I love a good light trail in these gloomy winter months. They add a much-needed splash of colour and glow to any old dark night. The problem is that by the end of January, most light trails near Birmingham have ended, while I’m still struggling with most of the day in darkness. Thankfully, Twycross Zoo can still light up my life.
The immersive, after-dark lantern trail, Lanterns of the Wild, spans more than a mile across the zoo, where you can explore ten illuminated zones inspired by wildlife habitats from around the world—and it’s running at Twycross Zoo until Sunday, February 22, 2026 (if you’re looking for things to do over half term.
Throughout the zoo, 2,000 hand-crafted lanterns, with some animals more than 100 times their natural size. A standout highlight is the world’s first Gruffalo Lantern Experience, where characters from The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child appear in larger-than-life illuminated form, which has obviously proven a big hit with families.
The trail also features life-size Emperor penguins, elephants, apes and jellyfish, plus a walk-through igloo, a giant octopus and immersive installations celebrating wildlife from all eight continents, representing more than 500 species of animals and plants. Even better, book a zoo ticket on top of the lantern trail and get free returns for a year!
What else can I see at Twycross Zoo?
Twycross Zoo is unique in the UK, in that it houses every type of great ape: bonobos, chimpanzees, orangutans and, king of them all, gorillas. While northern white-cheeked gibbons and black-headed spider monkeys highlight the huge role the zoo plays in the conservation of critically endangered species.
Elsewhere, you can see snow leopards, Sumatran tigers, eastern black rhinos, boa constrictors and more. You’ll also be able to journey into The Gruffalo Discovery Land, meeting interactive characters from Julia Donaldson’s much-loved children’s book series, and visit a brand-new immersive habitat for reptiles and spiders.
To learn more about Twycross Zoo and Lanterns of the Wild, head here.