Walking up the hill in front of Wollaton Hall (or Wayne Manor as some people now like to call it), we could hear the strains of atmospheric music emanating from the distance, which accompanied the searchlights scouring the rainy night sky.

Pre-booking, Social distancing and mask wearing are a must-have at this event, so we felt totally safe as we joined the small queue at our allotted time, where our tickets were quickly scanned.  If, like me, refreshments are a must (especially on such a cold evening) you’ll be pleased to know that these are plentiful, with booths selling hot drinks at regular intervals. After grabbing a hot chocolate, we entered the Formal Gardens, which had been transformed into a walkway of shimmering stars, with forest animals aglow and a rather surprising guest …

From the Laser Garden to the Windswept Trees, the Tunnel of Light to the Solstice Flames, Light Up Christmas offers a spectacular multi-sensory experience across four lands, which is suitable for the whole family.  There is something wonderful around every corner and it really is a feast of sound and vision. As it is based around the paths of the Formal Garden, the journey is wheelchair and pushchair accessible (although there are a couple of gradients to negotiate).  The tour takes approximately 50 minutes but you may find yourself lingering in front of the giant presents at the spectacular finale.

Would I have gone this year if I hadn’t been invited?  Probably not, as I had no idea what it was all about and thought it was maybe a little expensive.  Will I be booking myself next year?  Absolutely.  I loved the whole experience and thought it was actually good value for money.  It was magical and exactly what I needed to get into the Christmas spirit, as well as being extremely well organised.  If you're wanting to do something special, I'd definitely recommend this event.  I'm actually quite tempted to go again!

Light Up Christmas will be open from 3^rd December to 6^th January and extra slots have been added to cope with demand.  If you would like to book, please click here.  You can get 10% discount as a Nottingham City Council taxpayer – you’ll just need your 8 digit council tax booking reference.