London's Unmissable, Dazzling Christmas Lights
by Georgina at My Timeless Footsteps
The Christmas season is one of the best times of the year to be in London. The streets of London dazzles, with brightness and warmth. London’s Christmas Lights are one of the greatest joys of Christmas as they fill people’s heart with festive cheer no matter the weather, come rain or shine. The most prominent displays and the unmissable London’s Christmas Lights are in Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby Street, Covent Garden and in some prominent parks such as Kew Gardens.
Despite the pandemic, this year has made no difference. In fact, to kick-off the festive season, London Oxford Street and Carnaby Street have put up beautiful illuminations with heartwarming messages of Love, and Unity a little earlier than usual.
Oxford Street
Though low keyed with no celebrities present (understandably), the unmissable London’s Christmas Lights in Oxford Street were switched-on just before lockdown 2.0 on Monday 2 November. The twenty-seven LED light curtains made up of twinkling lights drape the length of the premier shopping street in London. The lights burst into sparkling life with an uplifting message “To London with Love”
Along with messages of goodwill, the Oxford Street Christmas Lights is pandemic related and is dedicated to the Heroes of 2020. Every week, the display will feature the name of a “hero” – a person who has gone that extra mile to help others during Covid-19 pandemic 2020.
The first of London’s Heroes whose name was featured is Anis Ali, a NHS Volunteer Responder who completed an astounding 733 tasks since March while also holding down a full-time job.
Carnaby Street
Carnaby is one of the most fashionable areas in the heart of London. The area covers fourteen streets, over one hundred shops, sixty restaurants, bars and cafes. Each year Carnaby chooses a theme and puts up a spectacular display of lights. This year’s dazzling display is one with a strong message of Love and Unity, in partnership with the charity Choose Love.
As from 2 November, the length of the Streets is immersed in a series of lightboxes of pink neon lights. The message on each of the lightboxes is positively powerful, paying tribute to the strength and courage of Londoners as well as the whole of UK. The messages of love and unity is an encouragement to continue with hope and kindness to each other.
Covent Garden
The annual magical haven at Covent Garden is going ahead this year without the usual switching-on ceremony. The unique market offers visitors a very special shopping experience. From high-end names, market traders. and bespoke designers, you will find Christmas gifts for everyone.
The splendidness of the Christmas atmosphere is in the cobbled piazza and the market buildings that create a wonder-perfect backdrop for the twenty metre (sixty foot) Christmas tree. Decorated with some thirty thousand sparkling lights, the piazza glows! An unmissable Christmas lights experience in London for sure.
Regent Street
Regent Street Christmas Lights is the largest festive display in the UK. The stunning Spirit of Christmas returns to celebrate the festive heritage of the upscale shopping district.
The illumination of more than three hundred thousand twinkling Christmas lights light up the skies of Regent Street and St James’ running from Oxford Circus all the way to Waterloo Place. It is a breathtaking sight and one that will have you in awe.
As with other Christmas Lights switching on ceremony, the annual grand event at Regent Street is cancelled. The lights will dazzle daily from 3:30 p.m. to midnight.
Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens at Christmas is one of the best times to visit. The grounds turn into an enchanted magical trail of lights taking you through dazzling sparkly tunnels, trees wrapped in glowing lights and a beautiful dynamic laser projections of Christmas colours on the iconic glasshouse. The grand finale at the Palm House Pond is a stunning light show playing to a festive soundtrack.
Christmas at Kew is a perfect destination for families, and couples, both young and old. Enjoy a festive evening with marshmallows, mulled wine and hot chocolate. Open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Book a time-slot and purchase tickets in advance.
Due to current lockdown measures (November 5 2020 – December 2 2020) mean we can’t go and see the lights in person. The lights will continue to glow and dazzle London streets for the rest of 2020 post lockdown and into early January. Visit when it is safe to do so.
I sincerely hope that this article is valuable to you in planning your trip to London at Christmas so you can experience the unmissable London’s Christmas Lights.
Have a wonderful time experiencing the unmissable festive cheer at London’s Christmas lights and A Very Merry Christmas!
Meet the author
My Timeless Footsteps is a travelogue of Georgina’s adventures and a space where she shares her insights into independent self-guided, guided, sometimes solo, slow travel. A proud baby boomer, Georgina started to blog passionately in 2019, fulfilling her long-term desires to travel more, to write and share the very best from her adventures.
Becoming newer from each travel, Georgina encourages Travel to be important in life and in one’s well-being. Curating complete travel guides with embedded flexibility, to alienate stress is her forte, as well as organising bespoke tours. Whilst My Timeless Footsteps is a resource for all gender and all walks of life, it is particularly resourceful for the over 50s.
