A Tour of London’s Christmas Lights

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As my last post before Christmas, I’m going to finish on a (hopefully) very festive, special post. London’s Christmas lights are some of the most famous in the world, and last week I treated myself to an overnight stay in the capital to go and see some of them. I went by myself as my first time alone since my operation, and I’m so glad I did. I felt so in the Christmas spirit and full of hope that everything would be alright again.

I found a great walk which takes about an hour and takes in a lot of the main displays. Are you ready for a tour?


This road in London has some of the best ‘door’ displays around and is a great starting point for the walk if you’re coming from Kings Cross, St Pancras or London Euston train stations. Alternatively, you could get the tube directly to Goodge Street to start.

A short 10 minute walk from Goodge Street is Carnaby Street, one of the most famous displays in London. This area is also home to lots of nice boutique shops if you want to pop in and get some gifts!

From Carnaby Street you can follow the road round to Regent Street, one of the most famous in London. Lit up by the beautiful angels, it’s also home to some of London’s best shopping. I visited too early at first and the angels weren’t very clear so I actually came back after nightfall to capture the angels in all their glory.

Back for the angels at night

Just 5 minutes down from Regent Street is Fortnum and Mason, which is decorated to be an advent calendar with each window having a number on it like an advent calendar’s doors. I thought it was lovely, though it took me a while to manage a photo with no traffic!

F&M’s ‘advent calendar’ theme

Burlington Arcade is an upmarket shopping centre (think Rolexes and £13,500 engagement rings) so it goes without saying I didn’t buy anything, but the decorations were fun – a James Bond theme this year to mark 60 years since the first film.

My favourite of all the London displays, Cartier is just stunning – classy and beautiful. I spent ages trying to get a photo with no people in it, but it was quite literally impossible!

A few steps away from Cartier, explore the rest of Old and New Bond Street’s decorations. I loved Tiffany’s and Stella McCartney, and Ralph Lauren had even set up a little Christmas coffee truck and really gone to town on the window displays.

Annabel’s is a Swarovski shop. There were sooo many people, especially girls in dresses in the middle of the road risking life and limb for Instagram that I didn’t get many good shots at all. One girl was even in a backless wedding dress (it was -1 Celsius at this point), swirling about for at least 10 minutes. The commitment!

Annabel’s gingerbread house

To get a feel for more private Christmases, mix the walk up with a stroll along a residential street. I found some lovely doors along Grosvenor Street which made me wonder about the people living behind them and how they’d be celebrating Christmas.

One of the most famous and prestigious hotels in London, Claridge’s is always decorated beautifully for Christmas. It’s simple and understated but on such a gran building looks really lovely.


And that brings an end to my walk around London. In total it took me about 2 hours, with 1 hour walking and 1 hour shopping. What do you think? Did you enjoy the Christmas lights tour of London?

On a separate note, this post also represents my 2 year blog anniversary! I started this blog on Dec 22nd 2019 ahead of a travel packed 2020 (which never happened – great timing, not!). In that time I’ve connected with so many wonderful people through this platform and I just wanted to say thank you to everyone reading for following along.

Stay safe and Happy Christmas everyone!!!

61 responses to “A Tour of London’s Christmas Lights”

  1. I love the holidays and all the Christmas decorations!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So glad you enjoyed them Mabe, London really does know how to get festive. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas 🙂

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  2. London knows how to do Christmas!

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    1. It sure does Nic!! Hope you had a wonderful holiday season 🙂

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      1. Thanks, you too!

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  3. Such uplifting festive decorations Hannah. I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts over the last couple of years and look forward to many more to come. Hope you have a lovely Christmas and here’s to the prospect of more holidays for us all in 2022.

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    1. Aw thanks so much Marion that’s so lovely of you. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas too 🙂 I’ve spent all day today planning and booking trips up until June 2022 so I really, really hope they come off!

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  4. NattyTravels

    London looks so pretty at Christmas 😍

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    1. It really knows how to decorate, that’s for sure! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas 🙂

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  5. So beautiful! And congratulations on your blog‘s anniversary. Looking forward to more of your fabulous postings 😊.

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    1. Thank you so much, I really appreciate that 🙂 I’ve booked lots of trips for 2022 now, so I hope we can travel!! Und Frohe Weinachten 🙂

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  6. Such an amazing site to see. Beautiful Christmas decorations . Merry Christmas . Anita

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    1. Thanks Anita, it was lovely and festive. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas 🙂

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  7. Beautiful pictures- winter countries do decorations so much better than here. Happy blogiversary! Have a lovely and safe Christmas!

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    1. Thank you so much!! And I think Winter countries do definitely get in to the spirit – but with it getting dark at 3pm it’s much easier to make the lights a special attraction than in countries where it’s not getting dark until much much later! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas 🙂

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  8. So many beautiful streets! I last visited London the week after Christmas, so I believe many of the lights were taken down…I’d love to revisit and see them in all of their splendor!

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    1. Ah that’s a shame you just missed them as they are pretty cool. I hope you had a great Christmas Rebecca and enjoyed the family time 🙂

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  9. Happy Blog Anniversary! I’ve enjoyed following your blog for the amazing pictures and lots of good ideas for future travel. Christmas in London looks so festive. I’m glad you took the trouble to go back at night for the beautiful angels photos. I wish you Merry Christmas! John

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    1. Thank you so much John, that means a lot. I have lots of trips booked for 2022 now (I spent today planning and booking), so hopefully lots more interesting places to show you. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and here’s to a happy 2022! 🙂

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  10. Ahhh this makes me very homesick I must say. Beautiful architecture and tasteful Christmas decorations for the most part. Hopefully we will catch some of this ourselves as we make our way from Victoria to London Euston on Monday afternoon. Assuming we really do pull this trip off. To say the process has been a song and dance would be an understatement. Antigen tests here in Serbia on Christmas Day! Merry Christmas Hannah, particularly liked the Stella McCartney storefront.

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    1. Aw Leighton, I’m sorry to make you homesick, BUT you’re here now (I hope!) I hope your Christmas antigen tests all went smoothly, and that you’re here safe and sound. Merry Christmas and here’s to a good 2022 as well 🙂

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  11. Yes, your pictures definitely put the finishing touches on Christmas decorations 😊! It’s really lovely – love those angels at night!
    Happy Blog Anniversary – can’t wait to visit many more places through your blog … a blessed Christmas to you Hannah 🎄.

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    1. Aw so glad you like them Corna. And thank you, that means a lot…I spent today booking up the first half of 2022’s trips so I’m soooo excited and really hope travel stays open. I hope you also had a wonderful Christmas, sending festive cheer down the continents 🙂

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  12. Janet’s Journeys

    I never realised just how many Christmas displays there were around London!

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    1. There are so many and this is only a small section of them – discovering them all would take days I think! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Janet 🙂

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      1. Janet’s Journeys

        Very true! I did thanks, and I hope yours was also good!

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  13. I love all the various holiday decorations and how some stores put on their own unique display. I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one that sometimes waits around for a clean shot with no randoms in the way, but sometimes it’s impossible! Happy blogging anniversary! Enjoy your holidays and looking forward to seeing what adventures lie ahead for you in 2022.

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    1. So glad you liked them, and I’m with you on waiting around for a clear shot (though it drives my husband absolutely mad haha!) And thank you so much, I’ve got lots booked now for 2022 so hopefully can show you some new places. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and sending festive best wishes across the pond 🙂

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  14. Thanks for sharing the holiday cheer!! I am so happy you got to see all of this 🙂 I hope you have a Merry Christmas!!!!!

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    1. Thanks so much Lyssy and glad you liked the lights of London! I had a wonderful Christmas thanks, and really hope you did too 🙂

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  15. Soooo beautiful Hannah! Happy Holidays! Have a wonderful time!

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    1. Thank you so much Jyothi, and a happy happy holiday season to you too – I hope you enjoyed Christmas day however you were spending it 🙂

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  16. Fantastic post and photography! Feliz Navidad!

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    1. Fleiz Navidad to you too! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas 🙂

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  17. Oh, my goodness…London certainly knows how to ‘deck the halls’ with fantastic and festive displays!!! Other cities should emulate such decorative practices and enthusiasm, really very impressive. Thanks for sharing, dear Hannah ~ wishing a Merry Christmas to you and yours. 🎄🎅

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    1. Yes it really does, it knows how to do Christmas well, that’s for sure!! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season 🙂

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  18. These pictures are lovely. I’ll be down there in London in a few days, so I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for these or other festive decorations. Congratulations on your blog anniversary! Great job persevering with a travel blog during the travel-hating plague! Merry Christmas from elsewhere on the island!

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    1. Thank you so much and yes let’s hope we can all travel more in 2022 – goodness knows we all need it!!!!

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  19. I very much enjoyed the Christmas lights tour of London especially as the Christmas decorations are somewhat sparse in Sligo this year. Congratulations on your second Blogiversary, wishing you many more years of travelling and writing! Thanks for sharing – I hope Santa is good to you this year! Aiva xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So glad you enjoyed them Aiva, and thanks so much for the anniversary wishes. I’ve booked lots of trips for 2022 so am excited to experience some new places and share them as well 🙂 Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and festive period xx

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  20. Wow! London really knows how to get people in a festive mood. Absolutely stunning! Happy blogiversary! I have loved following along with all your wonderful posts! 🙂

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    1. It really does Meg, it’s great with its decorations!! And thank you so much, that means a lot – hopefully lots more places ahead in 2022 to share as well 🙂 Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season

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  21. Hi Hannah, your photos are fabulous – and bring back so many memories! I lived in London for many years and always took particular delight at Christmas time. Carnaby Street looks especially festive this year. Thanks for my first smile of the morning. Wishing you a very Happy New Year. ~Terri

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    1. Oh I’m so pleased to bring back some memories for you. London is a beautiful place to have lived for a few years and such a treat to have all the decorations and lights on your doorstep 🙂 Thanks so much for reading and commenting Terri, have a happy new year.

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  22. Happy blogiversary and happy holidays as well! I love the elegance and variety in this Christmas light tour.

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    1. Thanks Diana, and a happy new year to you as well – let’s hope 2022 brings us all lots of nice adventures 🙂

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  23. I love to see all these pictures of my beloved London ♥
    I lived there for one year (2017/2018), I came back for one weekend in 2019 and I cannot wait for everything to be over to come back for a couple of days.
    My favourite displays were always the Ivy Chelsea Garden and Annabel’s, but the whole city is a Christmas Wonderland, and also a Wonderland when it is not Christmas.
    Simply one of my favourite cities in the whole world forever.

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    1. Aw I’m so glad to bring back some happy memories – London is an incredible city and I’m so glad you got to live there and re-visit as well. Hopefully in 2022 you can come back again 🙂 Happy New Year!

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  24. Love this post, a perfect tour! I really need to check out the Christmassy streets in London, I’m sure I must have been to London in the run-up to Christmas before but I’ve somehow never been to Carnaby Street to see the lights! A couple of years ago, they had a Queen (Bohemian Rhapsody?) themed one and I reaaaally wanted to see that! The Regent Street angels look so beautiful as well.

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    1. Aw so glad you enjoyed it Clazz – I agree that Carnaby St is definitely a highlight, I was so glad to see it as I’d been meaning to visit for years. Hopefully you can get to see the Christmas lights some time soon! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and Hogmonay 🙂

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  25. Wow, London certainly does Christmas in style!

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  26. […] down and needed some festive cheer so decided to go to London and see the Christmas lights (post HERE). I then thought, oh why not make a night of it? So I wanted to find a nice hotel near the main […]

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  27. Lovely pictures, I hope there are still some decorations when we visit by April ❤

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    1. I’m so glad you like them. Unfortunately I think the decorations come down in January, so I don’t think any will be there in April – but most places put up fairly lights and other nice things instead. I hope you have a wonderful trip to visit 🙂

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  28. Very Interesting blog, great pictures and a sense full blogger you are. thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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  29. […] Christmas lights tour – Route HERE (time of year […]

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  30. I could not resist commenting. Perfectly written!

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  31. […] Christmas lights tour – Route HERE (time of year […]

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About the author

Hi! My name is Hannah, I’m a travel blogger from the UK who fits travel around a full time (and full on) job. In this blog I share my adventures around the world and hopefully help you to find some inspiration for destinations, things to do or places to stay. Thanks for stopping by – stay safe and happy travelling.

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