FROM this weekend Queen Victoria and Price Albert’s beautiful Isle of Wight royal home Osborne will take on an even more enchanted hue.

For visitors have an opportunity to explore its glorious grounds after-dark in a new winter wonderland event full of colourful lights, festive food and seasonal music.

A wintry fairytale trail snaking around the grounds will take visitors through trees laden with glimmering fruits, around moss-covered Victorian furniture lit up in a woodland setting and past lanterns floating across water. Inspired by Victoria and Albert’s nine royal children and the Victorian writers of children’s classics like Hans Christian Anderson, Beatrix Potter and Lewis Carroll, the illuminated trail weaves its way from page to page of a giant storybook.

You can take a magical meander past huge thrones, flying fairies and silhouetted animals, through a tunnel bedecked with fairy lights and under tick-tocking clocks suspended from branches. The journey ends at a Victorian vintage fair ground, with a colourful carousel, swing boats and a mini German market with food stands brought from Coburg in Germany, the town where Prince Albert grew up. There will be plenty more to enjoy including toasted marshmallows, mince pies, mulled wine, festive music and Christmas shopping at heritage-inspired stalls.

The event takes place from Friday 15 to Saturday 23 December. Entry 4-7pm. Event closes 8.30pm.

Booking essential. For more information visit http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/osborne