Blogs > Life in the UK / A snapshot of UK Cities

A guide to London's Christmas Lights

• December 12, 2019

London is full of sparkle at Christmas time and we wanted to share the best spots to get the best views! Whether you want to take a trip to the UK’s capital to visit the endless markets and fairs, go ice skating or visit the amazing shops, you must detour to see the spectacular illuminations lighting up the entire city.

Oxford Street

Oxford Street is one of the most famous streets in the world for shopping and at Christmas time, it is completely transformed by sparkly, glowing lights. This year the lights look like curtains which are draped down the entire length of the street, making up a total of 222,000 lights.

Carnaby Street

Carnaby Street is just an 8-minute walk from Oxford Street. This year, Carnaby has collaborated with an Ocean Conservation Project 0 for a sustainable display. You see dazzling underwater scenes with giant clusters of jellyfish and 200 illuminated vampire squid. The most amazing bit? It has all been made by using recycling and reusable materials.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is known for its cobbled streets and market buildings. However, at Christmas time you can also find a huge Christmas tree with over 30,000 festive lights, 115 lights sparkling across the Piazza, a reindeer sculpture and some festive benches to rest on in between all the shopping and exploring.

Regent Street

Regent Street, located just 6-minute walk from Oxford Street is home to world-class flagship stores and award-winning restaurants. Each year, you will see the street receive its festive makeover with garlands of angels down the length of the road. This year, you will also see an array of carol singers, ballet dancers, brass brands and drumming soldiers all confirmed to bring seasonal cheer. To celebrate Regent Street’s 200^th anniversary, 200 lucky customers will receive a gift in store from an array of brands. These brands include Karl Lagerfeld, Kiehl’s, L’Occitane, Microsoft, Molton & Brown, UGG and Gaucho. Gift will range from drinking or dining experiences to wellness treatments and gift vouchers.

Kew Gardens

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It is a hub for botanical research and education. If you visit the Garden’s this Christmas, you will see all of the weird and wonderful plants lit up in addition to a mile-long twinkling trail.

Eccleston Yards

Eccleston Yards is a bold, urban community known for its independent and creative businesses, only minutes away from Victoria Station. This year the Yards have put its own spin on Christmas lights with an installation of 500 individually orbs suspended in space, visualizing a multicoloured solar system.

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References

Time Out London. (2019). Christmas lights in London. [online] Available at: https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/christmas-lights-in-london [Accessed 12 Dec. 2019].