Christmas lights in central London are a serious deal, with top flight designers like Paul Dart drafted in to create illuminations that'll be admired by millions.
Except that every yuletide for the past five years, a bunch of school kids has gone and bested the pros.
It's become a Christmas tradition for children from Soho Parish School in Great Windmill Street to team up with the architect Antonio Capelao, and create their own festive illuminations.
Sprinkled around Great Windmill Street, Brewer Street, Berwick Street and Dean Street, many of the designs are joyfully unconventional (Christmas crab, anyone? How about a festive pineapple?). Importantly, the lights also prove that you can bung anything in a Santa hat, and make it look festive. Take note, Paul Dart.
But these lights are also loaded with meaningful themes, namely: 'lighting, identity of place and (new for 2025) 'women in Soho'. Four days of workshopping saw pupils uncover stories of local women, reflect on their own identities and reimagine how light can transform public space.
The result is six new light panels that will join 55 from previous years, bringing together 61 charming and thoughtful displays altogether. Sometime, they're going to run out of lampposts, but we hope that day is far off.
The lights are switched on from Wednesday 19 November 2025.
You'll have to excuse some our own photos — they were taken en route to the Londonist Christmas party, when it was still light. If you're planning a tour of the Christmas lights, make sure these are on your itinerary.
All images: Londonist
