Christmas lights in London are one of the city’s most magical traditions. As the days grow shorter, streets, landmarks, and shopfronts come alive with glittering decorations, festive markets and light trails. Some locations even host special events on their official light switch-on nights, making the season’s start extra special.
Christmas lights in London are one of the city’s most magical traditions. As the days grow shorter, streets, landmarks, and shopfronts come alive with glittering decorations, festive markets and light trails. Some locations even host special events on their official light switch-on nights, making the season’s start extra special.
Highlights – Christmas Lights in London 2026
- 🎄 Over a dozen light displays across Oxford Street, Regent Street, Covent Garden, Chelsea and Kew Gardens
- ✨ Iconic angels and stars from The Spirit of Christmas to Oxford Street’s glowing canopy
- 🚋 Festive experiences including bus tours, markets, ice rinks and riverside winter lodges
- 🌿 Light trails and immersive shows at Christmas at Kew and Chelsea Winter Illuminations
- 🕯️ Lights on from early November 2026 to early January 2027
Leicester Square Christmas Lights & Ice Rink
During the festive season, Leicester Square shines under spectacular lights in the heart of the West End. Wooden chalets sell handmade gifts and traditional treats, and the Skate Leicester Square ice rink returns for its second year. 📅 Ice rink 31 Oct 2026 – 3 Jan 2027; market dates to be confirmed
South Bank Winter Market and Lights
Warmly lit riverside stalls bring a cosy atmosphere to the South Bank, where you’ll find gifts, ornaments and seasonal delicacies. Light installations illuminate the trees and walkways, while Jimmy Garcia’s Winter Lodge serves hot drinks and raclette by the fire. Visitors can also try curling at the Curling Club nearby.
📅 From November 2026; dates to be confirmed (2025: 3 Nov – 4 Jan)
Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street gets a new Christmas theme every year, known for vibrant colours and playful shapes rather than traditional decorations. In 2025 the All is Bright display used more than 60,000 LED lights.
📅 Switch-on 4 Nov 2026
Regent Street & St James’s – The Spirit of Christmas
The Regent Street and St James’s “Spirit of Christmas” display is one of London’s most iconic festive sights, a tradition dating back to 1954. Radiant angels stretch from Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus and along Jermyn Street. At the southern end, the Waterloo Place Christmas tree is a yearly favourite for photos.
📅 2026 dates to be confirmed (2025: 6 Nov – 4 Jan)
Oxford Street Christmas Lights
Oxford Street once again sparkles with thousands of white stars suspended above shoppers. In 2025 the display supported the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, with proceeds from events helping seriously ill children.
📅 2026 date to be confirmed (2025: from 7 Nov)
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London Christmas Bus Tours
See London’s festive glow from an open-top double-decker bus. The Christmas Lights Bus Tour takes you past Regent Street’s angels, Oxford Street’s stars and landmarks like Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, the London Eye and Big Ben. A live guide shares stories of London’s Christmas traditions along the way.
📅 Daily through the season; 2026 dates to be confirmed (2025: 7 Nov – 4 Jan)
Covent Garden – The Theatre of Christmas
Covent Garden dazzles with more than 300,000 lights, golden ornaments and a giant Christmas tree on the piazza. The switch-on launches The Theatre of Christmas, celebrating London’s theatre heritage.
📅 From 12 Nov 2026
Marylebone Village – Merry Marylebone
Marylebone Village begins the season with its traditional Merry Marylebone celebration, featuring choirs, live music, stalls and late-night shopping. The evening ends with a celebrity light switch-on, plus a Ferris wheel, Santa’s grotto and a charity raffle.
📅 2026 date to be confirmed (2025: 12 Nov)
Old Spitalfields Christmas Market
Old Spitalfields Market transforms into a festive wonderland, decorated with trees, twinkling lights and sparkling ornaments. Visitors can enjoy artisan gifts, fashion, food and drink in one of East London’s most atmospheric covered markets.
📅 2026 date to be confirmed (2025: from 12 Nov)
Bond Street Christmas Lights
Known for its luxury boutiques and jewellers, Bond Street is one of London’s most elegant streets for Christmas lights. Grand illuminated arches greet shoppers arriving from Piccadilly or Oxford Street. Stores such as Cartier are famous for their lavish festive façades.
📅 From November; 2026 date to be confirmed
Leadenhall Market – Christmas Switch-On
The historic Leadenhall Market celebrates its Christmas lights switch-on with a ceremony, usually led by the Lord Mayor of the City of London. A towering tree stands beneath the Victorian roof, surrounded by garlands, baubles and thousands of glowing bulbs.
📅 2026 date to be confirmed (2025: 13 Nov)
Christmas at Kew – London’s Most Magical Light Trail
Christmas at Kew Gardens returns with its evening light trail, running from the Palm House to the Temperate House and ending with a spectacular finale. Kew hasn't announced the 2026 installations yet; in 2025 they included Christmas Orchestra, where light and music merge, In Bloom by a Dutch artist, favourites like the Fire Garden, Christmas Cathedral and Pealight Tree, and the illuminated Great Pagoda. New for 2026 are adults-only evenings on 3 and 9 December.
📅 13 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027
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Chelsea Winter Illuminations
In Chelsea, the King’s Road and nearby streets glow with trees and decorations, while Duke of York Square’s Ever After Garden shines with thousands of white roses.
The Chelsea Winter Illuminations trail encircles the Royal Hospital Chelsea, guiding visitors along a 1.5-km path of light art, interactive installations and soundscapes. The Chelsea Winter Village offers free entry to markets, bars, workshops and live music, including the Après Bar.
📅 25 Nov – 28 Dec 2026, closed Christmas Day
Belgravia Christmas Lights
Belgravia’s Elizabeth Street sparkles with festive lights and holiday cheer. In 2025 the switch-on brought Santa and his helpers, the London Gay Men’s Chorus, Fulham Brass Band and Solid Steel, and the Eccleston Yards Christmas Market sold gifts and mulled wine.
📅 2026 date to be confirmed (2025: 16 Nov)
Greenwich and Cutty Sark
Greenwich offers family-friendly festivities including Santa’s Grotto inside Queen’s House and the Queen’s House Ice Rink beside the Thames, open from 18 November to 3 January. The Greenwich Christmas Lights Switch-On features a lantern parade, music and markets at Greenwich Market, plus the illuminated Cutty Sark, whose masts sparkle like a giant Christmas tree.
📅 Lantern parade and switch-on 18 Nov 2026
The Shard – Festive Skyline Light Show
Each Christmas the top of The Shard lights up with a festive show visible from up to 60 km away. In 2025 the design was by Colombian artist Gustavo Zuluaga Villegas, with four 15-minute shows each night.
📅 2026 dates to be confirmed (2025: 25 Nov – 31 Dec)
Camden Market Christmas
Camden Market celebrates with festive lights along Water Lane and decorated trees. In 2025 its Ice Palace Grotto let families meet Santa and join creative workshops. Live music, crafts and street food make it one of North London’s most joyful winter spots.
📅 2026 dates to be confirmed (2025: from 6 Dec)
Plan Your Christmas in London
From Oxford Street to Kew Gardens, every corner of the capital shines with festive lights and events from early November to January. Whether you’re skating in Leicester Square, shopping in Covent Garden or exploring light trails in Chelsea, London’s Christmas season offers a truly magical experience.
