Credit: Alexey Fedorenko, via Shutterstock
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Now, while December may not be here yet, we’re well and truly ready for London’s Christmas lights to return this winter. Many have already been strung up over our streets – and some have even already been turned on! That’s right, folks, November is here, and Christmas decor has arrived.
London looks absolutely STUNNING when it’s decked out in fairy lights and glowing installations. So, we thought we’d put together a guide to when and where you can see the city’s charming Christmas light displays.
What’s the best time to see London’s Christmas lights?
While this is a bit of a boring answer, the best time to see the lights is in early December.
This is because some displays don’t illuminate until late November or even early December. So if you can’t come into London often, and you want to see ALL of the Christmas lights, December is the best time to visit.
However, it is worth noting that by mid-to-late-November (around the 20th), most of the lights will have been turned on. So even if they’re not all up yet, there will still be some pretty gorgeous displays to check out.
Credit: Sven Hansche, via Shutterstock When do the Christmas lights turn on?
While some of London’s Christmas lights have already started turning on, others have yet to even reveal any details. B
But we’ve put our thinking caps on and looked back into the past to make an educated guess for the other displays. So, below, you’ll find confirmed dates and informed estimates for when the Christmas lights will start shining down on London.
Credot: David Parry/PA Media Assignments.
Oxford Street is leading the charge this year with the earliest Christmas lights switch-on in the city. They’re already shining brightly above the streets, having flipped the switch on November 3. The display is lighting up the area with a twinkling display that utilises 300,000 LED lightbulbs, which save around 75% more energy compared to standard bulbs.
2. King’s Cross – see them now 
Credit: King’s Cross Coal Drops Yard
Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross transforms every year for Christmas, with lighting installations, public art, and an impressive Christmas tree. This year, they’ve brought back an impressive 50-foot traditional Christmas tree wrapped in thousands of twinkling low-power lights. And over in Granary Square, they’ll be unveiling a brand new 60-foot Christmas tree on November 12. But otherwise, the lights are already lit up, and the area is glowing with festive cheer.
3. West End Christmas Lights – see them now 
Credit: St. Martin’s Lane Lights
The West End loves a bit of glamour, glitz, and bright lights. So naturally, they were among the first to get into the Christmas spirit with some festive displays. The area-spanning lights are a relative newcomer to the scene, having first turned on just three years ago, but they’ve become fast favourites. You’ll find glimmering displays stretching across St Martin’s Lane, Leicester Square, and Piccadilly, drawing inspiration from their surroundings.
Credit: Alexey Fedorenko, via Shutterstock
The iconic Christmas angels have lit up once more along Regent Street for the Christmas season. 300,000 LED lights are sparkling over the area across the festive period, all the way up until January 4, 2026. It’s a special year for the lights, too, marking the 10th anniversary of the iconic ‘Spirit of Christmas’ display.
Credit: Simon Jacobs/PA Media Assignments
This world-famous shopping district in London always has a STUNNING display of Christmas lights each winter. And 2025 is no different. This year’s display features components from last year’s lights that have been repurposed into an all-new sight.
Credit: Covent Garden
One of London’s most stunning Christmas displays – comprising lights, festive decor, and a towering tree – can be found in Covent Garden. And they’re bracing for Christmas already, with the lights turning on from November 12.
Credit: Marylebone Village
Marylebone Village will go all out for their lights switch-on, with a big ol’ event on the day. They’ll have celebrations running through the day on November 12, before the festivity gets cranked up a notch as the lights turn on in the evening.
8. Savile Row (from November 12) 
Photo: Aaron Chown/PA Wire
London’s most fashion-forward street debuted its sartorial new Christmas lights back in 2023, and they’re bringing back the glimmering display for 2025. The display is inspired by the street’s tailoring pedigree, featuring glimmering suspended shears; the lights will switch on on November 12.
Credit: PR
This historic London market will transform into a festive winter wonderland as Christmas approaches. They’ll switch on their lights on November 12, kicking off a festive programme for winter featuring everything from late-night Christmas Shopping Wednesdays to a Kids Festive Treasure Trail, and more.
Credit: Bond Street
Here’s a tres chic part of London that transforms every year for the Christmas season. As well as the stunning displays on the shopfronts themselves, Bond Street’s, erm, street receives a dazzling makeover. And this year, they’ll be flipping the switch for the lights on November 12. Expect a “spectacular display inspired by The Crown Jewels themselves”.
Credit: Lucy Young
One of London’s most stunning locations also puts on a gorgeous display come Christmas time. They’ll be lighting up the tree (and the rest of the market building) from November 13 onwards. Be sure to visit that evening for a special celebration, with the Lady Mayor of London in attendance to switch on the Christmas lights.
Credit: chrisdorney, via Shutterstock
The Churchill Arms is a strong contender for the city’s prettiest pub. But it’s definitely the shoo-in winner for London’s most Christmassy pub. Every year, they go all out with an astonishing array of lights and Christmas trees decorating the pub (we’re talking multiple Christmas trees stuck to the roof and walls). And this year, they’ll have their decorations up and shining merrily from November 13 onwards.
13. St Katharine Docks (from November 13) 
Credit: St Katharine Docks
A magical waterside celebration of the festive season will plop down at St Katharine Docks this winter, from November 13. The historic Marble Quay will transform into a winter wonderland featuring a towering Christmas tree outside the Dickens Inn and maritime-themed Christmas lights adorned with charming motifs and lanterns. This year, visitors can also walk through a larger-than-life illuminated boat installation. How’s that for a super special Christmassy snap?
14. Kew Gardens (from November 14) 
©Raymond Gubbay Ltd – Richard Haughton
Does anyone do a more impressive display of lights for Christmas than Kew Gardens? We’re hard-pressed to think of anywhere else that shines quite as bright. And they’ll be back with their iconic Christmas at Kew light trail from November 14 onwards. Don’t delay – grab a ticket before it sells out!
15. Chelsea (from November 15) 
Photo: Christmas in Chelsea/Royal Hospital Chelsea
Chelsea puts on an expectedly charming Christmas lights display each year, which often falls on roughly the same time of year. Each year, they switch on their Christmas lights on the third Saturday of November. That means this year’s display will be twinkling merrily down on us from November 15 onwards. And naturally, they’ll be having a big street party to accompany the switch-on.
16. Belgravia (from November 16) 
Credit: Belgravia; Grosvenor Estate Management Limited
In a slight departure from previous years, Belgravia’s tour de force of a light show will move from early November to the middle of the month. But you won’t be able to miss it even if you try. That’s because the display stretches each year across Motcomb Street, Elizabeth Street, Pimlico Road, Eccleston Yards, and Halkin Arcade. And they’re throwing a party on November 16 to celebrate the lights turning on.
Credit: Tunde Valiszka
They do things a little differently in Soho around Christmas time, with a heartwarming display that might be our favourite in the city. Scattered around the area, you’ll find Christmas lights designed by school children from the local area. And this year they’ll be illuminated for the festive season from November 19.
18. The Shard (from November 25) 
Credit: Matt Alexander/PA Media Assignments
London’s tallest Christmas lights will shine down over the city each night from November 25 onwards. And they’ve got an all-new lights display for 2025 with a heart-warming story. The display has been inspired by amateur artist Gustavo Zuluaga Villegas, who has been part of the housekeeping team at the Shard for eight years. Upon discovering his talent, the Shard commissioned a special painting from him, which is the basis of this year’s Christmas light show.
Credit: Pajor Pawel, Shutterstock
Norway’s annual Christmas present to London is typically one of the last displays to turn on in London. This year, the tree will arrive to be decorated and lit up with fairy lights in December. It will then shine brightly from December 4 onwards.
Photo: Mickey LF Lee
These charming Christmas lights drew inspiration last year from the theatrical history of the iconic Savoy Theatre. Shining down over the Strand and Villiers Street, the display featured over 93,000 glittering LED lights showing fairy figures flying through the air with glowing trails of light behind them. We’re hoping they’ll return for 2025 – and if they do, we reckon it’ll happen around the start of the third week of November.
21. Connaught Village (date tbc)
Image: @connaughtvillage, via IG
Connaught Village is always on hand with some festive cheer to brighten up the dark nights in London. And we expect this year will be no different! We predict they’ll string up the lights and switch them on around the middle of November.
22. Mayfair (date tbc) 
Photo: Doug Peters/PA Wire
If past years are anything to go by, Mayfair’s Christmas lights often light up hot on the heels of nearby Belgravia’s display. But we’re not sure what to expect this year! Usually, Belgravia is early, and Mayfair is too. But this year, Belgravia is lighting up from November 16; so who knows when Mayfair will illuminate their display? Our best guess is that they’ll stick with an early November date for 2025. Could this be the year that Mayfair beats Belgravia to the punch switch-on?!
So, there you have it: all the confirmed dates and best guesses for when we can expect to see London’s Christmas lights return in 2025. Time to figure out how to work your phone while wearing gloves so that you’re all prepped to grab some festive shots. And don’t forget the mulled wine!