On the darker and colder days, we look to keep our outdoor areas illuminated for longer with the much- loved garden accessory that is garden lights. Who said you can't enjoy your favourite place in your home during the winter months? Not us. In fact, creating a space in your garden that you can enjoy all year round is becoming increasingly popular.
If you're searching for the best outdoor garden lights that'll illuminate your space with a warm and cosy glow, you've come to the right place. While garden candles are great for al fresco dining and keeping bugs at bay, garden lights are a step up. They're reliable, weatherproof and can give that same soft glow you're looking for - not even the strongest winds could blow these lights out.
The best garden lights at a glance:
• Editor's pick: Garlocht Solar Garden Lights Outdoor Waterproof - View on Amazon UK
• Best coloured garden lights: Shapelights® Colour Changing Mood Light - View on Amazon UK
• Best long-lasting garden lights: PREUP Outdoor Lights - View on Amazon UK
Either battery or the best solar lanterns, starry nights need not be compromised by the typically unpredictable British weather. How could you say no to a glowing and cosy garden all year round?
Creating spaces to relax and enjoy in your garden can be a little daunting, but with seating, a splash of colour, a few accessories and solar lights, your ideas will come together in no time at all.
The best garden lights UK
Editor's pick
These glowing orb lights from Garlocht are made using high-efficiency upgraded solar panels that can transform solar energy to electric energy, charging the light during the day for 6-8 hours can provide 8-16 hours of glorious lighting at night. There are eight different modes to choose from so you can create any ambience you like.
Customer review: "These garden solar light are bright and gives nice light when outside gets dark, made of great quality, they have several modes of light, its easy to install and manage it, looks great definitely recommend."
Pros
- Very hardwearing - withstand the British weather
- No need to plug the lights - so lights can be placed anywhere
Cons
- Solar lights need time to charge
Best coloured garden lights
Splash some colour into your outdoor space with these pretty multi-coloured orbs. Stunning and contemporary, you can adjust your light to display a static light or set to a multi-coloured changing option to suit any mood and occasion. The light is solar-powered, but you can also charge it using the USB cable provided for seven nights of use. Shapelights are waterproof and made from plastic.
Customer review: "In sunny weather the solar charger keeps it topped up with power for days on end. Other wise a quick charge from the USB and it’s ready to go again."
Pros
- You get the best of both worlds, as the orbs can give off bright white light as well as a changing colour rotation
- Bright orb
Cons
- Be mindful that the orbs need to be charged using a USB, as it's so easy to forget sometimes
Best garden path lights
www.argos.co.uk
Searching for some lights to illuminate your garden path? This pack of 10 LED solar lights should be more than enough. They're solar-powered, so super low maintenance, and emit a wonderful white light. Just stick in the ground and let the sun do the rest.
Customer review: "Purchased to replace some old lights that no longer worked. These are good value basic garden lights that are cleverly packed and work well."
Pros
- These are great if you really want to illuminate your garden pathways
- Very low maintenance
- Inexpensive
Cons
- The white light is bright (which is great) but if you're after warm lighting these are not the ones for you
Best garden Chinese lanterns
www.festive-lights.com
We love this string of eight white tasselled Chinese lanterns, designed to work for 365 nights a year in all weather thanks to the solar-power charge. The opaque white fabric creates a soft ambient glow from the warm white LEDs, a beautiful addition to a warm summer's evening.
Pros
- They give off a beautiful warm glow which is perfect for creating ambience in your garden space
- Decorative and functional
Cons
- These are fabric, so you will need to be careful with heavy rain and dirt, etc, even though they say they can survive 365 days a year
Best long-lasting garden lights
It's bistro vibes all around with these vintage outdoor string lights. Whether you're hosting an event or just looking to give your garden a revamp, these 15 LED socket lights will do the trick. They add a soft, mesmerising ambience to your space, and will last you through the summer heat, winter cold and just about any other weather condition.
Customer review: "Each bulb attachment has a hanger so nice to position and feel sturdy. We have one string but they have two and found them easy to connect. Outside mains essential. Good size cord between first light and plug. Really bright too."
Pros
- These are hard-wearing and heavy-duty lights that should see you years of use
- Comes with 15 lights
Cons
- Bulbs are not shatterproof
Best customisable garden light
www.johnlewis.com
If you want to run a light around your borders or patio, the Philips Hue provides two metres in length and is equipped with Philips Hue technology to illuminate and decorate your space. Rated IP65 to withstand all weather conditions, you can use intelligent controls to customise your lighting with 16 million colours and shades of warm and cool light. The options are endless.
Customer review: "Easy to install and very bright, had difficulty to get Hue bridge connected to the router to set light strip up but all good. Looking at connecting more."
Pros
- This light is so versatile and is two metres in length - perfect for lighting up specific areas
- Control the lights on the Phillips Hue app
Cons
- Not as easy to set up as your standard garden lights (but still pretty simple)
Best non-wired garden lights
www.argos.co.uk
The iconic lightbulb design on these solar lights would look glorious nestled in a tree or some shrubbery. The handy hanging mechanism means that you can clip them wherever you like, as long as they're likely to catch the sun. They're ready to use straight out of the box, but be sure to watch them if you're due some strong winds.
Customer review: "The lights charge in a very short time and glow beautifully. No wire means they can be dotted about the garden and look magical. As they are not glass, I need not worry about safety issues should one fall. I’m so pleased I bought these."
Pros
- So twinkly, these will make your cosy space ten times cosier
- Attached by clips, you can pop them all around your garden without having to worry about wires
Cons
- Some reviews have mentioned that they need a lot of summer sunlight to work effectively
Best portable garden light
www.johnlewis.com
Available in Grey, Mustard, or Agave, the portable lantern is the perfect accompaniment for alfresco dining and garden picnics. The LED offers seven colours of light and you can use the remote control to switch through, choosing to have one static colour, a fun colourful cycle, or a flame setting for a candlelit effect. It's rated IP44 and once charged lasts up to eight hours.
Customer review: "I bought these lamps in all three colours and used them at a recent BBQ. Everyone commented on how nice they were. They give off a decent amount of light and the remote operates all three. The lamps fold down for easy storage. They're quite expensive but do look good in the garden."
Pros
- The choice of colours can match any colour scheme, wherever you go
- Lasts up to eight hours
Cons
- Despite emitting a gorgeous warm candle effect light, the lanterns don't give off a bright light
Best garden lights for a soft glow
www.notonthehighstreet.com
This totally unique design would look glorious on your lawn and would definitely have your neighbours peeking over to ask where you got them from! Each Solar Dandelion Stake Light has 64 warm white LED bulbs and they'll automatically come on at dusk. Please note: the price is for one dandelion stake.
Customer review: "Very bright and looks beautiful lighting up the garden in the evening. Definitely recommend, we will be buying more."
Pros
- They look beautiful when lit up, you'll definitely be surprised
- 64 warm white LED bulbs
Cons
- You'll need to bring the lights in during the winter months to prolong the life as they are a little fragile
Best disguised garden lights
www.argos.co.uk
For garden lights that'll light your way but blend seamlessly into your garden so they don't stand out during the day, opt for these solar-powered LED rock lights. It has glowing reviews (see what we did there?) and has no wires.
Customer review: "These are decent little lights and look good. Worth the price I think. Not super bright, but great for illuminating a pathway."
Pros
- They are so subtle and blend into your garden and there's no wiring required
- They look just like rocks, until night-time...
Cons
- They are solar-powered, so they need direct sunlight
Best light-up garden ornament
www.johnlewis.com
Measuring 85cm tall, the adorable wicker fighting hares will add a touch of nature to your fairytale garden. It comes wrapped in 200 warm white LEDs, with a 10m lead cable so you can plug it into the mains, and includes a built-in EasyTimer to 'set and forget' for automatic operation.
Pros
- They come with a 'set and forget' timer, which is handy as you don't have to turn them on and off every night
Cons
- These rabbits will need to be secured down, they come with ground pegs, but make sure they are secure in the ground
FAQs
What are the benefits of solar lights?
Solar panels on lights absorb solar energy with light from the sun and store them. When the sun goes down, the panels release this energy – this is why many solar lights are automatic. There are benefits to embracing green power and installing solar lights. For practicality, solar lights are cable-free, so they can be installed on any fence, step or post. They are an affordable solution to making your garden safer to walk through in the dark. Additionally, you can create a romantic garden setting with soft and decorative lighting all year round, as solar lights work in winter too. These lights will often have a small solar panel on either the top of them or as an attachment. All you need to do is ensure this panel is placed where sunlight can reach it.
How can I power fence lighting?
If the garden fence lightingis going to be permanent, it's best to install an electric cable. It's a large project, but having a mains-powered outdoor space has a lot of benefits. This job will require a qualified electrician. The electrician will need to see your outdoor area and talk through what is possible. There may be additional costs to factor in on top of the installation job. Finally, this is an expensive option, but you'll have mains power which is needed for bright outdoor lighting, such as security lights.
What's the alternative to mains-powered lighting in the garden?
Some lighting alternatives are cheaper to install - albeit temporary - like battery-powered lighting. Solar-powered lights are extremely popular but do not provide a strong floodlight like mains-powered lighting. For those concerned about the environment and their energy bills, the greenest and most cost-effective option would be installing solar-powered lighting, which is automatic too. Each lighting unit comes with a rechargeable battery that will need replacing from time to time. During the winter months, solar lights will receive less sunlight, and in turn, they will illuminate for less time at night. Finally, you may want to consider candle lights as an attractive and low-budget way to illuminate your garden.
A few handy tips:
Make a shelter, whether that be by investing in a shed, a pop-up gazebo or underneath trees.
Invest in a durable garden furniture set, and don't forget the covers too.
Add lights and warmth for the winter months. Fire pits and chimineas are having a moment right now.
We've rounded up some of our favourite garden lights available to order online, from fairy lights to decorative path lights, you'll find the right outdoor garden lights for you in our selection. So, get shopping, your magical glowing garden is just an order away.
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Ellen Kinsey is a senior health and wellness product writer for Modern Gardens, specialising in sustainable living and health. She lives and breathes all things natural health, cooking and nature.