Christmas Lights in London and other cities 2024: Dates + locations

Christmas lights are undoubtedly the most delightful thing in the winter nights in the UK are long and cold, the streets are full of lights, and the nights are full of warmth. And what’s more, from this moment on, it’s the Christmas season!

As soon as the lights go up on Regent Street, the Christmas spirit is in the air, and every time you walk down the street, there is a sense of joy in your heart, and everything around you signals the arrival of Christmas. Every year waiting for Christmas Lights in London and in the UK is a very ceremonial thing, just after dark the streets are crowded, waiting for the countdown to come, singing, fireworks, dazzling screen …… people count down together, for the lights up and cheering, lively as compared to the New Year’s Eve.

Christmas Lights in London Switch On

Regent Street Christmas Lights

• Time: 2024.11.7
• Nearest Tube Stations: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus

The most gorgeous and iconic Christmas lights are of course on Regent Street, the most popular street for tourists is covered in gorgeous coloured lights, flanked by old British buildings and lined with historic old luxury shops, already spectacularly beautiful in the daytime, and even more so at night when the lights are switched on.

From Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus, Christmas lights are hung all along the way, the most classic being the angel lights, with their spreading wings spanning both sides of the street in a dignified and elegant manner. In previous years, there would be a grand lighting ceremony, including fireworks and musical performances, but since the epidemic, there has only been a simple lighting of the lights. Once these lights are on, the Christmas spirit is drawn out and the neighbourhood lights up together.

Oxford Street Christmas Lights 

• Time: 2024.11.5
• Nearest tube stations: Oxford Circus, Bond Street, Marble Arch

This year Oxford Street is the first to be illuminated, with all 5,000 hanging stars set to light up, with the dangling stars criss-crossing each other for a truly star-filled sky that feels very romantic every time you look up. Since 2019, Oxford Street’s lights have been refreshed with new and more environmentally friendly LED lights.

Carnaby Street Christmas Lights

• Time: 2024.11
• Nearest tube station: Oxford Circus

Carnaby Street is a treasure street parallel to Regent Street, hidden behind Liberty Mall, but with a unique interior, the street is home to many speciality shops, independent brands and online restaurants…

Carnaby Street’s Christmas lights surprise people every year. In 2019, it was a marine theme, where you could see vivid and cute dolphins, seahorses and corals when you looked up, in 2020 it was a charity theme, and in 2021 there were more than 600 sparkling neon butterflies,…

Covent Garden Christmas Lights

• Time: 2024.11
• Nearest tube station: Covent Garden

Covent Garden is one of the treasures of central London. Strolling through narrow lanes, you’ll suddenly come across Covent Garden.

At Christmas, the square is lit up with a sparkling Christmas tree, the interiors are hung with gorgeous mistletoe chandeliers, and 110,000 Christmas lights illuminate the whole of Covent Garden. Covent Garden is a glittering jewel of the Christmas season, exuding a glamourous aura that can be felt from afar as it sparkles and buzzes.

Mayfair Christmas lights

• Time: 2024.11.16
• Nearest tube station: Bond Street

Travelling through London’s swanky Mayfair neighbourhood, surrounded by high-class hotels and luxury boutiques, it’s a glamorous place to be under the glittering lights. It’s a great place to take a walk around Mayfair during the Christmas season, as the colourful scene is particularly romantic.

Kew Gardens Christmas lights

• Time: 2024.11.13 – 2024.1.5 4.20pm to 10pm
• Nearest Tube Station: Richmond
• Tickets: Off-Peak £22.50, Peak £29

Kew Gardens is beautiful in all seasons, but when it comes to the most soul-stirring time of year, it’s undoubtedly the Christmas season. The illuminated Arch of Dreams is the perfect place to take photos in winter.

Under the various colours of lights, the flowers, plants and trees all present a strange beauty, the light show on the lake is like a dream-like colourful, walk through the garden decorated with ribbons of lights,Kew Gardens is full of cute little shops selling hot food and drinks, everywhere is the warmth of the atmosphere, has long forgotten the cold of winter.

Christmas Lights in other cities 

Birmingham Christmas Light 

• Time: 2024.11
• Address: Birmingham Cathedral, Colmore Row

Birmingham Cathedral in the centre of Birmingham is definitely the area where the winter Christmas spirit is strongest, and as the Christmas lights come on, so do the winter treats. In particular, Birmingham’s Christmas Market is one of the most authentic traditional German Christmas markets in the UK and is not to be missed!

Liverpool Christmas Light Show

• Time: 2024.12.1 – 12.31
• Address: 7 Palmerston Drive, Hunts Cross

Throughout December, Liverpool has a light show, although not a very large display, families throughout the area decorate their gardens and houses with an abundance of Christmas light installations, accompanied by classic Christmas music and a wide range of programmes, presented daily, the event is free to watch~

Bristol Christmas Lights 

• Time: 2024.11
• Address: Bristol city centre

Bristol’s Corn Street, Park Street and other areas of the city centre will be illuminated with Christmas lights and glittering globes to convey the festive atmosphere. Victoria Street and Temple Gardens will also be lit up with Christmas tree lights.

Leeds Christmas Lights Switch on

• Time: 2024.11
• Address: Leeds city centre

Leeds city centre will be in the Christmas spirit this year, with more than 120 German Bavarian-style hut markets spread across the city’s main areas, including Briggate, City Square and The Corn Exchange. Christmas market were held between 24 November and 22 December.

Cambridge Christmas Lights Switch On

• Time: 2024.11.17
• Address: Cambridge city centre

With live music, a marketplace and dancing lights on the Christmas tree, the night of the Cambridge Christmas Lights Switch On is a never-ending happy time. With the city and the lights blending together, it’s one big party.

Oxford Festival of Christmas Lights

• Time: 2024.11.15 – 2024.11.17
• Address: Oxford City Centre

Oxford’s lighting ceremony this year is a three-day Christmas celebration including a variety of gorgeous light installations, music and dance naturally, and a range of performances, exhibitions and events (some chargeable).

Southampton’s Christmas Light Switch On

• Time: 2024.11.16
• Address: Southampton city centre

This year’s Southampton’s Christmas Market will take place from 16 November 2024 to 5 January 2025, and the day the market starts is also the time when the lights come on, accompanied by live performances and musical dance numbers. The most exciting part of the South Bank Christmas Market is the flying Santa’s sleigh, which was cancelled last year but will hopefully return this year~

Edinburgh’s Christmas

• Time: 2024.11.15 – 2025.1.4
• Address: East Princes Street Gardens

The start of the Christmas season in Edinburgh is signalled by the Christmas Market on Princes Street, where the lights come on, the market opens and it’s time for another year of Christmas, with the Royal Mile hosting a grand opening event on 15 November, featuring light projections across Edinburgh. And of course Santa Land won’t be missing either, with lights, markets and fun entertainment to save the winter gloom.

Glasgow’s Christmas Lights 

• Time: 2024.11.17
• Address: George Square, Glasgow G2 1DH, United Kingdom

Glasgow’s big winter moment comes when the coloured lights of George Square come on and Christmas is switched on with a perpetual glow of joy. Glasgow’s Christmas Lights are arguably the most popular event of the winter season, with everyone wanting to witness the glitz and glamour, and every year it’s hard to get a ticket.

Cardiff Christmas Lights

• Time: 2024.11.14
• Address: Cardiff City Centre

On the 14th of November, Cardiff’s Christmas lights will be lit up and the opening of WINTER WONDERLAND will be announced. The Winter Carnival will be held at both Cardiff Castle and City Hall Lawn, with a variety of ice tracks and igloos full of winter elements!

York Christmas Lighting  Festival

• Time: 2024.11.14
• Address: York city centre

With 160,000 lights making up a 15 kilometre long light extravaganza, York’s Christmas season is too beautiful to miss. After the lighting ceremony, the Christmas Market will also be opened. This year’s Christmas Market will be held from 14th November to 22nd December, with more than 100 Nordic-style cosy cottages.

Durham Christmas Lights 

• Time: 2024.12.6 – 12.8
• Address: Durham Market Place

Durham Christmas Festival is a big party, with Broadway stars last year, and this year’s line-up is full of surprises. This year’s line-up is full of surprises and is not to be missed by those who love music and lights.

In addition, Durham also has a wide range of artistic light shows during the Christmas period, such as LUMIERE and Forest of Light.

Newcastle Christmas lights 

• Time: 2024.11.12
• Address: Newcastle city centre

The Christmas Market and Christmas events are ready for the lights to be switched on and the fun begins with a night of music, games and live entertainment, with plenty of activities to accompany the lights.

In addition to the city centre lighting ceremony, Newcastle’s Leazes Park also has an immersive light show Northern Lights.