There are such a lot of nice issues to do at Christmas in London however one in all my favourites is totally free, wandering this London Christmas lights strolling route and absorbing all of the twinkling decorations across the metropolis.
Annually 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 round January 5-6.
You’ll discover a particular Christmas lights bus tour should you don’t fancy strolling the entire route, but it surely’s laborious to beat simply strolling from one location to a different, possibly stopping for a few of London’s greatest sizzling chocolate, visiting one of many London Christmas markets or maybe teaming it with an opportunity to meet Santa in London.
London Christmas lights strolling route with youngsters
Should you’re following my London Christmas lights strolling route with youngsters, you’ll be able to simply break it up into smaller sections and go to them on totally different events, or hop on a bus to provide little legs a break – the 139 bus route is an effective possibility.
You’ll be able to’t see all of the London Christmas lights from a bus, even should you handle to get the coveted prime deck entrance row – Carnaby Avenue and Covent Backyard are each pedestrianised, for starters – and you may count on to sit down in site visitors at busy instances, but it surely’s a superb compromise.
The stretch between Oxford Avenue (round Selfridges) and Southampton Avenue (for Covent Backyard) has the best focus of lights, though the route continues to Waterloo should you fancy heading to the South Financial institution and its festive market (or should you’re beginning there, it’ll minimize out quite a lot of the stroll).
You can even begin the stroll at any level on the route – quite a lot 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 need to detour slightly 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 most effective concept with youngsters – you gained’t be strolling too late with youthful ones, and you may miss a number of the night crowds, though London is all the time busy within the run-up to Christmas.
London Christmas Lights strolling route map
You’ll be able to stroll this route in both course, from Covent Backyard by means of to Mayfair or vice versa, in addition to detouring from Piccadilly up by means of Bond Avenue in 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 should you’re stopping to take pictures 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 places on a London Christmas lights map so you’ll be able to select what works greatest for you, or divide the route into sections – your personal 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.
This yr, the previous favourites of large baubles, mistletoe and mirrorballs have taken a again seat with a brand new set of bells and bows hanging excessive above the market.
Covent Backyard Christmas lights: Have to know
The festive occasions happening in Covent Backyard at Christmas often begin in early November, with the official switch-on date in direction of the start of the month. 2023 switch-on date Nov 7
As you stroll in direction of Trafalgar Sq., you’ll be able to go through 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 inclined to keep away from it right now of yr
Cease 2: Trafalgar Sq.
Yearly since 1947, the folks of Norway have given the folks of London a 19m Christmas tree as a gesture of appreciation for the town’s assist in the course of the Second World Battle.
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 positive it regarded wonky this yr, but it surely wouldn’t be Christmas with out it.
There’s additionally a small Christmas market within the sq., near the Nationwide Gallery and you may typically hear carols right here as effectively.
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 – the baubles are one other late change on, on December 2, and never price going far out of your solution to see, however should you’re heading to Skate at Somerset Home, it’s straightforward to identify them en route
Trafalgar Sq. Christmas: Have to know
The lighting ceremony takes place on the primary Thursday in December, on December 7, 2023.
Cease 3: Decrease Regent Avenue & Piccadilly Circus
From Trafalgar Sq., head in 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 direction of Piccadilly Circus.
Not solely is it much less busy right here, you too can get a peek down Jermyn Avenue to see a couple 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’ll be able to 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. 2023 switch-on date Nov 9
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.
It’s price taking a peek within the street-level home windows as effectively, as there’s all the time one thing new to identify. This yr, you’ll be able to see animated recreations of the division retailer in miniature – together with presents making an attempt to get into the elevate, 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 direction of Regent Avenue. Or in fact you’ll be able to all the time cease in to select up a couple of fancy Christmas decorations in 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 truly Anteros or the angel of Christian charity.
Should you’re doing this Christmas lights stroll of London in a distinct order, you too can wander from Piccadilly up the south finish of Bond Avenue to carry you to Oxford Avenue – scroll right 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
Should you’re in search of the Spirit of Christmas, you must head to Regent Avenue the place the Christmas lights’ official identify is the Spirit of Christmas angels.
One other favorite sight, you too can get some nice pictures of the angels above as the road curves spherical to the proper, and this yr, 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 change off barely earlier, on January 2 should you had been planning a New Yr go to. 2023 switch-on date Nov 9
Cease 6: Carnaby Avenue
Often one in all my very own favourites, you’ll be able to count on one thing extra inventive and fewer conventional alongside right here – and as Carnaby Avenue is pedestrianised, it’s additionally simpler to cease and take within the particulars (should you can dodge the crowds).
This yr’s lights have a theme of area and the universe, with planets, moons, nebulas and galaxies swirling above the road.
Earlier years have featured a number of the highlights of the previous quarter century, from lights impressed by Queen and the Rolling Stones to underwater scenes and outsized robins. Maintain a watch 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. 2023 switch-on date Nov 8 (delayed from Nov 2)
Cease 7: Oxford Avenue
The taking pictures stars of Oxford Avenue have been a well-known sights for some time however there’s all the time one thing very uplifting about seeing them twinkle into life as darkness falls.
There are a whopping 300,000 stars will probably be glowing above London’s busiest buying road, all utilizing LED lights as soon as once more to make use of much less power. You’ll be able to sponsor one to assist youngsters’s charity Starlight as effectively.
It is perhaps one of many metropolis’s busiest buying 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 should you’re visiting London initially of November. 2023 switch-on date Nov 2
Cease 7: Bond Avenue
The lights right here change every so often – the illuminated peacock tails that shimmered above the realm round Bond Avenue, 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.
Again for 2023, there are a staggering 93,652 LED lights to save lots of power with out dropping any of the dazzling show – and so they’re in all probability essentially the most stunning Christmas lights in London this yr.
4 huge crowns impressed by the Imperial State Crown cling 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.
Should you’re doing this Christmas lights stroll of London in a distinct order, you too can wander from Piccadilly up the south finish of Bond Avenue to carry you to Oxford Avenue
When 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 effectively price 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 fourth yr, filling the sq. with over 25,000 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 personal members’ membership Annabel’s is all the time illuminated for the festive season. This yr, there’s a carousel theme, whereas earlier years have seen it reworked right into a glowing gingerbread home. Luckily you don’t must pay the expensive membership price to take a look.
Grosvenor Sq. lights: Have to know
The Ever After Backyard closes sooner than a number of the different Christmas lights, ending on December 19, 2023. It opens mid-November (on November 16, 2023) so you continue to have a month to go to.
Need extra London Christmas lights?
Should you 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 Street, together with the glowing white bushes illuminating South Molton Avenue (sadly the arch isn’t again this yr).
And in Knightsbridge, Harrods blazes with gentle every year – to not point out some nice Christmas shows within the home windows.
Or you’ll find 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 try my choose of the place to go for the greatest ice skating rink in London in addition to the most effective Christmas theatre in London with youngsters
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Fundamental picture/The Strand/Regent Avenue/Bond Avenue courtesy of Depositphotos, Instagram photos as credited, all different photos copyright MummyTravels