Festival of Light Park bosses defend ticket prices following online criticism

ONE of the West Country's leading Christmas attractions has justified a £50 peak ticket price after complaints online. Longleat’s Festival of Light event is a hugely popular spectacle each winter, with the iconic estate transformed with huge lantern sculptures depicting everything from landmarks to storybook characters, and more.

- Ellie KENDALL

And while some feel that the cost of the trail, especially for a family, is more expensive than they would like, the safari park in Wiltshire says that you get a lot for the price of a ticket during your visit.

This year’s Festival of Light theme is focused on ‘British icons’ including Bristol’s very own Wallace and Gromit and other Aardman characters.

Organisers state on the Longleat website: “Meet fan-favourite characters from Shaun the Sheep, Wallace and Gromit and more while you journey to some of the UK’s most famous landmarks, marvel at native wildlife and sights - all spectacularly reimagined in lantern form.”

At time of writing, prices for a Longleat Festival of Light Day Ticket range from between £49.95 to £56.95 per adult, £37.45 to £42.70 per child (aged 3-15 years) and infants and carers go free.

A Twilight Ticket, which allows you to enjoy the park and festive attractions from 4pm to 7.30pm, costs from £34.95 to £39.95 for adults, £26.20 to £29.95 for children (3-15 years), with infants and carers going free. Visitors can also purchase day tickets without the safari option, and group tickets at a range of prices too.

Taking to a range of social platforms, community forums and message boards, a number of people have shared their thoughts on the price of the experience.