Lantern Festival Lights Up Chiswick House Gardens

Spectacular display switched on in time for Chinese New Year

The Silk Road is the theme of this year's second Lantern Festival, which has opened at Chiswick House and Gardens and runs until 26 February.

The gardens have been transformed into a fairytale world of light sculptures, Chinese arts, Virtual Reality, games and food with a funfair and 600 square metre ice rink and ice bar. The Festival also celebrates the Chinese New Year of the Rooster.

The spectacular illuminations which are located throughout the Gardens, use up to 58,000 bulbs, and it took 300 days to handcraft the fifty enormous lanterns which flash when lit up. One of the highlights is a 15-metre illuminated sculpture of the Houses of Parliament, and there is also a full-size replica of the ship that Chinese Admiral Zheng used on his trade explorations.

Lady Colin Campbell was a celebrity visitor

Visitors can take the ambitious, lantern adventure across the Silk Road, through Europe, Asia, Arabia, Egypt, Persia, India and Ancient China.

WELI Creative, who set up the Lantern Festival, have taken it to Canada, but 2016 was its first time outside China, and it was such a success at Chiswick House last year that they have brought it back for the second time.

Chiswick House say that the Lantern Festival also highlights the links between the two cultures, as the rare heritage Camellia collection (soon to feature its annual show) was originally sourced in China.

The Walled Garden, will feature a food and gift market including churros and chocolate, gourmet burgers, toasting marshmallows and hot drinks. There is also an ice bar and a mini fairground.

The Festival timed entry tickets are from 5pm and 8.30pm. The gardens will close to the public at 4.30pm during the duration of the Festival.

TICKETS: Advance Tickets: Adult £18 weekend, £16.50 weekday Child £12 weekend, £10.50 weekday, Family £56 weekend, £50 weekday, Concessions £16 weekend, £14.50 weekday - On the Door Ticket Prices: Adult £20 weekend, £18.50 weekday. Child £14 weekend, £12.50 weekday, Family £64 weekend, £58 weekday, Concession £18 weekend, £16.50 weekday.

Tickets are now on sale from www.magicallantern.uk

January 19, 2017