When we were children living in Surrey, every single year my brother and I looked forward to our annual family Christmas trip to London to see the Christmas lights and decorations.
And even now as an adult living in London, it’s my favourite time of year in the city.
I’ve been to New York at Christmas, and while the decorations were epic, they were nothing on London. The lights in London at Christmas are truly like nowhere else in the world.
So today I want to take you through the very best places in Central London to see the London Christmas lights and decorations, straight from a Londoner.
In this post I’ll be taking you on a circular 3-hour walking tour of the lights to maximise your Christmas experience!
Ready to enjoy the best 3-hour walking tour of London’s Christmas lights?! Let’s go!
1. Sloane Square
Start your Christmas afternoon at Sloane Square in Chelsea!
The Christmas lights at Sloane Square are so magical, they have giant lit snowflakes in the trees and strung lights across the streets.
The big Peter Jones on the corner is always covered in lights too.
After Sloane Square walk up Sloane Street towards Harrods and you’ll spot lots of little side streets filled with lights and decorations.
2. Harrods
You can’t really go to London at Christmas without going to Harrods.
It’s one of London’s most famous stores.
The lights outside are always amazing, but make sure you go inside the store because they have lots of festive goings-on, and the food hall is incredible this time of year!
Think elaborate decorations all over the store, OTT gifts, and the best food in the food hall! The food there is also surprisingly not badly priced.
Honestly it’s just such a magical place at Christmas.
3. The Ritz, Mayfair
Now, get the tube from Knightsbridge to Green Park, it’s time to visit The Ritz.
I mean, The Ritz’s Christmas decorations are literally iconic.
Make sure you go inside the Ritz as well as stopping outside – treat yourself to their festive afternoon tea and indulge yourself.
Go on, it’s Christmas after all!
4. Annabel’s, Berkeley Square
Just a short walk from The Ritz is Annabel’s private members club.
Ever since Annabel’s reopened in 2018 after a major refurb, they’ve completely smashed it in terms of making a statement.
Each Christmas they go all out, covering the entire facade of their building in a themed decorative display. This year, for 2024, they’ve created a giant snow globe and it’s soooo beautiful! Just look at the photo below!!
As it’s a private members club you won’t be able to enter unless you’re a member (trust me though, it’s not all that, as clubs go it’s not the best and feels just like a more private Sexy Fish), but for sure go and check out the exterior decorations!
5. Connaught Village
Connaught Village is just around the corner from Annabel’s and always looks ridiculously beautiful.
They have lots of lights strung up between the streets and buildings, and it honestly looks like something from a movie.
6. Claridges
For some of the best interior Christmas decorations in London, you need to go to Claridges.
They always go all out, with multiple Christmas trees inside the hotel. They also always have a big ‘special’ Christmas tree that’s themed and designed by a famous designer (the designer changes each year).
7. South Molton Street
Just across the road from Claridges is South Molton Street, which is famous for its blue arches.
There are also lots of cute shops here that usually go a bit wild with the lights and decorations.
8. Oxford Circus
Next, walk up to Oxford Circus from South Molton Street.
Oxford Street is usually the first place in London to to switch on its Christmas lights, and this year 300,000 of them will dangle above Oxford Street.
For extra festive fun, a Big Day of Joy is taking over Oxford Street on 7th December, with live performances, activities in the shops, and festive experiences.
9. Liberty London
Liberty’s is one of my favourite places in London all year round, but especially at Christmas. They don’t have a huge amount of lights on the outside, the building just has loads of cute Christmas trees around it. But it’s the inside that’s worth visiting!!
It’s just the cutest department store, has so much history, and is very quintessentially London. They also have the cutest gifting area!
10. Carnaby Street
Right by Liberty’s is Carnaby Street. Their decorations are always very niche but very fun!
Each year has a theme, so each year the decorations are completely different to previous years, which makes it a fun place to go even if you’ve visited London at Christmas before.
11. Sketch
The food at the downstairs restaurants in Sketch isn’t the best, but it’s worth going there for a cocktail as the cocktails are amazing!!
Sketch always goes all out and creates a different Christmas display each year so it’s a fun place to go.
I mean, look at some of their past displays I’ve seen! So so fun!!
12. Regent Street
Walk 2-mins from Sketch to Regent Street, and down Regent Street.
The lights on Regent Street are pure magic. Although, if you can’t already tell from this post, the whole of London is pure magic at Christmas time!
It does get really busy though, so just be prepared and try and go on a weekday evening instead of a weekend.
13. Covent Garden
Ok, next up is Covent Garden! Walk from Regent Street, down to Piccadilly Circus and then through Leicester Square.
There’s a cute Christmas market in the middle of Leicester Square, but keep going until you get to Covent Garden.
Covent Garden is Christmas MAD. The famous Market is FULL of decorations and photo opportunities, and all the shops and restaurants in the area go absolutely wild with festivities!
Make sure you book a table far in advance and stop by Miracle at Henrietta Hotel for the best kitsch cocktail and hot chocolate experience.
14. The Savoy, The Strand
The Savoy is very similar to Sketch and Claridges in terms of how extra they go at Christmas time.
Their decorations are sooo beautiful and very photogenic.
If you stop by the Beaufort Bar in the evening they have a pianist and the whole bar is filled with lights. It’s pricey, but great for a cheeky cocktail!
15. Somerset House
Obviously Somerset House is a MUST at Christmas in London!!
Don’t worry, you don’t need your own skates. Book a timed slot in advance and hire some skates when you get there, and enjoy one of the best and most famous ice rinks in the whole of London!
16. Trafalgar Square
The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square has been a running joke the past few years as it keeps arriving looking a little…sparse and worse for wear.
But the meaning behind the tree is what’s beautiful about it.
Every year Norway gifts the UK the Christmas tree, as a gift to the people of Britain from Norway as a token of gratitude for British support during the Second World War.
It’s been an annual tradition since 1947, with a tree being chosen and cut in November, and then shipped across the sea to London.
The tree doesn’t arrive until early December, so if you want to see it you’ll need to wait until then.
17. Jermyn Street, St James
From Trafalgar Square, walk up to Jermyn Street, a street known for its gentlemen’s-clothing retailers.
They have really traditional and classy Christmas lights and decorations and it’s a nicer, quieter road to walk up than Piccadilly.
It runs parallel to Piccadilly, so walk up Jermyn and then when you get to Duke Street, turn up towards Fortnum & Mason.
18. Fortnum & Mason
OK, you’re almost at the end of the London Christmas light tour!
Head into Fortnum & Mason and see their epic tree in the rotunda – make sure you go to their Christmas shop while you’re there as well!
Fortnums decorations are whimsical and playful, with brightly coloured bows, nutcrackers, and baubles adorning the stair-rails and columns. It’s one of my favourite places in London to see Christmas decorations!
19. Burlington Arcade
Now, you’ll want to exit Fortnums through the front door and after having a look at their Christmas window displays, walk across the road.
Don’t forget to look back at Fortnums from across the road, as you get a much better view of the outside!
Now, walk up to Burlington Arcade. All of the arcades in Mayfair are decorated at Christmas, but Burlington Arcade is definitely a favourite.
Walk through Burlington Arcade, and then turn left at the end and continue onto Old Bond Street.
As you walk up Old Bond Street, take a peek down the other arcades dotted along and take a look at their decorations too!
20. Old Bond Street
Old Bond street is filled with designer stores all trying to out-do each other on the Christmas decoration front, so make sure your camera is fully charged!!
The displays are always amazing and super impressive.
21. Cartier, Old Bond Street
Finally, you’ll come to Cartier, which is one of London’s best spots for Christmas decorations!!
Every year they put on an incredible festive display.
This part of Old Bond Street is one of the most popular places for influencers to take photos as there’s a great view of all the lights down Old Bond Street as well as the Cartier store.
The Best Christmas Lights in Central London
There are sooo many great places to see Christmas lights in and around London, but these are for sure my favourites in Central London.
If you have extra time definitely check-out Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, Leadenhall market, and Marylebone village. Christmas at Kew is also absolutely unmissable!
Enjoy!!
Catherine Lux is a veteran travel blogger by night and the Head of Content Marketing at Amazon by day. Originally from Surrey, she spent four years living in Australia (2007-2009, and 2016-2018), and now lives in London. An ex-party girl sometimes prone to relapses, she loves nothing more than sharing her fine dining and luxury travel experiences with her loyal readers.
