Early Bird prices available
Northern Lights Manchester takes place in the beautiful grounds of Heaton Park, which creates a magical backdrop for our trail to take place.
Below, you’ll find detailed information about our facilities to help you plan your visit with confidence. We want everyone to feel comfortable, prepared and excited to join us this festive season.
The trail route follows existing paths through the site, some of which are tarmaced paths, others are softer ground. The trail is just over 1 mile long. It loops from the Christmas Village next to the Heaton Park Boating Lake, through wooded areas, along the Cherry Blossom pathways, down towards the old Trolley Tram station, through the woodland and returning to the Christmas Village.
There are several inclines and descents along the route, some of which may prove hard for some wheelchair users to navigate. In dry conditions electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters should be capable of handling the trail. We will have stewards along the route, available to help, particularly in spots that may be slightly more difficult to traverse.
We ask people considering visiting us in a wheelchair to take into account that this is an outdoor, winter event through a park, so some of the pathways may become muddy.
This can be a muddy trail with hills. While best endeavours have been made to maintain accessibility for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, some areas may be more difficult to traverse in manual wheelchairs. If you have any difficulty passing through, please alert the nearest steward, who will be happy to assist you.
We will have several wheelchairs available for rent on site, but these are distributed on an ad hoc basis so we would recommend bringing your own where possible.
As of 2026, we’re really pleased to share that we’re now working with Nimbus Disability to help make ticketing and access to our Light Trail more inclusive for guests with accessibility requirements.
We’ve partnered with the Nimbus Access Card scheme to ensure there’s a consistent and fair process for validating access requirements and putting reasonable adjustments in place. As we’re not specialists in access or in assessing individual needs, Nimbus manages the access registration process on our behalf.
The Access Card is a scheme developed by Nimbus and is designed to make communicating your access needs simple and clear. It translates your disability or impairment into easy-to-understand symbols, helping us quickly recognise the support you may require. You can read more about how these symbols are allocated on their website: https://www.accesscard.online/how-it-works/
Nimbus offers two options:
As well as translating your needs into symbols, the Access Card provides recognised evidence of your access requirements. The physical card can be used at other participating venues nationwide, reducing the need to repeatedly share personal information.
If you already have an Access Card and would like to speak to the Nimbus Access Card team about the symbols on your card, you can reach out to them using the email here: applications@nimbusdisability.com
We use the Nimbus Access Card to help translate disabilities and impairments into clear, easy-to-understand symbols. We’ve then worked closely with Nimbus to align these symbols with the facilities and adjustments available on-site at our Light Trails.
Below is a simple guide outlining which symbols are required when applying for our Fast Track or Personal Assistant facilities:
If you already have an Access Card and would like to speak to the Nimbus Access Card team about the symbols on your card, you can reach out to them using the email here: applications@nimbusdisability.com
Our trails are enjoyed by most, but particularly by guests with neurodivergence as there is such a range of sensory stimulation. However, we understand sometimes this can turn into overstimulation.
We are proud to have two evenings dedicated to guests who require a quieter and less crowded event to fully enjoy the experience. On Wednesday 2nd and Wednesday 9th December the evening will be tailored, reducing the audience capacity by 70% and also reducing the audio volume to a lower level, which will allow guests to enjoy the trail in a calmer, quieter way.
While we offer a range of accessible facilities, including wheelchairs and mobility scooters, Neurodivergent Evenings, accessible toilets and accessible parking. These do not need to be applied for using a Nimbus Access Card. You’ll find more information about these facilities below, under their appropriate section.
If you would like to apply for an Essential Companion ticket or a Fast Track wristband, please follow the steps below:
You’re able to choose one free companion ticket, when you purchase a paid adult or child ticket for the disabled person. If you require more than one carer ticket, please contact hello@northernlightsmanchester.com with the access card number and full name of access customer, and our team will allocate an additional essential companion ticket, provided a +2 symbol is on the access card.
Fast Track wristbands are available for guests with additional needs, and where appropriate, their personal assistants (assessed on a case-by-case basis).
There will be onsite parking with accessible spaces. You will need an access card or blue badge to show staff onsite, who will direct you towards the appropriate parking space, provided they have allocation.
Disabled parking spots are on a first come, first serve basis, we have a traffic management team that will help you park in the most suitable bay we can, should you need to park closer to the event entrance.
Please bear in mind this will be at least a 5-minute walk from the start of the trail. All parking must be booked in advance and paid for, whether you need a normal parking space or disabled parking space.
* All parking must be booked in advance and paid for, whether you need a normal parking space or disabled parking space.
Accessible toilets can be located in the Christmas Village, before you enter the trail, and mid-way round the trail at the Marshmallows Toasting area. There are also baby changing facilities within these toilets.
A Nimbus Access Card isn’t required to access the accessible toilets on-site; this is provided on an honesty basis.
For guests who need to sit regularly, there will be some seating at the Christmas Village, which can be accessed at the start & finish of the route, plus at an additional stopping point halfway along.
There are also several park benches on the route, should you need to rest during your walk. You are also welcome to bring your own folding chair if required.
Northern Lights stewards are stationed at points along the trail so can support when required. They are easily identifiable in high visibility jackets.
Well-behaved dogs with responsible owners are welcome. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times and be comfortable with large crowds, loud noises and fire.
We welcome assistance dogs onto the site.
Assistance dogs are legally allowed to assist under the Equality Act. The Equality and Human Rights Commission states an expectation that Assistance Dogs will:
Please check your spam/junk folder. Nimbus Access Card are usually quick to process your application however occasionally your reply can end up in spam.
No. The access card offers an option to apply for a Light Trail Digital Access Pass that is free of charge and lasts for the next three years. There is a paid option(£15) but this is for a physical access card and can be used at 2,500 venues and events across the country, including our Trails.
We have moved to the Access Card as it enables us to easily understand your requirements and allocate the correct facilities based on the symbols on the card.
We believe this new system makes it easier for you, and for our team to provide you with the correct facilities to aid your festival experience.
If you would like to speak to the Nimbus Access Card team about the symbols on your card, or any other issue they can help you with, you can reach out to them using the email here: hello@nimbusdisability.com
Yes, there are baby changing facilities in the Christmas Village, at the start and end of the trail.
The trail includes pulsing, flashing, and moving lighting effects, including strobes and lasers, that may affect people with photosensitivity.