Cambridge Botanic Lights opens tonight!

28 November 2025

Cambridge Botanic Lights returns for 2025, opening this evening for its longest run yet.

For 17 nights, Cambridge University Botanic Garden (CUBG) will be transformed after dark with spectacular light installations, projections and soundscapes that bring the beauty and stories of plants to life.

Professor Beverley Glover, Director of CUBG, says:

“Opening the Garden at night always feels incredibly special. This year, we’re excited to showcase new installations that are unique to the Botanic Garden, capturing its beauty and spirit with some fun surprises! The trail also celebrates the extraordinary ingenuity of plants – from pollination to seeds and survival – and we can’t wait to welcome visitors of all ages to experience the Garden in a whole new light.”

A disco ball sits in the centre of a lake, surrounded by trees and plants lit in indigo, orange, red and luminous green. Amongst the plant life are six green, rectangular lights in a portrait position, which are reflecting off the lake and the mirror ball. In the far distance Cambridge University Botanic Garden Glasshouse is visible. — Disco Ball on the Lake Click for information

Fun surprises:

Visitors can look forward to fun surprises throughout the trail, from fluttering fairies to twinkling light shows. A dazzling disco ball along with plenty of other fun additions, will add sparkle to festive evenings with family and friends.

Bespoke new nature themes:

This year’s trail explores two new themes: the amazing relationship between plants and their pollinators, and the clever adaptations of seeds and leaves. Set against the backdrop of the Garden’s living collection, visitors will enjoy illuminated artworks unique to CUBG and inspired by nature’s extraordinary designs – from the spinning flight of sycamore seeds to the diverse forms of Britain’s native leaves.

Four glowing white sculptures of dandelions clocks stand at approximately 12 feet tall each, glowing brightly against a dark night time background. The trees behind the sculptures are lit in different colour tones - purple, yellow, red and green. In the foreground is a small white sign that reads — Dandelions before the Magical Fairy Woodland Walk Click for information

Highlights include:

Plant Pollinators
A stunning new large-scale projection onto the beautiful Cory Lodge in the centre of the Garden celebrates the many ways flowers attract their pollinators – from UV patterns that guide bees, to foxglove ‘landing pads’ and the luminous jade vine, which entices bats in its native rainforests. Even a clever daisy with its fake flies, evolved to trick unsuspecting pollinators.

Seeds in Flight
Inspired by wind-dispersed seeds, this shimmering installation captures the swirling, spiralling movement of sycamore seeds as they search for new ground.

Diversity of Leaves
A dynamic display showcasing native British tree leaf shapes – including hawthorn, sycamore, beech, lime and oak – highlighting their varied shapes and sizes which help each species thrive.

Woodland Walk: Pinecones and Acorns
Lanterns inspired by woodland seeds illuminate the path, celebrating the natural beauty of cones and acorns.

Seeds on the Lake & The Seed Collector
Floating seed lights drift across the Lake beside a new installation – The Seed Collector, celebrating the expertise, dedication and care behind global, wild seed-collecting expeditions, carried out by our own horticulturalists on expeditions around the world.

A magical night-time experience
Set to atmospheric soundtracks, the trail once again showcases beloved landscapes including the Lake, Glasshouse Range and Fountain, all brought to life in unexpected ways.

Images of Strongylodon macrobotrys (Jade Vine) are projected onto Cory Lodge, a building that is lower in the centre than it is on either side. The Strongylodon macrobotrys is a light green, almost turquoise colour on a deep blue background, and the words — Cory Lodge pollinator projection Click for information

A giant bronze sculpture of an oak leaf is suspended mid air on this landscape image. To the left of the image, blue lights are projected from the ground towards the leaf, In the dark background, trees are illuminated in fuchsia, orange, bright green and red. — Cory Lodge pollinator projection Click for information

Pause for warming winter treats
Visitors can enjoy a range of food and drink stops positioned around the Garden, perfect for warming up as they explore. Caffe Mobile will be serving hot drinks, cakes and sausage rolls on the Glasshouse terrace, while the Garden Café will be offering delicious winter treats from tartiflette and focaccia to mulled wine and gingerbread hot chocolate. The Café Shed will offer prosecco, mulled wine and apple juice close to the Winter Garden and at the Rising Path, the Café Trailer will be serving hot drinks and freshly made waffles.

Seating areas along the trail will give guests the chance to pause, take in the illuminated landscapes and soak up the atmosphere and there will also be a few lively spots, perfect for a little botanical boogie! The Botanic Garden Shop will also be open for any last minute Christmas gifts.

The route is step-free and accessible, suitable for wheelchair users and families with buggies.

In the centre of the image, two visitors are making a purchase from two baristas who are standing in a trailer that is lit with rainbow fairy lights. On the counter are several — Waffles and refreshments curtesy of The Garden Cafe Click for information

Two figures stand in a projecting of leaves, which show up brown on the otherwise black night time ground. Both figures are looking to the left and one slightly up, appearing to examine something outside of the frame of the image. Further down the path behind them another projection is slightly visible, though from the angle of the photograph it is only possible to see that it is a more reddish-brown colour. The trees on right side of the path are lit up purple. — Waffles and refreshments curtesy of The Garden Cafe Click for information

Tickets, group discount and reduced rates for children
Tickets are selling fast, but there’s still time to enjoy this year’s trail, running from Friday 28 November to Tuesday 23 December. Timed entry is available from 4.40pm to 8pm, with the Garden closing at 9.15/9.30pm.

Cambridge Botanic Lights is the perfect outing for friends, family or colleagues. Groups of six or more can enjoy a 10% discount, with the Garden’s city-centre location, there’s no need to worry about parking.

This year also introduces off-peak pricing alongside standard rates, offering our lowest adult ticket price yet and keeping costs as accessible as possible. Children aged three and under go free, while tickets for children aged four to 15 are reduced to £13.20 off-peak and £15.40 peak (including booking fee).

All tickets purchased (minus the booking fee) go towards helping the Garden to continue its work, supporting research into the amazing world of plants, helping to conserve some of the world’s most endangered plants and preserving our beautiful landscapes for visitors, school children and learners of all ages to enjoy.

Book tickets: https://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/cambridge-botanic-lights-2025/