Longwood Gardens Holiday Lights Tour from Philadelphia

See Longwood's holiday lights without waiting in line

A holiday lights tour from Philadelphia to Longwood Gardens in the Brandywine Valley, with guaranteed entry even when tickets sell out to the public. Your guide handles admission and drives the round trip in a warm van, leaving you free to walk the gardens at your own pace for a couple of hours. The tour suits anyone looking to skip the ticket hassle on a winter evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Holiday lights tour at Longwood Gardens

• Depart Philadelphia by van
• Arrive at Longwood Gardens
• Enter with prearranged ticket
• Stroll through holiday light displays
• Return to Philadelphia by van

The experience

The main draw here is guaranteed entry. Longwood Gardens sells out during the holiday season, but this tour secures your ticket in advance: no standing in line at the gate, no checking availability online. Your guide meets you in Philadelphia with your admission already arranged, then drives your group down into the Brandywine Valley in a spacious, heated van. The gardens transform their vast property into a dazzling light display each winter, with thousands of plants and seasonal installations lit up across the grounds.

Once you arrive, you're free to stroll around at your own pace for a couple of hours. Longwood's horticultural staff design the displays to change with the seasons, and the holiday setup draws crowds for good reason. The gardens span enough ground that you can wander without feeling rushed, and the lighting is designed to work whether you move quickly or linger at each installation. Your guide stays available and then escorts the group back to Philadelphia when the evening winds down, capping off the outing without you having to navigate the drive home.

What’s included

• Round-trip transportation from Philadelphia in a heated van.
• local English-speaking guide.
• guaranteed admission to Longwood Gardens even when sold out to the public.

Before you book

Days and timesFriday to SundayDeparts at 15:30

Book up to18h before

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by WeVenture

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Philadelphia with a free evening and want to see the holiday lights without the hassle of buying tickets separately or driving yourself. The guaranteed entry matters most during peak holiday weeks when the gardens sell out weeks in advance.

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Top questions

What exactly is the light display like at Longwood Gardens during the holidays?

Longwood Gardens creates a dazzling array of holiday lights across its botanical grounds, with thousands of plants and seasonal installations lit throughout the property. The display changes year to year, and the scale of the gardens means there is plenty of ground to cover at your own pace.

How long do I actually spend inside Longwood Gardens on this tour?

You'll have a couple of hours to walk around the gardens and see the holiday lights. The full tour is 4.5 hours, which includes the round-trip drive from Philadelphia and your time inside the gardens.

What happens if Longwood Gardens sells out of tickets before my tour date?

Your admission is guaranteed and arranged in advance by your guide, so you'll get in even when tickets are sold out to the general public. That's the main advantage of booking this tour instead of trying to buy tickets on your own.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to Longwood Gardens?

No. Your guide provides round-trip van transport from Philadelphia to Longwood Gardens and back. The van is spacious and heated, so you can relax during the drive instead of navigating the route yourself.

Is Longwood Gardens suitable for young children or older adults?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. The pace is entirely up to you once you're inside the gardens. There's no required walking speed or set route.