There are such a lot of nice issues to do at Christmas in London however considered one 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 gentle 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 no less than January 3 though all switched off by January 6.
Youโll discover a particular Christmas lights bus tour in the event you donโt fancy strolling the entire route, nevertheless itโs arduous to beat simply strolling from one location to a different, possibly stopping for a few of Londonโs greatest sizzling 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 youngsters
Should youโre following my London Christmas lights strolling route with youngsters, you possibly can simply break it up into smaller sections and go to them on totally different events, or hop on a bus to offer little legs a break โ the 139 bus route is an effective possibility.
You mayโt see all of the London Christmas lights from a bus, even in the event you handle to get the coveted high deck entrance row โ Carnaby Road and Covent Backyard are each pedestrianised, for starters โ and you’ll count on to take a seat in visitors at busy occasions, nevertheless itโs compromise.
The stretch between Oxford Road (round Selfridges) and Southampton Road (for Covent Backyard) has the best focus of lights, though the route continues to Waterloo in the event you fancy heading to the South Financial institution and its festive market (or in the event youโre beginning there, itโll minimize out a number of the stroll).
It’s also possible to begin the stroll at any level on the route โ a number of comparable Christmas lights strolling routes in London start round Piccadilly, for instance, however thereโs no proper strategy to do itโฆ and also youโll all the time need to detour somewhat bit if you wish to attempt to see each final one.
One of the best 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 commonly the very best concept with youngsters โ you receivedโt be strolling too late with youthful ones, and you’ll miss a few of 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 course, from Covent Backyard by way of to Mayfair or vice versa, in addition to detouring from Piccadilly up by way of Bond Road in direction of Oxford Road, then over to Carnaby Road and Regent Road.
Permit no less than two hours to stroll the whole route, which is round 4 miles lengthy โ you may want longer in the event youโre stopping to take pictures or dodging the crowds, and frog-marching everybody from A to B isnโt going to get anybody within the festive temper.
Iโve plotted the places on a London Christmas lights map so you possibly can select what works greatest for you, or divide the route into sections โ your individual private self-guided Christmas lights strolling tour. Have a really merry stroll!
Stop1: Covent Backyard
My favorite place to start out a Christmas lights stroll of London, Covent Backyard all the time has loads of festive extras from its large glowing tree to pretend snow and Santaโs sleigh, to not point out numerous pop-up occasions within the piazza.
Final yr, the outdated favourites of big baubles, mistletoe and mirrorballs took a again seat with a brand new set of bells and bows hanging excessive above the market, they usuallyโll be again for 2024 as properly.
Covent Backyard Christmas lights: Must know
The festive occasions going down in Covent Backyard at Christmas normally begin in early November, with the official switch-on date in direction of the start of the month. 2024 switch-on date Nov 6 (TBC)
As you stroll in direction of Trafalgar Sq., you possibly can go by way of Leicester Sq., which has its personal Christmas market โ itโs normally very busy and doesnโt have Londonโs greatest Christmas lights, so personally Iโd are likely to keep away from it presently of yr
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 townโs help throughout the Second World Battle.
Itโs one thing of a Christmas custom for Londoners to affectionately poke enjoyable on the towering Christmas tree, which remains to be dwarfed by Nelsonโs column. Iโm certain it seemed wonky final yr, nevertheless it wouldnโt be Christmas with out it.
Thereโs additionally a small Christmas market within the sq., near the Nationwide Gallery and you’ll typically hear carols right here as properly.
You can also make a small detour right down to the Strand (both from Covent Backyard or earlier than heading in direction of Piccadilly) to see the North Financial institution lights โ the baubles are one other late swap on, on December 2, and never value going far out of your strategy to see, however in the event youโre heading to Skate at Somerset Home, itโs simple to identify them en route
Trafalgar Sq. Christmas: Must know
The lighting ceremony takes place on the primary Thursday in December, on December 5, 2024 (TBC).
Cease 3: Decrease Regent Road & Piccadilly Circus
From Trafalgar Sq., head in direction of Waterloo Place for the glamorous St Jamesโs Christmas tree earlier than heading up St Jamesโs (Decrease Regent Road) itself to see the Spirit of Christmas angels and on in direction of Piccadilly Circus.
Not solely is it much less busy right here, you can even get a peek down Jermyn Road to see a number of extra, whereas St Jamesโs Market, simply off Jermyn Road and Haymarket, has an โearthboundโ spirit to pose with.
Piccadilly Circus doesnโt have its personal Christmas lights however the likelihood is that thereโll be a festive theme on no less than one of many large illuminated billboards which itโs well-known.
If you wish to shorten the stroll, you possibly can head straight to Piccadilly Circus and even additional up Regent Road by bus
Decrease Regent Road Christmas lights: Must know
The lights stretch all the best way up Regent Road from St Jamesโs, Piccadilly and Jermyn Road so thereโs loads of likelihood to see these. 2024 switch-on date Nov 7 (TBC)
Cease 4: Piccadilly & Fortnum & Mason
Take a brief detour down Piccadilly in direction of Fortnum & Mason, which transforms its store home windows into an introduction calendar yearly, with numbers on the upstairs home windows.
Itโs value taking a peek within the street-level home windows as properly, as thereโs all the time one thing new to identify. Final yr, you might see animated recreations of the division retailer in miniature โ together with presents attempting to get into the carry, and champagne bottles dancing on the staircase.
One of the best 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 direction of Regent Road. Or after all you possibly can all the time cease in to choose up a number of fancy Christmas decorations on your personal tree from the posh division retailer.
Above Piccadilly itself, there are extra winged angels โ 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, thereโs extra debate than youโd suppose, with loads of proof that itโs truly Anteros or the angel of Christian charity.
Should youโre doing this Christmas lights stroll of London in a distinct order, you can even wander from Piccadilly up the south finish of Bond Road to convey you to Oxford Road โ scroll right down to cease 7 for extra particulars
Piccadilly Christmas lights: Must know
Fortnum & Mason normally unveils its Christmas shows in mid November
Cease 5: Regent Road
Should youโre searching for the Spirit of Christmas, it’s essential head to Regent Road the place the Christmas lightsโ official title is the Spirit of Christmas angels.
One other favorite sight, you can even get some nice pictures of the angels above as the road curves spherical to the precise, and this yr, there are new lights within the streets main off Regent Road, together with Glasshouse Road, Swallow Road and the Quadrant Arcade.
Regent Road Christmas lights: Must know
The lights stretch all the best way up Regent Road from St Jamesโs, Piccadilly and Jermyn Road so thereโs loads of likelihood to see these. They do swap off barely earlier, on January 2 in the event you had been planning a New Yr go to. 2024 switch-on date Nov 7 TBC
Cease 6: Carnaby Road
Normally considered one of my very own favourites, you possibly can count on one thing extra artistic and fewer conventional alongside right here โ and as Carnaby Road is pedestrianised, itโs additionally simpler to cease and take within the particulars (in the event you can dodge the crowds).
Final yrโs lights had a theme of area and the universe, with planets, moons, nebulas and galaxies swirling above the road.
Earlier years have featured a few of the highlights of the previous quarter century, from lights impressed by Queen and the Rolling Stones to underwater scenes and outsized robins. Hold a watch out for extra lights within the alleys off Carnaby Road โ the shows are smaller however so are the crowds.
Carnaby Road Christmas lights: Must know
Usually one of many first units of lights to modify on in November. 2024 switch-on date Nov 8 (TBC)
Cease 7: Oxford Road
The taking pictures stars of Oxford Road have been a well-recognized sights for some time however thereโs 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 Londonโs busiest buying road final, all utilizing LED lights as soon as once more to make use of much less power. You can sponsor oneย to help kidsโs charity Starlight as properly.
It is perhaps one of many metropolisโs busiest buying streets, however Christmas is all about giving in spite of everything.
Oxford Road Christmas lights: Must know
One other of the earliest units of lights to be switched on in the event youโre visiting London at the beginning of November. 2024 switch-on date Nov 5
Cease 7: Bond Road
The lights right here change infrequently โ the illuminated peacock tails that shimmered above the realm round Bond Road, a reference to the society dandies (or peacocks) who as soon as strutted the streets right here, had been changed by a royal-themed show of crowns in 2022.
There have been a staggering 93,652 LED lights to avoid wasting power with out shedding any of the dazzling show โ in all probability probably 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 Road and south at Outdated Bond Road.
Should youโre doing this Christmas lights stroll of London in a distinct order, you can even wander from Piccadilly up the south finish of Bond Road to convey you to Oxford Road
Whilst youโre within the space, take a peek within the home windows of Selfridges on Oxford Road and donโt miss South Molton Road, subsequent to Bond Road tube, whose arch of sunshine is all the time a spotlight.
Bond Road Christmas lights: Must know
One of many later shows to activate, theyโre 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 yr, 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. Itโs free for anybody to enter although, and whereas the sight all the time brings a lump to my throat, itโs a tranquil oasis among the many festive bustle.
From right here, itโs only a few minutes to Berkeley Sq. the place non-public membersโ membership Annabelโs is all the time illuminated for the festive season. Final yr, there was a carousel theme, whereas earlier years have seen it remodeled right into a glowing gingerbread home. Luckily you donโt have to pay the expensive membership payment to take a look.
Grosvenor Sq. lights: Must know
The Ever After Backyard closes sooner than a few of 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?
Should you canโt get sufficient of the lights over central London โ 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 Road, Motcomb Road, Eccleston Yards, Halkin Arcade and Pimlico Street, together with the glowing white bushes illuminating South Molton Road.
And in Knightsbridge, Harrods blazes with gentle every year โ 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 gentle, 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 very best ice skating rink in London in addition to the very best Christmas theatre in London with youngsters
Disclosure: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks โ any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Important picture/The Strand/Regent Road/Bond Road courtesy of Depositphotos, Instagram photographs as credited, all different photographs copyright MummyTravels
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