The lantern trail at Gulliver's World opens Saturday 24 October and runs 48 nights to 30 January. It is shut on Halloween and Bonfire Night; 15 are dog nights.
Land of Lights, the lantern trail at Gulliver’s World, opens for 2026 on Saturday 24 October and runs on 48 nights until Saturday 30 January 2027. It is not open every night: the organiser’s calendar shows it shut on Halloween, on Bonfire Night and for most of the first half of November, and on Saturdays only through January.
The quick answer
- Is it on this year? Yes. The organiser calls it “Land of Lights Warrington Returns 2026” and early bird tickets are on sale now. Gulliver’s World says it is the trail’s fourth season in Warrington.
- Dates: 24 October 2026 to 30 January 2027, 48 open nights. First night 6pm; most nights from 4pm, 4.30pm or 5pm.
- Last entry is usually 6.45pm, well before closing. Allow about 90 minutes for the one mile trail.
- Shut: Saturday 31 October, 2 to 7 November, Christmas Day to 27 December, New Year’s Eve, and every night in January except Saturdays.
- Where: Gulliver’s World Resort, Old Hall, WA5 9YZ. Parking is free.
- Dogs: 15 dog-friendly nights, all Sundays and Wednesdays, listed below.
Every date and time on this page was read from the organiser’s own opening times calendar on 29 September 2026.
Every open night
| Month | Open nights | Hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | Sat 24 | 6pm to 8.15pm | 6.45pm |
| October | Sun 25 to Fri 30 | 5pm to 8.15pm | 6.45pm |
| November | Sun 1, Sun 8 | 5pm to 8.15pm | 6.45pm |
| November | Fri 13 to Sun 15, Fri 20 to Sun 22 | 5pm to 8.15pm | 6.45pm |
| November | Fri 27, Sun 29 | 4.30pm to 8.15pm | 6.45pm |
| November | Sat 28 | 4.30pm to 8.45pm | 7.15pm |
| December | Thu 3, Fri 4, Sun 6, Wed 9, Thu 10 | 4.30pm to 8.15pm | 6.45pm |
| December | Sat 5 | 4.30pm to 8.45pm | 7.15pm |
| December | Fri 11, Sun 13, Fri 18 | 4pm to 8.15pm | 6.45pm |
| December | Sat 12, Sat 19 to Wed 23 | 4pm to 9pm | 7.30pm |
| December | Mon 14 to Thu 17 | 4.30pm to 8.15pm | 6.45pm |
| December | Thu 24 (Christmas Eve) | 3.30pm to 6.45pm | 5.15pm |
| December | Mon 28 to Wed 30 | 4pm to 8.15pm | 6.45pm |
| January | Fri 1 to Sun 3 | 4pm to 8.15pm | 6.45pm |
| January | Sat 9, 16, 23 and 30 | 4.30pm to 7.30pm | 6pm |
The gap to plan around is early November. After Sunday 1 November the trail is shut until Sunday 8 November, then opens only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until the end of the month. It runs most nights from 9 December.
The last entry time is the one that catches people out. On a standard night the trail closes at 8.15pm but nobody is let in after 6.45pm, and on the January Saturdays last entry is 6pm.
Halloween week and the Saturday it is shut
The organiser sells a Halloween upgrade from 24 to 31 October: a Trick or Treat bucket to swap for treats along the route, “from just £4.95pp”, on top of the entry ticket. (Halloween at Land of Lights)
The same site’s calendar, though, shows Saturday 31 October as closed. So the Halloween week in practice is Saturday 24 to Friday 30 October, which is also the Warrington school half term. Our October half term page has the daytime side, including Gulliver’s own Fright Fiesta in the theme park.
The Children in Need Glow Walk, Sunday 8 November
The one special night in November is a Children in Need Glow Walk on Sunday 8 November. Land of Lights says £2 of every Glow Walk ticket goes to BBC Children in Need. Walkers get a “Challenge Accomplished” certificate, a free reward for wearing glow accessories, and one free Gulliver’s theme park ticket each, valid at any Gulliver’s park in 2027. Dogs are welcome that night. (Children in Need Glow Walk)
Dog-friendly nights
Dogs are allowed on 15 nights only, kept on a short lead, with water bowls and waste bins round the trail. They are not allowed into the indoor dining areas. (Dog-friendly nights)
- October: Sunday 25, Wednesday 28
- November: Sunday 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29
- December: Sunday 6, Wednesday 9, Sunday 13, Wednesday 16, Sunday 20, Wednesday 23, Wednesday 30
- January: Sunday 3
Tickets and prices
Land of Lights does not print its prices on its information pages. They appear only in the booking system, where early bird tickets are on sale now at what it calls “our lowest prices available for a limited time only”. Three rules are published:
- Pre-booking is cheaper. You can buy at the gate if the night has not sold out, but “you’ll always get a better price when you pre-book 2 days or more in advance”.
- Tickets are non-refundable. You may be able to move to another date up to 24 hours before your visit, subject to availability and a fee, or pass the tickets on.
- It is a separate event. Entry does not include any Gulliver’s rides, and it is not covered by a Gulliver’s annual passport.
There is no senior rate: anyone 16 or over pays the adult price. The concession rate needs proof on arrival, a Blue Badge or a DLA or PIP letter with photo ID, and covers one essential companion. A separate “Lifesaver” rate is open to holders of a Max Card, an NHS employee card, a Blue Light Card or an MOD card. (Concessions)
Gulliver’s also sells Land of Lights inside its Christmas “Twinkle” package, which adds the theme park from 1pm and the Santa’s grotto. The package prices are on our Santa’s grotto page.
What is on the trail
The organiser describes new lantern displays for 2026 on a route of about a mile, “from majestic monuments to roaring dinosaurs and fantastical dreamworlds”, with photo points along the way. (Land of Lights Warrington)
For food and drink there are drinks stalls round the trail with hot drinks, a licensed bar, and firepits halfway round and at the end where you can toast marshmallows, with bags on sale when you arrive. The firepits may be put out in bad weather. Lagado’s Restaurant and Grill, between the entrance and exit, does sit-down meals on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. (Food and drinks)
On access, the organiser says the Warrington route is on firm ground and mostly flat with a few slight slopes. The exit boardwalk may not suit every mobility need, and marshals will direct you round an alternative route. Accessible toilets are on the route.
Getting there and parking
The trail is at Gulliver’s World Resort, Old Hall, Warrington, WA5 9YZ, and parking there is free. From the M62, leave at junction 8 or 9 and follow the brown signs. Without a car, the organiser’s advice is the 18 or 17C bus from Warrington bus station, near Warrington Central, to the top of the drive, then a five minute walk. (How to find us)
Check buses home before you go: on the later nights the trail closes after 8pm. For town centre parking before or after, see our parking in Warrington page, and for motorway and bridge works on the way in, the roadworks and travel page.
What else is on
Gulliver’s World’s own firework night is Saturday 7 November, when Land of Lights is shut; the displays are on our Warrington fireworks page. The town’s Christmas market is on Bridge Street on 14 and 15 November, and the full month is on what’s on in Warrington.
Checked 29 September 2026. We will update this page when the organiser changes the calendar.
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