The clocks have gone back. It's not quite light when you get to work, and the sun's long set by the time you're home. But it's not all doom and gloom. Some things in the capital are best done under cover of darkness. Here's how to make the most of the dark evenings in London, rather than hibernating away until spring.
Admire London's lamps
Did you know that London still has approximately 1,300 gas lamps — around 275 of them in the Westminster area? A few years back, we met the team of gaslighters who keep them going:
Naturally, the gloomy evenings are the ideal opportunity to see these gas lamps in action. Time it right and you might even see someone lighting them up. Londoners feel strongly about protecting these beacons of heritage; in 2022 there was a successful campaign to keep Westminster's gas lamps aglow.
Cherubs, weird dolphins and other such features characterise these remarkable London lamp posts — all well worth a closer look.
Go stargazing
Cities and stargazing aren't obvious bedfellows, but if you manage to get a clear night, it's not out of the question to ogle the cosmos from London. Our tips? Watch the weather forecast for a cloudless night, and head up a hill above the main street level lighting if you can. Primrose Hill and Greenwich Park are ideal spots. London is also scattered with observatories open to the public, including in Hampstead and Croydon. Read up on more tips for stargazing in London.
Go night kayaking
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Among London Kayak Co's offerings is the Night Bus, a twilight paddle from Battersea to Greenwich passing the Houses of Parliament, St Paul's and the Old Naval College. Alternatively, Tower by Sunset takes you from Greenwich to the Tower of London. All kit is provided, and you don't need to be an expert kayaker to take part, though it's recommended that you should have kayaked at least once before.
Learn the art of night-time photography
London's beautiful at night, but tricker to catch well. Plenty of organisations run night photography courses in the capital, including London Photo Tours and The School of Photography. Once you've grasped the basics of shooting London's landmarks after dark, you can spend the winter practising at your leisure — and by spring, you'll be wishing the evenings would stay darker for longer.
Revel in the Christmas lights
London's Christmas lights flicker into life from early November, blanketing central London in a shimmering haze of festive cheer. Here's the schedule for switch-ons in 2025, beginning with Oxford Street on 3 November and Regent Street on 6 November. From then on, it's just one glimmering party through to the new year.
Wander around a light festival
Long gone are the days when the Christmas lights were the highlight of London's winter season. Now, you can barely turn a corner from November through to February without tripping over a light festival, illuminations trail, fire garden, laser route or other light-based festivity — and we wouldn't want it any other way. Here's our guide to light festivals in London this winter.
Admire the Illuminated River project
If you've been down to the Thames after dark, you may have noticed the bridges have been pimped up with colourful lights. It's the Illuminated River project, which covers the nine bridges from London Bridge to Lambeth Bridge with light artworks by Leo Villareal.
Naturally, after sundown is the time to see them at their best — why not head to one bridge per night over several days, or if you're feeling energetic, visit them all on one epic nocturnal walk? Or, to do it in style, embark on an official Illuminated River boat tour, which takes place on Saturdays, lasts about 40 minutes and whisks your beneath in all nine bridges.
Visit a museum late
So the hazy days of hanging out in the park all evening are gone, and you need somewhere cheap (preferably free), light and warm to socialise? Check out London's museum lates. The National Gallery stays open late every Friday, Science Museum's monthly monthly lates are back, and the V&A extends its opening hours on the last Friday of each month (though not December or January), among many other cultural institutions around the capital.
Warm yourself by the fire
Sometimes the most primitive things are the most satisfying: case in point, perching in front of one of London's many roaring pub fires, and luxuriating with a pint of stout/bonhomie with friends/a board game/good book. Check out our sizzling roundup.
