London's 2026 Christmas Lights: Every Switch-On Date Revealed

Time Out London has published a comprehensive guide to every major Christmas lights switch-on in the capital for 2026. St Martin's Lane leads the season on 3 November, with a live performance from the cast of a mystery West End production. Carnaby Street follows on 4 November with its 1990s-inspired 'Press Play on Christmas' display. Regent Street's iconic 'Spirits of Christmas' angels return on 5 November, this time with a secret twist. Knightsbridge illuminates on 10 November with an eco-friendly display made from aluminium and 3,000 recycled plastic bottles, featuring 12,000 low-energy LED bulbs. Marylebone Village switches on 11 November, centred around a 55-foot Ferris wheel. Covent Garden and Bond Street both light up on 12 November; Bond Street's Crown Jewels-inspired display uses 93,000 LED lights. Kew Gardens opens its 3km light trail on 13 November. Fleet Street's Dennis the Menace installations arrive on 18 November, and Leadenhall Market and St Katharine Docks both switch on 19 November. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, which features a canopy of 100,000 lights above its ice rink, has no specific switch-on date listed. Chelsea Winter Village illuminates on 25 November, and The Shard follows on 1 December. Oxford Street's exact date is still to be confirmed, though its display will feature Harry Potter-inspired decorations alongside the familiar star lights.