By Sophie Cross
Lockdown may be upon us but London’s Christmas lights will not be dimmed. They will be spreading Christmas cheer, joy and positivity throughout the streets of the capital. So wrap up warm and take yourself on a tour of all of the lights, or just swoon over them on Instagram from the comfort of your sofa.
Oxford Street’s Heroes
There’s no big celeb switch-on this year but instead Oxford Street has treated us to their dazzling lights three weeks earlier than usual (from Monday 2nd November). Inspired by the acts of kindness, the silent helpers and the hidden heroes of 2020, there is a special poem displayed across the 27 light curtains that make their way down the road. Oxford Street is asking you to nominate your Hero of 2020 for them to be in with a chance of seeing their name in lights and receive a £500 Oxford Street gift card.
Regent Street has the Spirit of Christmas
From Saturday 14th November to Tuesday 5th January we’ll be revisited by the beautiful Spirit of Christmas display, soaring across Regent Street’s skies. Made up of 300,000 sparkling lights it is the largest Christmas light display in London and not one to be missed.
Covent Garden and Seven Dials
Covent Garden’s Piazza promises to look as spectacular as ever from Tuesday 10th November. The hand-picked 60-foot Christmas tree will be decorated with 30,000 glowing lights and there will be another 115,000 across the market to feast your eyes on. While you’re there, pop up to Seven Dials to see the wonderful displays continued across the capital.
Choose Love on Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street has partnered with Choose Love this year which is a fantastic charity from Help Refugees. There is a neon pink theme of positivity with giant words displayed in lightboxes down the street as a tribute to the strength and unity of Londoners during 2020.
Christmas at Kew Gardens
It’s the most magical time of year at Kew Gardens when the trees and trails turn into a Christmas spectacular of twinkling lights and illuminated tunnels. This year, the magnificent Rose Garden will feature for the first time. It’s the perfect outdoor winter evening event and is planned to run from Wednesday 18th November to Sunday 3rd January with additional entrances, safety measures and time slots in place to keep you safe.
Wembley Park is United in Light
Wembley Park is running it’s second-ever Winterfest. A free family-friendly light festival with illuminations, immersive displays and mirrored light corridors to make everything seem a little bit brighter. This year the theme will be ‘United in Light’ and it will run from Thursday 26th November to Sunday 17th January. Make sure you don’t miss London’s tallest LED Christmas tree.
Colourful Nights at Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf won’t be having their usual winter lights festival this year but for the whole of December and January, it will be lit up with nine bright and brilliant light installations which we can’t wait to catch a glimpse of.