Create some sparkle over the 2022 festive season with the best of the London Christmas lights. Explore iconic boulevards, hidden neighbourhoods and famous stores dappled in illuminated cheer.
In a town that rarely shies away from putting on a show, the London Christmas lights is a yuletide tradition that illuminates the soul into embracing the festive season.
With Christmas window displays competing for attention, the scent of chestnuts roasting on corner stalls and grant architecture twinkling under synchronised fairy lights, there’s something alluring about the many festive things to do at Christmas in London that seems to affect even the biggest Scrooge.
London’s a big place, but fortunately, several of the best Christmas lights are centrally located within easy walking distance of each other.
So, slide numb fingers into warm mittens and let us take you on a journey past famous window displays, charming markets, sweeping boulevards and hidden corners to experience the best of the London Christmas lights in 2022.
For more inspiration read our guide to the best London Christmas markets.
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IN THIS GUIDE
BEST LONDON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FOR 2022
WHEN ARE THE LONDON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCHED ON?
The switch gets flicked on most Christmas Lights in London by mid-November. They continue to light up the streets until around 6 January. Most of the main streets have a switch on ceremony where they mark the occasion with music, mulled wine and a local celebrity doing the honours.
Christmas window displays start popping up early November.
The best time to explore the lights are just after sunset (around 4pm in December) when it’s late enough for a mulled wine and early enough so that you have plenty of time to stroll through the magical streets.
Most importantly, try and pick a day when it’s not expected to rain.
1 – OXFORD STREET CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
From – 2 November 2022
When Harry Goodridge Selfridge designed his Selfridge’s store in London he insisted on it having the largest windows in the world. Opening the store in 1909, he brought the concept of dressing windows for Christmas from his native America.
And so, a great British tradition had begun. Harrods, Liberty, and Fortnum & Mason all quickly followed.
Today it still takes over 500 staff to dress the Selfridges windows in an often-quirky take on Christmas. Outside the store, the Oxford Street Christmas Lights provide a dazzling display of festivity in one of the most iconic destinations in London.
Each year, the busiest shopping street in the UK is transformed with hanging golden stars, colourfully lit trees and shop fronts adorned with lights and featuring the most creative Christmas window displays.
2 – SOUTH MOLTON STREET CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
From – 4 November 2022
Just off Oxford Street, South Molton Street is a small shopping hub packed with exclusive brands and designer outlets. For a small lane, it packs a punch when it comes to Christmas lights, producing one of the most eye-catching displays in the city.
A row of towering blue arches connects two large trees at either end of the pedestrianised street.
The effect is a framed promenade, decked out with gold stars and twinkling blue lights, creating one of the best places to photograph Christmas lights in London.
3 – NEW BOND STREET CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
From – 17 November 2022
Just around the corner from South Molton Street, New Bond Street is home to the flagships of some of the poshest brands in the world. Cartier, Fenwick, Fendi and Bvlgari try and catch the attention of passing foot traffic with some of the best Christmas window displays in town.
As a centre for high-end fashion, the New Bond Street Christmas lights have previously featured strutting peacocks, however, for 2022 this elegant London street is changing to a royal-inspired theme. The design will feature over 90,000 LED’s and will include huge crows at the main Bond Street junctions.
Some of the best Christmas window displays are also in New Bond Street. Each year, Cartier covers their front in a giant red ribbon and Tiffany & Co feature a whimsical theme.
4 – FORTNUM & MASON CHRISTMAS WINDOW DISPLAY
From – 30 October 2022
Fortnum & Mason has been a favourite of the Royal Family since Queen Victoria times.
In the 1730s they started providing picnic baskets to the elite so they had something to nibble on while travelling to their country estates. Today, Fortnum & Mason ship around 120,000 picnic baskets a year.
Each Christmas they decorate the façade to look like a giant advent calendar, glowing a passionate red. In 2021, they collaborated with theatre set designers who were out of work due to the COVID pandemic to produce their famous Christmas window displays. Each designer created an eye-catching installation around the theme of personal interpretations of joy.
After Fortnum & Mason, wander across the road to inspect the Christmas decorations at Burlington Arcade.
5 – REGENT STREET CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
9 November 2022 – 3 January 2023
The tradition of Christmas lights in London began in Regent Street in 1954.
From the start of the Regent Street Christmas decorations, the 19th-century architecture was adorned with angels playing trumpets. Now officially called The Spirit of Christmas, 16 “spirits” with an impressive 17-metre wingspan cover the street with a canopy of 300,000 twinkling lights.
A steady stream of red double-decker buses glowing under the Regent Street lights creates an unmissable London Christmas feel. The decorations stretch all the way from Langham Place down to Waterloo Place with smaller displays connecting some of the side streets. The best section is the main shopping strip of Regent Street from Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus.
This year, the lights will be on between 3pm and 11pm only for a more environmentally friendly display.
6 – CARNABY STREET CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
From – 8 November 2022
The iconic Carnaby Street, birthplace of Mods, Punk and New Romantics was a popular hangout for Jimi Hendrix, The Kinks and the Rolling Stones. In 1966, Lady Jane Boutique had live models undressing in the shop window. The owner was fined £2 for obstructing the street due to the group of men congregating to catch a glimpse.
For 2022, Carnaby will be celebrating iconic moments in British history from the last 25 years. Sparkling features will include tributes to Bohemian Rhapsody, Rollings Stones and mesmerising scenes from Under The Sea.
The Carnaby installation is a collaboration with Choose Love, who aims to raise awareness for the plight of refugees around the world. It’s a bright and colourful display with a message of change and renewal.
While in the area, don’t miss the Christmas lights along Ganton Street, Foubert’s Place and Newburgh Street, or the stylish window display at Liberty.
7 – PICCADILLY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
From – 9 November 2022
Piccadilly has recently emerged from the shadow of the impressive Regent Street lights to install its very own Christmas spectacle.
Featuring dramatic large-scale figures of Anteros, the Greek god of required love who has stood in Piccadilly Circus since 1893, the winged canopy is a spectacular display.
With old-school London glamour and some of the most prestigious addresses in the city, Piccadilly is a delight to stroll down any time of year.
At Christmas, it’s just a little more magical.
8 – SEVEN DIALS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
From – 17 November 2022
Seven Dials is something of an escape from busy central London with the feel of a local neighbourhood operating at a slower pace. The central focal point, a column bearing 6 sundials – an unfortunate early commission before the present 7 road junction was finalised – is adorned with a giant wispy star of lights.
It’s a whimsical Christmas display in one of our favourite parts of London.
Wander off in every direction from Seven Dials to get a taste of some of the best of secret London. Pop into concept stores, try independent restaurants and inspect hidden squares to witness a very local take on Christmas lights in London.
For 2022, the Winter Warm-Up event will mark the start of the Seven Dials festive celebrations. There will be workshops, entertainment, and plenty of retail offers. The event takes place on 17 November 2022 and free tickets must be booked in advance.
9 – COVENT GARDEN CHRISTMAS
From – 8 November 2022.
London’s most glorious Christmas tree is in Covent Garden. At the western end of the market, the huge tree with 30,000 red and white twinkling lights reaches into the sky from the ancient marketplace.
Behind the tree, beautiful decorations of massive baubles and mistletoe chandeliers continue the festive spirit in the North and South Halls. Look for Christmas gift ideas in the Central Avenue of the market. Neuhaus has excellent Belgian chocolates and Penhaligon’s is famous for fragrances.
Around the plaza, the outdoor dining spots will reappear again for the 2022 festive season. There’s plenty of mulled wine, hot chocolate and wine bars with cosy interiors.
For more details, read our guide to Christmas at Covent Garden.
10 – MARYLEBONE VILLAGE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
From – 10 November 2022.
Christmas officially commences in Marylebone Village at the annual switch on festival which took place on Thursday 10 November 2022. The evening was full of festive cheer with market stalls, wreath-making workshops, live music and plenty of mulled wine.
Compared to other Christmas light destinations in London, Marylebone Village is a relatively quiet residential street in the evenings. Enjoy a more relaxing stroll, pop into the excellent local bars and enjoy the subdued light display.
For some gift ideas, Daunt Books is one of the best independent bookstores in London in a beautiful old building.
The Marylebone 2022 Christmas lights will be carbon neutral with 100% of emissions being offset.
11 – CHRISTMAS AT KEW GARDENS
16 November 2022 – 8 January 2023
Every night from mid-November to early January, Kew Gardens are cleverly illuminated in a state-of-the-art light and sound spectacular.
The well-marked light trail transports you from one magic display to the next, while music changes to match the presentation. A hologram display lights up the sky in geometrical shapes, while ingenious technology paints the footpath with whimsical Christmas themes.
Touching Christmas motifs are displayed throughout the gardens including illuminated doves, giant Christmas trees and a horticultural take on the 12 Days of Christmas. The highlight, however, is the spectacular sound, light and water show in front of the grand greenhouse.
There are food trucks along the route selling gourmet hotdogs, loaded hashbrowns, churros and a great selection of boozy festive drinks. Tickets must be booked in advance.
12 – HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND
18 November 2022 – 2 January 2023
Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park has entertained London with energetic Christmas festivities since 2007. Half theme park, half Christmas market, it’s the gaudiest and most dramatic set of Christmas Lights in London.
Inside Ferris wheels, helter-skelters and roller coasters keep the adrenaline running. There’s an ice rink, shops and stalls, and more Christmas trinkets than you could possibly imagine.
Winter Wonderland is a buzzing Christmas atmosphere that the kids will love. To keep this popular attraction under control, tickets need to be pre-booked. Standard entry is £5, at peak times it’s £7.50.
13 – COAL DROPS YARD CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
From – 9 November 2022
King’s Cross is transformed into an alpine-inspired wonderland with ski chalets, glowing sculptures, festive Christmas markets, and a huge curling rink. But it’s the whopping 47-foot Nordmann fir tree in Coal Drops Yard that really steals the show.
The tree is adorned with ski-related accessories and illuminated with neon lights establishing one of the coolest Christmas lights in London. After the season, the tree will be ground down and used to make pine essence for candles.
This year, the Christmas market at Coal Drops will feature designers hand-picked to showcase their high-quality fashion, homewares and lifestyle.
Take in the splendour of the Coal Drops Yard Christmas Lights under the Canopy Market from 19 December 2022, and enjoy a spicy mulled wine, while you soak up the festive atmosphere.
14 – CHURCHILL ARMS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
15 November 2022 – 6 January 2023.
This institution in Kensington spends a cool £25,000 decorating its façade in plants every year. At Christmas, it adds 80 Christmas trees and 22,000 lights to create an over-the-top display that can’t be missed.
It’s a fantastic addition to the London Christmas Lights and it’s a great pub for a festive pint, although it’s a popular place so seats can be difficult to obtain. They also do excellent Thai-inspired pub food.
15 – HARRODS CHRISTMAS WINDOW DISPLAY
Covering 5 acres and with 330 departments, Harrods is one of the largest and most famous department stores in London. It also puts on quite a show when it comes to Christmas lights and window displays.
Windows are lavishly decorated (often with the help of global brands) in the Christmas colours of red, white, and green. Inside there’s a whole floor dedicated to high-end Christmas decorations and the food hall is a wonderful place to stock up on special items.
CENTRAL LONDON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WALK – 2022
Visit all these central London Christmas lights on our walking tour, where you can get into the Christmas spirit without spending a penny. The entire walk is just over 4 kilometres. If you marched around quickly it would only take 1 hour, but it’s much better to amble slowly and savour the atmosphere.
You can find the walking route on the map below. We recommend starting at Selfridges and ending at Covent Garden – a great place to treat yourself to a post-Christmas drink. If you want to add an extra 10 minutes you could head to the Christmas Market at Trafalgar Square, although the spirit is much merrier at Covent Garden.
Alternatively, If you start at Covent Garden and end at Selfridges, you can extend the walk by 20 minutes and end at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. This is a great option if you want to finish the walk by upping the adrenaline on theme park rides, rather than in a quiet spot with a glass of wine.
How to use this map / Click on the top left of the map to display the list of locations, then click on the locations to display further information. Click on the top right corner of the map to open a larger version in a new tab or the star to save to your Google Maps.
WHERE NEXT?
Despite the often gloomy weather, there are plenty of great things to do in the UK over the winter months, including plenty of great walks from London to get you out in the fresh country air.
Here are a few more suggestions from us that are well worth rugging up for.
Our guide to the best things to do in Oxford
Best breakfast & brunch in Notting Hill
The very best things to do in the Cotswolds
The best things to do in Bath, UK
The best Cotswolds villages you need to visit
Scenic highlights on the Jurassic Coast
A wonderful weekend in Hay on Wye
The best things to do in Cambridge
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Thank you so much for sharing this blog. Christmas is just around the corner and I am sure that this blog will definitely create a sense of excitement among the people in London. Keep up the good work.