When I was a child, I used to love watching the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures on television and longed to be in the audience. This week the Teens fulfilled my childhood dream and were in the audience (watch out for them on Boxing Day on BBC 4). Grown ups are not allowed and so I used the time to stroll around looking at the London Christmas Lights.
The Royal Institution is on Albemarle Street which has this magnificent flying carpet of white lights. Despite many many pictures they were all slightly blurry but I really like the reflection of the lights on the car.
Next I wandered over to Bond Street with its splendid peacock feather lights. The shop windows were ablaze with twinkly diamonds, somehow I think that Mr CW might stretch to a string of fairy lights for Christmas but the string of diamonds may stay in the shop window.
Whilst I love window shopping on Bond Street, Regent Street is home to shops where I can actually afford some things. This year shoppers are looked over by these majestic angels.
So far all the lights had been tastefully monochrome. Snicking down an alley off Regent Street and into Carnaby Street everything changed. Carnival has come to Carnaby Street this Christmas. Think coconut palm trees, tropical flowers and parrots, everywhere is a riot of colour.
When the Teens emerged from the lecture they confessed to having had a good time. If you would like your child to be in the audience next year, they need to be a member of the RI in order to enter into the ballot, you can read about membership here.
Have you seen any Christmas Lights this year?
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A lovely selection of Christmas lights Catherine. My daughter informs me the parrot lights on Carnaby Street were her favourite. #mysundayphoto
Author
A lady of impeccable taste!
Hi Catherine, what lovely Christmas lights there are around London, a not so bad alternative to being in the audience of a Royal Institution Christmas Lecture. I hope your children enjoyed it as much as you would have.
xx
Author
They seem to have done, I’m even more excited to watch them this year!
Love the angel, especially. We actually went to London to see the lights once but it was too crowded to really enjoy them so now we stick to Norwich. Hehe. How exciting for the boys! I used to watch the lectures too. #MySundayPhoto
Author
They do get crowded later in the evening as the shops begin to shut is best
Doesn’t London look so sparkly at Christmas time. And I used to love watching the lectures so much too. I watched them every year for years! I’m sure they still come on but I’ve missed them for at least 10! 🙂
Author
They are still broadcast and now in colour!
London really does it better than anyone. I wish I had the time to go and see them
Thank you for linking up
The London lights were always such a treat to me as a child, I must take my kids one day, they look as wonderful as ever.
Author
Definitely one of the perks on London living
I always love light displays but the angel is exquisite
Author
The flight of then the length of Regent Street is stunning but beyond my camera
I love watching the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures on TV….They are so interesting!
Those lights are fantastic x
Author
Lights almost made up for being too old to be in lecture audience