The office party season is upon us again and as the precarious business of Secret Santa shopping gets under way, you may be longing for an escape from seasonal shopping stress. A retreat to the wilds of zone 4 brings you to the sanctuary of Syon Park’s Enchanted Woodland where dormant trees spring to life in glorious technicolour. In need of a break from the tinsel tension, I donned my gloves and wellies and headed out to discover more.
Simon Hadleigh-Sparks Syon Park’s Enchanted Woodland
Shunning fairground rides and faux Victorian shopping experiences, the trail offers an oasis of calm amidst the frantic festive preparations. Zooming in from work on the train from Waterloo, the anticipation builds as I scurry along the Duke of Northumberland’s long, dark driveway (bring your torch if coming by train)
In a scene straight from a Tchaikovsky ballet, swans glide past on a crystal lake. The jaw-dropping view is deeply relaxing and feels a million miles away from the Heathrow flight path overhead.
Simon Hadleigh-Sparks Syon Park’s Enchanted Woodland
Blazing a trail through the grounds, towering trees take on a life of their own as naked branches pose in high definition for the clicking tripods below. Rocket launchers, Chinese lanterns and coloured plumes of smoke add to the trail’s intrigue. Around the far corner of the lake, sweeping arcs of light sync with rousing classical music as an impromptu sound and light show gets into swing.
Alerted by whispering voices a few minutes later, twinkly fairy lights beckon me to a ghostly tree where beads, baubles and bird cages glisten like totems against an electric blue canopy. An enchanting touch with none of the tackiness of the traditional grotto scene.
Syon Park’s Enchanted Woodland
The mile-long circuit winds up at the Great Conservatory where fountains spout like champagne as the building’s exterior flits from light to dark and back again. Moving inside, tropical plants give way to reveal a glass dome fizzing with lazers – a fitting finale to a spectacular evening.
Great Conservatory
Feeling refreshed and relaxed, the enchanted woodland has worked its wonders on me and may just be the perfect Secret Santa present for one or two of my frazzled colleagues back at the office.
The enchanted woodland is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Sunday 25 November 2018.
For more information visit: www.enchantedwoodland.com.
Do you know of another Christmas event or attraction that’s guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit?