Longleat is getting ready to host arguably one of the largest Festivals of Light ever seen in the UK, this Christmas - featuring hundreds of enormous illuminated Chinese lanterns.

Starting in November and running into January, the Christmas spectacular will take the age-old tradition of the Chinese lantern and completely transform it for a modern audience.

Around six months of planning has already gone into the event, with Longleat working closely alongside a team of world-renowned experts from Zigong in China's Sichuan province.

Nothing like it has been attempted on this scale before, and hundreds of illuminated designs - some measuring up to 18 metres in height - are now set to transform the Wiltshire estate into a glowing wonderland this Christmas.  Filled with thousands of LED lights and handmade on location by a team of 50 highly-skilled craftsmen, the lanterns will recreate a magical world of Chinese myths and legends with incredibly-detailed designs reaching well beyond the height of a two-storey house.

As part of the Festival of Light visitors will also be able to enjoy the extraordinary experience of traditional Chinese 'face-changing' opera where performers magically transform elaborate masks in an instant.

The event will run alongside Longleat's traditional Christmas celebrations which include the Santa Train, Giant Musical Christmas Tree, Pantomime Characters and outdoor Ice Skating Rink.

Longleat (http://www.longleat.co.uk) will be open this Christmas from Friday to Sunday between November 14th and December 7th; and then daily from December 12th to January 4th.

PRICES are Day Tickets: Adult £24.50; Children £20.00 (with a 10% discount online).  AND, with an existing valid Day Ticket or Annual Pass: Santa Train Ride Adult £5; Children £3; and Ice Skating Adult £7.50; Children £5.

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For further details, please contact:

Steve Mytton

Tel: 01985 845415

E-mail: steve.mytton@longleat.co.uk