When Do the London Christmas Lights Switch On in 2026: Oxford Street, Covent Garden and Bond Street Dates

London Christmas lights 2026 are already shining in Leicester Square, Carnaby Street and Regent Street, and the rest of the West End follows over the coming week, with Oxford Street switching on on Monday 9 November, Marylebone Village at 6pm on Wednesday 11 November, and Covent Garden and Bond Street on Thursday 12 November. According to Time Out's list of switch-on dates, Leicester Square was first on Sunday 1 November, followed by Carnaby on Wednesday 4 November and Regent Street on Thursday 5 November. Covent Garden will be covered by more than 300,000 LED lights across the Piazza, Seven Dials and Neal's Yard, with 40 giant golden bells, mirror balls, giant baubles and a 50ft Norwegian spruce on the West Piazza, while Bond Street holds its illumination ceremony at 7pm on 12 November. Almost all of the main displays sit within the City of Westminster, which makes the borough the centre of London's festive season, as the Westminster newsroom of The WP Times reports.

For residents and visitors, the lights bring crowds, extra footfall for shops and restaurants, and some practical challenges. Switch-on evenings can mean busy pavements, temporary road closures and crowded stations at Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Bond Street and Covent Garden, where TfL sometimes uses crowd control at peak times. The festive markets in Covent Garden open on the same day as the lights and run until 2 January, and choirs and West End casts will give surprise performances every Thursday. Further afield, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland opens on Thursday 19 November and runs until 3 January 2027, closing only on Christmas Day. The simplest way to see the main displays is a walking route from Marylebone through Oxford Street and Regent Street to Carnaby and Covent Garden, which takes around an hour without stops and avoids the need to drive into the Congestion Charge zone.

London Christmas lights 2026: switch-on dates

Most of the major displays are switched on between late October and mid-November. The table lists the confirmed dates for central London.

The dates

Displays already lit

Leicester Square, Carnaby and Regent Street are already switched on, so visitors this weekend can see three of the main displays. Regent Street's lights traditionally span the curve between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus.

Covent Garden and Bond Street on 12 November

Thursday 12 November is the busiest switch-on evening of the season, with two displays lit on the same night.

"Head to Bond Street on the evening November 12 to see its dazzling illumination ceremony."

(Time Out London, guide to Christmas lights switch-on dates 2026)

What to expect in Covent Garden

• More than 300,000 LED lights across the Piazza, Seven Dials and Neal's Yard.
• 40 giant golden bells, eight mirror balls and 12 giant baubles in the Market Building.
• A 50ft Norwegian spruce on the West Piazza.
• A new installation, The Forest of Theatre, with trees inspired by West End shows.
• Festive markets from 12 November until 2 January.

Bond Street ceremony

Bond Street's lights are due to be switched on at 7pm. The street is home to luxury shops, and the illumination usually draws crowds around New Bond Street and Old Bond Street.

A walking route through the West End

The main London Christmas lights 2026 displays are close together, so a walking route is the easiest way to see them.

Suggested route

• Start at Marylebone High Street and walk south to Oxford Street.
• Head east along Oxford Street to Oxford Circus.
• Turn south down Regent Street, stopping at Carnaby Street on the left.
• Continue to Piccadilly Circus and walk east to Leicester Square.
• Finish at Covent Garden, Seven Dials and Neal's Yard.

Getting there and away

Oxford Circus, Bond Street, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Covent Garden stations all serve the route. Covent Garden station can be exit-only at busy times, so Leicester Square or Holborn may be quicker. Avoid driving, as parking is limited and the congestion charge is £18 a day.

Westminster during the festive season

Hosting most of London's Christmas lights brings benefits and pressures for Westminster residents and businesses.

Crowds, shops and safety

• Footfall on Oxford Street and Regent Street rises sharply from mid-November.
• Pickpocketing increases in crowded areas, so keep bags closed and phones secure.
• Stations may use temporary crowd control at weekends and on switch-on nights.
• Delivery scams also rise in the run-up to Christmas, as our report on Christmas delivery scams explains.

Other festive dates

London Christmas lights 2026: questions and answers

When do the Oxford Street Christmas lights go on in 2026

Monday 9 November 2026, according to Time Out.

Are the Regent Street lights on yet

Yes, Regent Street's lights were switched on on Thursday 5 November.

When are the Covent Garden Christmas lights switched on

Thursday 12 November 2026.

Which London Christmas lights are free to see

All of the street displays are free. Some events nearby, such as ice rinks and Winter Wonderland attractions, charge.

When does Winter Wonderland open

Thursday 19 November 2026, running until 3 January 2027.

Background: a Westminster tradition

Regent Street's Christmas lights date back to 1954, and Oxford Street followed in 1959. Today, the displays are funded by local businesses and business improvement districts. Visitor information is available from Visit London.

For more on what's happening in the capital, read our guides to London concerts in November 2026 and Diwali 2026 in London.

Sources used: Time Out London, Covent Garden, Bond Street, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Westminster Abbey, Transport for London, Visit London