If the dark evenings and gloomy weather are getting you down, not to worry - it’s nothing a trip to Leeds Castle can’t fix.

This year, the Christmas at Leeds Castle trail, from the same team behind the Christmas at Bedgebury event, is making its highly-anticipated debut.

For the first time, the 2.41km trail takes visitors on an illuminated journey through the castle grounds, passing towering installations and dancing projections, all with a delightfully festive theme.

One of our reporters went to the Bedgebury opening night last week and had nothing but good things to say, so I was interested to see how its sibling event at Leeds Castle, just outside of Maidstone, would hold up.

We were welcomed by a large neon sign lighting up the lake, which was the first of many photo opportunities. If you’re looking for somewhere to get the perfect Instagram picture this Christmas, this is the place.

Whether it was snapping a cute couples’ selfie under the twinkling light tunnel or getting the kids to squeeze into the glitzy life-size frame for a family photo, I think everyone came away with a full camera roll - myself included.

It’s worth putting the camera down, though, and taking a moment to soak up the atmosphere.

As we wandered through the grounds, stopping at each and every installation, I was continuously impressed by the marriage between the lights and the music.

Seasonal sounds trickled in from surrounding speakers to accompany each set of lights. During our visit we were treated to Christmas carols, enchanting instrumentals, and tunes such as Last Christmas and Let It Snow, all of which matched their lights brilliantly.

Particular stand-outs included the castle itself, which was decorated with larger-than-life projections, and the Chandelier Dance Floor, on which several children were enjoying a boogie under the enormous hanging light.

The highlight for me, however, was the fire garden. This truly stunning installation was the only one inside the castle walls and the flickering flames against the magnificent backdrop, along with the slow, subtle music, made it feel like a hidden corner of the trail.

There was food and drink along the way, including churros, loaded fries, burgers, hot chocolates, beer and wine, which were all popular with our crowd.

We shared a portion of Seriously Cheesy loaded fries to help us warm up and were more than happy with how it tasted - however, at £7.50 per portion it wasn’t exactly a budget bite.

We walked out with a cheery wave to Father Christmas and to the sounds of Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas is You, which left us feeling suitably festive and singing it in the car all the way home.

What more could you want from a Christmas event?

Christmas at Leeds Castle is open on select dates until New Year’s Eve. You can book tickets online here.

Tickets start from £21.50 for adults and £15 for children. Those who plan on driving will also need to book a ticket for the car park. Admission is not included in a standard Leeds Castle ticket and must be booked separately.