A magical light experience

Our magical Christmas lights experience returns!

Join us this winter as our magical Christmas lights experience Glow Marwell returns with double the sparkle! This year’s theme is an enchanted nature trail featuring brand new illuminations and immersive displays using more than 500,000 lights in a rainbow of colours.

We’re delighted to be giving our loyal members the chance to book discounted tickets on selected dates subject to availability. Please head to Members Corner or see our FAQs below for more information.

View our Glow Map or download our Marwell Zoo app!

Venture through a 36 metre multicoloured light tunnel, gaze in wonder at a towering Enchanted Tree with fluttering butterflies, wander through colourful clouds projected overhead and meet some new creatures brought to life in a magical Glow Forest.

Glow family favourites such as snow machines and our magical Wishing Tree will return. Plus, see new fun-filled LED see-saw photo opportunities and light-up stepping stones!

Our Christmas food cabins will delight guests with delicious winter warming treats on offer, including mulled wine and the chance to huddle around our fire pits to toast marshmallows.

View the other tabs: ‘Father Christmas’, ‘Premium Nights’, ‘Quiet Glow’, ‘Food & Drink’ or ‘Ticket Information’ to find out more about our magical event!

Terms and Condtions

Frequently Asked Questions

How we factor animal welfare into our events

Tickets for our magical event are now live!

Please note, if you’re unable to select a date it has sold out.

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Premium Nights

Don’t miss our Premium nights where you will come face to face with some spellbinding acts! Premium nights include an extra sprinkle of magic in the form of two surprise Glow acts that promise to dazzle guests of all ages. See the acts every 30 minutes from 4.30pm on Marwell Hall drive!

New for 2023, we’re bringing majestic live puppetry to Marwell. Gaze in wonder at a giant illuminated Barn Owl as it circles and swoops gently overhead against the backdrop of the night sky.

The second spellbinding act is sure to add a little fairytale sparkle. Imagine coming face-to-face with a 7ft living Snow Globe. This magical human Snow Globe glides gracefully through crowds to the sound of festive music. Push the button on the front of the Snow Globe and watch as snowflakes surround the beautiful Snow Queen and her ornately decorated winter wonderland scene.

New for 2023 we’ll be welcoming The Luminas with costumes inspired by the coral reef these elegant, stilted ladies are sure to add a touch of sparkle.

The event will also see the return of Ghost Caribou, towering above the audience at more than 13ft tall, these impressive caribou are sure to immerse guests in tales of lost homes, impossible migrations, and seeds of hope.

Juggling Inferno will return for a second year for some of the premium nights with their magnificent fire juggling performances.

View the other tabs: ‘Premium Nights’, ‘Father Christmas’, ‘Quiet Glow’, ‘Food & Drink’ or ‘Ticket Information’ to find out more about our magical event!

Tickets for our magical event are now live!

Please note, if you’re unable to select a date it has sold out.

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Father Christmas

Read our Father Christmas Top Tips before booking. 

New for this year, Father Christmas will spread some seasonal cheer in his festive grotto (on selected dates, subject to availability). Guests can simply turn up and pay for Father Christmas on the day. Tickets cost £10 per child (0-17) and include a gift.

Father Christmas is coming to Marwell on Saturday 2 December, Sunday 3 December, Saturday 9 December, Sunday 10 December, and every day from Saturday 16 December to Saturday 23 December. He will also be visiting on Monday 4 and Monday 11 December for our Quiet Glow nights.

He will be in his festive woodland grotto between 1pm and 7pm (queue closes at 6.15pm). Subject to availability. Tickets for Father Christmas must be purchased on the night at his cabin and cannot be booked online in advance. Please see our FAQs under the ‘General Information’ tab for more information.

View the other tabs: ‘General Information’, ‘Premium Nights’, ‘Quiet Glow’, ‘Food & Drink’ or ‘Ticket Information’ to find out more about our magical event!

 

Tickets for our magical event are now live!

Please note, if you’re unable to select a date it has sold out.

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Quiet Glow

We are proud to be hosting two Quiet Glow evenings specifically aimed at our guests who would prefer to experience the magic of Glow Marwell at a more relaxed pace.

Our quiet nights will be on Monday 4 December and Monday 11 December 2023. We will reduce the volume of the music around the event and reduce capacity so guests can enjoy a calmer and less crowded environment.

Glow Marwell is an amazing sensory friendly experience! Immerse yourself in our enchanted nature lights trail full of half a million gently twinkling lights, brand new illuminations, photo opportunities and interactive elements.

Father Christmas will also be making an appearance at Quiet Glow! He’ll be inside his festive woodland cabin on both dates to spread seasonal cheer. If you’d like to meet him, simply turn up at the cabin and pay on the day. Tickets are £10 per child (0-17) and include a gift. Tickets for Father Christmas cannot be pre-booked and are subject to availability.

We offer one free carer for every paying guest with accessibility needs. We do ask for proof of accessibility needs, please contact the zoo directly if you have any queries.

View the other tabs: ‘General Information’, ‘Premium Nights’, ‘Father Christmas’, ‘Food & Drink’ or ‘Ticket Information’ to find out more about our magical event!

Tickets for our magical event are now live!

Please note, if you’re unable to select a date it has sold out.

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Food & Drink

We’ll have plenty of deliciously festive food throughout our Glow Marwell event! Check out our menus below to see what’s in store…

Plus, on the Marwell Hall drive and dotted around the park, we’ll have festive food cabins with delicious hot chocolates, doughnuts and “Glownuts”, loaded fries, bratwurst sausages, nachos and more! Gluten free, dairy free and vegan options will be available.

Offers

Surprise your kids at the school gates by whisking them away to our magical light event! For just £10 you can feed two adults and two children at Café Graze on Tuesday 5, Wednesday 6, Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 December.

Under our “Feed the family for £10” deal, adults can choose from the Festive Buns section of the Café Graze menu, which includes a pulled pork, roast turkey or nut roast bun and chips and children have the choice of chicken goujons, pigs in blankets or cheesy pasta bake with chips.

 

View the other tabs: ‘General Information’, ‘Premium Nights’, ‘Father Christmas’, ‘Quiet Glow’ or ‘Ticket Information’ to find out more about our magical event!

Cafe Graze

BBQ

Snow Leopards Snacks and Marshmallow Pod

Coffee Corner

Allergen list

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Ticket Information

Glow Marwell is running from 4pm until 8pm (last entry at 6pm). Glow Marwell tickets include free access to the zoo on the day of your visit (1pm until 4pm) from:

  • Friday 24 November to Saturday 25 November
  • Friday 1 December to Saturday 23 December
  • Wednesday 27 December to Saturday 30 December

All tickets must be booked in advance. The zoo will close to regular day guests and Annual Members on all event days.

Tickets are on general sale from Monday 19 June following an exclusive member pre-sale event from Monday 12 June. Child tickets start from £13 and adult tickets cost from £17 for Marwell members.

We will be unable to allow anyone entry who has not prebooked on our website for Glow Marwell dates including members, under 3s and free carers. All other ticket types such as complimentary and third-party tickets will not be valid (full list below).

Only prebooked tickets on our website are valid for these special event days. The tickets below are NOT valid:

Complimentary tickets, raffle prize tickets, adoption tickets, school tickets, home education tickets, gift tickets, agent tickets, advanced group tickets, advanced tickets, Kids Pass and tickets purchased through a third party, reciprocal zoo visits.

Please see our FAQs under the ‘General Information’ tab for more information.

View the other tabs: ‘General Information’, ‘Premium Nights’, ‘Quiet Glow’ or ‘Father Christmas’ to find out more about our magical event!

Tickets for our magical event are now live!

Please note, if you’re unable to select a date it has sold out.

BOOK NOW