London Christmas lights switch-on dates and times 2026
London's Christmas lights go on in stages from the start of November through to December, each one organised by the area's own business district or landlord. Here is what is happening in each area this year, and when the lights will go on.
Leicester Square
The star-shaped lights above Leicester Square, the first major display to go on in London this year. Switching on Sunday 1 November 2026.
#FLODown: The first major display to go on in London this year, delivered by Discover Leicester Square. The star-shaped illuminations celebrate the square's heritage as London's home of film and entertainment, and they will stay up until 6 January. Skate Leicester Square, an outdoor ice rink, will be open alongside a festive market serving warming food and seasonal drinks, with local businesses offering discounts on skating sessions.
Date: Sunday 1 November 2026. Location: Leicester Square, London WC2H 7NA. Time: to be confirmed. Price: free.
St Martin's Lane
The St Martin's Lane lights, a tribute to the Theatreland streets around them. Switching on Tuesday 3 November 2026.
#FLODown: The lights here are a tribute to Theatreland and are delivered by Art of London, following on from the Leicester Square switch-on two days earlier. The evening will have a performance from the cast of Into the Woods, a festive choir and seasonal bites. The illuminations will stay up until 6 January.
Date: Tuesday 3 November 2026. Location: St Martin's Lane, London WC2N. Time: lights on at 4.45pm. Price: free.
Carnaby Street
Press Play on Christmas, Carnaby Street's 90s-inspired installation for 2026. Switching on Wednesday 4 November 2026.
#FLODown: Carnaby Street will unveil its Christmas lights on 4 November, with this year's installation taking its reference from the nostalgia of the 90s. The display is called Press Play on Christmas, and free registration is open for a Switch-On Pass, which gives additional offers on the night and across the season.
Date: Wednesday 4 November 2026. Location: Carnaby Street, Soho, London W1F 9PS. Time: to be confirmed. Price: free, with free registration for the Switch-On Pass. thisissoho.co.uk
Regent Street and St James's
The Spirit of Christmas angels above Regent Street, back for their tenth year. Switching on Thursday 5 November 2026.
#FLODown: The Spirit of Christmas angels will be back for their tenth year, with new additions that have been kept quiet. The road will be closed to traffic for the switch-on event, and Hamleys will reveal its Christmas windows at 5pm. The illuminated Wishing Tree will also return to St James's Market.
Date: Thursday 5 November 2026. Location: Regent Street, London W1B. Time: event from 5pm to 9pm. Price: free.
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge Lights. Courtesty of Matt Alexander PA Media Assignments.
#FLODown: The lights here are made from aluminium and 3,000 recycled plastic bottles, using 12,000 low-energy LED bulbs. The design references the area's architecture and the nearby Hyde Park Barracks, home to the Household Cavalry, with equestrian details worked into it.
Date: Tuesday 10 November 2026. Location: Brompton Road and Sloane Street, London SW1X. Time: to be confirmed. Price: free.
Old Spitalfields Market
The historic market hall at Old Spitalfields lit for Christmas. Switching on Wednesday 11 November 2026.
#FLODown: The market will begin its Christmas season with free family activities from 4pm, including face painting, Christmas crafts and an elf balloon modeller. Children from the Hackney branch of Anna Fiorentini Theatre and Film School will perform from 4pm to 5pm, followed by the House of Le Touche Gospel Choir from 5.30pm, and a trio from The Spitz will close the evening. Traders and shops will be open through the day with mulled wine and street food from the market's independent vendors.
Date: Wednesday 11 November 2026. Location: Old Spitalfields Market, Horner Square, London E1 6EW. Time: 4pm to 7.30pm, lights on at 6pm. Price: free.
Covent Garden
The gold bells, baubles and mirror balls in the Covent Garden Market Building. Switching on Thursday 12 November 2026.
#FLODown: Covent Garden will switch on its Christmas lights on 12 November, with 300,000 LED lights across the streets, 40 gigantic bells with bows, 12 giant baubles and eight spinning mirror balls in the Market Building, and a 50ft Norwegian spruce on the West Piazza. New for 2026 is The Forest of Theatre, a collection of Christmas trees in the Market Building themed on West End productions including Mamma Mia!, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Six, Hadestown and My Neighbour Totoro. The hourly snowfall on the West Piazza returns through December, with performances from choirs and musicals every Thursday from the switch-on.
Date: Thursday 12 November 2026. Location: Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 8RF. Time: to be confirmed. Price: free. coventgarden.london.
Bond Street
Bond Street's Crown Jewel lights, in their final year before a new design arrives in 2027. Switching on Thursday 12 November 2026.
#FLODown: Bond Street will switch on its Crown Jewel Christmas lights on 12 November, marking the start of the shopping season on one of London's most luxurious festive streets. A live brass band will lead a special countdown before the lights illuminate the street. This is the last year for the current scheme, with an entirely new design to be unveiled for Christmas 2027, and the 80,000 energy-efficient LED lights are reusable, recyclable and made with long-life materials.
Date: Thursday 12 November 2026. Location: New Bond Street and Old Bond Street, London W1S. Time: event from 4pm to 8pm, lights on at 7pm. Price: free. bondstreet.co.uk
Christmas at Kew
Palm House light show. Image courtesy of Kew.
#FLODown: The UK's original festive light trail returns for the season, a 3km route through the gardens after dark with new artistic commissions and world premiere installations alongside returning favourites. The Pealight Tree will be back along Holly Walk, decorated by Kew's own tree team, with the Temperate House light show and a chandelier and fountain display on the Palm House Pond. New for this year are adult-only evenings on 3 and 9 December, plus quiet access sessions on selected dates.
Date: Friday 13 November 2026 - 3 January 2027, on selected dates. Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London TW9 3AE. Time: entry slots from 4.20pm, closing at 10pm. Price: adults from £36.50. £23 for children. Book now
Fleet Street Quarter
The Ludgate Circus lights, with Dennis and Gnasher projections new for 2026. Switching on Wednesday 18 November 2026.
#FLODown: The Ludgate Circus lights will be switched on with a celebration of games, food and live music, and a larger lighting display than last year. Launching the same evening is the Dennis and Gnasher Mega Mischief Trail, 12 artist-designed statue installations placed across the quarter in collaboration with Beano and Wild in Art, marking the 75th anniversary of Dennis the Menace. Themed projections of Dennis and Gnasher will appear on the lighting display at Ludgate Circus, and the trail will be in place until 15 January 2027.
Date: Wednesday 18 November 2026. Location: Ludgate Circus, London EC4. Time: to be confirmed. Price: free.
Greenwich
The lantern parade through Greenwich on the night of the switch-on. Switching on Wednesday 18 November 2026.
#FLODown: Children from local primary schools will parade handmade lanterns through the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College and across Cutty Sark Gardens, finishing at the Georgian market building where the lights go on. Live entertainment will continue in the market afterwards.
Date: Wednesday 18 November 2026. Location: Greenwich Market, London SE10 9HZ. Time: lights on at 5pm, entertainment until 6pm. Price: free. visitgreenwich.org.uk
Leadenhall Market
#FLODown: The Victorian walkways will be dressed with Christmas garlands and decorations, with a 26ft Christmas tree beneath the atrium. A festive light tunnel in Beehive Passage will be lit with Victorian-style lights. Live music and a flurry of snow will add to the atmosphere as the market lights up for the start of the festive season in the City.
Date: Thursday 19 November 2026. Location: Leadenhall Market, Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 1LT. Time: entertainment from 5.15pm, lights on at 6pm. Price: free. leadenhallmarket.co.uk.
Belgravia
Elizabeth Street lit for the Belgravia Winter Market. Switching on Sunday 22 November 2026.
#FLODown: A festive trail will be lit across the neighbourhood, with installations on Motcomb Street, Elizabeth Street, Pimlico Road, Eccleston Yards and Halkin Arcade. The switch-on itself will be in Eccleston Yards, in front of a 15ft Christmas tree. The Belgravia Winter Market will be open on Elizabeth Street for the day, with 20 decorated chalets selling gifts from independent makers.
Date: Sunday 22 November 2026. Location: Elizabeth Street and Eccleston Yards, Belgravia, London SW1W. Time: market from 11am to 7pm, lights on at 5pm. Price: free.
Oxford Street
Oxford Street's stars, joined this year by Harry Potter themed designs.
#FLODown: The 5,000 white stars will be joined this year by a series of illuminated designs themed around Harry Potter, through a partnership between HBO Max and New West End Company. It marks the opening of the Harry Potter Shop Oxford Street on 4 November and the Christmas Day premiere of the HBO series Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The switch-on date had not been announced at the time of writing.
Date: to be confirmed. Location: Oxford Street, London W1. Time: to be confirmed. Price: free.
Trafalgar Square
The Norwegian spruce in Trafalgar Square, gifted by the City of Oslo each year.
#FLODown: The tree is gifted to London by the City of Oslo each year in thanks for British support during the Second World War, and it is usually the last of the big lights to go on. The ceremony is traditionally held on the first Thursday in December, which falls on 3 December this year, though the date had not been confirmed at the time of writing.
Date: to be confirmed, expected Thursday 3 December 2026. Location: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN. Time: ceremony usually from 5pm, lights on at 6pm. Price: free. london.gov.uk
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