Christmas lighting routes in London 2022: 12 best routes this winter

Christmas is just around the corner and what better way to get in the mood for the season of goodwill to come than wrapping up warm and heading to the festive lights.

While many of the capital’s streets and neighborhoods are cutting back on their light shows this year in the wake of the cost of living crisis and skyrocketing utility bills, there are still plenty of opportunities to have a light trail as part of your Christmas celebrations.

Many of the usual venues – such as Oxford Street and Kew Gardens – have left their lights on, but these aren’t the only venues offering festive itineraries this year.

So if you’re looking to add a touch of pre-Christmas sparkle to your life, read on to find out where to capture the best festive lights this year…

Oxford street

The festive illuminations of Oxford Street are a sight to behold this year as the iconic shopping destination is adorned with over 5,000 illuminated stars – and best of all, they’re completely free to see.

You’ll need to choose your hours carefully, though, as the lights – which were turned on in early November – are on for just eight hours a day from 3pm to 11pm this year due to rising energy costs in the country. was confronted.

This is expected to reduce energy use by up to two-thirds compared to previous years when the lights were on for 24 hours through November and December.

More information can be found here.

Regent Street

The lights of Regent Street were themed The Spirit Of Christmas this year, bringing luscious golden angels to the high streets.

The lights covering Regent Street and the St James quarters were lit on November 9 and, like the lights on Oxford Street, will be on between 3pm and 11pm for what the website describes as a “more sustained display”.

Covent Garden

A visit to Covent Garden is sure to get you in the festive mood this year, as the central London destination is packed with lights and other seasonal delights every day from 11am to midnight until January 3rd.

Visitors can also enjoy pop-up shops, daily “snow showers”, festive treats, and mulled wine – with more than 40 different varieties poured across the grounds.

And if that wasn’t enough, you can even take a seat in the Christmas sleigh in the western piazza, which is open daily from 9am to 9pm for photo ops.

Carnaby street

A stone’s throw from Oxford Street, Carnaby Street celebrates 25 years of light shows with a pop culture procession channeling Bohemian Rhapsody’s lyrics in large neon letters. There’s also a cheeky nod to the Rolling Stones with giant glitter tongues thrown in.

Also keep an eye out for giant robins, a giant snowman and images of scenes from Under the Sea, as well as a globe to match the Carnaby Meets the World theme.

The visit is completely free, more information can be found here.

south shore

The Winter Festival returns to Southbank, complete with the Winter Light Exhibition, a free display of lightwork that will brighten up the area during the holiday season.

It’s all part of Lightopia, a magical, award-winning immersive experience with colored snakes to hop, tunnels to traverse and musical notes to hop through. Spectacular does not cover the load by a long shot.

Visit the website for more information and tickets.

Kew Gardens

Christmas at Kew, one of the season’s most famous light trails, offers a festive experience with over a mile of lights to walk through.

Along the way, you’ll have the chance to sample festive foods and drinks, watch graceful flames in the Fire Garden – and maybe even say hello to Santa himself.

Entry for this is a ticket and you can find all the details on the official website.

Hampton court

It’s something of sheer beauty any day of the week, so you can only imagine how bright Hampton Court gets when they bring out the big guns.

This year’s Palace Of Light route is the largest ever – twice the size of last year’s exhibit – taking you on a jaunt through wilderness and formal gardens as you admire glittering unicorns, panthers, lions and greyhounds as this beautifully lit palace comes along as a backdrop. And there is also delicious street food.

Visit the official website for more information and to book tickets.

2, Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, KT8 9AU

WWT London Wetland Centre

The magic of nature meets the magic of light in Illuminature, a beautiful transformation of one of the capital’s natural wonders into sparkling, twinkling night. Encounter giant light animals, including giant color-changing otters and oversized sculptures of cranes and herons, or take a selfie that gives you angel wings.

Add to this enlarged pond animals, an illuminated spider web, light tunnels and water projections and you have a true Christmas attack on the senses.

More information and tickets on the website.

8, London Wetland Centre, Barnes, SW13

Epping Ongar Railway

Light Fantastic is a light path with a twist because you do it on a steam train. Like Polar Express!

The specially designed show on the Epping-Ongar Railway (formerly part of London’s Central line in the heart of Essex) takes in the stations, the countryside, the forest… in an illuminated carriage with music as you prepare for the story unfolded unfolded, with displays appearing before your eyes as you walk along the rails. magic and more.

Read more here.

15, Ongar Station, Station Entrance, CM5 9BN

kenwood

They like to call it ‘Britain’s most enchanting Christmas light trail’ – and since nobody invented the ‘mesmerometer’, we have to rely on it. The evidence is strong.

The beautiful neoclassical facade of Kenwood House provides a backdrop for spectacular projections even before you enter a path between illuminated trees and sparkling arches, past flowers exploding with fire.

More information and booking tickets can be found here.

1, Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, NW3 7JR

Eltham Palace

By Christmas Eltham Palace is transformed into the enchanted Eltham with the Great Hall bathed in light, grounds and gardens dotted, splashed and saturated with colour, and glasses of mulled wine and toasted marshmallows to enjoy against this beautiful historic backdrop and you can walk through the full experience.