The best London Christmas Lights Walking Route 2026 (Map + Switch on dates)

Nowhere does Christmas quite like London. From early November the city switches on its Christmas lights, and the best way to see them is on foot, at your own pace, on a self-guided London Christmas lights walking route.

This is the route we walk as a family every year. It doesn’t take in every light in town (that would be impossible!) but it covers the biggest displays: Oxford Street, Bond Street, Regent Street, Carnaby Street, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden. It’s one of the best things to do at Christmas in London with kids – and it’s completely free. 

This walking tour of central London’s lights really is one of the best things to at Christmas in London with kids.  It’s one of the best ways soak up the festive spirit, plus it’s completely free! Last updated October 2026

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What’s new for Christmas 2026

• Oxford Street is traffic-free: Since 26 October, almost a kilometre between Orchard Street (by Selfridges) and Great Portland Street is closed to buses, taxis and cars – so for the first time you can walk the lights down the middle of the street.
• Harry Potter lights on Oxford Street: Wizarding World designs join the classic stars to mark the new Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone TV series, which premieres on Christmas Day. A Harry Potter flagship store opens on Oxford Street on 4 November.
• Carnaby celebrates the 90s: This year’s “Press Play on Christmas” display takes its cue from 1990s colour and nostalgia.
• Bond Street’s last Crown Jewels: The crown-and-pearl lights return for a final year, with a brand-new scheme promised for 2027. Also new for this year is the first-ever switch-on party taking place on 12 November.
• Regent Street’s angels get extras: The Spirit of Christmas angels return with some new additions, switched on 5 November.
• Grosvenor Square has reopened after a £25m woodland makeover.
• New displays include: A giant illuminated heart over Little Portland Street in Fitzrovia and a Beano-themed Dennis and Gnasher trail on Fleet Street.

When are London’s Christmas Lights switched on in 2026?

London’s Christmas lights switch on in stages from Wednesday 4 November 2026. Carnaby Street goes first, followed by the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree on Thursday 3 December. Most light displays stay up until early January 2027. Traditionally they come down around Twelfth Night, 5–6 January, so you have plenty of time to enjoy this walking route.

London’s Christmas lights switch on in stages from Wednesday 4 November 2026, when Carnaby goes first, through to the Trafalgar Square tree on Thursday 3 December. Most stay lit every evening until early January 2027, so you don’t need to go on switch-on night.

Map of our London Christmas lights walking route

Use the map below to navigate your way around the festive fun on this self-guided walking tour of London’s best Christmas lights. The entire walk is 3.7 miles (6 kilometres) and takes around 1 hour 30 minutes if you walk quickly. I would recommend, however, allowing two to three hours and stopping for a mince pie and glass of mulled wine or hot chocolate along the way. 

It’s best enjoyed after dark, which is around 4pm in November and December. The best evenings are midweek from 12 November, when almost every display on the route is lit (the Trafalgar Square tree joins from 3 December).

The stops, in order:

1. Oxford Street (start at Oxford Circus or Bond Street station)
2. Selfridges
3. Grosvenor Square
4. Annabel’s, Berkeley Square
5. New Bond Street and Old Bond Street
6. Fortnum & Mason and Burlington Arcade
7. Regent Street and St James’s
8. Liberty and Carnaby Street
9. Leicester Square
10. Trafalgar Square
11. Covent Garden (finish)

Short on time or with little kids? Do a one-hour loop: Oxford Circus → Regent Street → Carnaby → Liberty and back to Oxford Circus. Or split the full route over two evenings, with Oxford Street to Fortnum & Mason one night and Regent Street to Covent Garden the next.

You can also walk the route in reverse. Wrap up warm, wear comfortable shoes and expect crowds, especially at weekends.

Our tried-and-tested London Christmas lights walking route 

Don’t miss our tips on where to go ice skating in London at Christmas either (my favourite is Somerset House). Book a midday spin on the ice and then enjoy this walking tour after it gets dark. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland runs from 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 if you want even more lights.

1. Oxford Street

Nearest tube: Oxford Circus or Bond Street

Start your self-guided Christmas lights tour of London at either Oxford Street or Bond Street station. Oxford Street is one of the most famous streets in London and Europe’s busiest shopping street and 2026 is a big year for it. Since 26 October, the stretch between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street has been closed to traffic, so there’s far more room for pedestrians.

The lights are getting a magical makeover too. Alongside the classic sustainable stars, expect Harry Potter-themed designs celebrating the new TV adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which premieres on Christmas Day. The details are being kept under wraps until the switch-on, and the new Harry Potter flagship store opens on Oxford Street on 4 November.

2. Selfridges

One of my favourite shops in London, this famous department store goes to town every Christmas with its window displays with every one of the 15 windows decorated to the max. This year’s them is Christmas and the City with 12 display windows showcasing festive scenes from 12 different locations including Mexico City, Hong Kong, New York City and Paris. It’s also worth stopping by their over-the-top Christmas shop, located on the lower ground floor. 

3. Grosvenor Square

From Selfridges, continue walking along Oxford Street in the direction of Marble Arch and turn left down North Audley Street which runs into Grosvenor Square. The square reopened in July 2026 after a £25m redesign, with woodland paths, seasonal gardens and 44 new trees.

The square was the original location for the Ever After Garden, a display of illuminated white roses “planted” in memory of loved ones to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. For 2026 it stays at the Duke of York Square Chelsea, opening from 5 November. It’s not on this route, but it’s well worth a separate trip to the King’s Road.

4. Annabel’s

Walk a short distance along Grosvenor Square road and turn down Carlos Place, following the road around until you reach Berkeley Square and the private member’s club, Annabel‘s. Famous for its celebrity clientele, its over-the-top interior decor and its extravagant Christmas displays, this is one place you should not miss on the walking tour. Past themes have included scenes from the Nutcracker, an ornate gingerbread house and a fanciful carousel. 

5. New Bond Street and Old Bond Street

Nearest tube: Bond Street or Green Park

Walk through Berkeley Square if it is open and along Bruton Street to New Bond Street, home to some of the city’s most high-end stores and some of its best Christmas lights. The Crown Jewels light display is returning for one last time this year before a new theme is introduced in 2027. For the first time, Bond Street is also throwing a switch-on party on 12 November, closing the street to traffic for live music and a brass band.

The designer stores lining the road always put on wonderful displays, in particular the Cartier Store. Tiffany & Co and Stella McCartney on Old Bond Street are two other stores that always get into the spirit of Christmas..

6. Fortnum & Mason and Burlington Arcade

Nearest tube: Green Park or Piccadilly Circus

New Bond Street turns into Old Bond Street so keep walking down until you reach Piccadilly where you will see the Fortnum & Mason department store. Founded in London’s Piccadilly in 1707, this London Grand Dame is today most famous for its tea and biscuits (it’s a great place to go for afternoon tea) and is a must-visit on any trip to London. Over the Christmas season, the famous department store transforms its exterior into a giant advent calendar. Make sure to take a look at its shop windows too that are always beautifully decorated for the festive season. 

If you are feeling brave, then head inside where you can pick up some fantastic Christmas gifts. Be warned, however, the shop is insanely busy over the Christmas holidays!

Nearby Burlington Arcade, opened in 1819 and one of Britain’s earliest shopping arcades, is always elegantly decorated for Christmas. 

7. Regent Street 

Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus

From Piccadilly turn left up Swallow Street to Regent Street. The Spirit of Christmas angels are among London’s most famous lights: around 30 glowing “spirits” made from 300,000 LEDs float above Regent Street, Jermyn Street and St James’s Market. For 2026 they return on 5 November with some new additions promised, and the street goes traffic-free from 5pm to 9pm on switch-on night.

For the classic photo, stand at a crossing (when it’s safe) and look back up the curve of the street.

8. Liberty & Carnaby Street 

Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Before Oxford Circus, turn right onto Great Marlborough Street where you will find Liberty department store. Opened in 1875, the grand Tudor revival building was built from the timbers of two ships, HMS Impregnable and HMS Hindustan. Its Christmas windows are always wonderful, and the 4th-floor Christmas shop is worth a look.

Carnaby Street is one of my favourite places to see Christmas lights in London. For 2026 its display is Press Play on Christmas, inspired by the 1990s. The chunky light sculptures, made from 60,000 energy-efficient LEDs, are reused each year to cut waste, so expect familiar shapes with a 90s twist. Don’t miss the side streets – Foubert’s Place, Ganton Street and Newburgh Street – and Kingly Court for a warming drink.

9. Leicester Square 

Nearest tube: Leicester Square

Turn left at the end of Carnaby Street onto Beak Street, then right onto Upper James St. Follow it as it curves into Denman Street and turn left onto Coventry Street. Keep walking until you reach Leicester Square. Usually home to blockbuster movie premieres, at Christmas it gets a festive makeover with a traditional Christmas market and the Spiegeltent, home in recent years to the adults-only cabaret La Clique. The West End’s own lights on Piccadilly, Leicester Square and St Martin’s Lane are usually the first in town to switch on.

10. Trafalgar Square

Nearest tube: Charing Cross

A few minutes’ walk brings you to Trafalgar Square, where a towering Norwegian Christmas tree stands in front of the National Gallery. It has been a gift from Norway every year since 1947, a thank you for Britain’s support during the Second World War. The lighting ceremony, with carols, is on Thursday 3 December 2026 from about 5pm. There’s also a Christmas market with Alpine-style chalets. It’s not my favourite of London’s festive markets, but it’s a good place to grab a hot drink if you are feeling chilled.

11. Covent Garden 

Nearest tube: Covent Garden or Leicester Square

It’s just a short walk from Trafalgar Square to Covent Garden, once home to the city’s fruit and vegetable market. It’s popular year-round with visitors who come for the shopping, the covered market and the street performers, who entertain crowds throughout the day. Its 2026 Theatre of Christmas season launches on 12 November, with the giant British-grown Christmas tree in the West Piazza and the oversized gold bells, mirror balls and baubles back in the Market Building. Look out for Santa’s sleigh for a photo too.

With plenty of places to eat, drink and make merry, there’s no better way to end your Christmas lights walking tour of London.

More London Christmas lights worth a detour in 2026

• Fitzrovia: a new giant illuminated red heart, Love is in the Air Reprise by artist Claire Luxton, hangs above Little Portland Street from 12 November, a five-minute walk north of Oxford Circus.
• Strand and Villiers Street: lit from 12 November, a short walk from Trafalgar Square.
• Chelsea: the Ever After Garden’s glowing white roses at Duke of York Square, the Chelsea tree lighting on 12 November, and 30 artist-designed trees in the Firefly Festive Forest along Sloane Street (12 November to 1 December).
• Fleet Street: a free trail of 12 Dennis and Gnasher sculptures from 18 November, celebrating the Beano’s London HQ.
• Marylebone Village: the Merry Marylebone street party with a Ferris wheel on 11 November.
• Christmas at Kew: London’s best ticketed light trail, on selected dates from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with a freshly designed route and new adults-only evenings on 3 and 9 December.

Tips for walking London’s Christmas lights with kids

• Go midweek, straight after dark: Weekday evenings around 4.30–6pm are busy but calmer than Saturdays, and the lights are already on.
• Skip switch-on nights unless you want the party: Regent Street, Bond Street and Covent Garden draw huge crowds on launch evenings; the same lights are there every night afterwards.
• Use the traffic-free Oxford Street: With no buses on the central stretch, it’s the easiest part of the route with a buggy or scooter.
• Plan warm-up stops: Kingly Court off Carnaby Street, Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square market all work well for hot chocolate breaks.
• Pick a meeting point: It gets very busy in December; choose a meeting point if people get separated and make sure the kids have your phone number on them.
• Combine it with a daytime activity: Go ice skating, watch a matinee or enjoy afternoon tea before going on the Christmas lights walk.