A Visit to Christmas at Bute Park

There are so many Christmas activities in South Wales, especially around the Cardiff area, however when I asked my kids which ones they'd like to do it was Christmas at Bute Park that was top of the list!  Having been a few years ago we knew the kind of experience to expect, and so we were all excited to get into the festive spirit and see how Bute Park had been transformed this year, billed as Wales' biggest light trail with a brand new route for 2025.

Where & When

As the name suggests, you'll find the light trail in Bute Park, the entrance being just behind Cardiff Castle, with the entrance of Cardiff's Winter Wonderland (the part by the castle) being right next to the entrance to Christmas at Bute Park.  We parked behind City Hall, which was only a short walk away, and plenty of parking being in the evening.  This year the event is running from 21st November until 31st December, so there's still a few days left for you to visit.  We went last night (18th December) and were lucky with the weather staying dry for us, however the footpath around has been well made, so whilst there were a few puddles in places, it was holding up very well considering the recent rain we've had!

Amazing Light Installations

As you'd expect from a festive light trail, right from the entrance you'll drawn in by the lights, as you walk down to the start of the trail you'll spot reindeer amongst the trees as Christmas songs play through the night air.  Each section of the trail is themed, so you'll experience fountains, bubbles, tunnels, and more, always looking up and around in the trees to make sure you don't miss a thing.

One of the highlights is Delilah the Dragon, who you'll find sleeping in the trees!  With an evocative narrative, twinkling lights, and smoke drifting across the park, it takes in all your senses.

Art & Interactive Displays

As well as the spectacular light installations, there were several art installations, such as the Christmas post box with letters to Santa, and the beautiful Winter's Light by Ruby June Walker.  The kids love the interactive elements too, including "Bubblicious" which change colour with every tap, and being able to make music on the Bute Park "Percussion & Play" project, with instruments dotted around the route.

Food & Drink

Walking the light trail in the evening certainly works up an appetite, and we weren't disappointed.  It wouldn't be winter without hot chocolate and toasting marshmallows, so it was lovely to be able to stop at half way for a warm up by the fire and a sweet treat, not bad value too at £4 for three of us to have marshmallows on the fire.  When you arrive at the park you'll come through the food courtyard before you start the trail, so if you want to have something to eat before enjoying the lights you can do, however we decided to save food to the end, as the circular route brings you back here at the end.

There's a wide selection of food and drink options, including speciality mac & cheese dishes, freshly baked pizzas, loaded hash browns, and plenty more, as well as a bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks.  All the food we had was delicious, and there was plenty of undercover seating, just in case of rain showers.

Don't Miss Out

Overall we had a lovely evening, the kids loved exploring the light displays, and the whole event is put together really well, with food & drink options throughout, plenty of toilets, and a well maintained path around.  Christmas at Bute Park is only on until New Year's Eve, so if you haven't booked yet there are still a few days left to grab your tickets, which start from £5 for a child or £15 for an adult, and you can book online on their website here.  Having been a fixture of the Christmas calendar in Cardiff since 2021 we hope they return again next year, and we'll obviously keep you posted on our Christmas homepage.