15 Very Best Christmas Decorations in London 2024
Giant Christmas trees, extravagant window displays, huge baubles, cosy cabins, red bows and traditional bells, Christmas decorations in London are some of the best in the world! Read our full guide for more and everything you need to know about visiting London at Christmas time.
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London is without a doubt one of the best places in the world for Christmas lights, decorations and festive spirit!
Bright lights, huge baubles, elegant bells and massive Christmas trees line the streets and squares, stores go all out decorating their fronts with creative designs, and the streets are full of Christmas joy everywhere you turn.
Christmas lights in London begin to switch on from the first week of November, so there’s plenty of time during the festive season to tick off as many as possible.
From the twinkling lights of Seven Dials and Oxford Street to the extravagant frontages of Annabel’s and Cartier, here are the top Christmas decorations in London 2024.
In this guide, we’ll share the switch-on dates for the London Christmas decorations that have been announced and we’ll update those that are TBC as the dates are released. We’ll also tell you which tube stations are the closest.
At the end, we’ll share the best places to stay in London at Christmas, a walking guide, tips on avoiding the crowds and the best time to visit.
To make the most of your trip to London at Christmas, why not book a Christmas tour to make sure you don’t miss anything?!
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Contents
15 Very Best Christmas Decorations in London
Covent Garden; most beautiful Christmas decorations in London
Centred around a 60-foot Christmas tree decked head-to-foot in 60,000 lights and giant baubles, Covent Garden has some of the most beautiful Christmas decorations in London!
After almost a decade, last year Covent Garden’s iconic baubles and mistletoe that dominated the Market Building, were replaced with 40 giants bells with red bows, 12 huge baubles and 8 spinning mirror balls. And, they’ll soon be back.
You’ll also see the return of the magical Wonder Wood, the traditionally decorated Santa Sleigh and endless mulled wine and festive cocktails.Â
Date: 12th November 2024
Closest tube station:Â Covent Garden and Leicester Square
New Bond Street
For the most glamorous Christmas lights in London, look no further than the luxurious shopping district of New Bond Street.
Storefronts including Tiffany’s, Dior, Chanel and Cartier are dressed up for the festive spirit and people come from far and wide to see these spectacular decorations.Â
Date: TBC
Closest tube station:Â Green Park, Bond Street and Oxford Circus
Annabel's
Annabel’s has some of the most Instagrammable Christmas decorations in London!
This private member’s club puts on a different magnificent festive display every year that pretty much wins London at Christmas time. In 2023, the facade was transformed into a spectacular carousel ride and last year a stunning hot air balloon stretched across its three floors. Previous years have also seen gingerbread houses, Christmas trees and nutcrackers. Can’t wait to see what 2024 has up its sleeve.
Date: TBC NovemberÂ
Closest tube station: Green Park and Bond Street
Oxford Street; most iconic Christmas decorations in London
London’s biggest high street may be all kinds of chaos in the run-up to Christmas with tourists, shoppers, buskers and American candy shops, but seeing 300,000 sustainable twinkly stars light up the street is not to be missed.Â
Oxford Street is partnering with the children’s charity Starlight and after the 2nd November, anyone can sponsor a light to help support seriously ill children in hospitals and hospices.
Storefronts will also have spectacular festive window displays to be admired.
Date:Â 5th NovemberÂ
Closest tube station:Â Green Park and Bond Street
Carnaby Street; quirkiest London Christmas decorations
Carnaby Street is renowned for having the quirkiest Christmas decorations in London with every year having a different theme.
Last year, the theme was ‘Carnaby Universe’; a galactic display featuring gigantic shimmering planets, neon light waves and a vast vortex.
This year, Carnaby Street’s Christmas installation is named ‘Into the Light’ and will feature 60,000 LEDs and six-metre-long ‘sculptural light forms’. Apparently it’s a ‘first-of-a-kind approach to Christmas lights in London and marks a ‘bold evolution’. No one knows exactly what that means but you’ll soon find out!
Carnaby Street will once again partner with the refugee charity Choose Love and you’ll be able to buy vital items for refugees and displaced people around the world from the pop-up store when it opens (date TBC).   Â
Date: 7th NovemberÂ
Closest tube station: Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus
Fortnum & Mason
Founded in 1707, Fortnum & Mason is London’s oldest department store and has become a bit of an institution, especially around Christmas when it magically transforms into an advent calendar.
For each day that passes in December, the windows on the front of the building light up and the year is changed on the side.
You can also follow a festive story told through the window displays on the ground floor which beautifully reflects the spirit of Christmas and showcases the shops products uniquely and creatively.
As well as having some of the best Christmas lights in London, Fortnum & Mason is magnificently decorated inside and is the perfect place to buy luxury gifts for Christmas such as hampers, food and wine.
Date: TBC
Closest tube station: Oxford Circus, Green Park and Piccadilly Circus
Harrods
Harrods is without a doubt one of the most renowned spots for London Christmas decorations!
Every year is different and usually involves a takeover by a high-end luxury brand. Last year saw a collaboration with Valentino to create a festive wonderland with a large pink fuchsia Christmas tree. Soft golden lights were draped over the front of the building and extravagant window displays featured luxury gift ideas from designer brands.
The year before, Christian Dior turned Harrods into an enormous glittering gingerbread house.
‘Christmas World’ is not to be missed. Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, the Christmas department is covered in floor-to-ceiling decorations, trees, gifts and festive elegance.
Date: TBC November. The Christmas store is already open.
Closest tube station: Knightsbridge
Winter Wonderland; best things to do in London at Christmas time
Winter Wonderland is a must-visit in London at Christmas time!
Hyde Park is transformed into a huge amusement park with rides, Bavarian beer halls, traditional German market stalls, street food vendors, cute cabins with cosy fires, an ice rink and some of the best Christmas lights in London.
We’d recommend at least 3-4 hours to enjoy Winter Wonderland and you’ll need to book tickets online. Entry is free off-peak, £5 standard and £7.50 peak. If you spend a minimum of £25 pre-booking your rides and food, entry is free (but you’ll still need to get a ticket online).
Date: 21st November – 5th JanuaryÂ
Closest tube station: Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch although these get extremely busy and may close if overcrowded so try and avoid them during peak times. Green Park, Knightsbridge, Victoria and Paddington are all within walking distance and there are several gates to enter Winter Wonderland.
The Churchill Arms
London’s most photographed pub changes its display with the seasons and great commitment (and money!!) goes into making these displays extravagant! Apparently, they spend about £25,000 a year on flowers!!
The Churchill Arms out-Christmases every other pub in London (and maybe even the country?!) with over 80 trees, 22,000 lights, candy canes, snowmen and many other festive decorations covering the pub’s exterior.
Although you may struggle to find a seat inside, you have to pop in for a cosy drink and see the wartime memorabilia covering the walls inside – a huge contrast to the outside of the pub but fairly impressive.
Date: 6pm on the first Thursday in December and stay up until 6th January (Twelfth Night)
Closest tube station:Â Notting Hill Gate and High Street Kensington
South Molton Street
South Molton Street in Mayfair transforms into a Winter Wonderland with some of the very best Christmas lights in London.
Huge twinkly blue arches with stars normally dominate the street and these are made up of around 63,000 energy-efficient bulbs which turn on between 3pm and midnight to reduce energy consumption and promote a more sustainable Christmas.
Last year, the decorations were less impressive with strings of white twinkly lights down the street and a few white Christmas trees. Simple and beautiful but not as stunning at the blue arches. Not sure what this year has in store.
Date: TBC
Closest tube station:Â Bond Street and Oxford Circus
Claridge's
One of the city’s iconic hotels, it’s fair to say Claridge’s probably wins the prize for the most elegant Christmas decorations in London.
With a selection of perfectly decorated Christmas trees at their front door, there’s usually a couple of their luxury chauffeur cars outside, making you feel like you’ve just stepped into a scene from a Christmas movie.
Date: TBC
Closest tube station:Â Bond Street, Marble Arch and Oxford Circus
Seven Dials
Not the most well-known Christmas lights in London, but Seven Dials is really quite charming over the festive period. It’s also one of the most atmospheric areas of London over Christmas with groups of friends and families socialising, shopping, being tourists and generally full of festive cheer!
Last year, the quaint cobbled streets displayed temporary Christmas trees that reflected and celebrated the unique history and characteristics of Seven Dials. This year, the streets will shine with over 150,000 LED lights.
Date: 12th November
Closest tube station:Â Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Holborn and Tottenham Court Road
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square has the most historical Christmas decorations in London and the highlight is the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree!
This Christmas tree has been gifted to the UK as a thank you by Norway every year since 1947 when the Norweigan King sought refuge in London during World War II and led the resistance from here.
The tree is cut down from a forest near Oslo and transported by land and sea to London. It’s around 25 metres tall and is known as “the Queen of the Forest”.
Around the Christmas tree are more lights, decorations and a Christmas market selling gifts, street food, mulled wine and all the other festive goodies you can think of.
Date:Â 5th November
Closest tube station:Â Charing Cross, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Embankment
Christmas by the River; favourite Christmas markets in London
Christmas by the River is hands-down one of our favourite Christmas markets in London and it’s also where you’ll find some of the most beautiful Christmas decorations in London 2024!
On the south bank of the River Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, a Christmassy Winter Wonderland with cosy cabins, twinkly lights, a massive Christmas tree and market stalls of food vendors, gifts and accessories is the perfect place for a December evening to get you in the Christmas spirit.
What could be more iconically London at Christmas than sparkling reindeer with a backdrop of Tower Bridge?!
Date: TBC November
Closest tube station:Â London Bridge
South Bank Winter Market
South Bank Winter Market is one of the most renowned Christmas markets in London and has some of the best lights in the city. For us, visiting South Bank Winter Market is always one of the best things to do in London at Christmas time as it truly gets us in the festive spirit.
The riverside walkway is lit up with garlands of glittering Christmas lights and, as part of its Winter Light display, sees a series of illuminated artworks, created by contemporary artists.
Along South Bank, you’ll also find cute wooden cabins selling warming drinks including mulled wine and hot chocolate, stalls of delicious street food, gifts, accessories and Christmas decorations.
Date:Â 1st November
Closest tube station:Â Waterloo, Waterloo East, Embankment and Charing Cross
To know Before Visiting the Christmas Decorations in London
Where to stay to see the best Christmas decorations in London
These top Christmas decorations in London are all centrally located so wherever you stay in Central London you’ll be well-placed.
Covent Garden and Soho are ideal if you want to be right in the heart of the Christmas atmosphere and also within close proximity to other London attractions. You’ll also be able to avoid using the tube a lot which, around Christmas, is advisable (more on that later).
If you’d prefer to be able to escape the Christmas chaos, as long as you’re near a tube station, you’ll be able to get around easily. The City of London can be a good spot to find weekend deals as it’s fairly quiet and you can be at the Christmas lights in 10 minutes.
Stratford, East London is a great base as it’s out of the hustle and bustle with fantastic transport links and plenty of bars and restaurants for the evening. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is also on your doorstep which is lovely for a walk along the river and to explore the 2012 London Olympic venues.
From Stratford, there are numerous tube lines to take you into Central London in around 20 minutes.
Travelling between the Christmas lights in London
One of the best things to do in London at Christmas time is a walking tour of the decorations. You can either do this as a small group tour with a local guide or self-guided.
The map below outlines a self-guided walking tour of the best Christmas decorations in London 2024 excluding Harrods, Winter Wonderland, Christmas by the River, the Churchill Arms and South Bank Winter Market. This route should take around an hour.
To reach South Bank Winter Market from Trafalgar Square it’s a 15-minute walk over the Golden Jubilee Bridges.
The other places will require public transport, although Winter Wonderland can be walked to from Fortnum & Mason in 20 minutes so feel free to walk if your legs are still up for it!
The best time to visit London at Christmas
The best time to visit London at Christmas is between the end of November and 26th December when all the lights are on and the city’s in full festive swing!
If you can, visit during the week rather than the weekend. Tube stations in Central London often close due to overcrowding and everywhere is incredibly busy.Â
If you’re limited to weekends, we’d recommend coming earlier in the season and visiting the decorations that don’t depend on it being dark, in the mornings.
That rounds off our guide to the very best Christmas decorations in London. Feel free to get in contact or leave a comment if you have any questions. We’d also love to hear your favourite!
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