The best Christmas lights in London 2020

Always a favourite among central London Christmas lights displays, Covent Garden isn’t going to stop this year. As well as an impressive 115,000 lights spread across the main market building, the huge 60foot Christmas tree is adorned with 30,000 festive lights. Unlike previous years, there was no public switch on, but rest assured it’s all been smartly executed as ever.

In its usual style, Regent Street is decked in twinkling lights running through Oxford Circus, St James and Waterloo Place this year. The 300,000 LED lights have been handcrafted to form 45 spirit-shaped displays, creating a warm canopy over the neighbourhood. Go for a socially distant walk to admire the festive decoration, as decadent this year as any other.

Typically a jolly, community-focused event, the Christmas Lighting Event in Marylebone Village is always a suitably twinkly affair. This year, the lights were switched on in the evening of Wednesday 4th November, in response to the changing lockdown guidelines. From Wednesday 11th November (the original planned date for turning on the Christmas lights), exclusive online discounts of 20 per cent at retailers on the high street are available, including Caroline Gardner, Kabiri, KJ’s Laundry, Luca Faloni, Margaret Dabbs, Rachel Riley, The Ginger Pig and Tracey Neuls.

Could this event at King’s Cross shopping and eating hub be London’s hippest Christmas lights launch? Quite possibly. This year, Coal Drops Yard launched a ‘traditionally untraditional’ Christmas display. The show features a sculptural festive forest designed by local architecture practice Sam Jacob Studio, merging a fairy-tale forest with modern architecture, and a giant sustainable terrarium tree made up of 70 living terrariums. The final installation is an interactive People’s Tree, a multi-coloured display that lights up with the steps and movements of those who visit.

This year, Carnaby Street sidestepped Christmas clichés once again, instead working with the Choose Love charity to raise funds throughout the festive period. There are pink neon lights from lightboxes along the street, each adorned with a positive word of hope.

Kew Gardens looks more spectacular than ever when it adorns its grounds with sparkling Christmas lights. Back for the eighth year, the illuminated evening trail has more than a million twinkling bulbs, thousands of laser beams that light up the trees and a stunning light show playing to a festive soundtrack at the Palm House Pond. Stroll along the atmospheric Winter Trail with a spiced cider – festive vibes and COVID-friendly practices guaranteed.

This quiet village in the middle of London is bringing Christmas spirit to its high street at the end of November. As well as a ceiling of twinkling lights and festive decorations in shop windows, renowned artists Rob & Nick have donated their interactive art piece ‘Wavelength’ to the neighbourhood. Previously on show at The Tate Modern, the free, neon-coloured exhibition can be viewed from outside so visitors can remain socially distant when viewing.

The lively lighting ceremony of central London’s showstopping Christmas tree is a tradition that dates back to 1947 – whether it will happen in 2020 is still yet to be confirmed. The 80-foot-high Norwegian spruce is a gift to London from Norway, in thanks for British support during World War II. The tree is always decorated in traditional Norwegian style, with distinctive strings of vertical lights, while energy-efficient bulbs (and a stringent tree-recycling programme) help keep things sustainable.

Thanks to a mix of private in-store events and late-night openings, the Bond Street switch-on is typically a dream come true for anyone wanting to splash a little festive cash at the same time as taking in some illuminations. In 2019, further twinkling was added by tastefully lit Christmas trees running the length of the street, while entertainment came from a roaming gospel choir, dancers and other performers.

The wonderfully grand Royal Exchange gave the City a warm glow in 2019 when its 25ft-high Christmas tree was illuminated by Joanne Froggatt – Downton Abbey’s Anna Bates. Afterwards, the building opened its doors for an evening of shopping and winter-themed masterclasses, including biscuit decorating at bakery Cutter and Squidge, Champagne and wine tasting at Fortnum & Mason – responsible for decorating the tree – and even a Christmas-lights photography workshop. Details on whether anything is happening this year are still TBC.

The light displays stretching through Seven Dials’ streets are always a smart affair, but in 2019 they were just one part of the programme in a Christmas extravaganza. Also on the agenda was suitably seasonal live music, wreath-making, festive food and drink stalls, and the promise of experiential indoor and outdoor activities.