There are such a lot of nice issues to do at Christmas in London however one in every of my favourites is totally free, wandering this London Christmas lights strolling route and absorbing all of the twinkling decorations across the metropolis.
Every year there appear to be extra added, to not point out the festive mild trails, with the vast majority of the lights switched on a while within the first half of November and staying on till early within the New Yr, usually at the least January 3 though all switched off by January 6.
You’ll discover a particular Christmas lights bus tour for those who don’t fancy strolling the entire route, nevertheless it’s arduous to beat simply strolling from one location to a different, possibly stopping for a few of London’s greatest scorching chocolate, visiting one of many London Christmas markets or maybe teaming it with an opportunity to fulfill Santa in London.
London Christmas lights strolling route with children
For those who’re following my London Christmas lights strolling route with children, you possibly can simply break it up into smaller sections and go to them on completely different events, or hop on a bus to present little legs a break – the 139 bus route is an effective choice.
You may’t see all of the London Christmas lights from a bus, even for those who handle to get the coveted prime deck entrance row – Carnaby Avenue and Covent Backyard are each pedestrianised, for starters – and you’ll anticipate to sit down in site visitors at busy instances, nevertheless it’s a great compromise.
The stretch between Oxford Avenue (round Selfridges) and Southampton Avenue (for Covent Backyard) has the very best focus of lights, though the route continues to Waterloo for those who fancy heading to the South Financial institution and its festive market (or for those who’re beginning there, it’ll lower out loads of the stroll).
You may also begin the stroll at any level on the route – loads of comparable Christmas lights strolling routes in London start round Piccadilly, for instance, however there’s no proper solution to do it… and also you’ll all the time must detour somewhat bit if you wish to attempt to see each final one.
The perfect time to see the lights is clearly after darkish, however with the solar setting round 4pm as soon as December arrives that provides you loads of time. Heading off as quickly as nightfall falls is usually the perfect concept with children – you received’t be strolling too late with youthful ones, and you’ll miss among the night crowds, though London is all the time busy within the run-up to Christmas.
Many locations have but to substantiate their switch-on dates for 2024, so many of the dates under are TBC and will probably be up to date because the information is confirmed
London Christmas Lights strolling route map
You may stroll this route in both route, from Covent Backyard by to Mayfair or vice versa, in addition to detouring from Piccadilly up by Bond Avenue in the direction of Oxford Avenue, then over to Carnaby Avenue and Regent Avenue.
Permit at the least two hours to stroll the complete route, which is round 4 miles lengthy – you may want longer for those who’re stopping to take images or dodging the crowds, and frog-marching everybody from A to B isn’t going to get anybody within the festive temper.
I’ve plotted the areas on a London Christmas lights map so you possibly can select what works greatest for you, or divide the route into sections – your individual private self-guided Christmas lights strolling tour. Have a really merry stroll!
Stop1: Covent Backyard
My favorite place to begin a Christmas lights stroll of London, Covent Backyard all the time has loads of festive extras from its enormous glowing tree to faux snow and Santa’s sleigh, to not point out a lot of pop-up occasions within the piazza.
Final 12 months, the outdated favourites of large baubles, mistletoe and mirrorballs took a again seat with a brand new set of bells and bows hanging excessive above the market, and so they’ll be again for 2024 as properly.
Covent Backyard Christmas lights: Have to know
The festive occasions going down in Covent Backyard at Christmas often begin in early November, with the official switch-on date in the direction of the start of the month. 2024 switch-on date Nov 6 (TBC)
As you stroll in the direction of Trafalgar Sq., you possibly can go by way of Leicester Sq., which has its personal Christmas market – it’s often very busy and doesn’t have London’s greatest Christmas lights, so personally I’d are likely to keep away from it right now of 12 months
Cease 2: Trafalgar Sq.
Yearly since 1947, the individuals of Norway have given the individuals of London a 19m Christmas tree as a gesture of appreciation for the town’s assist throughout the Second World Conflict.
It’s one thing of a Christmas custom for Londoners to affectionately poke enjoyable on the towering Christmas tree, which remains to be dwarfed by Nelson’s column. I’m certain it seemed wonky final 12 months, nevertheless it wouldn’t be Christmas with out it.
There’s additionally a small Christmas market within the sq., near the Nationwide Gallery and you’ll typically hear carols right here as properly.
You may make a small detour all the way down to the Strand (both from Covent Backyard or earlier than heading in the direction of Piccadilly) to see the North Financial institution lights – the baubles are one other late swap on, on December 2, and never value going far out of your solution to see, however for those who’re heading to Skate at Somerset Home, it’s simple to identify them en route
Trafalgar Sq. Christmas: Have to know
The lighting ceremony takes place on the primary Thursday in December, on December 5, 2024 (TBC).
Cease 3: Decrease Regent Avenue & Piccadilly Circus
From Trafalgar Sq., head in the direction of Waterloo Place for the glamorous St James’s Christmas tree earlier than heading up St James’s (Decrease Regent Avenue) itself to see the Spirit of Christmas angels and on in the direction of Piccadilly Circus.
Not solely is it much less busy right here, you may also get a peek down Jermyn Avenue to see a number of extra, whereas St James’s Market, simply off Jermyn Avenue and Haymarket, has an ‘earthbound’ spirit to pose with.
Piccadilly Circus doesn’t have its personal Christmas lights however the chances are high that there’ll be a festive theme on at the least one of many enormous illuminated billboards which it’s well-known.
If you wish to shorten the stroll, you possibly can head straight to Piccadilly Circus and even additional up Regent Avenue by bus
Decrease Regent Avenue Christmas lights: Have to know
The lights stretch all the best way up Regent Avenue from St James’s, Piccadilly and Jermyn Avenue so there’s loads of probability to see these. 2024 switch-on date Nov 9 (TBC)
Cease 4: Piccadilly & Fortnum & Mason
Take a brief detour down Piccadilly in the direction of Fortnum & Mason, which transforms its store home windows into an introduction calendar yearly, with numbers on the upstairs home windows.
It’s value taking a peek within the street-level home windows as properly, as there’s all the time one thing new to identify. Final 12 months, you possibly can see animated recreations of the division retailer in miniature – together with presents attempting to get into the carry, and champagne bottles dancing on the staircase.
The perfect views are from throughout the street, by the Royal Academy, so cross (rigorously!) to get a take a look at the entire impact earlier than heading again in the direction of Regent Avenue. Or after all you possibly can all the time cease in to select up a number of fancy Christmas decorations on your personal tree from the posh division retailer.
Above Piccadilly itself, there are extra winged angels – Anteros, to be exact, the god of unrequited love, and a nod to the well-known statue in Piccadilly Circus. Though everybody calls it Eros, there’s extra debate than you’d assume, with loads of proof that it’s really Anteros or the angel of Christian charity.
For those who’re doing this Christmas lights stroll of London in a special order, you may also wander from Piccadilly up the south finish of Bond Avenue to deliver you to Oxford Avenue – scroll all the way down to cease 7 for extra particulars
Piccadilly Christmas lights: Have to know
Fortnum & Mason often unveils its Christmas shows in mid November
Cease 5: Regent Avenue
For those who’re in search of the Spirit of Christmas, you might want to head to Regent Avenue the place the Christmas lights’ official identify is the Spirit of Christmas angels.
One other favorite sight, you may also get some nice images of the angels above as the road curves spherical to the fitting, and this 12 months, there are new lights within the streets main off Regent Avenue, together with Glasshouse Avenue, Swallow Avenue and the Quadrant Arcade.
Regent Avenue Christmas lights: Have to know
The lights stretch all the best way up Regent Avenue from St James’s, Piccadilly and Jermyn Avenue so there’s loads of probability to see these. They do swap off barely earlier, on January 2 for those who have been planning a New Yr go to. 2024 switch-on date Nov 9 TBC
Cease 6: Carnaby Avenue
Normally one in every of my very own favourites, you possibly can anticipate one thing extra artistic and fewer conventional alongside right here – and as Carnaby Avenue is pedestrianised, it’s additionally simpler to cease and take within the particulars (for those who can dodge the crowds).
Final 12 months’s lights had a theme of area and the universe, with planets, moons, nebulas and galaxies swirling above the road.
Earlier years have featured among the highlights of the previous quarter century, from lights impressed by Queen and the Rolling Stones to underwater scenes and outsized robins. Hold an eye fixed out for extra lights within the alleys off Carnaby Avenue – the shows are smaller however so are the crowds.
Carnaby Avenue Christmas lights: Have to know
Typically one of many first units of lights to change on in November. 2024 switch-on date Nov 8 (TBC)
Cease 7: Oxford Avenue
The taking pictures stars of Oxford Avenue have been a well-recognized sights for some time however there’s all the time one thing very uplifting about seeing them twinkle into life as darkness falls.
There have been a whopping 300,000 stars glowing above London’s busiest purchasing avenue final, all utilizing LED lights as soon as once more to make use of much less vitality. You might sponsor one to assist youngsters’s charity Starlight as properly.
It is perhaps one of many metropolis’s busiest purchasing streets, however Christmas is all about giving in any case.
Oxford Avenue Christmas lights: Have to know
One other of the earliest units of lights to be switched on for those who’re visiting London at first of November. 2024 switch-on date Nov 5
Cease 7: Bond Avenue
The lights right here change now and again – the illuminated peacock tails that shimmered above the world round Bond Avenue, a reference to the society dandies (or peacocks) who as soon as strutted the streets right here, have been changed by a royal-themed show of crowns in 2022.
There have been a staggering 93,652 LED lights to avoid wasting vitality with out dropping any of the dazzling show – most likely essentially the most stunning Christmas lights in London.
4 monumental crowns impressed by the Imperial State Crown hung above key junctions, with glowing gold, silver and pearl lights making a tiara-style gateway on the north with New Bond Avenue and south at Outdated Bond Avenue.
For those who’re doing this Christmas lights stroll of London in a special order, you may also wander from Piccadilly up the south finish of Bond Avenue to deliver you to Oxford Avenue
Whilst you’re within the space, take a peek within the home windows of Selfridges on Oxford Avenue and don’t miss South Molton Avenue, subsequent to Bond Avenue tube, whose arch of sunshine is all the time a spotlight.
Bond Avenue Christmas lights: Have to know
One of many later shows to activate, they’re properly value ready for. 2024 switch-on date November 16
Cease 8: Grosvenor Sq. & Berkeley Sq., Mayfair
Elevating cash for the Royal Marsden Most cancers Society, the Ever After Backyard in Grosvenor Sq. is again for the sixth 12 months, filling the sq. with over 20,000 illuminated white roses.
Guests can dedicate the roses to family members they’ve misplaced, with the price of every flower elevating cash for the most cancers charity. It’s free for anybody to enter although, and whereas the sight all the time brings a lump to my throat, it’s a tranquil oasis among the many festive bustle.
From right here, it’s only a few minutes to Berkeley Sq. the place non-public members’ membership Annabel’s is all the time illuminated for the festive season. Final 12 months, there was a carousel theme, whereas earlier years have seen it remodeled right into a glowing gingerbread home. Thankfully you don’t must pay the expensive membership payment to take a look.
Grosvenor Sq. lights: Have to know
The Ever After Backyard closes sooner than among the different Christmas lights, ending on December 18, 2024. It opens mid-November (on November 14, 2024) so you continue to have a month to go to.
Need extra London Christmas lights?
For those who can’t get sufficient of the lights over central London – or if you end up round Victoria and South Kensington, there are some extra Christmas illuminations to be discovered.
Head to Belgravia to see the lights at Elizabeth Avenue, Motcomb Avenue, Eccleston Yards, Halkin Arcade and Pimlico Highway, together with the glowing white timber illuminating South Molton Avenue.
And in Knightsbridge, Harrods blazes with mild annually – to not point out some nice Christmas shows within the home windows.
Or you possibly can typically discover some vibrant lights down on the South Financial institution for Winter Lights, artwork installations which play with mild, with a backdrop of the festive market and the buildings lit up alongside the river Thames.
For extra festive enjoyable take a look at my choose of the place to go for the perfect ice skating rink in London in addition to the perfect Christmas theatre in London with children
Disclosure: This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Major picture/The Strand/Regent Avenue/Bond Avenue courtesy of Depositphotos, Instagram photos as credited, all different photos copyright MummyTravels
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