Chiswick House & Gardens Trust has announced a new winter experience in the capital: The inaugural After Dark at Chiswick House Gardens. Launching 15 November and running until 30 December, from Thursdays to Sundays.
The perfect pre-Christmas adventure refuses to conform to the norm, as there’ll be no reindeers, fake snow or Santa Clauses in sight. Instead, vibrant state-of-the-art light displays from world-renowned artists offer a sleek, modern and classy experience providing stunning and unique picture content for snap-happy social media fans. All set in a breathtaking historical setting and with delicious food and drink aplenty, After Dark is perfect for the family, friends, office parties or partners looking to dial up their date night.
Visitors will be guided through a 45-minute trail set in the award-winning, opulent gardens of the 18th-century Chiswick House and Gardens. The historical villa will form the canvas for an illuminating lighting display where classical architecture meets modern technology, care of renowned lighting designer, Nick Gray from Renegade. Gray’s high-profile projects have included stage lighting for Kasabian, Last Shadow Puppets and Calvin Harris, and lighting design for many fashion shows including London Fashion Week, Anya Hindmarch, Mulberry, Julien Macdonald, Roksanda, Matthew Williamson and Temperley to name a few. Several art installations by up-and-coming artist Finn Thomson will also feature.
Upon completion of the trail, visitors can tuck into a seasonal feast where their culinary senses will be heightened as some of London’s best street food traders such as The Cheese Truck, Le Swine, Taco Dave and The Duck Shed will serve up mouth-watering dishes, with more to be announced.
They’ll be an abundance of winter toddy favourites such as Terry’s Hot Chocolate Orange, Bailey’s Hot Chocolate and Hot Apple Cider to help keep you warm from point of entry.
Jennifer Davidson, event director of After Dark said: “We’re excited to produce a very different outdoors, after dark show and thrilled to be shining a light on one of the country’s greatest treasures – reigniting London’s fascination with Chiswick House and Gardens & Trust.”
Chiswick House and Gardens Trust
Chiswick House is an 18th-century villa set in classically landscaped gardens in west London. One of the earliest and finest examples of neoclassical architecture in the UK, the house was designed from 1720-32 by Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, and his associate the painter, garden designer and architect, William Kent.
In the 18th century, informal landscaping was a revolution in design and a complete break from tradition. The creation of Chiswick Gardens marked the start of the English Landscape Movement and still today the Chiswick House and Gardens is continuing to break new ground by welcoming the After Dark concept. The illuminated trail transforms the beautiful natural parkland, giving visitors the chance to enjoy Chiswick in a whole new ‘light’.
