London is one of the best cities in the world for Christmas Lights; you have iconic streets like Oxford Street, Regent Street and Carnaby Street, amongst many others. Plus, many smaller locations are less well-known and off the beaten track. But some of these places can be just as beautiful.
Below, I will list a few of these places, plus the well-known ones where you can enjoy the lights and the Christmas spirit of 2023. I will add more as I visit them during December 2023. You can find lots more photos in my Christmas folder on Flickr.
Annabel’s, Mayfair
Over the last ten years, it has been one of the most well-known places to visit at Christmas. In Mayfair, Annabel’s is a private members club off Berkeley Square. It changes its front facade every month into a spectacular display. This is also a place to check out each month of the year, as there is usually something new, and the displays are massive. This year, it is a balloon bearing lots of gifts.
Closest tube station: Green Park | Map
Trafalgar Square
In Trafalgar Square, the Christmas tree has been put up in December. This is the 76th tree from the people of Norway to light up the square. The tree is in gratitude for Britain’s support for Norway during World War II. Some cool shots are using the fountain with a long exposure and the Christmas tree.
Closest tube station: Charing Cross | Map
Bond Street / New Bond Street
High-end shops like Louis Vuitton and Gucci are along New Bond Street. Many stores cover their facade with decorations and spend a lot of money, making them excellent places to photograph. Bond Street is also famous for auction houses like Christie’s.
Closest tube station: Bond Street | Map
Fortnum & Mason
Check out the advent calendar building; it is always a good place to photograph, and if you go inside, you can capture the Christmas pudding installation inside the central area.
Closest tube station: Green Park | Map
Oxford Street
Coming Soon
Closest tube station: Oxford Circus | Map
Piccadilly Circus / Regent Street
Piccadilly Circus is always the place to be if you are visiting London, for its bright lights and flashing screens showcasing the latest adverts. Going up Regent Street with the curve of the road, you can pick up the Christmas angels above. This is another road with a central walkway, perfect for capturing the buses going by.
Closest tube station: Piccadilly Circus | Map
Carnaby Street
Coming Soon
Closest tube station: Oxford Circus | Map
Covent Garden
This is a bustling square at Christmas; with the new decorations in the plaza and the usual tree, there is plenty to photograph in various parts of the square.
Closest tube station: Covent Garden | Map
Kings Cross, Coal Drop Yard
Just off Kings Cross station is Coal Drop Yard; it is mainly a shopping and eating district with a big Samsung building which covers the square. The architecture is excellent with the old and new.
Closest tube station: Kings Cross | Map
Kings Cross St Pancras Station
This year, the tree in St Pancras station is made out of books; an excellent place to capture the tree is from the top of the escalator looking down at it.
Closest tube station: Kings Cross, St Pancras | Map
Battersea Power Station
World-renowned artist David Hockney has sprinkled some Christmas magic over Battersea Power Station with a bespoke new piece of art! Drawn on iPad, the iconic façade is transformed into two magical Christmas trees overlooking the River Thames. There is an impressive ice rink called the Glide Park.
Closest tube station: Battersea Station | Map
Harrods / Kensington
Harrods, the iconic store in Kensington, is lit up as it usually does over Christmas; part of it has scaffolding up, not great for photos. An excellent location to shoot the building is in the middle of the road, with a traffic island. You would need a wide-angle lens to capture the beautiful building.
Closest tube station: Knightsbridge | Map
St James Street
The lights around London can be excellent during Christmas, with many everywhere. St James Street, just off Piccadilly Circus, is perfect for shooting the Christmas lights because it has a central island in the middle of the road, so you can get those prominent shots. At the far end, it has a large Christmas tree, which is always good to shoot.
Closest tube station: Piccadilly Circus | Map
Thanks for reading my article; many more photographs are in the links below. Sign up for my latest newsletter for events happening around the London area each month. Sent to your inbox at the beginning of each month.
