London Christmas Lights, Markets & Festive Things to Do 2026

London is a brilliant city to visit in the run-up to Christmas, with lots going on. You’ll find plenty of Christmas markets, festive decorations, Christmas lights, and special events. I’ve visited London over the festive period a few times, including most recently and when I lived in the city.

The lights and decorations throughout the city are rather special to see. These are best seen on a walk through the city after dark.

Disclosure! Keep in mind that some links in these posts are affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may earn a small commission (for which I’m extremely grateful) at no extra cost to you. Thanks for visiting!

When Do Christmas Lights and Decorations Turn On in London?

As a general rule, London Christmas lights start switching on from early to mid-November and usually stay up until early January. Exact dates change each year, so check official pages before planning a trip. In 2026, the earliest lights to switch on are Carnaby Street on 4th November, followed by Regent Street on 5th November. I prefer visiting in December when everything is in full swing, and it’s actually Advent.

Christmas Lights and Decorations in London

London offers many special things to see and do over the festive period. This is in addition to year-round tourist attractions.

Oxford Street and Bond Street Lights

The Oxford Street area is synonymous with shopping; it’s a top place to purchase presents. They put genuine effort into decorating the street for Christmas, both inside and outside the stores. It is a lovely place to have an evening walk to see the lights.

Carnaby Street Christmas Lights

One of my favourite places to see the Christmas lights is Carnaby Street in Soho. The lights here are special and uniquely styled. It’s also a splendid area to shop in smaller shops or enjoy a drink out.

The street entrances are particularly attractive; in 2022, I visited, and it featured the tagline ‘Carnaby Celebrates’; it changes each year. These were great to see and very photogenic. The decorations in Carnaby Street change each year and are possibly the most unique in the city. In 2026, the Carnaby Street lights are turned on on the 4th of November.

Covent Garden Christmas Decorations

Covent Garden is a trendy area to visit. It features historic and modern markets. The area has plenty of great places to dine, plus fashion shops and other retailers, making it ideal for shopping or a festive night out.

The Covent Garden area is beautifully decorated during the festive season and offers a unique shopping experience. It’s an ideal place to buy gifts or enjoy a drink or meal at one of the many nearby spots. The market features a big tree and lights throughout the market and nearby streets. You can see these from the 12th November 2026.

Regent Street Christmas Lights

Regent Street is a major hub for festive shopping and features festive lights. This can get very busy in the evening when the decorations are turned on. The central reservation on Regent Street seemed popular, with people taking photos of the spectacle. You can see the lights from 5th November 2026 when they are turned on.

Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree and Lights

During the Christmas period, Trafalgar Square has a tree and a festive market. The lights at night are lovely and really enhance the area, especially the fountains. They sell the usual festive goods, including food and warm alcoholic drinks like mulled wine.

Chelsea and Sloane Square

We usually stay in Chelsea during the festive period, and Sloane Square is usually pretty cool, with lights along King’s Road and a nicely decorated square which hosted the Ralph Lauren Holiday experience last year. Peter Jones department store is also a good place to pop in for some festive shopping.

The Duke of York Square has fantastic decorations, especially at the entrance to the Saatchi Gallery. Bonus: the square includes the Chelsea Grocer, a top place for festive supplies and delicious food. Most of the good stuff is near Sloane Square Tube Station, so it’s easy to get to.

St Pancras Christmas Tree

Another cool set of decorations to see is in St Pancras Station. The Christmas tree near the Eurostar entrance is wonderful. The exact 2026 dates and the tree theme haven’t been confirmed yet, but the station usually has its tree up from early November to early January. The 2023 tree in the photo featured a literary theme and a winding staircase with 270 shelves holding roughly 3800 books. These books are hand-painted and feature some classic titles.

Paddington Station Christmas Decorations

The train station I used most often when visiting was Paddington Station. They add a few nice festive touches over Christmas. They have a pretty tree with decorations and often have some great carol singers to set the vibe.

The Strand Christmas Lights

Another road with pretty lights is The Strand. We stopped by on the way to watch Six: The Musical at the Vaudeville Theatre. The area by the Savoy Hotel was rather pleasant, despite the pouring rain.

Tower Bridge and the Tower of London

At Christmas, the Tower of London is well worth a mooch around, with some decorations. It’s a top attraction to visit year-round. The area looks great after dark, too, and fewer people are around as darkness falls. It can also be quite spooky. Tower Bridge, all lit up after dark, is also special. The path between the Tower of London and Tower Bridge is great.

Motcomb Street, Belgravia Decorations

Motcomb St in Belgravia had some nice decorations and lovely bars with outdoor seating. It’s all rather a well-to-do area, so it’s a bit pricey.

Many of the local shops embraced the festive spirit, displaying wonderful Christmas decorations outside. This includes Neill Strain, a florist.

Christmas Markets and Festive Food in London

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park

A fun Christmas activity is visiting Winter Wonderland. Winter Wonderland is a temporary amusement park in Hyde Park. There are lots of funfair rides and plenty of entertainment, including a circus.

The Bavarian Village also has stalls selling festive food and drinks, where we enjoyed bratwurst, German beers, and hot chocolate. I really enjoyed a few nights out in Winter Wonderland, especially the epic rides that take you high above the city.

For 2026, it is open from 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 but closed on Christmas Day.

Chelsea Winter Village and Illuminations

Located on the grounds of Royal Hospital Chelsea are Chelsea Winter Village and Illuminations. In 2026, it is listed from Wednesday 25 November to Monday 28 December. We visited in December and enjoyed the experience. The site is home to the famous Chelsea Pensioners and is rather scenic. Add lights and music to the garden, and it becomes a magical walk, especially after dark.

In addition to the illuminations, the garden has food and drink stalls, a few rides, and fun activities like curling and bingo. The Chelsea Pensioners also sing carols in their distinctive red uniforms. Village admission is free, but Illuminations requires tickets. For opening times and prices, visit their website.

Battersea Power Station

We enjoyed some festive fun at Battersea Power Station after a boat ride up the River Thames. The power station is great for shopping, with lots of decorations inside and places to enjoy a festive meal. Outside, there was a big tree, an ice rink, rides and some food stalls.

The 2026 ice rink is open 6 November–3 January.

Borough Market at Christmas

Another nice place to visit at Christmas is Borough Market, which has some lovely decorations. They have a big tree and some lights. The main reason to visit Borough Market is for the food. It has some delicious options and is one of my favourite places to pop in for a beer and lunch.

Victorian Christmas Village at Tower Bridge

While we walked to catch the winter sunset at Tower Bridge, we found the Victorian Christmas Village just downstream, near St Katharine Docks. The Victorian Christmas Village has some great stalls for gifts, food, and drink, and we found it vibrant but not crowded. Tower Bridge made for a pretty special backdrop, too.

Their 2026 Dates Are November 7, 2026 – January 3, 2027.

Seven Dials Market

Seven Dials Market is in Covent Garden on Earlham Street. This is a brilliant place to dine out and enjoy some street food. It has pretty decorations inside to see while you eat. On our visit, we enjoyed some Indian street food and some festive beers.

Old Spitalfields Market at Christmas

Old Spitalfields Market in East London is another good place for Christmas shopping, with independent stalls selling clothing, gifts, jewellery and artwork. The market is nicely decorated and mostly covered, which is handy in the colder months. There are also plenty of places to get some food or a drink. Opposite is the Ten Bells pub, a nice place with links to Jack the Ripper.

Leicester Square Christmas Market

Leicester Square hosts a Christmas market in the centre of the West End. When I visited, stalls sold seasonal food, drinks, and gifts. We enjoyed a bratwurst here, then a beer at the vibrant Moon Under Water pub. The market is also close to Chinatown, Soho, and Covent Garden, making it handy for a Christmas night out.

The 2026 market has a new ice rink, running from 31 October to 3 January.

Christmas Shows, Concerts and Nights Out

Night Out in Soho

Soho is a top place to go out year-round. The vibe and decorations make it even more so in December. We enjoyed visiting a few pubs in the area and taking in the decorations along the way.

Watch a Concert

Various music venues across the capital host seasonal specials. My latest concert was Classical Spectacular. It was at the iconic Albert Hall, a perfect venue for classical music. The music was all well-known and very enjoyable.

Catch a Show in the West End

The West End, including Leicester Square, is a fantastic place to see a show. The festive period is one of the West End’s busiest times of year. There are also many festive specials on at the theatres in the area.

It’s not my thing; however, my wife enjoyed a performance of Six at the Vaudeville Theatre on the Strand. Apparently, it was amazing and tells the story of Henry VIII’s wives as a musical. This was a perfect time for me to do a tweet-up with Berkeley Square Barbarian for a few beers in Soho.

Somerset House Lights and Ice Rink

Somerset House is a fun place to visit in winter. Somerset House is nicely decorated and a cool place to hang out. The ice rink is open from 11 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. My highlight was the tree and colourful decorations on the stunning building. You can book tickets via their website.

All Souls Langham Place Carols

At the north end of Regent Street is All Souls Langham Place, a nicely decorated church worth the walk. It is a popular church for carol services throughout Advent. You can find out what’s on in 2026 on their website.

Is London Worth Visiting in December?

London has a good atmosphere in the run-up to Christmas and is well worth visiting. The festive lights are fantastic across the city. It can get a bit crazy in the shops; however, that’s the price of the excellent choices available.

There are also lots of shows to see during the Christmas period. I prefer classical music, and the Albert Hall usually has something special to watch.