Heligan Night Garden 2026: Dates, Tips and Where to Eat Nearby
Heligan Night Garden 2026 opens on Friday 13 November and runs on selected dates until Saturday 2 January 2027. It's the after-dark lantern trail through the Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevagissey, with timed entry slots from 4:15pm and the event finishing at 10pm. Tickets are sold online only, and weekends sell out, so book ahead.
We're The Rising Sun, the pub on the beach at Portmellon, about ten minutes' drive down the hill from Heligan. Plenty of people pair the two, so here's what we'd want to know before going.
What are the Heligan Night Garden dates for 2026?
From Heligan's own listing:
Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November
Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November
Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November
Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December
Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 December
Wednesday 16 to Wednesday 23 December
Saturday 26 December to Saturday 2 January 2027
Entry is in fixed time slots from 4:15pm. On nights when last entry is 7:30pm, the gardens close at 9pm. At the time of writing, adult tickets (18+) are £23.60 and children (3 to 16) are £14.20. Tickets are non-refundable, but Heligan sells ticket protection that lets you change your date once. Check the Heligan website for the latest.
Can you take dogs to Heligan Night Garden?
Yes. Heligan says well-behaved dogs on a short lead are welcome. That makes it one of the few Christmas events around here you can bring the dog to. Dogs are welcome in our pub too, so the whole evening can be a dog-friendly one. They're not allowed in our rooms, though.
Is there food at Heligan Night Garden?
There are refreshments on the trail: hot food, winter warmers, sweet treats and hot chocolate, with marshmallows to toast on the fire. That's a snack, not dinner. If you want to sit down and eat properly, the best plan is to book a table nearby before or after your slot.
Where can I eat near Heligan Night Garden?
We're biased, but we're ten minutes away. The Rising Sun Inn is a 17th-century free house on the beach at Portmellon, a mile from Mevagissey in south Cornwall, with Cornish ales, locally sourced food and sea-view rooms. Dogs welcome in the pub.
What suits which night:
Thursday, Friday or Saturday: sharing plates from 5 to 9pm. Book a 5pm table and take a 7pm slot, or take an early slot and come to us for 8pm. Our Christmas sharing menu runs through December.
Sunday: the roast is 12 to 3pm and we close at 8pm. Have a late Sunday lunch, then head up the hill for an early slot.
Wednesday 16 and 23 December: we're open 12 to 10pm. Bar snacks available all day.
Book a table when you book your Night Garden tickets. December fills up, particularly the Saturdays of our Xmas Party Nights (28 November, 12 and 19 December), when the bar is busy and there's live music from 7.30pm.
Mevagissey's harbour pubs and cafés are close too. Our Eden or Heligan guide covers the daytime gardens, distances and parking.
How long does Heligan Night Garden take?
The Heligan night garden is just over 1 mile long and groups enter in 15 minute intervals. Allow extra time if you stop for hot chocolate by the fire. It's outdoors and it's November, so dress for wet paths and cold: boots, a waterproof and a hat. A small torch is handy for the car park.
Can I make a night of it?
Yes. Book one of our two sea-view rooms above the pub and nobody has to drive home. They're room only, from £110 a night in winter, up a flight of stairs, with check-in from 4pm. So you can check in, drive up to Heligan for your slot, and be back at the bar by nine. See our rooms.
Good weekends to combine: Friday 27 November is also the expected Mevagissey lights switch-on (see our Mevagissey Christmas lights guide), and Saturday 28 November is our first Xmas Party Night. For the rest of December at the pub, see Christmas at The Rising Sun.
Quick answers
When does Heligan Night Garden open in 2026? Friday 13 November, running on selected dates until Saturday 2 January 2027.
What time does Heligan Night Garden close? The event finishes at 10pm. On nights when last entry is 7:30pm, the gardens close at 9pm.
Are dogs allowed at Heligan Night Garden? Yes, well-behaved dogs on a short lead are welcome, according to Heligan.
Where can I eat near Heligan Night Garden? The Rising Sun at Portmellon is about ten minutes' drive away, with sharing plates Thursday to Saturday 5 to 9pm. Mevagissey's harbour has more options.
The Rising Sun Inn, 2 Portmellon Park, Portmellon, Mevagissey, Saint Austell PL26 6PL · 01726 473214 · Book a table