Best London Christmas Lights

Christmas, isn’t Christmas without seeing London Christmas Lights.  Wandering around oohing and ahhing at the pretty lights in one of my favourite London Christmas things to do.  Best of all it is free.

Where to find the Best London Christmas Lights

For me that answer will always be Regent Street.  The road itself is just so handsome, beautiful buildings in an elegant curve.  But Regent Street lights are not the only ones in town.

Regent Street

Regent Street was the first London Street to have Christmas Lights back in 1954.  For the last few years magnificent angels have flown above Regent Street that echo those very first lights.  I’m happy to see the Angels come back year after year.

Oxford Street

2019 sees brand new Oxford Street Christmas lights.  Curtains of LED lights hang over the street that suddenly burst into life with festive designs.

Bond Street

Bond Street is resplendent in glowing peacock feathers. Apparently the Bond Street Christmas lights represent the well dressed men that shop on Bond Street.

Piccadilly

At first glance Piccadilly Christmas Lights have Angels twinkling overhead, look again, those are not Angels but Anteros the Greek God of unrequited love.  Why Anteros because of the famous statue of Anteros at Piccadilly Circus.  Yes that’s right, all those loved up couple taking pictures of themselves in front of what they think is Eros, god of love and sex, are actually suggesting that their love is unrequited.

Mayfair Shop Christmas Lights

Take time to stroll around Mayfair to see the lavish display that some of the shops and clubs put on.  Ones to look out for include Stella McCartney, the Moddox Gallery, Cartier and Annabels.  Not forgetting Fortnums, which this year is dressed up as an Advent Calendar.

Carnaby Street

Every year Carnaby Street eschews Christmassy things for the theme of its Christmas lights.  This year is no exception.  Recycled materials have been used to create a marine themed conservation set of decorations.

Covent Garden

Giant baubles and mistletoe are the order of the day for Covent Garden Christmas lights.  I love the way that glitter balls send showers light down over the shoppers.

Seven Dials 

Seven Dials is probably the prettiest roundabout in London. At Christmas Seven Dials Christmas Lights just makes it even prettier.

Best Bus London Bus Route to see Christmas Lights

Without a shadow of a doubt the award for best Christmas Lights viewing bus route goes to the number 139.  Hop on outside Selfridges heading toward Waterloo and clamber upstairs.  Try to grab the front seat (this is true of any London bus journey) failing that a window seat.  First of all you will be treated to the sheets of LED lights on Oxford Street.  As the bus turns right into Regent Street you might want to take advantage of the hopper fare to hop off and see the Carnaby Street lights.  Back on board the Regent Street angels will twinkle above you.  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 as a token of thanks for British to Norway during the Second World War.  Next comes the Strand and then Aldwych where you get off and head up to Covent Garden for the light fest there.

Where is your favourite place to see London Christmas Lights?

If baubles and tinsel are not your thing check out the Diary of Londoness’s guide to An Alternative Christmas in London. Or may if you fancy getting away completely how about Christmas in the IceHotel?