Christmas Lights in London

Pop star Robbie Williams turned on the Oxford Street Christmas Lights this year and kick-started the festive season in a star-studded show hosted by Jamie Theakston and Emma Bunton. Robbie performed his latest single as part of the live show and was joined by London girl, Leona Lewis, four-piece boy band Lawson and the cast of Scrooge. Robbie's performance included the single 'Candy' from his new album 'Take The Crown,' which launched on the same day. The Oxford Street Christmas Lights are an annual tradition with 20,000 people braving the chilly night to watch the star-studded switch on. This year the lights are sponsored by Britain's much loved spread, Marmite, and feature a new trick enabling faces to appear in the light displays.

The Christmas Lights on Regent Street carried a bit of Olympic fever into the festive season this year and enlisted some of the Team GB athletes to officially begin the celebrations. With a little help from presenters John Suchet and Jamie Crick, the event kicked off with a choral rendition of the twelve days of Christmas followed by a performance from the cast of West End show Matilda. Regent Street's Christmas Lights are some of the most breathtaking in the capital, this year holly garlands frame gold scenes representing the twelve days of Christmas. The light displays are set off beautifully against the regal sweep of John Nash's architectural excellence. World famous British stores like Hamleys and Liberty sit alongside global stalwarts like Banana Republic, Gant and Armani Exchange on Regent Street, so once you've been wowed by the light display, you can enjoy some world class present shopping opportunities.

This year Carnaby Street celebrates 50 years of The Rolling Stones with special Christmas installations emblazoned with the bands iconic artwork and album covers. Renowned for its unique festive decorations, the street with a deep rooted link to music will see large 3D spheres displayed on its every corner, while the Carnaby arches will be crowned in the rock'n'roll band's infamous tongue logo. Sighting a strong history with The Stones, it is said that band would often pop into Carnaby shops and rehearse minutes away in Broadwick Street from as early as the 1960s. For those who are long standing Rolling Stones fans, or those who just want to take in the scenery and do a spot of shopping, the quirky lights are launched on 8th November, and will hang until 6th January 2013. On top of it all, there will be a Rolling Stones pop up store that will offer a variety of limited edition merchandise, as well as the the band's new Greatest Hits CD, due out on 12th November.

Claudia Winkleman turned on the Marylebone Christmas Lights in November with live bands, fireworks and the open air Cabbages and Frocks Market bringing festive cheer to this chic corner of central London. The proceedings raised money for the charity Rays of Sunshine, which aims to grant wishes for seriously ill children. Marylebone High Street lies just a short walk away from the crowded throng of Oxford Street and its rarefied delights, from Compton des Cotonniers to Agnes and Rose, Daunt Books to Designers Guild and from The Ginger Pig to La Fromagerie, it's the perfect place to enjoy upmarket shopping without the scrum.

Santa accompanied by honorary guest Cinderalla from the Rose Theatre's Christmas production switched on the Christmas Lights in Kingston town centre on Thursday 17th November. Kingston always puts on a good show to mark the switching on of the Christmas Lights and this year they didn't disappoint with performances from Cinderella and her theatre cast members, as well as a showcase of contestants from the newly introduced Kensington Spotlight competition. The seasonal went on across Kingston from with plenty of musicians, dancers and street theatre groups lined up to keep audiences entertained. In the market square, the traditional Tudor Market set the scene for carol singers and mulled wine, and on Eden Walk, there was music from Articulate and the Kingston Youth Big Band.

Since 1947, stately Trafalgar Square receives a majestic Norwegian Christmas Tree as an annual gift from the people of Oslo, thanking Britain for its support and friendship during World War Two. The enormous tree is a popular seasonal tourist attraction, particularly in the fortnight leading up to Christmas, when each evening (11th-22nd Dec) a different choir gathers there to sing carols and raise money for a range of voluntary or charitable organisations. Passers-by are welcome to come and listen to the carols in the square, and even join in the festive cheer. Nelson's Column is decorated with Norwegian white lights and the tree is illuminated from noon until midnight until the Twelfth Night of Christmas in early January. The tree actually goes up in late November if you want to see it in all its naked evergreen glory.

Taylor Swift turned on the Christmas lights at Westfield London early in November. The 22-year-old global superstar performed on stage in The Atrium at Westfield, Shepherd's Bush, singing tracks from her number 1 album including hit single We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, much to the delight of the fans waiting in their thousands. Westfield's decorations take pride of place in the middle of the sprawling West London shopping haven, with added festive atmosphere coming from some enormous Christmas trees. Shoppers can enjoy the light displays whilst taking a shopping-break skate around the Westfield ice rink.