We want your visit to Cambridge Botanic Lights to be as easy and fun as possible! Here are some FAQs below to help with your visit and we hope that you can find the answers to any questions below.
If you have a ticketing enquiry about booking tickets online or over the telephone please contact Cambridge Live Tickets direct.
Tickets
🏵️ Do I need to pre-book tickets?
Yes, you must pre-book tickets online via Cambridge Live Tickets as tickets cannot be purchased at the Garden ticket offices.
🏵️ Where/when can I book tickets?
Tickets are on sale online, via Cambridge Live Tickets.
🏵️ Are there concession prices? Can I book a carer ticket?
Cheaper tickets are available for CUBG Friends, CU students and children, there are no other concessionary prices.
Carer tickets are free – there is no admission charge for the companion of a disabled visitor without whose assistance the disabled visitor would be unable to gain access to the Garden. Please note that there is one carer ticket available for each disabled visitor.
🏵️ Are there family/group discounts?
There is a 10% discount when purchasing 6 or more tickets.
Children 3 and under enjoy free entry to the trail, and tickets for children 4-15 years old are at a reduced price of £13.20 (including booking fee).
🏵️ When is the event?
The event will take place on selected nights between 1 and 22 December.
The dates for these nights are: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21 and 22 December.
Please see the Cambridge Live Tickets website for details and to book tickets.
Tickets are available in timed entry slots, starting at 5pm, with the final entry slot of the day at 8.20pm. Once you are in the Garden, you can take your time to explore the trail and leave whenever suits before the Garden closes.
The Garden will close at 9.30pm.
🏵️ How much are tickets?
Adult: £20.35*
Friend of CUBG: £17.05*
CU student: £17.05*
4-15 years of age: £13.20*
3 and under: Free
Carer of a disabled person: Free
10% discount when purchasing 6 or more tickets.
* Includes box office booking fee.
🏵️ Is there a Friend’s discount?
Yes, if you are a Friend of CUBG, tickets are a discounted price of £17.05. Please have your Friends’ Membership Card with you to show, with your ticket, upon entrance to the Garden.
🏵️ Is site re-entry allowed?
Re-entry will not be allowed once visitors have entered the Garden at their allocated time slot.
🏵️ Can we visit the Garden during the day with those tickets or do we have to pay separately?
Cambridge Botanic Light tickets do not include entry into the Garden during the day. If you choose to visit during the day, you will need to purchase a separate ticket for day entry, exit at 4pm and re-enter at your selected time slot for Cambridge Botanic Lights.
🏵️ Refunds/Cancellation
Please note that this is an outdoor, winter event, so please dress for the weather! Refunds will only be issued if the Garden is closed for safety reasons and will exclude the booking fee.
🏵️ Ticketing/order queries
Please contact Cambridge Live Tickets for any ticketing queries.
🏵️ What happens if it is raining or snowing?
This is an outdoor, winter event, so please dress for the weather! Refunds will only be issued if the Garden is closed for safety reasons and will exclude the booking fee.
Getting to Cambridge Botanic Lights/CUBG
🏵️ Which entrance should I use?
Both gates will be open, so you can enter via whichever you prefer – the trail works in both directions from both entrances, so you won’t miss out on anything no matter which entrance you use.
🏵️ How does the timeslot work, when should we arrive?
Your ticket will be issued for a specific timeslot to enter the Garden (this is to limit queues and to ensure the best possible experience).
Once you are in the Garden, you can take your time to explore the trail and leave whenever suits (the Garden will close at 9.30pm).
🏵️ What happens if we are running late?
You can still come in, but please arrive as close to your ticket time as possible.
🏵️ Is there parking?
There is no public car park at the Botanic Garden and we advise that you use public transport whenever possible.
There is limited pay and display parking on nearby Trumpington Road and Bateman Street. Taxi, car or minibus drop off can take place at Brookside Gate. Please note there is no easy place to park or drop off at the Station Road Gate. Please go to the Visiting page for more information about travel.
Access
🏵️ Is the event accessible? Can I bring a pushchair/wheelchair?
Yes, you can bring a pushchair/wheelchair.
The trail is solely on the Garden’s path network, which is mostly gravel.
We have accessible toilets at multiple locations and our Brookside Gate is fitted with a low-level counter.
🏵️ Can I borrow a wheelchair?
Electric scooters are available to borrow free of charge at both the Brookside Gate and Station Road Gate. Pre-booking is essential as we have a limited number of wheelchairs and electric scooters. We recommend contacting us to check the availability of wheelchairs before you book your slot to avoid disappointment.
Please telephone 01223 336265 during our Monday – Friday office hours (9am – 1pm / 2 – 4pm) or email specifying which gate you would like to collect from and how long you anticipate needing the scooter or wheelchair. Please note that we will inform you once your booking is confirmed, and that without confirmation we cannot guarantee a wheelchair will be available.
🏵️ Are there concession prices? Can I book a carer ticket?
No admission charge is made for companions of disabled visitors without whose assistance the disabled visitor would be unable to gain access to the Garden.
When you purchase a ticket, via Cambridge Live Tickets, you will find an option to select a free carer ticket to accompany a disabled visitor.
There are no concession prices other than the discounts for CU Students and Botanic Garden Friends.
🏵️ Can I bring my dog?
Only trained assistance dogs are permitted to visit the Garden, when supporting a disabled handler. We are unable to permit entry to the Garden to any other animal, whether carried or on a lead (including therapy animals).
🏵️ How long is the trail i.e., how long to walk around?
The trail will take approximately 1 hour to complete.
🏵️ What toilet facilities are available on site?
Visitor toilets are available behind the Glasshouse Range (including accessible toilet) and in the Cafe (including accessible toilet and baby change facilities). An accessible toilet is also situated near Brookside Ticket Office. During Cambridge Botanic Lights, there will also be temporary toilets situated close to the Station Road Ticket Office.
General Questions
🏵️ Is photography allowed?
Personal photography is allowed but for commercial, professional or portrait photography you must seek permission in advance. For more information about photography in the Garden, please visit our Press & Photography page.
🏵️ Will there be food/drink available? Will the Café be open?
The Garden Café will be open, and hot drinks and snacks will also be available halfway around the trail to keep spirits high and warm up any chilly fingers!
🏵️ Will there be a Christmas Market/Stalls?
There will be hot drinks and snacks available halfway around the trail, and the Café will be open, but there will not be a Christmas Market or any stalls. Our shop however will be open for any last minute Christmas gifts you may need to buy!
If you have any other enquiries about visiting, please contact the CUBG Reception desk.