect for all Midlanders looking for a festive treat night.
They kept sprinting ahead to see which giant lantern animal would appear next, then shouting back to us like they’d made the discovery of the century.
We stopped for the elf show which was loud, goofy, and exactly the kind of chaos kids love. They were howling with laughter.
And the lanterns themselves were stunning.
You don’t realise how big the trail is until you’re in the middle of it. It goes on for more than a mile and every corner has something glowing and ridiculously detailed.
Some looked delicate enough to snap if you breathed on them, with tiny patterns and soft light that made you stop without meaning to. Others were huge, like the kind of creatures you expect to see in a storybook.
The girls lost their minds when we spotted the Gruffalo glowing in the trees. Moving through the different zones felt like hopping between worlds.
One minute you’re in a jungle, the next you’re in the Arctic, then the ocean. It was clever, colourful, and full of little surprises.
We thought about joining the line for Santa, but it stretched on forever, so we ditched that plan.
Instead we made a beeline for the fire pits and toasted marshmallows. Best decision of the evening. The girls got sticky within seconds, we all argued about the “perfect toast”, and we stood there warming our hands while the lights shimmered around us. Pure winter magic.
Hot chocolates in hand, we wandered the rest of the trail taking it all in. The whole place felt cosy, colourful, and easy.
The kids went home tired and happy, which is the dream. I’d go back in a heartbeat.
To book tickets - you can add on daytime zoo tickets and Santa visits separately - go here.