It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, as festive light displays switch on all over town. If you want to bask in the glow of the 2024 holiday season in London, here's the lowdown on when, where and how to see the best Christmas lights this year.
Where are London's Christmas lights and what do they look like?
Christmas lights can, of course, be found right across London, both central and further afield. Each area, district or high street takes responsibility for its own illuminations. The West End Christmas lights are the most illustrious, drawing huge crowds every year to Regent Street and Oxford Street. They've been switched on in November for Christmas 2024.
Oxford Street Christmas lights 2024
After going through a couple of changes in recent years (LED screens in 2019, messages of thanks to key workers in 2020), the 2024 Oxford Street Christmas lights are the same as those which debuted in 2021 — and are some of our favourite to date. Rows upon rows of golden stars — more than 5,000 stars featuring 300,000 LED lights in total — dangle above shoppers' heads, forming an astral curtain the length of the street.
GOSH is the charity partner of the Oxford Street Christmas lights this year, with a Big Day of Joy planned for 7 December. It includes performances in the street, activities in some shops, and other festive experiences.
For energy efficiency, the Oxford Street Christmas lights are switched on between 4pm and midnight daily for 2024. See them until early January 2025.
Regent Street Christmas lights 2024
Regent Street's heavenly festive illuminations are aglow again for 2024; the 30+ 'Spirit of Christmas' angels spread their wings over the busy shopping street once more, running from Langham Place in the north down beyond Piccadilly, into St James's. For the second time, installations can also be found along Glasshouse Street, Swallow Street and the Quadrant Arcade, too.
300,000 LED lights sparkle, with canopies forming a twinkling 'net' over the West End. We've got a soft spot for these illuminations, especially as they look decent even when viewed in broad daylight — and you get a great close-up view from a bus. This year is extra special, as it's the 70th anniversary of the Regent Street Christmas lights.
If it's a photo for the 'Gram you're after... well, far be it from us to suggest any mad, bad, or dangerous behaviour, but if you did find yourself in a safe spot (traffic island or central reservation) in the centre of the street, look up and shoot away. But also, check for traffic, please.
See them every evening, 4pm-midnight, until 5 January 2025.
Covent Garden and Seven Dials Christmas lights 2024
40 giant bells, 12 giant baubles and eight spinning mirror balls return to the Market Hall in Covent Garden, the second year these decorations have been used. The 60ft Christmas tree is back too, planted in a comically oversized pot in the piazza at the western end of the market building, and drenched in tiny red and white lights.
For 2024, a brand-new festive lighting scheme can be seen throughout the Seven Dials neighbourhood, featuring 150,000 LED lights.
Carnaby Christmas lights 2024
Nowhere commits to a Christmas theme quite like Carnaby, switching up its overhead decorations with a brand new theme each year. For 2024, we've got Into The Light, which consists of several six-metre long installations glowing above the pedestrianised street. Star-shaped illuminations mark the entrances into the thoroughfare, and Kingly Court is adorned with cascading curtains of light.
Begin outside Liberty, and gaze south down Carnaby Street for the best view. The lights and decorations run the length of Carnaby Street, all the way down to the junction with Beak Street. Swivel your eyes left and right down the side streets for further illuminated treats. See them every night, illuminated from 4pm.
Bond Street Christmas lights 2024
Gone are the Royal-inspired, jewel-themed decorations on Bond Street, replaced by illuminated perfume bottles, a collaboration with Chanel No. 5... how very Bond Street. The lights are on every evening, 14 November 2024-12 January 2025.
Plenty of the shops in the area go hard for Christmas too, with some seriously impressive festive displays. Cartier, Tiffany, Chanel and Dior are usually worth a look, and if you've got a few minutes to spare, stroll around the corner to Annabel's in Berkeley Square which, as always, has a very Instagrammable Christmas facade, this year taking the form of a peacock in a snow globe. And if you've walked that far, you might as well continue to Grosvenor Square for a peek at the Ever After Garden (3pm-9pm daily until 18 December 2024).
Strand Christmas lights 2024
It's all change on Strand this year, as those uninspiring 'Northbank' illuminations of recent festive seasons are replaced with brand new banner lights depicting fairies frolicking over the busy thoroughfare. Those fairy lights are a play on the term 'fairy lights', a nod to local history. In 1881, the street's Savoy Theatre became the first public building in the world to be fully lit by electricity. A year later, Jospeh Swan created the first ever fairy lights for that same theatre, for performers to wear as they danced on the opening night of Iolanthe.
Today's lights use 96,000 low-energy LEDs, with frames made entirely from recycled aluminium.
Savile Row Christmas lights 2024
World-famous tailoring street Savile Row nods to its heritage with its Christmas lights. Look up to see giant shears cutting through swathes of illuminated 'fabric', with the words 'Savile Row Christmas' emblazoned across. Find them at the south end of Savile Row, running from Clifford Street to Burlington Gardens — it's only a minor diversion from Regent Street in one direction, or Bond Street in the other. See them every night from 14 November 2024.
Trafalgar Square Christmas tree lights 2024
In Trafalgar Square, it's more of a Christmas tree situation than a Christmas lights one. The Trafalgar Square tree has its own, sometimes-maligned lights though — they're always switched on from the first Thursday in December — that's 5 December 2024. Before you get too critical of the cucumber-esque illuminations, bear in mind they're strung that way in a nod to Norwegian tradition, the country which has kindly gifted us a tree for the past 75 years.
How to see London's Christmas lights 2024
Visit London's Christmas lights on foot
The best and cheapest way to see London's Christmas lights is by walking. Many of the West End lights are fairly close together geographically, and you could fit several into one epic evening of sightseeing (in comfy shoes).
Map of London's 2024 Christmas lights
We've pinpointed some of London's best Christmas light displays on this map, to help you plan a festive route (you can find more Christmas light locations in our guide to switch-on events):
Some of them — such as Covent Garden and Carnaby — are only visible on foot, as they're located in pedestrianised areas with no bus route in sight. Otherwise...
See London's Christmas lights by bus
To see the Christmas lights without wearing out your shoe leather, simply hop on a TfL bus and watch the illuminations glide past the window.
We've put together a guide to seeing the Oxford Street, Regent Street, and other major lights by bus. TfL's Oxford Circus bus map is also helpful, and the key to success is to beg, borrow or steal yourself a seat at the front on the top deck to watch the angels and stars flying above you.
Alternatively, companies including Golden Tours and Toot Bus offer bus tours to see the Christmas lights. Naturally, they're pricier than taking a TfL bus, but you are guaranteed a seat, and the route is carefully planned for maximum sparkle.
Take a London Christmas lights bike tour
Several tour companies offer cycling tours of London's bike routes, including The London Bicycle Tour Company. Begin in Kennington, where you're supplied with bike, lights, helmet (optional, but be sensible here) and Santa hat. Then, in a group, wend your way up towards the West End at a leisurely pace, using quieter roads and cycle lanes. The tour leader's bike is equipped with a boombox which plays festive songs along the route.
Of course, there's nothing to stop you riding your own bike, or hiring one, and seeing the Christmas lights that way. Just bear in mind that the West End streets get very busy and may not be suitable for inexperienced cyclists, particularly in the dark.
When to see London's Christmas lights
When are London's Christmas lights switched on?
The majority of London's biggest Christmas light displays are now illuminated and running for 2024 (here's our guide to when the remainder get switched on). They'll be on nightly until early January 2025.
When's the best time to see the West End Christmas lights?
In terms of times of day, the lights go on late afternoon when it gets dark, so anytime in the evening is an option — although of course, in the run-up to Christmas, there's rarely a 'quiet' time to visit Oxford Street, Regent Street or Covent Garden... or anywhere in London, actually. We've included specific timings of individual light displays above, where known.
In terms of day, weekdays are likely to be slightly less busy than weekends. Also, the further away from Christmas (ie. earlier) you can go, the less busy it's likely to be.
When do London's Christmas lights end?
The other option for crowd-swerving is to wait until early January, as most displays tend to stay lit for the first few nights of the New Year. We know that the Regent Street lights will be on until 5 January 2025. Others haven't confirmed an end date, but will be a similar time.
Do London's Christmas lights get switched off at night?
If you're not keen on crowds, but don't mind a late night, you may be thinking that the early hours of the morning are the best time to see the Christmas lights — but as we've said above, many displays won't be on all night this year, to avoid wasting energy. 11pm seems to be the cut-off time in most areas, though check with individual organisers before making a special trip.
Are London's Christmas lights energy efficient?
With climate issues at the forefront of minds, the West End has taken steps to make the Christmas light displays as energy efficient as possible.
All West End lights (that's Oxford Street, Regent Street, St James's, Bond Street, and more) use LED technology, which reduces energy consumption by 75% compared to regular lights.
The Oxford Street star lights are 100% recyclable, made from recycled polymer and produced using 100% solar/photovoltaic energy, and will be reused in future Oxford Street Christmas displays. Similarly, the Bond Street lights and the Strand lights use energy-efficient LEDs, and are made from recycled materials.
If this has got you all festive, check out London's Christmas markets and fairs, or get your skates on at London's winter ice rinks.
