Residents information

This is a curated lights trail focused on the centre of the park, away from the most sensitive, wilder areas, such as woodlands. There are also plans for food and beverages and light entertainment such as low-level music and artistic dance to accompany the lighting trail.

GLOW is being designed as a carefully curated winter light experience that responds to the character and heritage of Holland Park. Visual concepts and artist impressions will be published on the event website as the design process develops and following the necessary approvals.

Kensington and Chelsea Council has to make savings of £108m over the next few years, due to the central government’s Fairer Funding Review. To protect vital council services and preserve and maintain Holland Park to a high standard, the council needs to find significant additional income streams. The planned winter events would provide significant additional income to the Council.

The planned winter events would also be a great attraction for residents, especially families with children.

GLOW will be focused on the centre of the park, away from the more environmentally sensitive areas, such as the dense woodland to the north. Included will be the Formal Gardens, Kyoto Gardens and Holland House Terrace.

GLOW is planned to take place during November and December each year, during evenings when Holland Park is normally closed to the public. The event company are contracted to operate each winter for five years, with the first event planned for November 2026, subject to the required licences and consents being granted.

The GLOW events will take place in the evenings when the park is normally closed to the public. The events will not impact on normal park activities. The park will remain fully open during normal opening hours, with some small areas occasionally cordoned off during delivery and removal of event structures. The structures themselves, for example lighting features and marquees, will take up a small amount of space, but the event is being designed to be sympathetic to the park, with minimal impact.

The winter events are focused on the centre of Holland Park, away from more sensitive areas. They are being planned to be as minimal impact on the park and local residents as possible. As part of the Premises Licence application, the event will need to demonstrate that there is no significant impact on local residents through, for example, excessive noise, traffic or light pollution, and this is being considered very carefully.

No, this is to be a curated lights trail, focused on the centre of Holland Park, away from the most sensitive areas of the park. There are plans for food and beverages and light entertainment, such as low-level music and artistic dance to accompany the light display, but lighting will be sympathetic to the park setting and its history, there will not be any noisy events or activities and there will not be any fireworks or pyrotechnics of any kind.

No events will take place within the ecologically rich woodland areas to the north of the park. The Council’s ecologist is working closely with the event organisers to ensure that sensitive species, including bats, are fully protected from disturbance, and the Council’s arborist to make sure trees are protected. Nothing will be attached to Holland House. Grass areas will also be protected from damage where people will gather during the events.

Tickets will be timed and access carefully phased throughout the evening, with visitor numbers managed to ensure a comfortable experience and minimise impacts on the park and surrounding area. Capacity limits will be agreed as part of the licensing process and will be significantly lower than the number of visitors who may use Holland Park during a busy summer day.

We are looking into protective materials that can be used to protect sensitive grass areas and lawns during the event.

The Council’s Ecologist is working closely with the events team to ensure minimal impact on the park’s ecosystem. Wildlife, habitats and birds will be protected during the GLOW event days, as well as during event set-up and dismantling. The sensitive woodland areas to the north of the park are not included in the event area.

Kensington and Chelsea Council has to make huge savings over the next few years, and in order to protect vital services and preserve and maintain Holland Park to a high standard, the council needs to find significant additional income. The winter events would be sensitively planned to be appropriate for Holland Park and provide a significant revenue stream to the Council.

The winter events are projected to bring in hundreds of thousands of pounds to the Council over the next five years, through a share of turnover agreement with the event organiser. Holland Park does generate significant income from other activities, however this does not cover the cost of running and maintaining the park.

All capital event costs are being borne by the event organiser; the Council does not take on any financial risk in running the event. The Council will contribute some officer time in monitoring the event, but no additional council staff will need to be taken on.

Yes. The event will be ticketed, with prices varying depending on the date, time and demand. A range of ticket options will be available, including off-peak pricing and concessions, along with special resident discount sessions. Further details will be announced closer to launch.

GLOW is being developed as a premium, art-led winter experience rather than a traditional light trail. The programme will bring together world class artists and designers to create a series of immersive installations inspired by light, nature, Christmas and storytelling. The event has been specifically designed for Holland Park, drawing inspiration from its landscapes, history and cultural significance. The ambition is to create something that feels closer to an outdoor exhibition or gallery experience than a large-scale commercial attraction, whilst remaining accessible and enjoyable for families and visitors of all ages.

The Council needs to make significant additional income for Holland Park, and in a short period of time, to help cover some of the £108m Council shortfall over the next four years. An event of this nature and scale will bring in a large income to help financially protect the Council’s vital services and the park from future savings.

No. There will be no fireworks, pyrotechnics or large-scale amplified concerts. Any music associated with the event will be carefully controlled and designed to complement individual installations and the overall visitor experience.

The event will operate during evening hours when Holland Park is normally closed to the public. Visitors will leave in phased intervals throughout the evening rather than all at once, helping to minimise disruption to local residents and transport networks. The event will finish at 22:00, with all visitors leaving the park by 22:45, consistent with the Premises Licence application.

Should you have any further questions then please email residents@glowatchristmas.com.