The days are getting longer and the weather is warming up, which can only mean one thing. Outdoor entertaining season is fast approaching! The best way to get ready to welcome friends and family into your garden this year is with lights. Illuminating your patio, balcony, pergola, or even the entire length of your garden, is a great way to bring a bit of magic to your space.
To help, we’ve done the research and found some of the best festoon lights you can buy right now. Classic and timeless in design, these outdoor lights will last you for years to come, and look just as good in the summer as they do in cooler months when used to light up a patio after dark. Whether you trail them around tree trunks, suspend them over an outdoor dining table, or hang them around your porch, these versatile lights will elevate your outdoor space, no matter the season.
Browse our top-rated picks with options to suit every budget and type of outdoor area.
The best festoon lights 2023, rated by the Gardeningetc team
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Our top pick of the best festoon lights are from Lights4fun. They're the absolute best of the class if you're wanting to connect multiple streams of lights together. Got a big garden space? Want some for indoors, outdoors, front porch and more? No problem. These lights have 10 bulbs evenly spaced across each line, and you can connect up to 75m of lights. You can pick the exact length you want by simply connecting another set. They come in a warm yellow glow, which we love for its classic look. And even better: they'll stay totally bright, all night.
Why we love them
If you have a large garden or are buying for an event such as a garden party, these are by far the best choice. Our Editor, Beth Murton, has these currently hanging in her garden. Here's what she has to say:
'These festoon lights are super easy to use and will give any patio space a lovely warm glow after dark. One of the best things about them is that if you want to light a larger area you can simply connect multiple sets together so that you only need to use one power source. I have two sets of the 10m Warm White lights in my own garden, and they easily stretch around the edge of my patio. The rubber cable is really durable, and the lights are hard-wearing too - I even accidentally dropped one of the sets on the paving slabs and the bulbs didn't break. I've used them for a few summers now (and even over winter) and they are still going strong.'
Beth Murton, Editor of Gardeningetc
These Garden Trading offerings make it into our list of the best festoon lights because they are as classic as festoon lights come. A thick black wire and big round bulbs are iconic, and we love the almost clunky (in a good way) look of them.
Why we love them
Each of the 20 bulbs is actually filled with clusters of five tiny LED lights on a copper wire so you don’t get that direct bright light you can find with some festoon lights, this design creates more of an overall glow. There's also plenty to be said for the durability of these lights, which aren't flimsy in the slightest, though that probably adds to the higher price tag.
If you're after some bargain festoon lights, this set from Dunelm is one of the cheapest we could find. The overall look once strung up is still lovely, you just don’t get the classic look of the clear bulbs – but for less than 20 quid we think they are great, as long as you don't mind the look of them when they're not in use.
Why we love them
This particular set of lights is a very good length too, allowing you to illuminate a fair stretch of your garden. You can also click and collect on the very same day so these lovely lights could be up in your garden by this evening.
If you are after solar-powered festoon lights so you aren’t relying on a plug, this set from Argos would be perfect. If you need more than 20 bulbs, you could buy multiple sets and simply string them together.
Why we love them
They are a great price and available for click and collect on the same day. They give off a lovely warm light and look just as stylish in the daylight too – they definitely look like they cost more than just £20. As with any solar-powered purchase, these lights won't be the most reliable for overcast days, but in the height of summer they should serve you well.
If you prefer more of a beach vibe in your garden, a white cable could be a better option. This set from Amazon is really hard-wearing thanks to the rubber cable, which is more malleable than the PVC cables you get and therefore less likely to snap when you wrap it around trees or furniture.
Why we love them
The lights come with a two-year warranty, so you can replace them if anything goes wrong. Plus, if you have a larger garden you can combine multiple sets to create up to 800m of fairy lights!
For a chic and classy look, these lights from John Lewis are ideal. Suitable for use both indoors and outdoors, they emit a classic white light, perfect for long meals outside during the summer. Granted, you only get 10 bulbs, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. When it comes to entertaining, sometimes less is more, and you know that the quality of these bulbs will be worth their price too.
Why we love them
Plus, this choice offers a reasonable five metres between the power supply and the first bulb, so you should be able to illuminate your garden table with ease. While they do cost a little more than other options, the quality glass finish compensates for the expense.
If you're after a strong and trusty choice, these lights from OxyLED are your go-to. Thanks to the plastic construction, this option is well suited to handle gusts of wind and accidents without smashing like the glass alternatives.
Why we love them
Appropriate for indoor and outdoor usage, they are IP65 waterproof, snowproof, sunproof and windproof, so you'll get more than your money's worth. Oh, and if worst comes to worst, there's always the spares. One other thing: this isn't a big energy guzzler, so you'll be doing your bit, too.
Go for something a little different with this wonderful festoon light cluster from Oliver Bonas. Your outdoor dinner setting will never look better, with this rustic light centrepiece there to illuminate your next garden party or alfresco occasion. There are five bulbs with eight flashing settings or a simple steady glow to keep the ambiance at just the right level too.
Why we love them
Hanging from varying lengths, this festoon light pick is a unique and stylish way to light up your table. Reviewers who have tried and loved these lights say that they are also very robust, which is good for ensuring peace of mind with your purchase. They also say that they have excellent battery life and a solid feel. One reviewer even said they liked them so much they went and bought a second pair straightaway.
How we chose these festoon lights
We've tried some of the best festoon lights in our own homes, like our first choice pick. As for the rest, we're eager to get our hands on them as soon as possible, but before then, we still believe they deserve a spot in our guide. Why? Well, we've done the research, read the reviews and compared them based on a few factors, including brightness, durability and style. Oh, and don't forget the cost.
Customer reviews provide a good indication of performance and overall value for money. So don't worry, these festoon lights are sure to illuminate your space in style. Read more about how we test products at Gardeningetc.
How to choose festoon lights for your garden
Finding the right festoon lights for your needs requires a little bit of thought. To help make the hunt that bit easier, we've drawn up three key considerations and answered some questions you might have in mind:
1. Garden size
If you're used to having plenty of guests over for long summer evenings, then the chances are, you've got a relatively spacious garden. If this is the case, you'll want to make sure you can sufficiently illuminate the area you intend to seat your guests in, and pairing festoon lights with the best garden furniture will ensure your get-togethers can continue long into the evening.
For larger spaces, this will likely also mean the more bulbs and the longer the wire, the better. Oh, and if you're a little stuck on how to go about arranging your lights, don't sweat it. Check out our ingenious outdoor lighting ideas for the best tips and tricks.
2. Brightness
When weighing up how bright you'd like your festoon light ideas to be, ask yourself what kind of vibe you're keen to curate. For some people, a dimmer or more dispersed lighting set-up might be better, particularly if you want romance, ambience or intimacy. That said, some options might prove a little too dim for the task at hand. For example, if you're hosting in the daytime and it's a little overcast, the solar options might not cut it. Of course, solar choices are kind on the environment. Have a penchant for sun-powered garden accessories? Go ahead and explore our guide on the best solar lights.
3. Glow up
What kind of glow are you after? Some of the festoon lights out there offer you the option to choose the colour of the bulb, which is perfect if you are particularly picky regarding colour schemes – don't worry, we are too. As well as this, you might be looking to add a touch of life to the party with some light effects. Of course, it's hard to go wrong with a simple but delightfully warm white glow, for which some of the more classic options are your best bet. Plus, if you want to complete that rustic, glowy outdoor set-up, you can also explore our guide on the best fire pits.
Can you replace bulbs on festoon lights?
Some options, as you'll discover, come with spare bulbs included, while some do not. As well as this, some options require that replacement bulbs be bought from the exact same brand or retailer. For this reason, it is always advisable to read the product descriptions and details carefully, and if in doubt, enquire with the retailer or manufacturer.
Are festoon lights waterproof?
Having surveyed a fair few options out there, we would say that, generally speaking, most festoon lights are water-resistant to the degree required for use outdoors. However, it is worth noting that most are not entirely waterproof, so flooding or direct submersion underwater would not likely be covered.
What is festoon lighting?
It might seem silly, but it's a completely valid question. With so many different but similar lighting styles out there, the options can blur into one. With that in mind, it's good to be clued up. Festoon lighting is what you probably associate with the fairgrounds in classic fifties American movies. Often characterised by oversized bulbs, festoon lights are typically white, although nowadays there are hundreds of different colourways out there.
Where to buy festoon lights
Still looking for the perfect festoon lights to suit your garden? These are the retailers we would recommend heading to first to secure your lights:
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