During the festive season, London transforms into a magical wonderland after dark, courtesy of its enchanting Christmas lights displays. The lights are a favourite among both locals and tourists, turning any visit into a truly festive day out.
But do these displays really live up to the hype, or are they just all glitter with no glow? Well, wonder no more – read our round up and ratings below!
Take a Self Guided Tour of the Best London Christmas Lights
Why not wrap up warm and take your very own tour of the London Christmas lights? You could even do some present shopping while you’re at it!
We’ve explored the best London Christmas lights displays. Displays are rated from one to five stars, based on creativity and originality, their overall lighting effect and the festive entertainment available in the area!
The Regent Street and St James's Christmas Lights Display
The Regent Street and St James’s lights display is the OG of the city’s Christmas lights, and has turned into quite the tourist attraction.
The tradition was set back in 1954, when local traders decided to deck out Regent Street with Christmas lights. Over the years this has evolved into the entire city being aglow for the festive period.
The ‘Spirits of Christmas’ display features 30 soaring angel-like spirits, but these ain’t your average spirits – they’re adorned with hundreds and thousands of twinkling LED lights. If it’s your first time seeing these, be ready to be blown away. It’s not just a bunch of lights; it’s a pretty magical experience that fits right in with the fancy feel of Regent Street.
New for 2024, there’s an interactive wishing tree. Tap to make a donation and watch the tree light up! Funds go to The Felix Project which supports food banks, schools and Londoners in need.
Also check out:
See the advent window display at Fortnum & Mason, and pop into Venchi Piccadilly for some super rich hot chocolate and Christmassy crepes. Little ones will love a trip to the famous Hamleys toy store on Regent Street – even if your wallet won’t!
Rating
- Creativity and originality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The intricate craftsmanship that goes into creating each of these grand angels is seriously impressive, although they’ve had the same display here now for a few years.
- Lighting effects: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Those huge 17-metre wings almost take up the whole street, giving off a mesmerising lighting effect. With a whopping 300,000 little lights in use, you can’t help but be in awe.
- Entertainment and activities in the area: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
There are lots of flagship stores in the vicinity, Trafalgar Square’s Christmas market is a short walk away, and Piccadilly’s bars and restaurants are just around the corner.
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Regent Street Christmas Lights are truly dazzling, but they could be refreshed with a new theme.
Oxford Street Christmas Lights Display
The Oxford Street lights display provides a starry backdrop for your Christmas shopping. Teaming up with the children’s charity Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), they’ve adorned London’s busiest shopping street with thousands of suspended white stars for the ‘A Sky Full of Stars’ display. They’re eco-friendly too – the energy-efficient lights are crafted from recycled materials.
If you’re lucky enough to swing by here on Saturday 7 December, you’ll get to experience the Big Day of Joy which is taking place in support of GOSH. There’ll be in-store activities, Santa’s grotto, seasonal snacks and street performers
Now, you might be getting noughties flashbacks of the Sugababes switching the Oxford Street lights on – well your memory doesn’t deceive you; it’s been a long-held tradition to have celebrities kick off festive proceedings. In 2024 the lights were switched on by singer Tom Grennan.
Also check out: Swing by John Lewis to catch up with Santa in his Grotto – because even the North Pole has a London outpost. Head to the Selfridges Christmas Shop for baubles galore and some seriously tempting delights in the food hall.
Rating
- Creativity and originality:⭐
The thousands of lights create a cool effect but they’ve had this exact display for a few Christmases now. However, the giant John Lewis building display serves as a colourful backdrop and dose of excitement to the Oxford Street lights.
- Lighting effects: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The sheer number of stars combined with the LED power makes for a dazzling display. If they cranked up the brightness a bit, we’d be truly blown away.
- Entertainment and activities in the area: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Oxford Street stretches from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch, making it a great access point for many central London spots. Get some Christmas shopping done before heading to Soho for drinks or Hyde Park for the Winter Wonderland rides.
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Oxford Street’s been sticking with these simple and classic Christmas lights for a while now, it’s time to inject a bit of creativity and innovation into this display.
Covent Garden Christmas Lights Display
Every year the iconic Covent Garden Market space acts as a backdrop for an exciting Christmas installation. Covent Garden does Christmas decorations extremely well.
For a second year, you’ll see 40 oversized bells adorned with bows, 12 colossal baubles and eight twirling mirror balls suspended throughout the market building. There’s a Christmas sleigh where you can get cute photos for the ‘gram, and stands serving piping hot drinks to keep you warm on those crisp winter nights.
The gigantic Christmas tree in the piazza brings that extra sparkle, and new for this year is a light display brightening up the streets of Seven Dials.
Also check out:
Pop by Covent Garden’s Winter Warmer Festival; it’s dedicated to mulled wine! You can’t get much better than that.
Rating
- Creativity and originality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
You can always count on Covent Garden to bring the creativity and add their own spin to iconic Christmas themes. This installation took 70 people 18 months to create.
- Lighting effects: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The lights from the decorations bounce off the market walls creating a truly immersive atmosphere and the towering Christmas tree lights up the whole square!
- Entertainment and activities in the area: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Covent Garden is an ever-popular destination, home to London’s theatre scene and some of the best restaurants in the city. But at Christmas, they go all out with the festive entertainment. Mark your calendar for the December Christmas Sandwich Festival, and don’t miss out on Festive Thursdays, featuring surprise performances and discounted shopping.
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Real design effort has been poured into this display; it looks like an art installation. With all the exciting events in the mix, Covent Garden has truly become a Christmas hotspot!
Bond Street Christmas Lights Display
Bond Street have teamed up with Chanel to create a luxurious feel for this year’s display. The lights feature enormous illuminated Chanel No5 bottles, which are an iconic symbol of the brand.
This display definitely fits the poshness of the area and is a fancy demonstration of Mayfair’s Christmas spirit!
Also check out:
The luxury flagship stores along the street pump some serious dosh into their Christmas storefront lights. Make sure you check out the dazzling displays of Tiffany & Co, Cartier and Ralph Lauren.
Rating
- Creativity and originality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The partnership with Chanel is quite original, although less of a classic ‘Christmas’ theme. That said, these giant-size versions of the iconic perfume do chime with the festive sense of occasion. It’s nice to see a new display after a couple of years of royal-themed ones.
- Lighting effects: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The illuminated bottle shape looks impressive and does make the street look quite magical. It’s almost as if one of Chanel’s Christmas TV ads has come to life on a London street!
- Entertainment and activities in the area: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The area is a hot spot for luxury shopping but is also close to the shops on Oxford Street.
Overall rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Bond Street continues to find smart ways to blend its heritage and reputation with the theme of the lights. This is an impactful display which will make a great photo opportunity.
Carnaby Street Christmas Lights Display
You can always count on Carnaby Street to do something that stands out. This year they’ve shaken things up a bit with an innovative modern design.
Into The Light consists of six-metre long cubic light sculptures, lit up in the shape of crackers, suspended in the air. They’re made up of 60,000 LEDs. This is a more thoughtful display from the folk at Carnaby Street, who want the installations to be used for a few years to come, and will shake things up each year with different lighting techniques.
Also check out:
Have a wander around the Liberty department store and perhaps splurge on a purchase in their iconic Christmas department.
Rating
- Creativity and originality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
This is an impressive effort to do something a bit different and unexpected. It’s smart that this year’s lights have been conceived with longevity in mind.
- Lighting effects: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The display is quite unique compare to other lights in London. It’s a refreshing change, although not as magical as some of the more twinkly offerings.
- Entertainment and activities in the area: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Grab some stocking fillers at the nearby shops, and be sure to swing by Kingly Court for a mouth-watering array of restaurants.
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Carnaby Street Christmas lights are a thoughtful interpretation of the magic of Christmas lights, and chime well with the arty and vibrant feel of the area.
Marylebone Village Christmas Lights Display
Marylebone Village Christmas lights are a little more toned down compared to those of its neighbours, but still just as enchanting.
Once again this year, delicate gold and silver vines and leaves will light up the streets. Sustainability is kept in mind here; the lights have been made with recycled bottles and are powered by energy-saving LED lights.
Also check out:
Head to famous bookshop Daunt Books to have a browse and perhaps pick up some Christmas presents, and have a tipple at cosy historic pub The Barley Mow.
Rating
- Creativity and originality: ⭐
The lights are a tad understated. Although they match the fancy ambience of the area, the design element could be hiked up a notch.
- Lighting effects: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The lights are strategically placed all along the street, even adorning the lamp posts, jazzing up the whole of the High Street.
- Entertainment and activities in the area: ⭐ ⭐
While the night the lights are turned is buzzing with live music and market stalls, at other times it’s rather subdued as there doesn’t seem to be as much planned going forward.
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐
Marylebone’s elegant Christmas lights display could use an extra sprinkle of festive magic. Adding some seasonal events and pop-ups that take place across the season would be a great enhancement.
What is the Best Christmas Lights Display in London?
Each area adds its own unique twist to a cherished Christmas tradition. Our vote goes to Covent Garden’s dynamic display that’s so captivating and playful, and there’s a constant buzz with festive events happening almost nightly.
But don’t sleep on the other displays – they’re all worth a visit and most have plenty of festive activities to do nearby. And since they’re all in central London, why not create your own tour of the best London Christmas lights displays and have a go at rating them yourself?
Plan your own self guided London Christmas Lights tour
The best thing about the Christmas lights is that they’re free to enjoy! That, and it only takes 45 minutes to walk through them all using our handy map below.
Don’t forget to let us know which ones are your favourite!
