London's best Christmas lights are the angels over Regent Street, Oxford Street's canopy of lights, Carnaby Street's themed installation, Covent Garden's giant tree and mistletoe, and the Christmas at Kew light trail. For a drive-through-style view, take an open-top Christmas lights bus tour. Most switch on in early to mid-November.
Glowing angels arching over London's grandest shopping street.
Regent Street's illuminated spirits of Christmas stretch from Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus, one of the city's best-loved displays.
Some Saturdays in December the street goes traffic-free.
Good to know: Look down the curve of the street from Piccadilly Circus.
Regent Street, London W1B
A mile of lights over Europe's busiest shopping street.
Oxford Street's lights run from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road, with the department-store windows of Selfridges and John Lewis along the way.
Go on a weekday evening to avoid the worst crowds.
Good to know: Selfridges' Christmas windows are worth the detour.
Oxford Street, London W1
A different themed light installation every year.
Carnaby Street's Christmas display changes each year and is one of the most photographed in London.
The surrounding Soho lanes are full of boutiques and bars.
Good to know: Kingly Court, just off Carnaby, is good for a festive drink.
Carnaby Street, London W1F
One of London's biggest trees, plus giant baubles and mistletoe.
Covent Garden's piazza is decorated with a huge real tree, oversized baubles and mistletoe chandeliers in the market building.
Street performers add to the scene.
Good to know: Stand under the mistletoe chandeliers in the Market Building.
Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 8RF
London's best Christmas light trail, through the botanic gardens.
Christmas at Kew lights up trees, glasshouses and lakes along a trail of about 3km, ending with a show at the Palm House.
Recent seasons have run from mid-November to early January.
Good to know: Book early for December weekends; it sells out.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE
Norway's annual gift, lit in early December.
The Norwegian spruce in Trafalgar Square is strung with simple white lights in the Norwegian style and lit at a public ceremony.
Carol singers perform beneath it most evenings.
Good to know: Combine it with the National Gallery, open late on Fridays.
Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
A festive light trail in the grounds of the Royal Hospital.
The grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea host a winter light trail alongside a Christmas village, one of the few light trails in central London.
Check the 2026 dates and tickets online.
Good to know: Pair it with a walk along the King's Road.
Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4SR
See the lights from an open-top or heated bus — London's answer to a drive-through.
Several sightseeing companies run evening Christmas lights tours through the West End, past Regent Street, Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden.
Good with children or if you'd rather not walk.
Good to know: Sit upstairs at the front for the best views.
Departs from central London, WC2
Most of the big West End displays switch on in early to mid-November and stay up until early January. Check each street's 2026 switch-on date.
Walk from Oxford Circus down Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus, detour into Carnaby Street, then continue to Leicester Square, Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. It takes about an hour.
Not in central London. The easiest way to see the lights from a vehicle is an open-top or heated bus tour of the West End lights.
The street lights in the West End are free. Light trails such as Christmas at Kew are ticketed.