If you’re looking for something different to do this festive season and you live within travelling distance of East Sussex, Enchanted Park Lewes might just be something for you.
It caught my eye by chance as I was scrolling through Twitter one morning this week, partly because it’s taking place at Southover Grange in Lewes, a lovely 15th century Tudor house with beautiful gardens where we got married a few years ago. I was intrigued to see how they might transform it.
Despite the lights the grounds had a really eerie feel, with a few strange characters lurking around, ready to share a story or point you in the right direction. Light and video installations made the most of different spaces in the walled part of the gardens, from staring eyes in archways to a giant Chinese cat, occasionally offering words of wisdom to passers-by.
The highlight of the tour was the ever-changing projections across the front of the Grange itself; from giant green frogs to seascapes and even a gingerbread house.
Although there were plenty of young families there, it might be a little scary for really small ones. It’s also not quite what some might expect from the marketing, which describes it as ‘a magical festive tale’ – there not a Father Christmas, carol singer or flurry of fake snow in sight. But there’s something quite refreshing about that.
Enchanted Park Lewes runs until Sunday 13 December in Lewes, East Sussex. Lewes is about an hour from London by train and 20 minutes from Brighton.