The Christmas lights go on in Surrey's towns from mid-November, often with stalls and entertainment, and the switch-ons are free. This guide lists the 2026 switch-ons that have published their dates so far, plus the two big ticketed light trails, with details from each organiser's own website (and Visit Surrey for Dorking, Cranleigh and Oxted, and the Epsom & Ewell council news page for Epsom).
More towns announce their dates in November; we'll add them as they are confirmed. For a wider list of Surrey switch-ons, see To Do in Surrey's Christmas lights guide. The photo shows Castle Street in Farnham, whose switch-on is the first in this guide.
Dates at a glance
- Sat 14 November
- Farnham switch-on, Gostrey Meadow (lights on 4.30pm)
- Illuminate Guildford opens
- Fri 20 November
- Epsom switch-on, Market Place (lights on 6.30pm)
- RHS Wisley Glow opens (selected dates to 3 January)
- Sat 21 November
- Cranleigh switch-on, Fountain and Stocklund Squares (4pm–8pm)
- Sun 22 November
- Godalming switch-on, the Pepperpot (lights on 5pm)
- Thu 26 November
- Weybridge switch-on, 5.30pm–6.30pm
- Sat 28 November
- Oxted switch-on, Station Road East (lights on 4.30pm)
- Sun 29 November
- Dorking Festive Forest
- Fri 4 December
- Farncombe switch-on, Farncombe Day Centre (lights on 5pm)
Town switch-ons (free)
Farnham Christmas Lights Switch-On
Gostrey Meadow, Farnham
Farnham Town Council's switch-on runs from 1pm to 6pm on Saturday 14 November in Gostrey Meadow, and the lights are officially switched on at 4.30pm. Entry is free.
- Date
- Saturday 14 November, 1pm–6pm
- Lights on
- 4.30pm
- Entry
- Free
Epsom Christmas Lights Switch-On
Market Place, Epsom
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council's switch-on is in Epsom Market Place on Friday 20 November, from 4pm to 9pm, with the lights going on at 6.30pm. There are food and drink stalls, charity stalls, live entertainment and fairground rides, and the Mayor switches the lights on with the cast of the Epsom Playhouse pantomime, Snow White.
The council says it will be its last switch-on before East Surrey Council takes over next year. The Ashley Centre shopping centre holds its own switch-on on Saturday 21 November.
- Date
- Friday 20 November, 4pm–9pm
- Lights on
- 6.30pm
- Extras
- Stalls, live entertainment, fairground rides
Cranleigh Christmas Light Switch-On
Fountain Square and Stocklund Square, Cranleigh
Cranleigh's switch-on is on Saturday 21 November in Fountain Square and Stocklund Square on the High Street, from 4pm to 8pm.
- Date
- Saturday 21 November, 4pm–8pm
- Where
- Fountain Square and Stocklund Square, High Street
Godalming Christmas Lights Switch-On
The Pepperpot, Godalming
Godalming Town Council's switch-on is on Sunday 22 November at the Pepperpot, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, with the lights going on at 5pm. It is free.
Godalming's Christmas Festival Market follows on Saturday 28 November.
- Date
- Sunday 22 November, 4.30pm–6.30pm
- Lights on
- 5pm
- Entry
- Free
- Also
- Christmas Festival Market, Saturday 28 November
Oxted Christmas Family Event and Lights Switch-On
Station Road East and West, Oxted
Love Oxted's Christmas afternoon runs from 2pm to 6pm on Saturday 28 November, with entertainment, family activities, Christmas stalls and street food. A festive procession leaves Station Road West, outside the cinema, at 4.15pm, and the lights go on at 4.30pm on Station Road East. It is hosted by Mark Carter and BBC Radio Surrey.
- Date
- Saturday 28 November, 2pm–6pm
- Lights on
- 4.30pm, Station Road East
- Procession
- 4.15pm from Station Road West
Dorking Festive Forest
Dorking town centre
Dorking's Christmas festival fills the town with stalls from Surrey Hills Enterprises, a Winter Wonderland grotto on West Street, family activities and free face painting; many of the activities are free. Visit Surrey lists it for Sunday 29 November.
- Date
- Sunday 29 November (Visit Surrey)
- Entry
- Free
- Many activities free
Farncombe Christmas Lights Switch-On
Farncombe Day Centre, Farncombe
Farncombe's switch-on is on Friday 4 December at the Farncombe Day Centre on St John's Street. The fun starts at 4.30pm and the lights go on at 5pm, with entertainment, refreshments and a visit from the Round Table's Santa and his sleigh.
- Date
- Friday 4 December, 4.30pm–6pm
- Lights on
- 5pm
- Extras
- Round Table Santa and sleigh
Light trails (ticketed)
RHS Glow at RHS Wisley
Wisley, near Woking
The garden at Wisley is lit up for an evening trail on selected dates from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, from 4pm to 9pm (last entry 7.30pm; on Christmas Eve 4pm to 8pm).
Prices depend on the date: adults from £6.50 to £21.50 and children aged 5–16 from £5 to £13; premium tickets are £35 and £22. Under-5s go free, and RHS members pay less. Book early for the cheapest dates.
- Dates
- Selected dates, 20 November to 3 January
- Times
- 4pm–9pm, last entry 7.30pm
- Adults
- £6.50–£21.50 by date
- Children (5–16)
- £5–£13
- Under-5s free
Illuminate Guildford
Guildford Castle
A winter light trail in the grounds of Guildford Castle, opening on Saturday 14 November 2026. Tickets are sold for timed sessions on its own website, where prices are shown when you book.
- Opens
- Saturday 14 November
- Tickets
- Timed sessions, booked online
Make a day of it
Switch-ons are busy, so arrive early and use public transport if you can. Pair one with a Christmas market or a visit to Father Christmas: see our guides to Christmas markets, Santa's grottos and real Christmas trees, and, before that, fireworks and Bonfire Night.
Common questions
When is the Epsom Christmas lights switch-on 2026?
Friday 20 November 2026 in Epsom Market Place, from 4pm to 9pm, with the lights on at 6.30pm. The Ashley Centre holds its own switch-on on Saturday 21 November.
When is the Weybridge Christmas lights switch-on 2026?
Thursday 26 November 2026, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, according to Discover Weybridge. Weybridge Christmas Market follows on Sunday 6 December.
When is the Cranleigh Christmas lights switch-on 2026?
Saturday 21 November 2026, from 4pm to 8pm in Fountain Square and Stocklund Square on Cranleigh High Street.
When is the Oxted Christmas lights switch-on 2026?
Saturday 28 November 2026. Love Oxted's Christmas family event runs from 2pm to 6pm on Station Road East and West, with a procession at 4.15pm and the lights on at 4.30pm.
When is the Farnham Christmas lights switch-on 2026?
Saturday 14 November 2026, from 1pm to 6pm in Gostrey Meadow. The lights go on at 4.30pm and entry is free.
When is the Godalming Christmas lights switch-on 2026?
Sunday 22 November 2026 at the Pepperpot, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, with the lights on at 5pm. Godalming's Christmas Festival Market is on Saturday 28 November.
When is Dorking's Christmas festival 2026?
Dorking's Festive Forest is listed by Visit Surrey for Sunday 29 November 2026, with stalls, a grotto on West Street and free family activities.
How much is RHS Wisley Glow 2026?
Adult tickets cost £6.50 to £21.50 and children aged 5–16 £5 to £13, depending on the date; under-5s go free and RHS members pay less. It runs on selected dates from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
When does Illuminate Guildford open in 2026?
Illuminate, the light trail at Guildford Castle, opens on Saturday 14 November 2026, with tickets for timed sessions on its website.
