It is becoming increasingly clear to UK homeowners that green energy is the way forward.
Indeed, our government has set so much store by renewable energy - think as heat pumps and solar panels - that it created The Green Deal in 2013. And according to Sunsave Energy, as of June 2024, more than 1.4m UK households had solar panels installed, a major milestone when you consider only 28,211 homes had solar panels in 2010.
The thing is, solar power sounds like a marvellous idea in the summer when, if we’re lucky, the country is drenched in sunshine for 16-odd hours a day. But come winter? Most of us have experienced weeks where we’ve not seen a single ray breaking through those ominous grey storm clouds (we tell ourselves it’s character-building).
But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on the green dream. Solar lights can still be used in the cold season, although you should be braced for either lower power, shorter running time or a mix of both.
If you want to keep using your garden as the nights draw in or want a low-maintenance way to illuminate your drive or front of the house, outdoor solar lights still have their uses from October to March.
Simply place the solar-soaking panels in a spot where they’re the most likely to capture the most light - as much of it as there is - through the day. Many models don’t require full-blown sunshine; plain old daylight will work just as well.
From twinkling fairy lights to thread through bushes and trees to lights on spikes to illuminate the garden path, there are plenty of outdoor solar lights to use in winter.
We’ve rounded up the best below.
Best outdoor fire pits for your garden 2024
Best disco balls for home to add some sparkle to your space
Best home pizza ovens for indoors, your garden or any outdoor space
Best indoor tabletop fire pits to give your home a warming glow
Best hearth rugs that are a stylish and fire-resistant addition to your lounge
SolarCentre Lavenham Outdoor Solar Powered Garden Lights - 4 Pack
It can be hard to make out the garden path or driveway in winter but this four-pack of stake lights makes it all the easier. Each one is topped with a solar panel at the top which charges in the day before emitting a warming glow after dark. The wireless design means you can pitch them as close together or spaced apart as you like without worrying about cords.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
Lights4Fun TruGlow XL Solar Pillar LED Candle Trio
Whether you line them up on the porch or cluster them on the garden table, these hyper-realistic pillar candles will look like the real deal after sunset. The bundle gives you three candles all at different heights all topped with a flame that gives a lifelike flicker. They won’t bathe your entire outside space in light, but if you’re looking for something to make your outside space more welcoming in winter, these are just the ticket.
Buy now £89.99, Lights4Fun
CLAONER Solar Lights Outdoor
Not all outdoor lights are decorative; many are designed to enhance your home security. This six-pack of solar lights is superb for installing around dark spots on your property without worrying about wiring. Each one is fitted with super bright LEDs which can be illuminated through three lighting modes and turn 270° to hit the right angle. They’re waterproof too with an IP65 rating, meaning they should withstand winter’s savage weather.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
Solar Fairy Lights Outdoor
Whether you’ve got a sizeable garden that needs lighting or you’re looking to brighten up your balcony, these pretty solar fairy lights are up to the task. This bundle gets you a set of four, each with 120 LEDs interspersed along 12m of copper wire. The stakes housing the solar panel can be popped straight into grass, flower beds or baskets - anywhere that gets the most sun - before trailing out the lights from it. As well as warm white, they come in cool white and multicolour options too.
Buy now £21.99, Amazon
Habitat Home Warm White Outdoor Tripod USB LED Solar Lamp
If you need to light up your outdoor living room on a budget, this simple tripod outdoor lamp provides the perfect indoor-outdoors aesthetic. It emits a soft light and is solar-powered with a low-energy LED bulb, so you can also recharge it using a USB if the weather is letting you down. An intuitive function means it will automatically turn on at dusk.
Buy now £65.00, Habitat
Lights4Fun 20 Warm White Vintage Style Solar Festoon Lights
From warming up a brick wall to suspending them around a pergola, these warm solar-powered lights offer automatic illumination when the sun goes down. Each bulb houses a filament-style LED, which offers long-lasting results (and means you won’t have to worry about a replacement for years).
But that’s not all: choose from eight lighting choices to change the vibe of your space.
Buy now £49.99, Lights4Fun
Imel 18Cm Solar Powered Integrated LED Outdoor Lantern
This white lantern is perfect for adding a warm glow to a garden. We popped ours on an outside table and enjoyed the mellow vibe it imparted once the sun had gone down. It may not look like the most robust or high-end item during the day, but trust us when we say it comes into its own at night.
The cylindrical lantern is designed with a Moroccan aesthetic in mind, and when the LED lights come on, it casts a beautiful 360-degree pattern onto its surroundings. If you’re looking for some ambient lighting for al fresco dinners and drinks, it is an ideal choice.
Buy now £9.66, Wayfair
Luceco LEXS40B40-01 outdoor LED solar wall light with PIR sensor
Solar lights in the garden need not be exclusively for decoration, as this Luceco wall light with PIR (motion) sensor proves. If you are searching for a security light but floodlights aren’t an option due wiring installation difficulties, then this solar wall light option comes highly rated by those in the building trade.
As well as boasting up to 30,000 hours of life, it also comes with a long lasting, rechargeable battery. Handily, it also has a range of modes to choose from that can alter the brightness of the light and how long it stays on once the motion sensor is activated.
Buy now £29.73, Amazon
So’Home Black Solar Powered Outdoor Table Lamp
Keep it simple with this classic cage-style, black metal outdoor table lamp. It works by solar power only, so it’s ideal if your sun deck or balcony is a sun trap and you don’t want to worry about charging.
Buy now £64.35, La Redoute
Svater Solar Festoon Lights
Swapping round bulbs for slightly tapered ones, these festoon lights offer a welcome step change from the majority of designs on the market. Available in myriad sizes, the solar lights can last up to 12 hours if charged on a sunny day in direct sunlight. They are waterproof and the bulbs are made from plastic rather than glass, which means they're much harder to shatter.
Buy now £64.99, Amazon
Oliver Bonas Solar Outdoor 20 LED Festoon Lights
Accent lighting isn’t just for indoors - you can continue the look outside too with the right festoon lights. Designed to bring enchantment to your personal paradise, you’ll find 20 LED baubles at regular intervals along a black cable which should disappear at nightfall, making the lights look like they’re floating.
Buy now £69.50, Oliver Bonas
