Light Up London: A Festive Walking Tour to Remember

Imagine yourself in that peculiar time between Christmas and New Year when the days blur together, you’ve become best friends with your pyjamas, and you’re thinking about a new career in property development after dominating Monopoly. Yes, it’s the limbo between Christmas and the new year.

While it’s so tempting to stay indoors and wait for January to arrive, we all understand that taking a stroll and getting some fresh air is essential for the spirit. And what better way to do so than by embarking on a festive walking tour of London? The city may have packed away the Christmas decorations, but it’s still shimmering, glittering, and spreading some much-needed end-of-year joy. So here’s the ultimate guide to a festive walk through London’s best and brightest Christmas lights before they’re gone. Trust us, you’ll thank us later.

Your festive journey commences at the famous Churchill Arms in Kensington. Here, you can be mesmerised by the enchanting display that covers the entire exterior (with a jaw-dropping 80 Christmas trees), and enjoy a drink before the delightful stroll ahead.

Venture down Kensington High Street, then saunter down Gloucester Road until you reach Da Mario. This cherished, family-run establishment was actually Princess Diana’s preferred local Italian restaurant and is always adorned with colourful lights for the festive season.

Continue your walk through South Kensington, passing by the Natural History Museum. Even though the museum is no longer home to an incredible ice rink, it’s still worth a visit in my eyes.

Carry on until you reach Fortnum & Mason on Brompton Road. The annual advent calendar and Christmas window display at Fortnum & Mason are always a treat not to be missed.

Make your way to Mayfair via New Bond Street where you’ll find some of the most impressive Christmas displays courtesy of Cartier, Chanel, Dior, and other renowned names. It’s also a perfect opportunity for some window shopping or the real thing. No judgements here.

Take a detour to Annabel’s on Berkeley Square. The beloved spot showcases a breathtaking new design every year. This time around, their uplifting display features an impressive hot air balloon that stretches over the building’s three floors. Definitely worth the little detour, in my humble opinion.

From there, head up to Regent Street. It’s a classic for a reason. Who can resist the yearly tradition of posing awkwardly to look like you have angel wings? Not our videographer, Phoebe, that’s for sure.

Now onto Oxford Street. Another Christmas staple for Londoners, the Oxford Street lights are as iconic as the angry commuters and big red buses. Just keep in mind: Oxford Street during the post-Christmas sales is not for the faint-hearted.

Just one street over (try to resist popping into Liberty’s) is Carnaby Street. The Carnaby Street lights are always a personal favourite of mine and this year they’re – quite literally – out of this world. There’s a plethora of pubs, restaurants, and coffee shops for a mid-walk pit-stop here so you can gaze at the lights whilst refueling and rehydrating for the remainder of the festive walk. What more could you ask for?

Wander through Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, but be sure to move through both of these areas as quickly as possible to avoid the rush and chaos. Believe us on this one.

Now to the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree. Each year, the kind folks of Norway donate a tree to London as a thank-you for their assistance in World War II. Londoners enjoy poking fun at the tree, but a lot of effort goes into bringing it to Trafalgar Square and getting it lit, and it’s well worth a visit if you’re in town.

Cross the river and head to the Southbank. Here, you can treat yourself to a warm drink, some delicious street food, and enjoy the stunning view of the city skyline.

So there you have it – our ultimate festive walking tour of London’s Christmas lights. We understand there are so many lights and so little time, but we hope this guide helps. Most of the city’s lights and displays will be shining until next weekend (January 6-7), so make the most of them while you can, as soon enough they’ll be gone for another year!