Where to See Christmas Lights in Cornwall

The countdown to Christmas has begun. As the festive season gets into full swing, we take a look at some of the special events where you can see Christmas light illuminations in Cornwall.

The Mousehole Lights are the most famous but there are wonderful displays elsewhere in the county. Here are some of our favourite places to see the lights this Christmas.

Padstow

We think all holiday adventures should start in Padstow and this is no different at Christmas. It’s a great time to visit this beautiful location on the north coast of Cornwall as the whole town comes alive in festivities. It kicks off this weekend (5-8th December) with the Padstow Christmas Festival.

During the festival, and every evening throughout the Christmas period, the harbour and surrounding streets will twinkle and shine with festive spirit. Many of the light designs are based on traditional myths including a sea serpent ‘swimming’ in the harbour water. The big night for illuminations is Friday 6th December, which starts with a lantern parade followed by a fireworks display.

Angarrack

The small village of Angarrack near Hayle shines brightly during the festive period, thanks to the 12 Days of Christmas light displays on rooftops and prominent positions throughout the village. What started as a small fundraiser in 1986 has become a must-see event on the festive sightseeing trail. The Angarrack Christmas Lights get bigger and better each year.

All the lights have been designed and made by residents of the village to depict scenes from the 12 Days of Christmas. You can take a circular around the village to see the lights in the correct order.

Eden Project

The Eden Project celebrates Christmas in style, and this year is no different. The Festival of Christmas will feature a series of events and workshops, including performances by musicians and local brass bands.

Make sure you visit after dark for the nightly light show, when you can wander along a spectacular Avenue of Lights to the Biomes, where giant willow lanterns illuminate the indoor gardens. You can also visit Santa and his elves in the grotto, take a whirl on the ice rink or sip a warming glass of mulled wine at this festive spectacle.

Looe

Looe is another pretty fishing village that embraces the spirit of Christmas. During the festive period, the boats in the harbour are adorned with multi-coloured lights which reflect and shimmer in the water.

The big switch-on takes place on the evening of Saturday 7th December when visitors will be treated to a lantern parade, harbourside food and drink, carol singers and a visit from Santa.

Trelissick

For a magical experience, head to Trelissick Gardens near Truro. During Christmas at Trelissick, the trees and pathways at this National Trust estate are decorated with fairy lights and festive displays to celebrate the run-up to Christmas.

You can stroll through this beautiful, illuminated wonderland then visit Trelissick House where volunteers have decked the halls in vintage style with traditional Christmas decorations, flower displays and twinkling lights.

Mousehole

If you’re visiting Cornwall in December, take time to travel down to Mousehole. The Mousehole Lights are rightly famous and are well worth the journey to this small, coastal village near Penzance.

It’s an incredibly popular festive spectacle where you can see light displays on the water and on buildings surrounding the harbour. The illuminations are accompanied on several evenings by musical entertainment and local carol groups. It’s always a great atmosphere at this event, which each year raises loads of money for local charities.

Visiting Cornwall at Christmas

With so many Christmas displays to visit in Cornwall, it’s a fun time to visit for a holiday. To book a holiday home for a festive break in December, check our remaining availability on the property search page.