London at Christmas is hard to beat. From early November the main streets of the West End light up one after another, and most of the displays are within walking distance of each other. This guide covers the best Christmas lights in London for 2026, with this year’s switch-on dates, what to expect at each stop, and a free Google Maps walking route that links them all.
Last updated: 11 October 2026. Some organisers have not announced their 2026 dates yet. We have marked those below, and we will update this guide as soon as they confirm them.
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London Christmas lights 2026: dates at a glance
| Where | 2026 dates | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford Street | Switch-on date to be announced (early November expected) | Parts of this year’s display have a Harry Potter theme |
| Carnaby Street | From Wednesday 4 November | 1990s-inspired theme |
| Regent Street & St James’s | From Thursday 5 November | Free switch-on event, 5pm to 9pm, with the street closed to traffic |
| Piccadilly & Leicester Square | To be announced (around 1 November expected) | Skate Leicester Square ice rink opens 31 October |
| Covent Garden | From Thursday 12 November | “Theatre of Christmas” returns, with the tree in the Piazza |
| Bond Street | To be announced (mid-November expected) | Last year’s switch-on was 12 November |
| Winter by the River, London Bridge | 12 November 2026 to 4 January 2027 | Free riverside market with Tower Bridge views |
| Hyde Park Winter Wonderland | 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 | Closed Christmas Day. Entry from £1 and must be booked |
The best Christmas lights in London
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is London’s busiest shopping street and usually one of the first to light up. The lights run the whole length of the street, from Tottenham Court Road past Oxford Circus to Marble Arch, so you can join the walk at any Tube station along it.
Oxford Street has not announced its 2026 switch-on date yet. Last year the lights officially came on on 3 November, so early November is a safe bet. Also, some of this year’s illuminations are getting a Harry Potter theme. The department stores are worth a stop too, especially Selfridges and John Lewis for their Christmas windows.
Carnaby Street
Just off Regent Street, Carnaby does things differently every year, with bold, colourful designs instead of traditional lights. For 2026, Carnaby switches on its lights on Wednesday 4 November, with a theme inspired by 1990s nostalgia. It is a short street, so it pairs easily with Regent Street and Soho.
Regent Street
The Regent Street angels, known as the Spirit of Christmas, are the most recognisable Christmas lights in London. They return from Thursday 5 November 2026, with a free switch-on event from 5pm to 9pm when the street closes to traffic. The display continues into St James’s, so keep walking down towards Piccadilly Circus for more.
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus sits at the bottom of Regent Street and makes a good hub for the walk, because Regent Street, Leicester Square and Old Bond Street are all a few minutes away. The angels fan out in several directions from here, with the big screens as a backdrop.
The wider West End lights cover Piccadilly, Leicester Square and St Martin’s Lane, and they usually come on first, at the start of November. However, the organisers have not confirmed the 2026 date yet.
Leicester Square
From Piccadilly Circus it is a short walk to Leicester Square, which hosts a Christmas market each year. Entry to the market is free, although you need tickets for the shows. The organisers have not confirmed the 2026 market dates, but it normally runs from early November to early January. Meanwhile, the Skate Leicester Square ice rink opens on 31 October. Chinatown is next door, and Covent Garden is a few minutes further on.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden goes all out: a huge tree in the Piazza, with bows, baubles and mirror balls inside the Market Building. For 2026, the switch-on is on Thursday 12 November, when the “Theatre of Christmas” theme returns.
The switch-on draws a big crowd, so arrive early if you want a view, or come on a weekday evening afterwards. It is also one of the best areas on the route for a café or pub stop.
Old Bond Street
From Green Park station, walk towards Piccadilly Circus, pass The Ritz, and turn left just before Burlington Arcade to reach Old Bond Street. This is London’s luxury shopping street, and the shopfronts are the attraction: Cartier, Ralph Lauren, Dior and Chanel all dress their buildings for Christmas.
The street’s own lights usually go on in mid-November. Bond Street has not announced its 2026 date yet, but last year it was 12 November. Burlington Arcade and Fortnum & Mason are also worth the short detour, because both are close by on Piccadilly.
Mayfair
After that, carry on into Mayfair for some of the most photographed Christmas fronts in London. For example, Annabel’s on Berkeley Square covers its facade in a new design each year, and the streets around it are full of cafés and restaurants with their own decorations.
If you have seen the Ever After Garden of illuminated white roses in Grosvenor Square in past years, note that for 2026 it is in Duke of York Square in Chelsea, opening on 5 November.
South Molton Street
South Molton Street is a pedestrian shopping lane running between Bond Street station and Mayfair. Its arches of lights make it one of the prettiest short stretches on the route. It also brings you out by Oxford Street, close to Selfridges.
Winter by the River
This one is not on the walking route, but it is worth a separate trip. Winter by the River (previously called Christmas by the River) is a free market of wooden cabins along the Thames at London Bridge City, between Hay’s Galleria and Tower Bridge. Expect food, mulled wine and gift stalls, with Tower Bridge lit up behind them. For 2026, listings show it running from 12 November to 4 January 2027.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland returns to Hyde Park from Thursday 19 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, every day except Christmas Day. It closes at 10pm. Opening time is 10am on most days but later on some weekdays, so check your date before you go.
Everyone needs a pre-booked entry ticket, including children. For 2026, entry costs £1 off-peak, £5.50 standard and £8.25 peak, with booking fees included. However, if you spend £25 or more online on rides, attractions or food in one booking, your entry is free. See the official tickets guide for the latest details.
Inside you will find the Christmas market as well as rides, an ice rink, circus shows and plenty of food and drink. Book ahead, because popular time slots sell out.
Your free walking route map
The map below links the main stops in one walk: Fortnum & Mason, Old Bond Street, Annabel’s, Mayfair, Grosvenor Square, Bond Street station, Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden. Allow a couple of hours, and more if you stop for photos and food.
Tips for seeing the Christmas lights in London
- Go on a weekday or early in the evening. The streets are quieter then, so photos are much easier.
- Follow the map from one end. For example, starting at Fortnum & Mason and finishing in Covent Garden saves doubling back.
- Dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes. After all, it is a long walk and December evenings are cold.
- Use public transport. Green Park, Piccadilly Circus, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Leicester Square and Covent Garden stations are all on or near the route, so you can start or finish anywhere.
- Stop for a warm drink. For instance, Covent Garden, Soho and the side streets off Regent Street have plenty of cafés.
What to eat at Christmas in London
- Mulled wine: warm spiced red wine, sold at every market.
- Mince pies: small sweet pastries filled with dried fruit and spices.
- Roast chestnuts: a classic winter snack from street vendors.
- Christmas pudding: a rich dried-fruit dessert, often served with brandy sauce.
- Gingerbread: as biscuits or decorated houses.
- Pigs in blankets: sausages wrapped in bacon, a Christmas favourite.
- Hot chocolate: topped with whipped cream or marshmallows.
- Festive sausage rolls: savoury pastries with seasonal fillings.
London Christmas lights 2026: FAQs
When are the London Christmas lights switched on in 2026?
Carnaby Street is on 4 November, Regent Street on 5 November and Covent Garden on 12 November. Oxford Street and Bond Street have not announced their 2026 dates yet, but we expect early and mid-November.
Are the Christmas lights in London free to see?
Yes. All the street displays are free. The markets at Leicester Square and London Bridge are also free to enter, while Hyde Park Winter Wonderland needs a pre-booked ticket, from £1.
How long do the lights stay up?
Most displays usually stay up until the first few days of January.
Where is the best place to start?
Green Park or Piccadilly Circus station both work well. Then start at Fortnum & Mason and finish in Covent Garden, as on our map.
More Christmas trips
Planning a festive trip beyond London? Read our guide to the Christmas markets in Colmar and Strasbourg, or browse our short city breaks in England.
