Seeing the Christmas lights illuminating Oxford Avenue and Regent Avenue is all the time a spotlight of the 12 months – however when you’re trying to spy among the finest London festive lights with youngsters, there’s extra to find than these alone. (UPDATED FOR 2024)
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Annually, the capital appears to have extra illuminations, gentle festivals, and festive trails lighting up the town than ever earlier than, each standalone occasions and at a few of London’s best-known household points of interest.
So if you need a option to brighten up the winter (and who doesn’t), right here’s my decide of the most effective London Christmas gentle trails with youngsters, in addition to switch-on dates for the Christmas lights in central London.
For extra of the most effective issues to do for Christmas in London with youngsters, take a look at my prime picks, in addition to my London Christmas lights strolling route
Christmas at Kew
There’s by no means a foul time to go to Kew Gardens however Christmas at Kew is among the finest to get you feeling festive – particularly with Father Christmas alongside the best way.
The illuminations within the botanic gardens are again as soon as extra, with two new installations making their world debuts.
There’ll be some outdated favourites too, together with the Palm Home gentle present, whereas the Camellia Stroll will likely be reworked ito a snowy lane.
Hold an eye fixed out for Ombre by TILT, which takes the type of a collection of large vegetation in bloom, in addition to two installations illuminating the lake crossing
Extra of this 12 months’s highlights will embody a the ‘Hearth Backyard’ lighting up the Temperate Home, in addition to the Christmas cathedral.
In addition to being an excellent wander by means of the gardens, there are foods and drinks stalls alongside the best way: earlier years have included the whole lot from mulled cider to sourdough pizza and sizzling chocolate.
Christmas at Kew runs from November 13 to January 5, 2025, with classes from 4.20 pm, final entry at 8pm (gardens open to 10 pm). You have to e-book upfront (and it normally sells out – tickets with reserved parking go in a short time with restricted slots for 2024 dates left).
You’ll be able to enter by means of the Victoria Plaza, Brentford Gate, and Elizabeth Gate this 12 months, and also you’ll have to specify which.
Tickets value from £25.50 for adults, from £16 for kids aged 4 to 16, with reductions for members and household tickets are additionally accessible. Tickets don’t embody day entry to Kew Gardens.
Fulham Palace illuminated gentle path
The gardens will likely be glowing at Fulham Palace this winter, with the London Illuminated Mild Path going down, together with Santa’s grotto.
The grounds will likely be reworked into an enchanted winter wonderland, with hundreds of lights twinkling within the gardens, in addition to performances by hearth breathers, stilt walkers and magician Markele (from Britain’s Obtained Expertise), plus dwell music.
There’ll be hearth pits for toasting marshmallows, plus meals, sizzling chocolate and mulled wine to purchase alongside the best way, and Father Christmas will likely be in his grotto every single day.
Runs on choose dates from November 28-December 22, with first entry at 4.30pm, final entry at 9pm. Tickets value from £14.95 for adults, £6.95 for kids aged 3-15. A ticket to Father Christmas’s grotto prices £5 (adults don’t want a ticket to accompany their kids, however you do want a lightweight path ticket with a view to purchase the add-on grotto entry).
For extra of the most effective issues to do for Christmas in London with youngsters, take a look at my prime picks
The Luminaze at Wembley Park
TBC Wembley Park’s common free festive occasions typically have their very own set of festive illuminations, and final 12 months noticed a model new attraction for Christmas, The Luminaze. To date, there’s no official phrase on what may happen this winter.
Final 12 months’s occasion ran from early December to early January, with a light-based interactive maze taking you thru a string of neon installations, all with a particular soundscape, shedding your self within the gentle and artwork.
On the coronary heart of The Luminzae was an set up referred to as The Houseglass, delivering tales by means of aimations and audio, together with items from native artists. Earlier occasions have included 2021’s Winterfest, with its theme of ‘Reunited in Mild’.
For extra concepts of issues to do at Wembley Park with youngsters, take a look at my suggestions
Canary Wharf winter lights
TBC You needn’t lay our a fortune (or get squashed by the crowds in Oxford Avenue) to see London’s festive lights with youngsters without cost – and the Canary Wharf Winter Lights normally make a good way to brighten up the New 12 months.
The 2024 occasion ran from January 17 to 27, after a two-year break with 13 new installations together with a walkthrough expertise, a large illuminated marble run and lights impressed by the human mind.
With this, there’s no have to prebook tickets, simply flip up to take a look at the illuminated installations, everytime you want a pick-me-up in January. 2025’s occasion is tbc, particulars are usually introduced in round November.
Battersea Energy Station Mild Competition
TBC One other free set of illuminated to brighten up the New 12 months, the Battersea Energy Station Mild Competition normally takes place in january and February alongside the riverfront.
The earlier occasion included soundscapes and interactive parts to carry the lights to life in addition to dwell performances together with music and glo reveals.
2025’s occasion is tbc, and particulars are sometimes introduced simply weeks upfront. Final 12 months’s occasion ran from January 25-February 25.
Christmas Mild Trails, London not confirmed for 2024
A couple of fashionable gentle trails in London didn’t make an look final 12 months, with no phrase in the event that they’ll be again as soon as extra in 2024.
Illuminature at WWT London
One other newer London gentle path, there’s no affirmation but whether or not Illuminature will return to WWT Barnes – the London Wetland Centre – this 12 months, after it didn’t run in 2023.
The earlier occasion was impressed by the creatures that decision the wetlands their dwelling, with illuminated sculptures of among the animals and hop throughout interactive light-up lily pads.
In between stress-free underneath fairy lights within the Twilight Tweatery with snacks and toasted marshmallows, you might additionally catch just a few glimpses of real-life night-time animal magic with night time imaginative and prescient goggles, plus the London Wetland Centre otters snoozing away.
Ran Friday to Sunday in 2022, from mid November to early January.
Enchanted Woodland at Syon Home
One of many loveliest illuminated trails for households, this mile-long route winds across the decorative lake and arboretum at Syon Home, ending within the Nice Conservatory – and normally has slots from 5 pm when you’re heading out with youthful youngsters.
The Enchanted Woodland illuminations gentle up the woods with over 400 totally different species of bushes illuminated in numerous colors and lasers and strobe lights set to music.
There are usually drinks and snacks available for purchase from the restaurant in the beginning and end too, together with sizzling chocolate.
In earlier years, Enchanted Woodland has run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from mid to late November at Syon Home – the home itself is closed for the winter in any other case.
Final 12 months, tickets value £10 for adults and £7.50 for kids. Sadly the occasion won’t be going down in 2023, 2024 remains to be tbc.
Take a look at a few of my photographs from the occasion right here, together with the sunshine present on Syon Home itself
Christmas at Kenwood
One in all London’s newer festive gentle trails, the gardens of Kenwood Home in Hampstead have come alive with an illuminated path for the previous two winters, however there’s no affirmation they’ll return in 2024, with different Christmas occasions deliberate.
Working by means of the landscaped gardens after darkish, final 12 months noticed 13 new installations and an entire new look , plus the standard color, gentle and loads of Instagrammable sparkle.
Normally working from early December till early January, ticket slots included twilight viewing in addition to common admission.
Final 12 months, tickets value from £22 for adults excluding ticketing charges, from £17.50 for teenagers aged three to 16 (underneath threes go free) for common admission, with household tickets accessible and a reduction for English Heritage members.
Enchanted Eltham Palace
For years, Eltham Palace has reworked its superb gardens every winter for Enchanted Eltham, changed by the Christmas at Eltham Palace final 12 months. Nonetheless, there’s a brand new occasion, The Spirit of Christmas at Eltham working this 12 months so it appears unlikely that the sunshine path will happen.
Normally the interactive gentle path options installations designed to suit with the pure environment, promising a twist on the standard basic Christmas results alongside the 2km route, which takes round an hour to discover.
In earlier years, this ran across the palace itself and thru the gardens, with the outside of the Nice Corridor bathed in gentle and highlights together with speaking bushes, a glimmering maze and a disco ball suspended above the moat.
There’s foods and drinks alongside the best way, together with mulled wine, mince pies, and conventional fairground rides to take pleasure in – for an additional small cost, card funds solely.
Normally runs from early December to early January. Beforehand Tickets value from £17.50 for adults, £11.50 for kids, with a reduction for English heritage members and household tickets accessible. Day entry isn’t included – when you go to on a day when Eltham Palace is open, you’ll have to depart the grounds and return in your Enchanted slot.
It’s value understanding there’s no parking on website (aside from Blue Badge holders), so that you’re requested to return by practice the place doable – Mottingham station is round 10 minutes away whereas Eltham is round 15 15-minute stroll, or you’ll be able to take bus 161 to Eltham Church, which is 5 minutes away.
Hampton Court docket Palace
After 2021’s Palace of Stardust and 2022’s Palace of Mild path at Hampton Court docket Palace, there was nothing comparable in 2023 and no affirmation that there’ll be one other illuminated extravaganza for 2024.
Earlier gentle trails have drawn inspiration from the palace’s well-known Astronomical Clock, put in by Henry VIII, and royal beasts, a collection of heraldic statues – with the whole lot from a fantastical wonderland of clocks, moons, planets, and sundials, glittering unicorns to polka-dot panthers.
The grand finale final 12 months additionally noticed the palace facade lit up with its personal fabulous gentle present, which you might watch from the gardens.
The paths normally take round 45-60 minutes for the expertise, with seasonal foods and drinks to purchase alongside the best way.
Take a look at my evaluation of Palace of Stardust right here
Extra Christmas lights in London
Whilst you’re out exploring London with youngsters, preserve an eye fixed out for the festive lights over the primary purchasing streets from November onwards – I’ve acquired a self-guided Christmas lights strolling path to observe so you’ll be able to see the primary shows.
There have been fewer massive swap on occasions in recent times to keep away from crowds, however right here’s what to see and when to identify them. Most will keep on till at the very least January 3, 2025 though you’ll be able to count on all of them to be switched off by January 6.
Take a look at the following tips for the most effective sizzling chocolate in London with youngsters, when you’re trying to heat up afterwards
Carnaby Avenue
Typically one of many first units of lights to change on in November, Carnaby Avenue can boast spectacular 25 years of lights – the anniversary featured among the highlights of the previous quarter century, from lights impressed by Queen and the Rolling Stones, underwater scenes and outsized robins, whereas 2023’s lights had been are themed round area and the universe. Change-on date Nov 6 tbc
Covent Backyard
For individuals who liked the enormous baubles and mirrorballs available in the market, the brand new bells and bow from 2023 are again once more at Covent Backyard this 12 months. The beautiful conventional sleigh is again for 2024 too, returning to Covent Backyard in November, though no phrase if the faux snow will return. Change-on date Nov 5 tbc
Regent Avenue
The Spirit of Christmas angels are one other favorite sight in central London, with the hovering figures returning to St James’s, Piccadilly, and Jermyn Avenue in addition to Regent Avenue as soon as once more. Change-on date Nov 7
Oxford Avenue
1000’s of stars will likely be glowing above London’s busiest purchasing avenue, with LED lights as soon as once more to make use of much less vitality. You’ll be able to normally sponsor one to assist kids’s charity Starlight as nicely. Change-on date Nov 5
For one more option to see the London Christmas lights, take the Tootbus Christmas Lights bus tour visiting Trafalgar Sq., Piccadilly Circus, Regent Avenue & Oxford Avenue – click on right here to e-book
Bond Avenue
The lights right here change often from 12 months to 12 months: 2022’s royal-themed show of crowns changed the illuminated peacock tails that shimmered above the realm round Bond Avenue in 2021, a reference to the society dandies (or peacocks) who as soon as strutted the streets right here. Don’t miss the illuminated Christmas bushes in South Molton Avenue close by. Change-on date November tbc
Belgravia
The twinkling lights are returning to Elizabeth Avenue, Motcomb Avenue, Eccleston Yards, Halkin Arcade and Pimlico Highway as soon as once more. There’s typically a swap on occasion to have a good time together with an look by Santa. Change-on date Nov tbc
Trafalgar Sq.
Yearly since 1947, the folks of Norway have given the folks of London a Christmas tree as a gesture of appreciation for the town’s assist throughout the Second World Battle. The lighting ceremony takes place on the primary Thursday in December – and takes place in on December 5 2024 (tbc).
Take a look at these posts for extra concepts of the most effective Christmas markets in London with youngsters in addition to the most effective of London’s festive ice rinks with youngsters
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Disclosure: accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Major picture/Kew at Christmas: Jeff Eden/RBG Kew; Enchanted Syon: Simon Hadleigh-Sparks; Enchanted Eltham ©English Heritage.
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