Guide to the Top 10 Christmas Lights in London

Get yourself in the festive spirit and see the best Christmas lights London has to offer with our guide

If you’re visiting London over the holidays, you will never be far from the festivities. The city has been draped in Christmas lights, with swooping angels and giant baubles lining some of the busiest streets in London. From Carnaby Street to Covent Garden, Leadenhall Market to London Zoo - we have the top ten Christmas lights you have to see in London this December. Head out after dark and get into the Christmas spirit with these beautiful light displays. 1. Carnaby Street

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Shoppers will be asking themselves just that as they walk under the Christmas lights of London’s trendiest street. Carnaby Street has dedicated its iconic light show to the Queen to celebrate the release of the recent Freddie Mercury biopic. Freddie fans will have until 4 January 2019 to see the lyrics of Bohemian Rhapsody light up Carnaby’s 14 streets. The nearest underground stations are Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus. 2. Oxford Street

The Oxford Street Christmas Lights are in their fifty-ninth year - and they just keep getting bigger, better and brighter. This year, the ‘Christmas is calling’ display features 750,000 LED lights and 1,778 baubles that will light up Oxford Street until 6 January 2019. The nearest underground station is Oxford Circus, and if you’re nearby - why not visit the Handel & Hendrix museum? 3. Covent Garden

Covent Garden is oozing Christmas, with forty mistletoe chandeliers and 100,000 Christmas lights hanging over the iconic piazza. And if that isn’t enough to tempt you, there is also a huge Christmas tree and a sparkly reindeer statue on display until 2 January 2019. The nearest underground station is Covent Garden, but the nearby Leicester Square station is a lot less crowded. 4. Regent Street

One of the most famous displays of Christmas lights in London, Regent Street has been lit up every Christmas since 1954, and this year is no different. The iconic shopping destination has been given an angelic makeover this Christmas, with huge angels floating up high, while shoppers buy Christmas gifts below. The stunning lights will be lining entire the street until 7 January 2019. The nearest underground stations are Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus. 5. Bond Street

One of London’s most luxurious streets has had a Christmas makeover - and it’s just as decadent as you’d expect. Giant, white peacock feathers are draped over Bond Street’s designer shops - in homage to the Bond Street Loungers of the 18th century - nicknamed the ‘peacocks’ of their day. With 250,000 bulbs used and a massive £1 million cost, Bond Street Christmas Lights are unmissable - and you have until 2 January 2019. The nearest underground station is Bond Street. 6. Marylebone

Head north from Bond Street and not only will you find Marylebone High Street decked out in Christmas lights, but many of the shops along the road are hosting Christmas events and promotions. Get into the Christmas spirit at Marylebone this year, with the festivities running until 26 December 2018. The nearest underground stations are Baker Street and Regent’s Park. 7. Christmas at Leadenhall Market

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the City, as a 20-foot tree and festive music arrive in Leadenhall Market. The market’s restaurants and bars will be selling mulled wine and mince pies, making Leadenhall Market the go-to place for festive celebrations, until 31 December 2018. Harry Potter fans will especially enjoy celebrating Christmas in Leadenhall Market - they might recognise it as the set of the one and only Diagon Alley. If you’re spending the day in this area of London, you can’t miss the Tower of London and Monument. The nearest underground stations are Bank, Monument and Aldgate. 8. London Zoo Light Trail

See London Zoo in a whole new light this Christmas with London Zoo Light Trail. When the sun goes down, the animals are put to bed - and the lights are switched on. Illuminated wild animal sculptures, surprise light displays and 10,000 bulbs are lighting up the zoo this Christmas. This is a ticketed event on throughout December until 1 January 2019, and the nearest underground stations are Chalk Farm and Mornington Crescent. Remember: if you’d like to see the real animals too, make sure to visit the zoo during the day and head back for the light show after dark. 9. Silvana Light Maze, Wembley

For a different kind of Christmas lights display, head to the light maze in Wembley after spending the afternoon discovering Wembley Stadium with a behind-the-scenes tour of the home of English football. This interactive maze can be found at The Corner at Wembley Library, along with a Christmas tree and art installation, until 31 December 2018. The nearest station is Wembley Park. 10. After Dark, Chiswick

Head west to see After Dark at Chiswick House and Gardens, an ultra-modern Christmas lights display. With an illuminated full moon, laser shows and light installations lighting up the gardens Chiswick House is where to go if you are fed up of fairy lights. This is a ticketed event on until 30 December 2018. To get there, take the train to Chiswick, or the nearest underground is Stamford Brook, a 25 minute walk away. Special mention: Christmas at Kew Gardens

An unforgettable after-dark festive trail of lights, Christmas at Kew is an unmissable annual event that keeps getting better with each year. Now in its sixth year, Christmas at Kew features over a million twinkling lights and thousands of laser beams, as well as a fully-stocked refreshments bar to get you fully in the festive spirit, making it one of our favourite Christmas lights in London.