The UK’s smallest unique Christmas attraction with cult following

CHRISTMAS can be one It may be an expensive time of year, but visiting winter attractions doesn’t have to break your budget.

A family in Leeds is helping to spread the word to cheer for free.

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For five years, Dom and Heather Hodgson, along with their seven-year-old daughter Scarlett, have been transforming their home into a unique Christmas light display.

Dom told Sun Online Travel: “It started after I saw Christmas lights synced to music on houses in America and thought, ‘That looks fun’ and ‘I’d like to do that’.”

In 2018, the Hodgson family decided to make their daydreams come true.

Dom added: “The first year was terrible – there were just a few lights in the window – but I was really proud of it.”

In 2020, the Hodgson family’s Christmas lights were transformed into a Christmas spectacle thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.

With area Christmas activities and attractions closed due to the virus, Dom and his family decided to open their home to the public.

He added: “We have taken down the fencing so people can park and watch the exhibition from their cars.”

“This year we have worked with West Yorkshire Police to ensure we make this as safe as possible.”

Now in its fifth year, the Hodgson Family Christmas Lights features over 40,000 lights, all synced to a festive playlist.

Dom added: “One of my favorite things is the tree. It is six and a half meters high and has 5,000 lights. The other thing I like is the Christmas light tunnel.”

The family has also unveiled a new attraction for 2023, the Selfie Elf.

There, visitors have the opportunity to take selfies in one of the Christmas light displays.

The walk-through Christmas light display also allows families to interact with some of the features.

Dom added: “You can press buttons that move things around on the screen.”

The family also offers sensory sessions for anyone who finds Christmas lights too stimulating.

Here the lights are dimmed and quieter background music is played.

Additionally, Dom made the family-run Christmas attraction as wheelchair and stroller friendly as possible by cementing a path in his yard.

The Hodgson Family Christmas Lights is completely free to attend – Dom and his wife Heather even hand out free bags of 10p sweets as well as cups of tea and coffee.

He laughed: “I spend more on Haribo than on the electricity bill.”

In recent years, the small northern attraction has achieved cult status among holidaymakers.

Dom added: “People from Manchester, York and Wakefield travel quite a distance to come to our Christmas lights display.

“We have become a tradition for many families. There are families who met at the lights and come back every year – that means a lot to us.”

While the Christmas attraction is free, the Hodgson family are asking visitors to donate anything they can spare to Martin House Children’s Hospice.

The Hodgsons have already raised over £50,000 for the hospice and hope to raise a further £5,000 by the end of the year.

In addition to the buckets of loose change distributed at the attraction, contactless donations are also available.

The family also has a JustGiving page that can be accessed Here.

The Hodgson family Christmas lights is scheduled to open from 1 December 2023 to 24 December 2023 at 35 Orchard Road, Leeds, LS15 7LP.

In early December, the Christmas lights will be on display from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the display starting earlier toward the end of the month.

In the FutureDom hopes to move his Christmas lights display to a disused store in a nearby shopping center to bring even more festive cheer.

The family-run Christmas attraction has received many positive reviews It is Facebook Page.

One person wrote: “Worth a visit, fantastic lights and songs and they put you in a good mood too.” Money for a fantastic charity.

A second added: “That was amazing, it was the best house show I’ve ever seen.” My daughter loved it and we will watch it again.”

In addition to Christmas lights, the family also hosts other events throughout the year, including Halloween, Easter, Diwali and memorial displays.

Here are the best free family-friendly Christmas attractions across the UK.

Here are the 25 best ice rinks in London and the South East.

And these are the best Christmas markets in the UK.

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