'I spent £27 on Amazon and completely transformed my garden for spring' (2025)

Writer Eve Rowlands says her garden has been 'transformed' into a 'warm and welcoming haven'

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As the lighter nights star to roll in, it's about time to start getting your garden ready for spring. Whether you're into hosting people round for gatherings or prefer to keep the space cosy for yourself, you can do a lot with very little by investing in some patio lights for your outdoor space.

That's exactly what our colleague Eve Rowlands did for her newbuild garden. Writing for the Express, Eve picked up a set of Solar Festoon lights that are currently on sale for 25% off, and she said that they 'utterly transformed the space'.

Normally £35.99, these lights are now down to £26.99 with a handy 25% off coupon you can add at checkout. They measure in at 23M long, which should be more than enough length for most garden spaces - other lengths are available, but the 23M variant offers the best value with the 25% off coupon.

There's no need to worry about what the British weather will likely throw at these lights as they're rated to be waterproof even in the most extreme of rainy conditions. Eve testifies to this, saying: "Having had my own set up for the past year, I can vouch for their durability - they've survived blustery storms, intense heatwaves and frosty nights, and they're still in excellent condition."

The festoon lights come with 30 (+3 extra) bulbs and stretch out to 23 metres, making them ideal for decorating a large outdoor area. Crafted from robust shatterproof LED plastic bulbs, these string lights add a charming touch to your seating area and provide just the right amount of light for those balmy summer evenings.

These enchanting solar-powered string lights can instantly create a warm and inviting ambience, perfect for a romantic evening or a cosy gathering with friends and family. With four different lighting modes to choose from - constant light, slow flash, fast flash, and pulsating light mode - you can tailor the atmosphere to suit your mood.

The lights also feature a 2700K warm finish, adding to their soft and intimate glow.

What's more, these lights are incredibly easy to set up and use, harnessing the power of the sun's solar energy to eliminate the need for unnecessarily long wiring or electricity. Simply place the 1800mah large capacity rechargeable battery and light sensor in a spot that receives plenty of sunlight, or screw it into a wall for added convenience.

With eight hours of charging, the lights can deliver 8-12 hours of soft illumination. And when sunlight is scarce, you can easily top up the battery using a USB port.

Countless customers have fallen in love with these charming solar lights as I did and are praising their ability to transform any outdoor space into a warm and welcoming haven.

One shopper raved: "I absolutely love these solar lights, definitely lift the ambience of our outdoor space. We have had them up for over 8 months and they are like new. The remote control is simple to use and remembers what setting it's on, you only press once and that's it. The lights have lasted well, build quality seems good."

Their only minor gripe was that "the bulbs are not huge" - although they said they 'provide enough light' and are 'really good value for money.'

Another thrilled customer added: "I've had [these lights] for a few months now and I am still super happy with these lights. They work really good and are beautiful and bright."

With such glowing reviews, these 'fantastic' solar string lights could be just the thing for anyone looking to add a touch of magic to their outdoor space.

Another happy shopper added: "They charge well, even on cloudy days, and provide bright, beautiful lighting throughout the night. Easy to install and weather-resistant, they add a great ambience to my garden. Perfect for paths, patios, or decorative lighting. Highly recommend!"

However, not all users were as impressed with the battery life, as one noted: "Good lights and very bright but they don't stay on for that long. I have had previous solar lights that stay on for 6 hours plus but these seem to go off a lot sooner."

Some customers also hoped for a bit more brightness, with one commenting: "One small criticism is they could be a wee bit brighter on top setting, but I'm being a bit picky as they are solar!".

The solar festoon lights are currently up for grabs on Amazon at a steal for £26.99.

For those seeking brighter illumination and longer-lasting light, it might be wise to look into mains powered options. For example, the Smart Garden Vintage festoon lights from Argos for £25 or 23ft festoon string lights at £49.99.

Dunelm also offers mains powered LED lights for £30.