Christmas at the Palace

Selected Dates from 29th November – 4th January 2026

Step into the magic of Christmas as our much-loved Illuminations return for 2025, bigger, brighter, and more enchanting than ever before. Sparkle transforms our historic Palace and RHS partner inner gardens into a dazzling wonderland of light, colour, and festive joy.

With added dates, extra lights, seasonal refreshments, live music and a beautifully decorated Palace it’s the ultimate Christmas lights experience in Somerset.

Improved Lights

We’re delighted to welcome exciting additions to our Christmas Illuminations this year, including, a mesmerising lantern tree, illuminated woodland, additional lighting along pathways, and a wider and longer light tunnel.

Extended Dates

That’s not all! We’ve added more illumination dates so you can enjoy the Palace festivities for longer, including 1st – 4th January, and more dates throughout December (excluding 24th-26th, and 31st December).

Time Slot Booking

Another slight change for 2025 – tickets to our Sparkle Christmas Illuminations evenings are now booked in entry time slots of 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm.

You can enter the gardens from the beginning of the start time you have booked and can stay in until close. Last entry is 7.30pm and the site will close at 8pm.

Sparkle Christmas Illuminations Dates

Sparkle Christmas Illuminations and Palace interior decorations will take place on selected dates (see table below) from 5pm – 8pm. Last entry is 7.30pm and the site will close at 8pm.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
					29th Nov	30th Nov
1st Dec	2nd Dec	3rd Dec	4th Dec	5th Dec	*6th Dec	7th Dec
8th Dec	9th Dec	10th Dec	11th Dec	12th Dec	13th Dec	14th Dec
15th Dec	16th Dec	17th Dec	18th Dec	19th Dec	20th Dec	21st Dec
22nd Dec	23rd Dec	24th Dec	25th Dec	26th Dec	27th Dec	28th Dec
29th Dec	30th Dec	*31st Dec	1st Jan	2nd Jan	3rd Jan	4th Jan

– Sparkle Christmas Illuminations open.

Dates in Red – Palace and Gardens closed.

*6th December – Palace building closed to the public. Illuminations open 5pm – 8pm.

*31st December – Palace and Gardens open until 4pm

The Bishop’s Table will be releasing a special Christmas Illuminations menu (more information on that soon!), and throughout the Sparkle illumination evenings, you can enjoy festive refreshments from the Apple Store (located in the Inner Gardens), Horse Box (for takeaway treats), and the café (for a cosy escape from the cold).

Live Music & Festive Atmosphere

Throughout the month, enjoy live performances from local choirs and music groups.

Plus, the rooms of our medieval Palace building will be decked out in Christmas finery with seasonal foliage from the Palace gardens creating stunning adornments to complement the historic interiors. Visitors to the Entrance Hall will be greeted with a roaring fire and invited to explore the rooms of the Palace, which will also include the return of the popular local Schools Eco-Exhibition.