London Christmas Lights and Markets 2026: Dates and Where to Go

October 29, 2026

Illustration of a London shopping street at dusk with festive lights strung overhead

The short answer: London's Christmas lights switch on in stages through November 2026. Carnaby goes first on Wednesday, November 4, Regent Street follows on Thursday, November 5 (with a free, traffic-free evening from 5pm to 9pm), and Covent Garden lights up on Thursday, November 12. Oxford Street's lights have a Harry Potter theme this year, but the switch-on date hadn't been announced when we checked in late October. For markets, the Southbank Centre Winter Market (November 2, 2026 to January 4, 2027) and Leicester Square are the classic picks, Borough Market is the one for food lovers, and Christmas at Kew (November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027) is the best light trail if you're willing to book.

Some 2026 dates were still unconfirmed in late October, so below we flag what's official, what's reported by London press, and what's last year's pattern. If you're mainly planning Hyde Park, we cover it separately in our Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2026 guide.

When do the London Christmas lights switch on in 2026?

Short answer: between early and late November, with the West End lights mostly on by mid November.

Lights	2026 switch-on	Status (late October 2026)
St Martin's Lane	Tuesday, November 3, 4:45pm	Reported by Time Out
Carnaby	Wednesday, November 4	Reported by Time Out and Londonist
Regent Street and St James's	Thursday, November 5, 5pm to 9pm	Official (Regent Street)
Oxford Street	Not announced	Usually early November
Knightsbridge	Tuesday, November 10	Reported by Time Out
Marylebone Village	Wednesday, November 11, 6pm	Reported by Time Out
Covent Garden	Thursday, November 12	Official (Covent Garden)
Bond Street	Thursday, November 12, 7pm	Reported by Time Out
Leadenhall Market	Thursday, November 19	Reported by Time Out
Trafalgar Square tree	Expected Thursday, December 3	Not confirmed; it was December 4 in 2025

Regent Street

Regent Street's "Festive Spirits" return on Thursday, November 5, 2026, according to the official Regent Street site, with a traffic-free switch-on evening from 5pm to 9pm, family entertainment and in-store events. Londonist reports the display stretches across Regent Street, Jermyn Street and St James's Market, made from around 300,000 LEDs, and stays up until early January. If you love the classic postcard view, stand near the top of the curve by Piccadilly Circus after dark and look north.

Carnaby

Carnaby is usually the first big West End switch-on. Time Out and Londonist both report Wednesday, November 4, 2026, with a 90s nostalgia theme called "Press Play on Christmas." The look itself was still under wraps. In 2025, Carnaby switched on November 6, so early November is the pattern. It's a few minutes' walk from Regent Street, which makes it easy to do both in one evening.

Oxford Street

This year, Oxford Street's lights are themed around Harry Potter, timed with HBO's new series premiering on Christmas Day, according to Time Out. The designs and the switch-on date hadn't been announced when we checked. In 2025, the lights went on November 3, without a big ceremony, so expect early November again. Time Out also reports a large Harry Potter shop opening on Oxford Street on November 4, which will add to the crowds that week.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden's official site confirms the lights switch on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with over 300,000 lights across the neighborhood. The theme is "Theatre of Christmas": a 50 foot Norwegian spruce on the West Piazza, the gold bells and baubles back in the historic Market Building, and Christmas trees inspired by West End shows. If you love a festive evening with a show at the end, this is the area to base yourself.

Trafalgar Square

Every year since 1947, Norway has given London a Christmas tree in thanks for Britain's support during World War II, according to the City of Oslo. In 2025, the lighting ceremony was on Thursday, December 4. For 2026, listings expect Thursday, December 3, but we couldn't find an official announcement yet.

Which London Christmas markets are worth visiting in 2026?

Short answer: pick by what you want. Southbank for a riverside stroll with food, Leicester Square for a quick West End stop with skating, Borough Market for the best food, and London Bridge for a cozy riverside evening.

Market	Where	2026 dates	Status
Southbank Centre Winter Market	Riverside by the Royal Festival Hall	November 2, 2026 to January 4, 2027	Listed by South Bank London
Christmas in Leicester Square	Leicester Square gardens	October 31, 2026 to January 3, 2027	Reported by market listings; check before you go
Borough Market	Southwark, by London Bridge	Open 7 days a week from November 30	Official (Borough Market)
Winter by the River	London Bridge City, by the Thames	Not announced; ran November 13, 2025 to January 4, 2026	Check the organizer's site

Southbank Centre Winter Market. Wooden chalets along the Thames, mostly street food, mulled wine and drinks, with a smaller selection of gifts. Go after dark and walk it as part of a longer river stroll from Westminster Bridge toward Blackfriars. If you love browsing for gifts, though, you'll find more variety elsewhere.
Christmas in Leicester Square. A compact market of chalets in the gardens around Skate Leicester Square, a circular ice rink around the Shakespeare statue. It's free to walk in; skating is ticketed. Good for a 30 minute stop between dinner and a show.
Borough Market. Not a seasonal Christmas market but London's best known food market, and December is when it's at its most festive. If you love food, this is the one. The market's official 2026 festive hours: open 7 days a week from Monday, November 30, with Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. December 23 runs to 6pm, Christmas Eve is 8am to 3pm, and the market is closed December 25, 26 and 27 and January 1.
Winter by the River. London Bridge City's riverside market by the Thames, a short walk from Borough Market, so the two pair well in one afternoon and evening. The 2026 dates weren't published when we checked; last year it ran from November 13, 2025 to January 4, 2026.

If you're thinking of a bigger Christmas market trip, our guide to Christmas markets in Europe in 2026 covers Vienna, Nuremberg, Strasbourg, Cologne and more. London's markets are smaller and more food-led than the traditional German ones, so think of them as part of an evening out rather than the whole point.

Is Christmas at Kew worth it?

Short answer: yes, if you love light trails and don't mind booking ahead and traveling out to southwest London.

Christmas at Kew runs on selected dates from Friday, November 13, 2026 to Sunday, January 3, 2027, according to Kew. The trail opens from 4:20pm and closes at 10pm, or 9pm on Christmas Eve, and it's closed on Christmas Day and some November dates. It's a walking trail of around 3km through the gardens, lit with light installations, according to Time Out.

Tickets are timed and must be booked in advance on Kew's site. There are off-peak and peak prices depending on the date, so compare a few dates before you buy.
New for 2026: adult-only evenings (18 and over) on Thursday, December 3 and Wednesday, December 9, per Kew.
Quiet Access sessions for visitors with hidden or visual disabilities are on November 21 and December 1, 16 and 26.
Getting there: Kew Gardens station is on the District line and the Overground. Check the walk from the station to your entry gate when you book.

Go on a weekday in November for the calmest visit, and wrap up: you're outdoors for about two hours.

Where can I go ice skating in London at Christmas?

Short answer: Somerset House is the most beautiful; Leicester Square is the most convenient.

Skate at Somerset House. The rink in the 18th century courtyard runs from November 11, 2026 to January 10, 2027, per Covent Garden's official Christmas listings. Book ahead for evening sessions.
Skate Leicester Square. Right in the West End, next to the market. Handy if you want a quick skate before dinner.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. The biggest rink, inside a ticketed festival. See our Winter Wonderland guide.

How do I plan a Christmas lights walk in London?

Short answer: start at Carnaby, walk Regent Street, then cut across to Covent Garden. It's about two hours with stops.

Carnaby around 5pm, once it's properly dark (sunset in late November is around 4pm).
Regent Street south from Oxford Circus toward Piccadilly Circus, with a detour along Jermyn Street and St James's Market.
Leicester Square for the market and a hot drink.
Covent Garden for the tree on the West Piazza and the Market Building.
Trafalgar Square to finish, if the Norwegian tree is lit (from early December).

If you want Oxford Street too, start there instead and walk east to Oxford Circus before turning down Regent Street. Weekday evenings are noticeably calmer than Saturdays. Christmas Day is the quietest of all for photos, since most shops are closed, but plan to walk or take a taxi: in 2025, TfL ran no Tube or bus service on December 25.

If you're collecting spots as you go (the market stall you liked, the bar near Covent Garden someone recommended), a shared list for the group helps more than a camera roll full of screenshots.

When is the best time to visit London for Christmas lights and markets?

Short answer: late November to around December 20, when everything is lit and open at once.

Early to mid November: the lights come on and markets open, with fewer crowds. The trade-off: Trafalgar Square's tree isn't up yet.
Late November to mid December: the full festive season. Everything is on, including Kew and the Trafalgar Square tree.
Christmas week: busiest in the West End until December 24, then very quiet on December 25 and 26, with little or no public transport and many places closed.
Early January: most lights stay up into the first week of January, but markets start closing around January 3 and 4.

FAQ

When do the Oxford Street Christmas lights switch on in 2026? The date hadn't been announced by late October 2026. The 2026 lights are Harry Potter themed. In 2025, they switched on November 3, so expect early November.

When are the Regent Street Christmas lights switched on in 2026? Thursday, November 5, 2026, with a traffic-free switch-on evening from 5pm to 9pm, according to the official Regent Street site.

When does the Covent Garden Christmas tree light up in 2026? Thursday, November 12, 2026, according to Covent Garden's official site. The tree is a 50 foot Norwegian spruce on the West Piazza.

What's the best Christmas market in London? For atmosphere by the river, the Southbank Centre Winter Market. For food, Borough Market. For a quick stop in the West End with skating, Leicester Square. For a big festival with rides, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.

Are London's Christmas markets free? Yes, the Southbank, Leicester Square, Borough Market and London Bridge markets are free to walk in. Christmas at Kew and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland need tickets.

How long do the London Christmas lights stay up? Usually into the first week of January. Londonist reports Regent Street's lights stay up until early January 2027.