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Winter Illuminations

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Save up to 50% with our Early Bird Offer

All aboard the Polar Bear Express

Discover the magic of Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s Winter Illuminations - Yorkshire’s brightest and most magical light and lantern trail!

Explore the park after dark and journey through our 3km illuminated trail featuring bespoke lanterns, dazzling light displays, immersive festive scenes, picture-perfect selfie spots, and an incredible water fountain display.

Perfect for families, couples, and friends alike, Winter Illuminations promises to be an unforgettable evening of seasonal magic.

Book early to save up to 50% - but be quick, our Early Bird Offer is only available for a limited time.

14th - 15th Nov 2026

20th - 22nd Nov 2026

26th - 29th Nov 2026

3rd - 6th Dec 2026

10th - 24th Dec 2026

26th Dec 2026 - 3rd Jan 2027

9th Jan 2027

  • New theme for 2026 - The Polar Bear Express
  • Save up to 50% with our early bird offer
  • 3km illuminated trail
  • Picture perfect spots
  • Seasonal food & drinks*
  • Festive fairground rides*
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✨ New theme for 2026 ✨

Climb aboard the Polar Bear Express and set off on a magical journey to a wintery wonderland, where snowy landscapes and enchanting wildlife await. Discover majestic polar bears, charming penguins and festive scenes that capture the spirit of Christmas in the Arctic.

As your journey unfolds, explore a dazzling frozen world filled with shimmering ice, snow-capped mountains, twinkling festive cottages and extraordinary Arctic creatures. From seals gliding through icy waters to reindeer roaming snowy scenes, every stop reveals a new moment of festive magic. 

Follow the trail to the magical home of Santa Claus, where twinkling lights, festive details and the wonder of Christmas create a scene straight from a winter’s tale. 

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Go WILD with YWP day entry

Make the most from your festivities and add Yorkshire Wildlife Park entry - all day access to see some of the most incredible and endangered animals at the Wildlife Park, before the light switch on! Explore from 9:45am, then return again to experience the park after dark. The perfect way to enjoy a full day of festive adventure for all ages.

Add your Yorkshire Wildlife Park entry bolt on when booking your Winter Illuminations ticket before checkout.

Flex your festivities

By adding on a Flexi Ticket at checkout, you get the peace of mind that the typical British weather or a seasonal flu won't ruin your magical experience.

Flexi Tickets only count if you want to move your date. Should the event be cancelled, your Flexi Ticket will still be eligible.

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Seasonal stay-cation

🛏️ Overnight stay at Hex Wildlife Hotel

🍳 Breakfast at Wilds Cafè Bistro

🐻‍❄️  1 day entry to Yorkshire Wildlife Park

🎄Entry to Winter Illuminations on the 1st day of your arrival

Make your Winter Illuminations experience a hexcellent stay-cation with an overnight stay at our on-site accommodation!

Use promo code "EARLYBIRD" at checkout.

Valid for stays between 14/11/26 - 9/01/26 on select dates.

Rates from £75.00 per person, based on 2 adults and 2 children sharing a standard family room.Rates from £95.25 per person, based on 2 adults sharing a standard king or twin room. Requires full payment at the time of booking and is non-amendable and non-refundable.  This promotional rate is subject to availability and daily allocation limits.

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Festive Food & Drinks

Stop off for seasonal sipping or get your paws on sensational snacks at the food and drink outlets located around the Winter Illuminations route.

Tsavo Lodge, located halfway around your enchanting illuminated journey, is the perfect spot to pause and dig into some delicious savoury delights.

Fancy something bigger & want to get out of the chilly winter air?
Why not swing by The Yorkshire Hive eateries before of after your winter wonderland wander!

Explore dining at The Yorkshire Hive

Winter Illuminations FAQs

There will be catering outlets open along the route selling a variety of snacks and hot & cold drinks.

The eateries at The Yorkshire Hive will also be open but we advise booking in advance to avoid disappointment.

On average we are expecting it to take around 90 minutes. The trail is a one-way circular route and is approximately 3km, or 1.9 miles.

Day time park entry is not included in your Winter Illuminations Ticket. You can upgrade your ticket during the checkout process to include park entry.

Daytime park tickets purchased along with Winter Illuminations entry are valid any time from 9:45am (until final entry at 2pm) on the day of your visit. We need to clear the park prior to opening the Winter Illuminations event each evening before letting guest back in at their allocated time slot.

Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on the park and pets cannot be left in vehicles in the car park.

We recommend that all tickets need to be purchased in advance; key dates will sell out very quickly, so we suggest booking sooner rather than later!

As this is a special event outside our usual opening hours, tickets for the Winter Illuminations are not included with Annual Memberships.

Members are of course welcome to make a reservation to visit during standard daytime opening hours throughout the winter season. 

If you are a Gold Annual Member, you will receive a voucher code for one free admission to this event.

The Park is fully accessible for wheelchair users but please be aware that some areas may have uneven ground or be dimly lit. The full one-way circular route is flat and involves no steps or stairs.

We have a limited number of manual wheelchairs available to pre-book free of charge.

Alternatively, you can hire a mobility scooter for a small fee per day. This is available on the extras page during the booking process. Hire is for the full day from time of collection. 

Upon booking your wheelchair/mobility scooter you will be asked to choose a 10am time slot. This is a full day reservation which can be collected at any time.

If all wheelchairs and mobility scooters are fully booked on the day you are attending, please ask on arrival if we have any availability, however we cannot guarantee there will be any for you to hire, so please try to book in advance where possible.

Adult Concession Ticket - A ticket for Seniors aged 65+ and Students with a valid Student ID Card.

Accessible Adult Ticket - A ticket for Adults aged 16+ living with a disability.

Accessible Child Ticket - A ticket for Children under the age of 16 living with a disability.

Accessible Adult Concession Ticket - A ticket for Seniors aged 65+ and Students with a valid Student ID Card living with a disability.

Winter Illuminations and the park will close at no later than 9pm. Please ensure you enter within your allocated time slot to ensure you have plenty of time to see all the trail.

*Additional charges apply. 


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