What’s On in the Garden this Winter 2025-2026

Experience the enchanting Cambridge Botanic Lights, take a break to admire the colours of our Winter Garden, walk our stunning Snowdrop Trail and join a free Winter Interest Tour. Bring the family to enjoy Christmas crafts and the Little Robin Christmas Trail, pick up a unique gift or warm up amongst some of our most spectacular plants in the Glasshouse Range or with a hot chocolate in the Café!

We look forward to welcoming you to the Garden this festive season!

Tickets are still available for this enchanting light trail, perfect for spending time with friends and family or on a date! The Garden will be brought to life after dark with new installations – look out for the Seed Collector on the Lake and a wheelbarrow fountain – as well as some returning favourites, such as the light tunnel and fairy glade. Our bespoke installations will amaze and delight while telling the story of some of the incredible plants in the Garden. Book tickets here.

Join Little Robin on this family trail this winter, free with Garden admission. She loves this time of year and is inviting you to explore the Garden and visit all the festive plants. You can then take the trail booklet home with you and make your own bauble. Pick up a free trail booklet at the Ticket Offices to get started. Running until Tuesday 23 December.

Celebrate the festive season with the whole family by crafting your own Yule Wand from natural materials! Visit us on Saturday 6 December between 10am and 1pm to create your wand and add a little holiday magic by casting your Christmas spell with your creation. This is a free family event, but child tickets must be booked online (accompanying adults must pay normal admission).

Browse the Garden Shop for its range of gorgeous gifts, or enjoy a loaded hot-chocolate and tasty treat at the Garden Cafe.

🎁 Give the Gift of Friendship: Gift year-round access to 40 acres of beautiful gardens with a Friends’ membership, as well as exclusive events, tours and updates from the Garden. Our limited-edition Gift Membership Packs are a wonderful way to share the beauty of the Botanic Garden with your loved ones. (Please note that the last date for Christmas orders is 16 December).

🎁 Give an (s)elf-care treat: Gift a day at the Botanic Garden to a loved one! A Gift Admission Ticket is the perfect way to give a nature lover the opportunity to enjoy a special day out. You can buy them from our Ticket Offices or online.

🎁 Give a Tree-mendous Present: Sponsor one of the Garden’s stunning trees – a unique way to celebrate or dedicate part of the Garden to a special person or occasion. Find out more by visiting our Sponsor a Tree page.

🎁 Give a Garden Gift: Browse the Garden shop, or visit Curating Cambridge for unique gifts inspired by the Botanic Garden including our exclusive Curator’s Gin and Americas Herbarium gin (available direct from the Cambridge Distillery), as well as our mini 2026 calendar, featuring beautiful photos from the Garden.

🎁 Give the Gift of Knowledge: Keep an eye out for our new range of 2026 adult courses and workshops, launching early December. Our programme runs throughout the year and offers something for everyone, from learning new skills, getting creative and discovering more about plants. Visit Courses – Cambridge University Botanic Garden Courses for updates.

⛄ Winter colour: Our Winter Garden is at its best from December to late-March when it is glowing with colour and scent. Enjoy a stroll through our own winter wonderland, even on the dullest of days.

⛄ Free Winter Interest Tours: Join a guided tour at 11.30am every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 January to 1 March, as our expert guides lead visitors through the Garden’s winter highlights. Tours are free with Garden admission and on a first come, first served basis. Numbers are limited to 12 people per guide and the tour is not recommended for children under 12 years.

⛄ Cosy hideaway: Discover spectacular Tropical Rainforest plants, cacti and succulents of arid landscapes and beautiful alpine flora in the warmth of our Glasshouse Range.

⛄ Snowdrop trail: Explore the beauty of snowdrops! Wander through the Garden and discover areas covered by over 40 different snowdrop species while learning more about the history, science, folklore and cultivation of these delicate blooms.

⭐ Family Saturdays: Enjoy monthly, free activities in the Schools’ Garden. From pine cone feeders and stained glass leaf pictures to fungi crafts and stick families, there’s something for everyone. Join us on the first Saturday of every month for plant and wildlife-themed crafts. Booking is required. See the family activities page for the full monthly series.

⭐ Twilight at the Museums: The Botanic Garden is once again joining other museums and collections in the city centre, inviting families to enjoy activities after-hours in February half-term. This is part of the UCM’s Twilight event happening across Cambridge. Check our What’s On pages closer to the date for exciting details of what we have planned!