London Christmas lights typically sparkle from early November 2025 through the first week of January 2026. Major displays, including Oxford Street (starts Nov 3), Regent Street (Nov 13), and Covent Garden (Nov 12), switch on in the first half of November, with lights usually illuminating daily from around 3pm or 4pm until midnight.
London's Christmas lights typically switch on in early to mid-November, with major areas like Oxford Street often lighting up first (around Nov 3rd in 2025), followed by streets like Regent Street, Carnaby Street, and Covent Garden in the first couple of weeks of November, staying lit until early January. The iconic Trafalgar Square tree usually gets illuminated in early December.
London is so invested in Christmas that decorations start popping up by the end of October, and are in full swing by mid-November. The flip-side of this Christmas craze is that London really capitalises on the season.
What time are the Christmas lights on in Oxford Street?
Oxford Street's Christmas lights turn on daily around 3 PM to 4 PM, staying lit until about 11 PM, running from early November (Nov 3, 2025) to early January (Jan 5, 2026) for the 2025-2026 season, allowing for festive shopping and sightseeing.
Which street has the best Christmas lights in London?
Where are the best Christmas lights in London? Make your way to central London to see some of the best Christmas lights in London. See the sparkling displays that usually line Oxford Street, Regent Street and Covent Garden – officially named some of the best places in Europe to see Christmas light displays!
London Christmas Lights Night Walk 2025 - Magical Window Displays, Markets and Streets
What time do the covent garden Christmas lights turn on?
Covent Garden's Christmas lights for 2025 officially switched on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, with the main event starting around 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM for the actual switch-on, featuring performances and shopping offers from 4:00 PM, as part of their "The Theatre of Christmas" theme. The lights then illuminate daily from late afternoon (around 3:30 PM) until midnight throughout the festive season.
The big lights on Oxford Street etc usually go up around the first weekend of the month. I'd say by mid November most decorations are up and all the Christmas Markets are in full swing by the last week of November. We were there 11/22-30 and everything was up except the tree in Trafalgar Square.
The final stretch of 2025 is upon us, and London is looking mighty festive in the run-up to Christmas. The skies are be sparkling with Christmas lights, the capital's venues are filling up with Christmas pantos and carol services, and the streets are lined with colourful Christmas markets and twinkling trees.
There is no rule that says you can't decorate before Thanksgiving. It's ok to decorate when you want to do it. You are even allowed to start new traditions and begin decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving.
January and February are generally quieter times of year to visit and, apart from the February half-term week, you can often find cheaper deals on accommodation, attractions and restaurants.
From the elegant angels of Regent Street to the creative displays of Carnaby, London's Christmas lights are worth travelling for — and Hotel Saint places you right at the heart of it all.
Hyde Park turns into a Winter Wonderland, with shop window displays attracting hundreds and dozens of impressive Christmas light displays that light up the night sky. From Oxford Street's stars and the Angels around St James, central London is home to many iconic displays, all wowing crowds of festive fans.
What is the best street in London for Christmas lights?
Regent Street Christmas lights, are probably the most impressive display in central London, feature the “Spirit of Christmas” display of angels. They are made of 300,000 LED lights and cover Regent Street and St. James's.
For the ultimate Christmassy feel in London, head to Covent Garden for its giant tree and lights, Regent Street for its iconic angel lights, and Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park for a massive festive market and carnival; while Chelsea's Sloane Square offers charming local lights and markets, creating a wonderfully festive atmosphere.
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.
Which is the best Christmas lights tour in London?
London's best Christmas lights tours focus on the iconic West End streets like Regent Street (angels), Oxford Street (stars), and Carnaby Street, with options ranging from festive bus tours (Brigit's Bakery, City Sightseeing) offering onboard treats, to self-guided walking routes hitting Bond Street, Covent Garden, and Trafalgar Square, and even luxury Black Cab tours for a personalized experience. For a unique view, consider evening Thames river cruises or themed trails like Chelsea Winter Illuminations.
The Christmas lights centre on Covent Garden's famous Piazza and Market Building, but the display extends throughout the surrounding streets and squares. The main Piazza houses the giant Christmas tree and serves as the heart of the display.
Make sure you take a look at the huge advertising hoardings at Piccadilly Circus, not Christmassy but they are bound to have some festive content. Trafalgar Square is next on the route with a huge fir tree draped in simple lights. Every year the city of Oslo gives London an enormous Christmas tree.
The best bus route to see London's Christmas lights. To see the major West End Christmas lights (Oxford Street's glowing stars and Regent Street's ever-popular angels), TfL's 139 bus route towards Waterloo is your friend.
