Accessibility

We do not have any onsite parking but are lucky to have several car parks close by that have accessible bays, including St James Park Stadium Car Park, which is just a 4-minute walk up hill to our entrance.

For more details on travel and parking options, please visit our Getting Here FAQ here: LINK HERE.

However, all parking in the vicinity of our event will be affected by match-day fixtures. To see when Newcastle United are due to play at home, please check their website here: https://www.newcastleunited.com/en/matches/mens-team/fixtures

Please note these are locations for dropping off – for car parking, see our recommended locations here (link to Directions page).

Esso Garage (21 Barrack Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6BA)

If you are dropped off at this location, use the pedestrian crossings to cross Barrack Road, then use the signposted entrance into the park, which is directly opposite the crossing. There is a gentle slope up towards the entrance to Northern Lights.

Wellington Street (NE4 5TA)

The closest residential street is Wellington Street, behind the Esso Garage. If you are dropped off on Wellington Street, Barrack Road can be accessed by turning right via the end of the street. Use the pedestrian crossings to cross Barrack Road, then use the signposted entrance into the park, which is directly opposite the crossing. There is a gentle slope up towards the entrance to Northern Lights.

St James Park Stadium Car Park (Barrack Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4SE)

Please note: we do not recommend using this drop-off point on match days.

Visitors can be dropped off, subject to availability, inside the St James Car Park by travelling directly to the car park which is accessed via Robson Wy on Barrack Road, After being dropped off at this location, take a right out of the car park entrance onto Barrack Road and continue until you see the entrance to the park on the right.  There is a gentle slope up towards the entrance to Northern Lights.

As of 2026, we’re really pleased to share that we’re now working with Nimbus Disability to help make ticketing and access to our Light Trail more inclusive for guests with accessibility requirements.

We’ve partnered with the Nimbus Access Card scheme to ensure there’s a consistent and fair process for validating access requirements and putting reasonable adjustments in place. As we’re not specialists in access or in assessing individual needs, Nimbus manages the access registration process on our behalf.

The Access Card is a scheme developed by Nimbus and is designed to make communicating your access needs simple and clear. It translates your disability or impairment into easy-to-understand symbols, helping us quickly recognise the support you may require. You can read more about how these symbols are allocated on their website: https://www.accesscard.online/how-it-works/

Nimbus offers two options:

• A free Light Trail Digital Access Pass (DAP), which can be used to apply for accessible facilities at any of our five trails and is valid for three years.
• A £15 physical Access Card, which can be used at venues and events across the UK.

As well as translating your needs into symbols, the Access Card provides recognised evidence of your access requirements. The physical card can be used at other participating venues nationwide, reducing the need to repeatedly share personal information.

If you already have an Access Card and would like to speak to the Nimbus Access Card team about the symbols on your card, you can reach out to them using the email here: applications@nimbusdisability.com

We use the Nimbus Access Card to help translate disabilities and impairments into clear, easy-to-understand symbols. We’ve then worked closely with Nimbus to align these symbols with the facilities and adjustments available on-site at our Light Trails.

Below is a simple guide outlining which symbols are required when applying for our Fast Track or Personal Assistant facilities:

If you already have an Access Card and would like to speak to the Nimbus Access Card team about the symbols on your card, you can reach out to them using the email here: applications@nimbusdisability.com

Our trails are enjoyed by most, but particularly by guests with neurodivergence as there is such a range of sensory stimulation. However, we understand sometimes this can turn into overstimulation.

We are proud to have two evenings dedicated to guests who require a quieter and less crowded event to fully enjoy the experience. On Wednesday 2^nd and Wednesday 9^th December the evening will be tailored, reducing the audience capacity by 70% and also reducing the audio volume to a lower level, which will allow guests to enjoy the trail in a calmer, quieter way.

While we offer a range of accessible facilities, including wheelchairs and mobility scooters, Neurodivergent Evenings, accessible toilets and accessible parking. These do not need to be applied for using a Nimbus Access Card. You’ll find more information about these facilities below, under their appropriate section.

If you would like to apply for an Essential Companion ticket or a Fast Track wristband, please follow the steps below:

1. Essential Companion Tickets
   Essential Companion tickets can be requested during the See Tickets checkout process. You’ll be asked to provide your Nimbus Access Card number, and the See Tickets team will review and allocate the ticket, provided the required symbol (the +1 or +2 symbol) is present on the card.

You’re able to choose one free companion ticket, when you purchase a paid adult or child ticket for the disabled person. If you require more than one carer ticket, please contact hello@northernlightsnewcastle.com with the access card number and full name of access customer, and our team will allocate an additional essential companion ticket, provided a +2 symbol is on the access card.

2. Fast Track Wristbands
   For Fast Track wristbands, please email our Customer Service team at hello@northernlightsnewcastle.com including the Access Card number and the full name of the access customer (as shown on the card). Our team will review and allocate these where possible, subject to availability.

Fast Track wristbands are available for guests with additional needs, and where appropriate, their personal assistants (assessed on a case-by-case basis).

The route is mostly on even ground, with a small number of ramped areas. There is a mixture of hard tarmacked paths and temporary matting used.

Please keep in mind however, that due to the event taking place in winter, in Newcastle, that the paths may contain puddles and muddy patches which may take a bit longer to get through.

While best endeavours have been made to maintain accessibility for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, these areas may be more difficult to traverse in manual wheelchairs. If you have any difficulty passing through, please alert the nearest steward, who will be happy to assist you.

We will have several wheelchairs available to borrow on site, but these are distributed first come first served, so we would recommend bringing your own where possible.

The trail ground will consist of hard paths, ramps and some matted areas over grass.

There are no steps anywhere in our trail. Although mostly level, there are some modest changes in height with inclines and descents.

While best endeavours have been made to maintain accessibility for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, these areas may be more difficult to traverse in manual wheelchairs. If you have any difficulty passing through, please alert the nearest steward, who will be happy to assist you.

We will have two accessible plastic port-a-loo toilets along the route, one at the trail’s half-way point and one within the Christmas Village, which can be accessed at the beginning and end of the trail route. The cubicles are roughly 1.9m x 1.6m.

A Nimbus Access Card isn’t required to access the accessible toilets on-site, this is provided on an honesty basis.

For guests who need to sit regularly, there will be some seating at the Christmas Village, which can be accessed at the start & finish of the route, plus at an additional stopping point halfway along.

There are also several park benches on the route, should you need to rest during your walk. You are also welcome to bring your own folding chair if required.

Northern Lights stewards are stationed at points along the trail so can support when required. They are easily identifiable in high visibility jackets.

Well-behaved dogs with responsible owners are welcome. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times and be comfortable with large crowds, loud noises and fire.

We welcome assistance dogs onto the site.

Assistance dogs are legally allowed to assist under the Equality Act. The Equality and Human Rights Commission states an expectation that Assistance Dogs will:

1. Be highly trained
2. Not wander freely around the premises
3. Most are instantly recognisable by the harness or identifying dog jacket that wear they wear

1. I haven’t received a response from Nimbus Access Card?

Please check your spam/junk folder. Nimbus Access Card are usually quick to process your application however occasionally your reply can end up in spam.

2. Do I have to pay for an access card?

No. The access card offers an option to apply for a Light Trail Digital Access Pass that is free of charge and lasts for the next three years. There is a paid option(£15) but this is for a physical access card and can be used at 2,500 venues and events across the country, including our Trails.

3. Why have you switched to the Access Card?

We have moved to the Access Card as it enables us to easily understand your requirements and allocate the correct facilities based on the symbols on the card.

We believe this new system makes it easier for you, and for our team to provide you with the correct facilities to aid your festival experience.

4. I need help with Nimbus/The symbols on my Access Card.

If you would like to speak to the Nimbus Access Card team about the symbols on your card, or any other issue they can help you with, you can reach out to them using the email here: hello@nimbusdisability.com

5. Are baby changing facilities available?

Yes, there are baby changing facilities in the Christmas Village, at the start and end of the trail.

6. Are there flashing lights?

The trail includes pulsing, flashing, and moving lighting effects, including strobes and lasers, that may affect people with photosensitivity.