Christmas lights in London

Oxford Street is one of the most iconic areas for London’s Christmas lights, and for good reason, given that a hefty proportion of us Londoners will see them lighting our way as we do battle for Yuletide gifts. As is now tradition, the lights this year are made from eco-friendly materials, including LED lights and recycled plastic. Featuring over 300,000 individual lights – including 5000 twinkling stars – they shine from 4pm to midnight daily until early January. Be sure to look out for Oxford Street’s ‘Big Day Of Joy’ on December 7; staged in support of charity partner Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), it will feature street performances, seasonal menus and in-store activities around the area. 

Regent Street was actually the very first road in London to be adorned by Christmas lights back in 1954 – a tradition that happily still continues to this day. Each winter, the display comes to life as one of the most impressive in the capital and features 45 angels designed to look like they’re playing the trumpet. Very festive, very fun and very grand – the whole thing is made up of thousands of individual LED lights. See them for yourself from 3pm-11pm daily until January. 

Find more festive fun with our guide to Christmas in London

Christmas at Kew has become a key date in London’s festive calendar, with a humongous light trail taking over the 300-acre botanic garden. See the space lit up with larger-than-life illuminations, with both the venue’s glass houses and the trees that cover its grounds drenched in different hues. The whole thing is stunning, but don’t miss the lake, where you’ll catch reflections of the vibrant bulbs dancing on the water, taking the magical feeling to another level. Keep yourself toasty along the way with warming winter snacks and make sure you pop by the grotto to say hi to Father Christmas himself.

There’s always something faintly Christmassy about Leadenhall Market, thanks to its Victorian architecture, and it really comes into its own when the festive season arrives, when twinkling lights and pretty Christmas trees return to the shopping arcade. This year’s tree is decked out in a colour-changing LED display, baubles and more, while fir tree garlands can be found throughout the market, and a light tunnel has returned to Beehive Passage. Markets will be held on weekends in the lead up to December 25, with crafts, vintage furniture and more up for grabs.

There's arguably nowhere in London more Christmassy than Covent Garden's Piazza in December. Every year, the shopping district seems to outdo its previous efforts, and this year’s display features almost double the number of individual lights as last year’s one, with 260,000 of them bathing the square in a warm glow, including 30,000 LEDs festooning an 18-metre tall Christmas tree on the West Piazza, where you’ll also find a Santa’s sleigh created from a reconditioned 1884 carriage hand painted by British artist James Gemmill. Meanwhile, the roof of the Market Building is adorned with 40 gigantic bells, 12 giant baubles and 8 spinning mirror balls as part of an installation first introduced last year. From November 29, shoppers can also check out the Covent Garden Chalet, an alpine-themed respite from the festive crowds offering mulled wine and seasonal treats. So very very festive!

Unveiled for the first time last year, Marylebone Village’s super-sustainable Christmas lights are designed by Blachere Illumination, whose designs are made out of recycled plastic bottles and use recyclable LED systems that require 95% less energy than conventional lighting. Featuring curly banners adorned with golden leaves, the displays are operating on reduced hours, from dusk until 11pm daily, using 58.2% less energy than if the system relied solely on street lighting schedules. 

A London Christmas staple, Carnaby Street’s lights are typically pretty special, illuminating the street with eccentric, fun-loving tributes from everything from rock bands to robins to outer space. Carnaby’s 2024 installation is named ‘Into the Light’, which promises a ‘first of its kind’ approach to festive lights in London. It uses 60,000 LEDs and programmatic lighting to create a ‘dynamic and immersive’ display with ‘sculptural light forms’ that stretch to six metres in length. What’s more, it's been created with sustainability in mind, and is powered entirely by green energy, and designed to be used for at least the next five years, although the technology can be adapted so we won’t necessarily be seeing the same displays each time, which is pretty darn neat!

London’s tallest building dazzles over the city every festive season and 2024 is no different. This year, The Shard’s uppermost 20 storeys will be illuminated with lights inspired by some of the UK’s favourite traditional Christmas songs, including ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘The Twelve Days Of Christmas’, ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ and more. Each carol is represented by a 15-minute light sequence that will repeat every hour in the lights’ 5:30pm to midnight run time.

Savile Row’s Christmas lights always pay tribute to the trade that surrounds the street below, nodding to its tailoring history in unique designs over the years. This Christmas, the Row is lit up by giant golden shears cutting their way through twinkling fabric, celebrating the craftsmanship of those who have been and continue to be part of the street’s tradition. Not only are they a gorgeous sight, but they’re also sustainable, using LED bulbs that use extra-low energy and featuring 3D-printed sections that are made out of 100 per cent recyclable plastic.

Charlton Park, House and Gardens will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland for the annual Greenwich light trail Sparkle In The Park. The venue will be illuminated by festive light installations, while there’ll be plenty of extras to enjoy between having your eyes dazzled, including a Christmas market, fun fair and pop-up performances from local schools and community choirs. Entry is free and doesn’t require advance booking, but you may have to queue at busy times – especially Saturday evening. December 1 will feature a quiet hour between 4:30pm and 5:30pm for those with special educational needs and disabilities and sensory sensitivities.

Everyone’s favourite riverside culture hotspot Southbank Centre be aglow again with festive illuminations. Winter Light is a free, open-air exhibition featuring an electric smorgasbord of lightworks (which is what we’re calling these now) from super-talented artists from around the world. All of them make mind-bending use of light, colour and even boundary-pushing film to deal with issues and topics surrounding nature, technology, urban life and spirituality.

Works featured include: Dichroic Sphere (a light sculpture powered by a single energy-efficient bulb); Sphere (a gas-filled tube that rotates to produce a giant glowing orb illusion) and Cosmic Bloom (an installation of 1,300 digital artworks projected onto the Royal Festival Hall - ooh).

Why not combine your visit with a trip to Southbank Centre’s Winter Market? Or you can find out all about London’s other massive festive light shows. 

The Epping Ongar Lights Express is a train journey like no other. In the weeks before and after Christmas, the steam trains that run on the nearest heritage line to London will be decorated with tons of colourful LED lights and whisk passengers along its illuminated tracks. It boasts a fully immersive lightshow set to music and you can pretend you’re at a Taylor Swift concert with the interactive LED wristbands handed out at the beginning of the trip. Each ride lasts about an hour and refreshments are available to purchase before boarding.

Last year, Bond Street shed its traditional peacock feathers in favour of some brand new decorations that paid homage to the monarchy. They took inspiration from the crown jewels, with over 90,000 LEDs hanging in tiara-like strings. The details for this year's lights are still to be confirmed, but watch this space for more information, as they're sure to be absolutely dazzling. 

Have a look at all the best Christmas lights in London. 

You’ll find an absolute bevvy of lights glittering all over Mayfair this Christmas, from those on the iconic Connaught Christmas tree, to the dazzling designs hovering over Mount Street and more. Over in Grosvenor Square, you’ll find a touching display in the form of the Ever After Garden, which pays tribute to lost loved ones via 30,000 illuminated white roses. You can add a personal dedication to your own beloved friends and family for a donation, with money going to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Christmas at Angel Central this year is taking the shape of a carnival, all kicking off with a big-old light switch-on. The evening will feature puppets, live music and elves, obviously, so head to the heart of Islington for the big switch-on at 6.30pm on Friday November 17, which is only the beginning of the celebrations. Have a look at their website for more details on all the free events at Angel Central Christmas, all in the glow of their fabulous lights. 

See the swanky shopping spot’s ‘Northern Brights’ switch on at 5.30pm. There’ll also be DJs and carols from the London Gay Male Chorus. Plus, you can enter a competition to perform your favourite yuletide tunes for a chance able to push the big switch-on button yourself.