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Christmas in London 2007: Festive Lights
 
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London is at its best in winter. With millions of lights brightening up the streets and window displays looking like a Christmas wish-list, there's a festive feel to the city. Oxford Street is the first to switch on its illuminations this year, to much fanfare, marking the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Depending on where you choose to see the turning on of the lights you may get a celebrity appearance, fireworks, live performances or Santa in his grotto. From the lights over the designer shops on Bond Street to those over the Cabbages and Frocks market in Marylebone, we've listed the most shining examples. Wherever you are, you can expect a wonderful carnival atmosphere under a canopy of twinkling lights.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A London Christmas 2007: Related Articles Traditional London Christmas Map Traditional London Christmas Guide (Printable Version) Sugar & Spice | Hotel Hideaways | Food & Flower Markets | Traditional Toys | Ice Skating | Festive Fairs | Shows & Pantos | Christmas Lights | Tinsel & Trimmings | Christmas Day & Boxing Day | Carols & Services | New Year | Fish & Fowl | Greens, Cheese & Delis   Bond Street Christmas Lights
Bond Street, W1S 3EP 22nd November 2007 - 5th January 2008 The designer shops on London's most expensive shopping street will be ablaze with luminous displays, some designed by the boutiques themselves, others lit by a huge yet elegant public light display suspended across the whole street. Sophie Dahl will be switching on the lights at 6pm in the annual tradition, marking the beginning of the Bond Street Christmas Party when the street will be closed to traffic. She joins past celebrity guests including Thandie Newton, the Kidd sisters and that well-dressed pair, Trinny and Susannah. The whole area will be turned into a winter wonderland complete with snow, real live reindeer, rickshaw sleighs, tuneful carol singers and entertainers. Many of the luxurious shops will be laying on entertainments, hospitality and giveaways proving that it may be the smartest street in the city but that it still knows how to have fun. Venue: Bond Street Date: 22nd November 2007 - 5th January 2008 Time: Street Party 17:00 - 20:00, lights turned on 18:00 Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Bond Street Tube Bond Street Christmas Lights - Information  Brighton Christmas Lights
Brighton, BN1 3FB 15th November 2007 - 3rd January 2008 On Thursday 15th November a roof-top fireworks display marks the switching on of the Christmas lights in Brighton with a bang. This year, to avoid congestion, there isn't one single meeting place from which to watch the turning on of the lights. Instead, there are activities and installations around the unique Brighton area which includes the pretty shopping streets around North Laine, North Street and The Lanes. A short train ride from London, Brighton - dubbed 'London-on-Sea' - is a cosmopolitan resort famous for its stunning Georgian squares and seafront buildings. The permanent funfair on its one operational pier is especially fun at this time of year. A day trip is definitely recommended. Venue: Brighton Address: North Laine, North Street and The Lanes, BN1 3FB Date: 15th November 2007 - 3rd January 2008 Time: TBC Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Brighton Rail Brighton Christmas Lights - Information  Carnaby Christmas Decorations
Carnaby Street, Newburgh Street and surrounding area, W1F 7DN 14th November 2007 - 1st January 2008 Instead of Christmas lights, Carnaby Street - and the pretty, pedestrian streets around it - will be covered in a canopy of festive paper chains. An inventive solution to the energy consuming lights which benefit the environment while avoiding accusations of bah humbug-ism. As well as the light reflective paper chains, there's a 'pop up' vintage clothing store where clothes including a selection from Dame Shirley Bassey's wardrobe will be on sale in aid of Barnardo's - you'll find the store at 11/12 Carnaby Street, launching on Saturday 1 December 2007. Celebrity garments among the retro and vintage clothes, records and books from the 70s and 80s include a coat donated by actor Andy Serkis - aka Gollum in Lord of the Rings. If you're in the area on 29th November register in advance at www.carnaby.co.uk and take advantage of the Christmas shopping evening (6pm to 10pm) with 20 per cent off at many of the stores in the area. Venue: Carnaby Street, Newburgh Street and surrounding area Phone: 020 7333 8118 Date: 14th November 2007 - 1st January 2008 Time: 18:00 Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Oxford Circus Tube Carnaby Christmas Decorations - Information  Herne Bay Christmas Lights
Mortimer Street, Herne Bay, CT6 5ER 24th November 2007 - 5th January 2008 Take a day trip to the seaside and visit one of England's most attractive towns while you're there. Herne Bay on the south east Kent coast twinkled in a blaze of festive cheer when the Christmas lights are switched on. Nearby Canterbury, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is certainly worth a visit while you're here and there's a regular bus service between the two towns. Canterbury is dominated by an arresting Norman cathedral where Archbishop Thomas Beckett was murdered at the behest of Henry II. The town is full of history and sections of the medieval city walls remain; down narrow streets you'll find pretty timber framed houses. But it's at the Victorian resort of Herne Bay that the streets are illuminated accompanied by a great fanfare, with TV celebrity Stephen Mulhern - of 'Britain's Got Talent' and 'Ministry of Mayhem' fame - pressing the big red 'on' button. Venue: Mortimer Street, Herne Bay Address: Kent, CT6 5ER Phone: 01227 361911 Date: 24th November 2007 - 5th January 2008 Time: TBC Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Herne Bay Rail Herne Bay Christmas Lights - Information  Kingston Town Centre Christmas Lights
Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1EU 15th November 2007 - 2nd January 2008 Emerging from his grotto, Santa himself will be turning on the Christmas lights over Kingston town centre on 15th November. He'll be joined by a brass band, face painters and local school children who'll be filling the air with some festive carol singing. It's a great family afternoon out with a children's nativity farm featuring real live animals around the crib - a lovely way of bringing the Christmas story to life. Venue: Kingston upon Thames Address: High Street, Kingston, Surrey, KT1 1EU Phone: 020 8547 5016 Date: 15th November 2007 - 2nd January 2008 Time: 15th Nov Entertainments from 16:00 | Turning on Ceremony 18:00 Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Kingston Rail Kingston Town Centre Christmas Lights - Information  Marylebone Christmas Lights
Devonshire Street, W1W 5DS 15th November 2007 - 5th January 2008 Marylebone's Christmas celebrations are like an art house movie compared to the blockbusters of its rivals on Oxford Street and Regent Street. In keeping with the small independent shops that line its high street, Marylebone marks the festive season with an intimacy that its 'village' label hints at. With the medical thoroughfare of Harley Street running from north to south, sparkling bulbs light up the area's wide calm streets. For the opening ceremony there's entertainment all afternoon on 15th November. Although the details have yet to be announced, you can expect street entertainment, Santa at his grotto and some angelic carol singing if last year's event is anything to go by. Last year, actress Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter films) turned on the lights and there followed live music and festive fireworks. This year, the Cabbages and Frocks Market at the north end of the high street opens up on Thursday 15th from 12-8pm, Friday 16th & Saturday 17th from 11-5pm. A perfect opportunity to peruse and purchase presents for people who've been especially good this year. Venue: Devonshire Street Address: Marylebone, W1W 5DS Date: 15th November 2007 - 5th January 2008 Time: 18:30 on 15th Nov (ceremony and switching on of lights) Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Regent's Park Tube Marylebone Christmas Lights - Information  Oxford Street Christmas Lights
Oxford Street, W1B 3AG 7th November 2007 - 4th January 2008 The crowd of gift-scouting shoppers that flock to the world's most famous retail street during the Christmas rush has to be seen to be believed. A total of a staggering 40 million shoppers are expected over the Christmas period. When night falls on 7th November the assembled throng is lit up by a canopy of brilliant lights that has come to mean Christmas is nigh (well, it's over 6 weeks away but who's counting). This year X-Factor star Leona Lewis will be turning on the lights and singing her No. 1 single, 'Bleeding Love'. Joining her are Jamie Theakston, Toby Anstis and Harriet Scott, who'll be providing the entertainment from 5pm, building up to the big switch-on just after 6pm. They'll be introducing further live performances from Westlife and the cast of Mary Poppins. With Disney's latest cartoon 'Enchanted' providing the theme for the lights, it's set to be a fairy tale evening. Head for John Lewis to catch all the action. Venue: Oxford Street Address: Westminster, W1B 3AG Date: 7th November 2007 - 4th January 2008 Time: From 17:00 (ceremony), 18:17 (switching on of lights). Both on 7th Nov. Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Oxford Circus Tube Oxford Street Christmas Lights - Information  Regent Street Christmas Lights
Regent's Street, W1B 5BT 20th November 2007 - 7th January 2008 Regent Street's lights are traditionally the most spectacular of all, and images of the street are synonymous with Christmas. Families from all over the country make the trip to see the switch being flipped. This year coincides with the launch of a new Nokia shop so they've chipped in for some new lights - fourteen futuristic 3D light clusters will illuminate the street. For the turning on ceremony, shoppers can meet festive entertainers either at the north or south end of Regent Street and walk under the lights as they're turned on. And it's not just the design of the lights that's futuristic, the way the operate is too. They'll be programmed to respond to the number of people in the street, as well as to the wind, weather and sunlight. Regent Street will be closed off to traffic so you can wander along outside Hamleys, Liberty and the other famous department stores, to see lights that have symbolised the spirit of Christmas since 1954. The lights will be switched on at 6pm and visitors are advised to arrive at 5.15pm or earlier. Venue: Regent's Street Date: 20th November 2007 - 7th January 2008 Time: 18:00 Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus Tube Regent Street Christmas Lights - Information  Southbank Christmas Lights
Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX 6th December 2007 It's not just the big shopping streets that get lit up over Christmas. The Hayward has a more artistic take on the festive illuminations. They've collaborated with contemporary British artist Anya Gallaccio who has created site-specific installations at Tate Britain and the Wapping Project. Last year's Festival Remix by David Batchelor, inspired by the refurbishment work on Royal Festival Hall, will also return as part of the festivities. His work transforms workmen's tools from bins, pallets and cement mixers into extraordinary glowing forms and lights in recycled plastic bottles. Go along for the switching on ceremony on 6th December and you can browse the Christmas shops all along the South Bank to a soundtrack of festive songs sung by Southbank Centre's Voicelab choir. Venue: Southbank Centre Address: Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XX Phone: 0871 663 2501 Date: 6th December 2007 Time: 18:30 Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Lambeth North Tube Southbank Christmas Lights - Information  Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree
Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS 7th December 2007 - 6th January 2008 For over half a century Trafalgar Square has been adorned with a majestic Christmas tree - an annual gift from the people of Oslo, thanking Britain for support and friendship during World War Two. The tree - perhaps the most famous in the world - is an integral part of Christmas in the capital. The evergreen is always a prime specimen, a giant tree, decorated only with authentic white lights. Singing groups and passers-by join around the tree every evening to perform carols and soak up the Christmas cheer (starts 11th December). On some evenings the angelic voices of the St Martin-in-the-Fields choir lead the tune. This is a wonderful spot to capture the spirit of Christmas. Venue: Trafalgar Square Date: 7th December 2007 - 6th January 2008 Time: TBC Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Charing Cross Tube / Rail Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree - Information
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