What date do the Christmas lights come down in London?
Most major Christmas light displays in London, including those on Regent Street and Oxford Street, are switched off by January 6th (Twelfth Night), with many displays starting to come down or turning off around January 4th–6th, 2026. While some smaller, localized displays might remain slightly longer, the main festive lights are typically gone by this date to mark the end of the holiday season.
How long do the Christmas lights stay up in London?
London's Christmas lights typically stay up from early November until the first week of January, often around January 4th-6th, with major displays like Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Covent Garden running for over eight weeks, illuminating nightly from late afternoon until midnight or later, allowing for viewing across the festive season, Christmas Day, and New Year's.
The traditional last day for Christmas lights is Twelfth Night, January 5th, or Epiphany, January 6th, marking the end of the twelve days of Christmas, but many people wait until later, often until the weekend after New Year's, or even until Candlemas on February 2nd, following medieval tradition. Ultimately, it's a matter of personal preference, though some consider it bad luck to leave them up much longer.
What time is the Regent Street light switch on in 2025?
The Regent Street Christmas lights for 2025 are scheduled to go on Thursday, November 6, 2025, part of the "Spirit of Christmas" display, with neighboring areas like St James's joining the festive glow on the same night. While a large public ceremony might not happen, the iconic "Spirit of Christmas" angels will illuminate the street, marking the start of the festive season in London, according to sources.
What time are the covent garden Christmas lights on in 2025?
Covent Garden's Christmas lights 2025 officially switch on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, with the main event starting around 5-6 PM for the ceremonial lighting, though the lights will be on daily from mid-afternoon (around 3:30 PM) until midnight from that date until early January 2026. The theme is "The Theatre of Christmas," featuring 300,000 lights, a 55ft tree, and golden bells in the Market Building, with daily festive entertainment.
Date. In many Western ecclesiastical traditions such as the Lutheran and Anglican denominations of Christianity, Christmas Day is considered the "First Day of Christmas" and the Twelve Days are 25 December – 5 January, inclusive, making Twelfth Night on 5 January, which is Epiphany Eve.
Many followers of the Christian faith believe that the Twelfth Night (i.e. twelve days after Christmas) is when decorations should come down. Some believe keeping your decorations up after the Twelfth Night is bad luck.
According to Christian teaching, Christmas should be celebrated for 12 days beginning on Dec. 25 and running through Jan. 6. The last day is known as Epiphany.
When should Christmas decorations come down in 2025 in the UK?
In the UK for 2025, Christmas decorations traditionally come down by Twelfth Night (January 5th, 2026) or Epiphany (January 6th, 2026), marking the end of the 12 days of Christmas and inviting good luck, though some medieval traditions extended this to Candlemas (February 2nd). While personal choice dictates, the traditional Christian calendar suggests removing them by the evening of January 5th or the day of January 6th.
What day is good luck to take down the Christmas tree?
The Epiphany falls on 6th January, which means the decorations should, in theory, be tidied away on the 5th. This is the most popular date! However, not everyone follows this tradition. Many countries, including Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic believe the Twelfth Night to be the 6th.
Why are you supposed to leave your Christmas tree up until January 6th?
6, which is when the Magi arrived in Bethlehem to pay homage to the baby(Jesus) born there. That's why! Three Kings Day. My folks put our tree up Christmas Eve and took it down the 6th of January, because that was when the Wise men got to Bethlehem.
Does London still have Christmas lights in January?
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 4 January 2026. Others haven't confirmed an end date, but will be a similar time.
What is the best street in London for Christmas lights?
For the best Christmas lights in London, focus on the central shopping districts like Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Bond Street for dazzling displays, while Carnaby Street offers creative themes and Covent Garden provides a festive hub with markets and giant trees, plus unique spots like Belgravia for elegant residential sparkle and Leadenhall Market for historic charm. A walking route covering these areas is ideal for experiencing the variety, from Regent Street's angels to Carnaby's installations.
What date do Oxford Street Christmas lights go on?
Oxford Street's Christmas lights for 2025 switched on Monday, November 3, 2025, and typically run through the first week of January, illuminating daily from around 3 p.m. until 11 p.m., with the 2025-2026 display featuring 5,000 stars with 300,000 LED bulbs.
How long does London keep their Christmas lights up?
The Regent Street Christmas lights will glow from Thursday 13 November 2025 through Sunday 5 January 2026, lighting up central London for nearly eight weeks. The display will shine every day — including Christmas Day and New Year's Eve — from 3:30pm until midnight.
When should I take Christmas decorations down in the UK?
In the UK, Christmas decorations traditionally come down after Twelfth Night (January 5th) or on Epiphany (January 6th), marking the end of the festive season, though many people choose to take them down earlier (Boxing Day) or later (Candlemas - February 2nd), with some leaving them up for cheer or until they feel convenient. The decision often balances tradition, personal preference, and practicality, with safety concerns about real Christmas trees being a factor.
You should take down a nativity scene after the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6th, or the Sunday after) to mark the end of the official Christmas liturgical season, but many traditions extend it to Candlemas (February 2nd) for the Presentation of Jesus, with no strict rule, though early removal after New Year's is also common for practical reasons.
Why is it unlucky to leave Christmas decorations up after 12th night?
It's considered unlucky to leave Christmas decorations up past Twelfth Night (January 6th) due to ancient superstitions that evergreen decorations housed tree spirits, and leaving them up risked angering those spirits or inviting misfortune for the coming year, with some lore suggesting they could become possessed by goblins if left too long. This tradition also marked the end of the festive season, signaling a return to work, with Victorians popularizing taking them down by this date, though medieval practice often extended to Candlemas (February 2nd).
While central London's Regent Street and Carnaby Street offer iconic, grand displays, the true "most Christmassy street" is often cited as Lower Morden Lane in South London, where residents go all-out decorating their homes for charity, creating a dazzling, local winter wonderland that draws huge crowds and raises significant funds for St Raphael's Hospice.
You don't have to wander far during Christmas in London to see some blindingly good Christmas lights and decorations. Oxford Street, Covent Garden, Carnaby Street, and Regent Street all have a magnificent display of Christmas lights.
