ONE of the most popular festive attractions in Wiltshire is set to make a spectacular return and this year it's better than ever.

Longleat's Festival of Light will be brightening up even the darkest of winter days when it makes a return next month, with a record breaking 25.5 metre tall lantern.

The Rapunzel's tower lantern is not only one of the main attractions which will see visitors transported into a world of fantasy, but is also the largest lantern ever constructed for the Festival of Light.

In total, 30,000 metres of silk have been used to create the displays, which is enough to wrap around Longleat House 124 times.

Other lantern displays will be mythical marvels where mermaids swim in the lake, princesses live in castles, firebirds fly and dragons roar.

Since the first Festival of Light was held in 2014, it remains the biggest event of it's kind, with thousands of giant Chinese lanterns transforming the estate into a winter wonderland.

All the lanterns have been created by a team of highly-skilled artists from Zigong in China’s Sichuan province, which has been staging lantern festivals for more than 2,000 years.

The Festival of Light will be over Christmas at weekends from November 5 to 26 and every day from December 1 to 31, excluding Christmas day.

Booking is essential, so please visit www.longleat.co.uk/whats-on/seasonal-events to plan your visit.