christmas at longleat safari park

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Visiting Longleat's Festival of Lights in 2023

Get ready to embark on a magical Christmas family adventure now that Longleat's Festival of Light 2023 is back and it's bigger and more enchanting than ever .

In my guide below, I’ll take you through what you can expect as well as everything you need to know to plan your visit.

Longleat is just 10 minutes drive from us and I’ve taken my children to the festival almost every year for the past several years, I’ll admit the Festival of Light enchants them as well as myself and my partner. In my opinion it is definitely worth booking a ticket!

If you're travelling from afar then why not book one of our self catering holiday lodges near Longleat ? For those staying with us we can also secure Longleat Day tickets (Safari and non-Safari) with 20% off - get in touch for more details!

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What is the Festival of Light at Longleat?

The Longleat Festival of Light  is an annual event held at Longleat, a historic stately home and safari park in Wiltshire. The event is a celebration of the Christmas season, featuring mesmerising light displays, enchanting lanterns as well as other festive attractions the kids will love. Each year the festival showcases a different theme, bringing beloved stories to life through illuminated characters and scenes.

When Does the Festival of Light Take Place?

The Festival of Light for 2023 at Longleat runs from the 11th of November to the 7th of January 2024 on selected dates . This extended period allows you to choose a date that best suits your family's schedule.

What Happens at Longleat's Festival of Light?

Typically a theme happens throughout the festival which changes every year. 

This year's festival is a "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis theme. You can step through the wardrobe and immerse yourself in a world of illuminated characters, from the majestic lion, Aslan to the bewitching White Witch ( I’ll admit she terrorised me as a kid! ) as well as scenes from Cinderella and Winnie the Pooh too.

One of the festival's highlights is the amazing Winter Drive Through Safari, where you can get up close and personal with some of Longleat's famous animal residents. Longleat's stunning grounds and gardens are also beautifully decorated for Christmas, creating a magical atmosphere. Do note some of these Safari attractions close to the public once it gets dark so get there in plenty of time!

Do I Need to Pre-book My Tickets?

Yes, from experience I’d strongly recommended pre-booking tickets for the Festival of Light, especially if you plan to attend on peak dates. This Christmas event is ALWAYS incredibly popular and tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot in advance is the best way to avoid disappointment.

Ticket Types

For the 2023 Festival of Light, Longleat has listened to customer feedback from 2022 and introduced three ticket types to cater for different preferences:

Day Tickets: This ticket type gives you access to the full Longleat experience, including the Drive Through Safari, starting at 9:30am and the rest of the park from 11am. You can enjoy all the festival's attractions until the park closes at 7:30pm. Note last entry for the Drive Through Safari is 2pm.

Non-Safari Day Tickets: This option includes access to all the attractions, such as the House though no Drive Through Safari, with entry from 11am.

Twilight Tickets: These tickets grant you access to the Festival of Light lanterns, festive attractions, and some Main Square attractions from 5pm onwards. These are usually the ones that sell out the fastest so you’ll need to be quick!

Peak and Off-Peak pricing are available for Longleat’s Festival of Light allowing you to choose quieter times for a more affordable ticket.

How Much Are Tickets?

Ticket prices for the Festival of Light - known as "Twilight Tickets" start with off-peak at £33.70 for a child (Under 3’s are free) and £44.95 for an adult. Peak admissions are quite a bit more I am afraid at £37.45 for Children 3 to 15, whilst a 16+ ticket is £49.95 , but there are different ticket types available which is helpful, so you can choose the one that best suits your preferences. See below for more details.

Additional Festive Attractions

In addition to the magical lanterns, the Festival of Light offers several other festive attractions that you won't want to miss including:

Enchanted Christmas Tree Show

This breathtaking display features Britain's biggest singing Christmas tree, standing at over 15 metres tall. It's illuminated with more than 88,000 twinkling lights and even produces snow. The show runs every 20 minutes from 4:30pm to 7:10pm and is included with all Festival of Light tickets.

Discover more today

Santa Train

All aboard for the North Pole! Take a train ride to a snow-covered winter wonderland and meet Father Christmas in his grotto. This experience is extremely popular, so be sure to pre-book your tickets.

Dazzling Christmas Light Show

As the sun sets, Longleat House comes to life with a mesmerizing light show synchronized to festive music. Make sure to follow the Garden Trail for the best view. And don't forget to catch the spectacular fountain display on Half Mile Pond.

The Flight Before Christmas

Enjoy a seasonal show featuring stunning owls taking flight in the Longhouse. This enchanting performance will captivate both children and adults. Showtimes are at 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6pm and run for 15 minutes. You’ll need to get in early as they close the doors closer to the start time for the birds safety.

Festive House Tours

Step back in time with a guided tour of Longleat House, classically decorated for Christmas. You can explore traditional decorations, multiple Christmas trees, and learn about the classic works of children's literature that inspired the festival's scenes.

Create unforgettable festive memories with your family at Longleat's 2023 Festival of Light, you could even make it a part of a Christmas tradition, you won’t regret it I promise!

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Longleat's Festival of Light 2024: Everything you need to know including attractions, guides and tickets

L arge illuminated lanterns and attractions are set to return this Christmas as part of Longleat's Festival of Light. Set to celebrate its tenth year, the event promises more life-size lanterns and an iconic Winter Safari this November.

This year’s event is brimming with festive treats with favourites like the 20-metre Enchanted Christmas Tree show, Santa Train and a show-stopping fountain display on the lake set to return. While the lanterns are the main attraction, visitors will be able to learn more about red pandas and how the safari park is helping the endangered animals.

This is what you need to know about this year's event.

READ MORE - Two Somerset hotels honoured in this year's Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards

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When and where is Longleat's Festival of Light?

This year’s spectacular lantern trail will open on November 9 and will run until January 5, 2025. Longleat was the first in the country to introduce a lantern festival and this year is the tenth anniversary.

Situated just off the A36 between Bath and Salisbury (A362 Warminster – Frome Road), and neighbouring Center Parcs Longleat Forest, Longleat House is home to the 8th Marquess and Marchioness of Bath , and is surrounded by 900 acres of landscaped grounds.

What is this year's theme and what can we expect?

The lanterns around the grounds will focus on a Journey Through Time. Visitors can expect to see a Roman Colosseum, walk through an Egyptian pyramid and meet dinosaurs as they wander around the interactive and immersive lantern trail.

Guests can pick the era they want to discover or visit all of them as the evolution of the earth is showcased from the age of the dinosaurs to the present day celebrating Longleat opening its doors 75 years ago.

More information about the Festival of Light, including the Santa Special train rides and grotto and location of the giant singing Christmas tree will be released in the near future.

What else can you expect?

Visitors can expect to see red pandas at the safari park this Christmas as safari park keepers aim to educate people about this beloved creature. Emma, who lives with Lionel and their cubs are popular with visitors at the Wiltshire safari park and keepers involved them in the launch for this year’s Festival of Light.

Both Emma and Lionel are considered critically important members of the European Endangered Species Programme for the red panda – an endangered species - due to their diverse genetics.

Keeper Samantha Peeke said: “We regularly give the pandas enrichment and as around two-thirds of their food intake is made up of bamboo, we created a special bouquet to mark the launch of our Christmas celebrations 2024 – and they loved it.”

The red pandas can be seen during the walk-through safari available as part of this year’s festive ticket.

How much are the tickets and how do I buy them?

There are a number of different tickets for those wanting to enjoy Longleat's Festival of Light this year. Prices have increased from 2023 prices and start from £27.95 per adult. The prices are:

• The Festival of Light Day Ticket (£47.95 per adult on weekdays, £52.95 on Saturdays and Sundays) - Includes access to Longleat's drive-through safari, walking safari and boat safari as well as the festive attractions and lantern scenes. Children can enter from £47.95 on weekdays and £52.95 on weekends.

The Festival of Light Non-Safari Day Ticket ( £37.95 per adult on weekdays, £42.95 on Saturdays and Sundays ) - This ticket does not include access to the drive-through safari. However, guests can still see animals on foot and enjoy the lantern scenes and attractions. Children can enter from £37.95 on weekdays and £42.95 on weekends.

The Festival of Light Twilight Ticket ( £27.95 per adult on weekdays, £32.95 on Saturdays and Sundays ) - Tickets for the festive attractions and lantern scenes after 5pm. Children can enter from £27.95 on weekdays and £32.95 on weekends.

Tickets are on sale now through this link including the popular Santa Train which takes visitors to meet Father Christmas.

The Festival of Light: Longleat Safari Park at Christmas

Are you needing to get into the Christmas spirit? If so, the Longleat Festival of Light is sure to bring festive cheer and wonder to even the Grinchiest of souls!

This glowing walk through light trail in Wiltshire is certainly a sight to behold, with it’s ginormous show-stopping lanterns and dazzling light displays as far as the eyes can see.

So grab your winter coat and wrap up warm, ready to soak in all the festive atmosphere Longleat Safari Park has to offer!

In this article...

How much are tickets for Longleat’s Festival of Light?

This year there are 3 types of tickets to chose from for the Festival of Light:

• Day ticket with the safari
• Day ticket without the safari
• Twilight ticket

The prices vary depending on whether you require a full day ticket to explore the entirety of the park, or if you’re happy purchasing a slightly cheaper ‘twilight’ ticket, which gives you entry from 3pm for the Festival of Light. There are peak and off-peak pricing options too. But in all cases, under 3’s go free!

With no discounted family ticket options available, an all day trip to Longleat Safari Park can work out pretty costly at £174.80 for a family of 4. Whereas the peak twilight ticket will come in at £104.80, which may make this trip a little more accessible for some.

It’s also worth mentioning there are some optional additional charges once you’re in too! Like the Santa train for example, but we will get to that later.

What is there to do at Longleat safari park?

Longleat is actually the UK’s OG safari ! In 1966, it became the first drive through safari park to open outside of Africa!

Other than enjoying the festival of Light, you can carefully drive your own car through the animal safari where you will pass elephants, lions, tigers, deers and wolves. You’ll also have the option to cruise through Monkey Mayhem, where you’ll likely experience a cheeky monkey perched on your bonnet whilst another clambers along your roof. Just be aware, these monkeys have been known to peel off wiper blades like banana skins. So, if you’re particularly precious about your car, you may wish to bypass a trip through the chaos that can sometimes be caused in Monkey Mayhem!

Other than the Safari, house and array of animals to see and learn about. There is a huge park for the kids, a fun Rockin’ Rhino ride, plus the chance to take a ride on the train and boat. You’ll also find the largest maze in all of Britain here!

Longleat is vast and there’s loads to explore. The safari itself can take 2-3 hours to complete, so you can easily spend an entire day here.

Top tip: To avoid becoming the lions lunch, motorbikes and soft top cars aren’t allowed to drive through the safari.

What’s the address for Longleat safari park?

Longleat is just off the A36 between the picturesque city of Bath and Salisbury. As you get closer to Longleat, you’ll see plenty of brown tourist signs to help guide you the rest of the way. Or, tap the following postcode straight in to your google maps:

Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW

How long is the Festival of Light on for?

The festival of light only runs for a few months out of the year. Opening on selected dates between  11th November 2023 – 7th January 2024 . Head over to the Longleat website to see which days they are open.

What is Longleat’s Festival of Light?

The Festival of Light is an immersive walking trail which winds it’s away around the grounds of Longleat Safari Park. This year the light trail has 1500 exciting and incredibly detailed glowing lanterns, with some stretching over 15 meters high! Plus theres other impressive light shows to admire too, like the enchanted Christmas Tree show.

Every year they unveil a different theme for their Festival of Light, so if you’ve been before – know that it will be a different theme the following year.

What is the 2023 theme at Longleat?

The 2023 Festival of Light is named Treasured Tales , so get ready to step into all of your favourite childhood books this year. The epic displays will include scenes from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Cinderella, Snow White, and The Wizard of Oz to name a few!

My photos are from a previous year, where the theme was ‘Myths & Legends’.

Are dogs allowed?

As Longleat is a safari and home to many animals. No dogs (or pets of any sort) are allowed.

Do you have to pay to park

There is no additional charge for parking at Longleat, its included in your ticket price.

Longlest Festival of Light blue light card holder discount

Longleat offer a discount to any blue light card holders when tickets are prebooked online in advance.

They offer a blue light discount on the twilight tickets too, plus you get earlier access than the regular twilight tickets with entry from 11am instead of 3pm.

Whats the Enchanted Christmas Tree show?

Be sure to head over to the Enchanted Christmas Tree during your visit to The Festival of Light. Illuminated with over 88,000 twinkling fairy lights, this singing christmas tree stands a whopping 15 meter high! This year the tree has been fitted with multiple snow machines to provide you with a magical flutter of snow and even more Christmas cheer.

The Enchanted Christmas Tree show has a duration of 15 minutes, which is repeated every 20 minutes between 3:30pm-7:10pm.

Can you drive the safari with a Festival of Light ticket?

You’ll be able to drive the 6.5 mile safari with your Festival of Light safari day ticket. It’s worth remembering that during the winter, last entry for the drive-through Safari is at 2pm. The safari is unavailable for people who have booked ‘non safari’ and ‘twilight’ tickets.

Top Tip: Some of the animals don’t enjoy the cold too much, and will be snuggled up inside in the warm. Which means you may not see quite so many out and about on the winter safari!

Is the Santa train an extra charge at Longleat?

Fancy a quick trip to the North Pole whilst you’re here? Then you’ll need to fork out even more money, as a ticket for the Santa Train is an additional cost on top of your Festival of Light ticket. Adult tickets for the Santa train are £6.95 each, and children are £22.50 each.

For the adults, the train ride to visit Father Christmas includes a hot chocolate and a mince pie. Whereas the children’s tickets will include a gift instead. If you’re bringing a baby along (who doesn’t require a gift) then they wont need a train ticket and can stay bundled up in your arms for the ride.

Longleat Christmas light show

Back again, but this year it’s bigger and better! This dazzling light show is synchronised to music and projected onto the front of Longleat House – a little bit like the Saks light show in NYC! Plus, there’s even more magic to be found at the all new fountain show on half mile pond.

How long do you need to spend at the Festival of Light?

You’ll probably find you’ll be here for the majority of your twilight ticket. Even though the lights get switched on around 3:30pm, the Festival of Light comes alive once the night sky turns dark. I would advise to allow 2-3 hours to see it all.

Food options at the Festival of Light

Around the main square you’ll find seasonal pop up stalls offering some tasty takeaway options like hot dogs, dirty fries and loaded nachos. There’s vegan options on the menu too, and nearby you can tuck into something sweet with some mouthwatering churros!

Or you could head over to Pizza Piazza for a delicious little slice of Italy, and if you’re looking for somewhere warm to sit down, the regular cafes are open too.

Is the Festival of Light wheelchair friendly?

The majority of the Festival of Light takes you along flat, concrete paths. Making it accessible for wheelchair users and pushchairs.

Places to stay near Longleat’s Festival of Light

Longleat has a few fabulous accommodation options on site. I think the best one looks like ‘Keepers House’ or ‘Keepers Cottage’ which is situated in the heart of the safari! Imagine waking up and seeing a zebra right outside of your window?!

Theres also Longleat Centre Parcs just down the road, although I recommend booking well in advance as the lodges get snapped up quickly.

For cheaper options, maybe look a smidge further away at Frome , Westbury or Warminster .

Top tips for visiting the Festival of Light

To help you be extra prepared for your trip, here’s a few tips:

• The cheaper twilight tickets sell out fast, book early if you want one.
• Be sure to prebook your Santa train tickets. You cant just turn up on the day and they aren’t included in your entry fee.
• Don’t miss watching the Enchanted Christmas Tree show – it’s really beautiful.
• Expect everywhere to get extra busy from 3pm when all the twilight ticket holders start to arrive!
• Some attractions like the Lorikeet Aviary, Boat Safari and the Maze, will close before the Park does (they wont open in the dark).
• To help beat the queues, order food before the influx of twilight guests arrive.
• The catering areas and shops are only accepting debit card/credit card/smartphone payments.
• It’s a good idea to pack a power bank in your bag. You don’t want your phone battery to run out with all the photos you’re going to be taking.

Longleat Safari Park is a special destination for a family day out, and there’s no doubt in my mind that you’ll make heaps of lovely memories together here. Yes, it might be a bit of a splurge for a day trip. But the sheer magic and wonder of the place, especially during the immersive Festival of Light, makes it a unique experience that’s sure to captivate everyone, young and old alike.

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Christmas at Longleat: Everything you need to know about the Safari park's festive event

The event will run from November until January

• 16:42, 22 OCT 2021
• Updated 16:47, 22 OCT 2021

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Longleat Safari and adventure park have an exciting line-up this Christmas that is fit for all the family.

Guests will be welcomed to the park with a tunnel of light and sound, transporting them to the iconic Longleat house - which is decorated with over 100 lit up Christmas trees as well as a magnificent musical display.

Also on offer is a Wonderland Walk through the Jungle Kingdom and Monkey Temple. The walk will be adorned with nature dressed, snowy paths with twinkling lights along the way - making for a magical atmosphere.

READ MORE: Bristol's best autumn walks to enjoy with dogs and kids.

The Park’s Main Square will welcome guests with carols whilst 20 metre tall Enchanted Christmas Trees will light up the architecture of Longleat’s Stable Yard. Adding to the Christmas spirit are tawny, barn and eagle owls to set the scene for The Flight Before Christmas.

Children also have the opportunity to take the much-loved Santa Train to the magical grotto to meet Father Christmas.

All of Longleat’s most loved animal and adventure attractions will be on offer throughout the day, including the Safari Park, Koala Creek, Jungle Kingdom, Jungle Cruise and the Adventure Castle.

The festivities are set to take place on set dates from Saturday, November 6 until Monday, January 3, 2022 - providing plenty of time for all to enjoy the festive fun.

Tickets are available from the Longleat website and are priced at £39.95 for adults during peak times and £36.95 during off-peak times. For children, tickets cost £29.95 during peak times and £27.70 during off-peak times.

The Santa Train experience however requires an extra booking, costing £19.95 per child and £6 per adult. It is required that children under the age of 16 be accompanied by an adult, aged 18 or over.

Guests are required to pre-book their visit, with no tickets available at the gate - to ensure a limited contact arrival process.

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Longleat Festival of Light

Experience a unique and magical Christmas at Longleat Safari Park and Bath’s atmospheric Christmas markets. Imagine dozens of twinkling wooden chalets spread across the Georgian streets of Bath city centre, all backdropped by the stunning 15th century Abbey.

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Holiday Inclusions

Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

Door-to-Door service

Coach travel throughout

Excursions as listed

Best Western Plus Angel Hotel, Chippenham

Situated in the friendly market town of Chippenham and originally a 17 th century coaching inn, this hotel offers the best in surroundings and comfort with a unique blend of traditional and contemporary style. The hotel features a restaurant, bar and lounge, and leisure facilities which include indoor heated swimming pool & gym. All bedrooms are en-suite and have a TV, telephone, hairdryer and tea & coffee making.

Bath Markets

You will have plenty of free time to explore Bath and nearly 200 Christmas stalls located around the Roman Baths and Abbey. Soak up the aroma of mulled wine and freshly baked mince pies while you browse for trinkets and Christmas gifts! In addition to the markets, you may also like to visit the restored Roman Baths and Museum, the Abbey and the Assembly Rooms, or take advantage of the city's excellent shopping.

Longleat Festival

On one special afternoon we take you to Longleat Safari Park, transformed into a magical kingdom full of festive joy and cheer. After a drive around the Safari trail, marvel at the fantastic light sculptures which come to life as the sun sets. Explore the festively decorated Manor House and surrounding grounds, which will be illuminated with hundreds of colourful designs, including Chinese dragons, temples and recreations of the Safari Park's animals!

B=Breakfast included, D=Dinner included

Deposit & balance payment

Unless otherwise stated, deposits are £60.00 per person for UK holidays, £150.00 per person for EU holidays, and £250.00 per person for Channel Island holidays. Please be aware that all deposits are non-refundable in the event of cancellation. Upon completing your booking, a confirmation/invoice will be sent to your email address. This may land in your ‘spam’ or ‘junk’ folder so please check all of your folders. This document will show all the relevant information regarding your holiday, including your booking reference number (displayed on the top left-hand corner) which you will be asked to quote if you need to discuss any aspect of your holiday with us. Please check all of the details, such as spelling and contact information, and advise us promptly if any changes are required. We do not send out reminders for balance payments, so please note your balance due date and contact us to settle your balance on or before the date stated.

Travel documents

Your travel documents should arrive with you approximately 7 days before departure. This pack will contain your home collection time, your luggage labels, a feedback form, and a day-by-day itinerary for your holiday. Please read through these carefully before your departure day and ensure you are ready to depart promptly at the departure time stated.

Due to space limitations, unless otherwise stated, your luggage allowance is one small carry-on bag, and one medium-sized suitcase. Please consider that your luggage has to be handled by our staff and possibly porters, and therefore we recommend that your hold luggage should have dimensions of no more than 26 inches in length and 20 inches in height, and weigh no more than 18kgs. Luggage allowances may vary for EU holidays and flight packages, this will be advised in your travel documents.

Coaches & seating

Due to operational circumstances, on rare occasions we may be forced to amend seating allocation, however, this will be notified to you in a timely manner. Once all passengers are on board, if there are any spare seats on the coach and you wish to move, please feel free to do so. When the vehicle is in motion, the wearing of seatbelts is a mandatory requirement, as is our Non-Smoking policy (including electronic e-cigarettes). We kindly ask that mobile phones be used in emergencies only whilst the vehicle is in motion. For the comfort of our passengers, we will include regular comfort breaks throughout the journey. All of our coaches have a toilet on board.

Hotels & dining

All of our hotels are carefully selected and you should expect to find all bedrooms with private en-suite facilities. The board basis will be either DB&B (dinner, bed and breakfast) or B&B (bed and breakfast), and items such as leisure facilities, entertainment, etc, are described where applicable.

Special requests

Any special request should be advised to us at the point of booking, especially so in the case of those with limited mobility. Please consider that, as most of our customers book by telephone, if this information is not forthcoming our staff cannot ascertain if a chosen holiday is suitable for your mobility level and ensure your holiday is successful. Whilst we will endeavour to do all possible to satisfy any special request, please be aware that this is a ‘request’ only, unless it has been guaranteed in writing with the hotel.

Itineraries & attractions

All holiday inclusions are listed on our website and then re-confirmed to you when you receive your travel documents. As the holidays are packaged many months, and sometimes over a year, in advance of departure, on rare occasions we may be forced to amend an itinerary or change an attraction. In such instances, we will always do our best to provide a ‘like for like’ alternative and advise you as soon as possible.

Contact information

If you become lost whilst on tour, we advise that you contact our office on 01253 725999 so that we can inform your driver and help you relocate the coach (listen to the end of the answering machine message for our emergency contact number if calling outside of office hours). We request that you provide us with a mobile phone number in advance of travel and keep your mobile phone switched on for the duration of the excursion so that we can contact you in this event. We kindly request that you also provide us with your emergency contact details. This is the name and telephone number of a friend or family member (somebody who is not travelling with you) that we could contact in the event of an emergency whilst you are on tour.

Identification

We recommend that you take some form of Photographic Identification with you on holiday (i.e. Passport, Bus Pass, or Driver’s License). In some cases, Photo ID will be a requirement, for example, where there are ferry crossings, flights, EU travel, or visits to RAF bases or royal residences. This will be advised to you in writing when you receive your booking confirmation.

Cancellation terms

Our cancellation terms are available to view on our website under Booking Conditions. All of our holidays operate subject to a minimum number of passengers being achieved. If these are not met, the tour may be cancelled by us, and a full refund will be issued. However, if you wish to cancel your holiday, a cancellation charge will be incurred.

Regardless of your chosen destination, we recommend that you consider taking out a comprehensive Travel Insurance policy, to cover you in the event of cancellation. BP Insurance Brokers offer competitive prices to patrons of G-Line Holidays and can be contacted on 01253 747258.

Gratuities are not included as part of your excursion cost and are also not compulsory. However, much in the same way as good service in a local restaurant may be rewarded, if you feel you have received a service worthy of reward from your coach driver, we would encourage you to show your appreciation personally.

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Christmas At Longleat

Christmas at Longleat Safari & Adventure Park is filled with so many magical experiences and you and your family are invited.

Open from Friday to Sunday until 11th December and then daily from 16th December to 2nd January (excluding Christmas Day) you can enjoy and unforgettable day out at Longleat, including some very special festive attractions.

There's also festive food and shopping plus many of the favourite Longleat attractions will be open too, including the Safari Drive Adventure, Jungle Kingdom, Adventure Castle and more! So wrap up warm and treat the whole family to a magical day this Christmas holidays!

Don't miss a magical experience at Longleat Safari Park this Christmas

Get your skates on and click here to book your tickets, save 10% online.

Explore the UK's first safari park at Longleat

Longleat, wiltshire.

Feed giraffes by hand and walk on the wildside with lemurs at this popular safari park, found in the picturesque grounds of historic Longleat House.

First opened in 1966, Longleat Safari Park was the first drive-through attraction of its kind outside Africa, and it's still running strong today. With countless species of animals and attractions like Penguin Island, Stingray Bay, Jungle Cruise and an adventure castle, it's a great day out for the entire family. Explore the animal habitats on a road tour through the park, before stepping onto the Main Square and venturing into koala habitats, outdoor playgrounds and hedge mazes.

Special events run throughout the year, including the ever-popular Festival of Lights over the Christmas period; this large display of illuminated Chinese lanterns adorns the entire parkland and adds a touch of festivity to everything. And, of course, visitors can also extend their stay in the area with a tour through Longleat House and its surrounding pleasure gardens.

Longleat Safari Park is due to re-open on Monday 15 June - make sure to check the website through the link below for availability and opening times.

• Find out more about Longleat
• Find more wildlife and nature reserves in Wiltshire

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Animal Park returns to Longleat in special Christmas series

Presenters Ben Fogel and Kate Humble are excited to return to a festive safari park

• 11:13, 16 DEC 2022

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Animal lovers rejoice as the popular BBC series Animal Park is set to return to screens next week in a special Christmas series. The series, which is filmed at the Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, gives viewers an inside look at the lives and routines of staff and animals at the park.

Hosts Ben Fogle and Kate Humble said it was "wonderful" to make a return to the park during the festive period, and were excited to celebrate a "proper, giant, Longleat-style Christmas." This winter series kicks off with the keepers attempting to keep track of the secretive red pandas at the park.

This will be the 18th series of the popular show, following on from series 17 which aired in August this year. The summer series saw the introduction of the first kangaroo for 30-years at the park, known as Brave.

Read more: Wiltshire artist picked to design RSPCA Christmas card

In a clip on Facebook, Ben and Kate could be seen standing in front of a sparkling Christmas tree, both sporting bright Christmas jumpers, as they talked fans through what they can expect of the upcoming series.

"Hello, I'm Ben Fogel," said Kate, grinning as Ben said: "And I'm Kate Humble and we're back at Longleat for an Animal Park Christmas Special!"

Kate continued: "Oh it's wonderful to be back here at this time of year, and the thing that we have all, I think, really missed was a proper, giant Longleat-style Christmas. And it's back with a vengeance isn't it?"

Ben said: "It is! And we get to wear Christmas jumpers, we get to celebrate with the keepers, and make sure all the animals here celebrate Christmas in style."

Following on from the 2022 Summer series, keeper Sam was hoping that one of the red pandas, Emma, was pregnant. In the intervening months, Emma gave birth to two adorable cubs - but the shy babies are so reclusive the keepers have struggled to check on how they're doing.

Elsewhere in the first episode, keepers struggle to put up a giant rope for the gorillas' Christmas present. Strictly Come Dancing's Hamza Yassin follows along as the grumpy animals don't appear to keen on their gift.

Five episodes in the Christmas special will air in the run up to Christmas, starting from Monday, December 19 on BBC One at 10am.

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[Statue of Joseph Stalin in park, Moscow]

The Robert Capa and Cornell Capa Archive, Gift of Cornell and Edith Capa, 2010

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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(A New Guide Posted Every Other Wednesday)

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