PODCAST EXCLUSIVE: Christmas At The Botanics 2025 magical highlights revealed by creative director Zoe Bottrell
It’s never too early to deck the halls - not in Zoe Bottrell's world. In fact it's Christmas every day.
As founder and Managing Director of Culture Creative, 'Mrs Christmas' is the visionary who spends all year planning 22 spectacular light trails world-wide, turning historic gardens, forests and iconic estates into winter wonderlands.
Amongst them, for a ninth year, is Edinburgh's own beloved Christmas at The Botanics - set to illuminate the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh like never before, from November 20 to December 30.
Christmas At The Botanics 2025 details revealed
Exclusive chat with Culture Creative's Zoe Bottrell.
LISTEN: In our exclusive podcast - listen above or click here - Zoe reveals behind the scenes secrets and magical highlights, including new showstoppers and returning favourites, which aim to pull-in a record-breaking 100,000 visitors this year.
BOOK NOW: Entry is again by timed slots and early evening sessions and weekend dates are already in high demand. For ticket information, pricing, and timings, visit www.mychristmastrails.co.uk/events/christmas-at-the-botanics.
This year families will make memories walking beneath a ceiling of sparkling stars and through glowing meadows, with shimmering vertical light rays, pixel-dancing trees, fluttering illuminated butterflies, cascading spears of light and more.
And no Botanics light trail would be complete without its much loved Laser Garden, real flame Fire Garden and Christmas Cathedral, a golden tunnel of lights, back with a brand-new twinkle effect - the most popular stop for Instagram selfies and even wedding proposals.
Inverleith House will once again become a living canvas, with a new projection transforming it in a wash of moving colour and festive magic.
Working with leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Live, a division of Sony Music, the My Christmas Trails and Lightscape attractions sparkle across Europe, the United States, Australia and even Saudi Arabia, with a dozen sites in the UK, including Kew and Blenheim Palace.
Christmas at the Botanics is presented in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and creative producer Culture Creative.
More than a million LED light bulbs sparkle at each site, with up to 30 kilometres of cables powering a dazzling fusion of art, light, and nature.
Little wonder they attracted 2.1 million visitors globally last year to wander through glowing tunnels, fire gardens and laser-lit landscapes created by over 300 international artists.
With more than 2,000 illuminated artworks worldwide, every trail tells a unique story — transforming night-time walks into pure festive magic.
Today Zoe revealed new details of the trail which will bring winter magic to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Last year Christmas at The Botanics welcomed over 92,000 visitors – confirming its status as a must-see festive experience in Scotland’s capital.
" I'm really pleased with this year's show and the way that it's coming together," she said.
"We work really closely with the Botanics team to ensure that we highlight great things within the collection.
“We have a very Christmassy start with a ceiling of suspended stars under which Santa will greet you. We also have Vertical Rays, a huge number of rays of light, creating a a dynamic colour changing light show.
"There’s a new Edinburgh and Christmas house projection created with our partners at Novak. We're also bringing Nightbirds to the UK for the first time, a flock of oversized birds with neon-lit feathers hovers among the trees from a Chicago-based artist.
Romantics will get to pause and pose for selfies beneath arches of glittering hearts,
Zoe added: "Visitors will enter into a gentle part of the garden, passing through our wonderful Christmas Cathedral, to a sparkling Laser Garden, towards a glorious, reflective liquid lake, then into a meadow of light on the other side.
"There's a an enchanting Fire Garden, fluttering illuminated butterflies t that will greet you as you walk up through the Chinese hillside, and we have dynamic tree illuminations to close the show with pure festive magic.”
"We have pixel Christmas trees that line a lawn and dance along to music, to remind you of the collection of plants and trees, which is why this place is so great."
The scent of toasted marshmallows, trees glowing in a thousand hues, and the soft sound of festive music is the enchanting backdrop families love.
Zoe explained how they plan festive light trails that dazzle audiences while caring for the landscapes that host them.
As Culture Creative marks its 20th year, she old how each dazzling light trail takes up to 11 months to design and 2–4 weeks to build in historic gardens and parklands.
Extra cable is often used to work around sensitive areas and safeguarding wildlife, following careful ecology studies.
“It’s vital the only things we leave are footprints and memories,” she says.
Tickets are by timed entry , but she insists the only best time to visit is with your whole family, bringing generations together to make magical memories.
"My advice to get the best experience is to wrap up warm, come to enjoy the surroundings, a bit of seasonal music and see these wonderful landscapes that are there by day in a whole new light.'Enjoy a warm tipple of mulled wine or a hot chocolate and something to eat, and make an evening of it. And just take it slow. Don't come for a jog around the park. Come for a wander as a family group. One thing we have always prided ourselves on is that we plan these trails to appeal to whole family groups of all ages."
For more details visit www.rbge.org.uk/christmas and follow @mychristmastrails on Facebook and Instagram.