📣 Updated for 2025 🎄
London puts on one of the most incredible displays for Christmas and visitors come from all over the UK and further afield to see the magic light up the city for the festive season. For many, a trip to London at Christmas to see the decorations is an iconic part of the run up to Christmas and to get into the festive spirit. Plenty of streets, businesses, restaurants and hotels put on their finest outfits to celebrate and you can enjoy a range of styles from classic sparkles to brightly coloured extravaganzas, Christmas trees galore and contemporary takes!
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I’ve visited the capital a number of times in the lead up to Christmas and it is a lovely time of year, there’s something special about those twinkling lights when the dark nights have drawn in that make it easier to bare and the promise of parties, festive food and cosy pub trips to come. Many of the decorations come out around the middle of November and in 2024 this was when I visited so it was considerably less busy than when I was there again a few weeks later. When I first published this guide in October 2025, most of the photos were from 2024 London festive visits. I’ve now updated with 2025 captures ✨
Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours
My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇
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1. Annabel’s
Annabel’s is a private member’s club in Mayfair, located on Berkeley Square. This is one of the most hotly anticipated Christmas decorations in London and always puts on an elaborate show. For 2025, they’ve outdone themselves again with an icy white and blue themed lion and wardrobe. It’s stunning whether you see it in the daylight or with the lights on. In 2024 (below), the decoration featured a massive peacock in a snow globe around the entrance to the club. It’s often one of the most jaw dropping and unique sights on the Christmas trail and absolutely should be top on your list of places to visit. You must make sure to return at night when the lights are on to see it in a golden glow. The doormen also change outfit in the evening which really adds to the extravagance of Annabel’s decoration.
Top Tip – Data Roaming
If you’re visiting England from overseas then getting online with an eSIM from Holafly is such a game changer. No swapping SIMs. No complicated data roaming. Lots of choice. If your phone is compatible, just download the eSIM and get going!
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2. Cartier
Cartier on New Bond Street is another favourite for photographers. Particularly because there’s a rather convenient red phone booth nearby which, if you’re early, makes an iconic shot. In 2024 (below), the theme was solar system related and is another spot which looks rather different depending on whether you catch it during the day or with the lights of the night. For 2025, the decoration features two big cats with a large pile of parcels and really looks fabulous at night.
3. Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason is one of the ultimate Christmas shops in London and it’s not just the exterior that will drop you into the festivities but the interior design is also very festive. F&M usually have quite a standard set of decorations on their facade with the countdown to Christmas displayed on the windows and the year down the side of the building on the corner. After you’ve seen the magic of the Advent Windows, head inside and admire the fun inside including the baubles that move up and down in the central stairwell.
4. Covent Garden
Covent Garden is always a winner at Christmas. It’s close to the theatre district and of course has the Royal National Opera House in its square so it’s a great spot to grab a mulled wine and enjoy the atmosphere before getting dinner and catching a show. It’s also an excellent spot for Christmas decorations because there are plenty to find. Three for the one location 😉 The Appleyard often has a display and there is one as you walk down James Street, facing the Covent Garden building. There is, of course, a giant tree here as well so take your pick!
5. Claridge’s
Plenty of London’s hotels love to get on board with the Christmas decorations, one of which is Claridge’s. The outside of the hotel often has a decorative display above the front entrance. Inside, Claridge’s sports a fantastic tree that has usually been styled by a designer and in 2025 it was Daniel Lee for Burberry,.
6. Leadenhall Market
Leadenhall Market is a stunning, Victorian Arcade in the City of London (although its origins as a market date back to 1321). It’s been made famous both my Instagram and Harry Potter so it’s become an iconic site to see. The Christmas tree here and the lights and decorations fit with the delicate surroundings so it provides a more subdued and classic Christmas feel to some of the other places on this list.
7. Hay’s Galleria
Over the Thames, towards Southwark and Borough Market, is Hay’s Galleria. It’s an impressive space with a high ceiling over the courtyard below. The Galleria was once a warehouse but was converted in the 80s to a multi purpose space which now houses homes, offices, restaurants and bars. This is a little more out of the way so a quieter Christmas spot to enjoy but it’s certainly one of the most impressive trees that you’ll see. It needs to be in order to be big enough to fill that space!
8. The Royal Exchange
As someone I know put it last year, in the week leading up to Christmas you’ll find The Royal Exchange filled with panic stricken City of London workers frantically trying to buy their last minute Christmas presents as it’s full of shops, ideal for those forgotten luxury purchases. Outside, the Christmas tree here is relatively simple compared to many other of the decorations on this list but there’s something quite sweet about the columns wrapped up in white and red stripes like giant candy canes!
9. Regent Street
Regent Street is probably the most iconic of Christmas lights in London. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people flock to one of the city’s main streets to see the Christmas angels floating angelically down the street. If you’ve looked up London Christmas Lights online then you will undoubtedly have seen these images before and it is quite something to see them in real life as well. It’s probably worth visiting here quite late, after the shops have shut to have a slightly less busy and packed experience.
Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours
My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇
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10. Churchill Arms
The Churchill Arms must be London’s best decorated pub at all times of the year and so Christmas is no exception. Every spare space is covered in Christmas lights or mini Christmas trees and when the sun goes down and the lights come on, the end result is sparkling (even if slightly chaotic!).
11. St Pancras
Now, St Pancras probably has the most unusual Christmas decorations on this list because their Christmas tree usually has a slightly bizarre theme. In 2024, the Christmas tree was Wicked themed in line with the hit musical movie coming out. Past years have seen themes include a Tiffany & Co robot, a pin EL&N Cafe delight and a literary partnership with Hatchard’s. The 2025 St Pancras tree has a yellow Christmas tree topped with a ballerina in the style of a music box. It’s ’Powered by Dreams’ as the tree is partnered with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.
12. Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is right opposite Cartier and is a glittering, glowing array of lights and baubles. It’s a popular festive activity to enjoy a coffee at Ralph’s coffee bar and admire the New Bond Street lights. Their Christmas tree allows you to donate to charity to add a Christmas star with the name of a loved one in their memory.
13. Neill Strain Floral Couture
Christmas is a great time of year for Neill Strain Floral Couture to showcase its wares and so the Christmas display here uses a lot of flowers and plants to create a festive feast for the eyes. 2024 had a gold, silver and red theme and looked rather magical with the lights on at night with the scene really coming alive with the glow. Whereas for 2025 the colours are green, gold and red – the Christmas classics! The shop looks absolutely magic with the glowing decorations everywhere.
14. Peggy Porschen
I’m a big fan of Peggy. This cakery cafe is set in the heart of Belgravia on a bustling corner of Elizabeth Street. Throughout the year the team at Peggy Porschen theme their doorway displays from Easter to Valentine’s Day and from Halloween to Christmas. There’s not normally a big tree or lots of lights, but instead a rather cutesy pastel display around the doorframe for a pink treat.
15. Balthazar
Balthazar is another restaurant which enjoys taking the holiday season in its stride with elaborate decorations at its entrance. Previously it has been transformed into a gingerbread house entrance as well as being guarded by nutcrackers last year. Watch this space to find out how they’ll decorate for 2025!
16. Clos Maggiore
Clos Maggiore is a French restaurant (also) near to Covent Garden which is as Christmassy inside as it is outside. In fact it probably is more so inside with the ceiling transformed into a sea of baubles. From the outside, the red awning and signage is the perfect starting point for festive colours and decorations and this makes for a charming Christmas capture.
17. Burlington Arcade
Burlington Arcade is ‘the original shopping mall’ and features an Art Nouveau style arcade of fashionable shops. It always feels like quite a romantic Christmas spot and for 2025 features ceiling decorations with a twelve days of Christmas theme.
18. Oxford Street
Oxford Street is perpendicular to Regent Street and so jumping off the underground at Oxford Circus will give you a chance to see both set of street lights in the heart of central London. Regent Street is by far and away the more impressive of the Christmas night lights here but its still worth seeing Oxford Street’s twinkling star light strings.
19. Somerset House
Somerset House is a favourite for ice skaters as this is one of a number of rinks that go up in London over the festive season and is one of the most beautiful locations to skate ⛸ With the wonderful setting and architecture of Somerset House, skating underneath the tree and lights here is one of the best Christmassy things you can do in London.
20. Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street is in the heart of London’s vibrant Soho area of the city and the Christmas lights and decorations here are generally very non traditional. Think lots of bright, carnival esque colours as well as symbols that nod to more contemporary themes and sustainability.
21. Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station has (I must guess) the largest Christmas tree in London which soars up in front of the two towers of the Power Station at Malaysia Square. Last year (festive 2024), I remember craning my neck up to try and see the whole thing and really struggling to get from pot to star in the whole photo! There’s plenty to keep you occupied in this part of the city during Christmas including a Thames side ice rink as well as plenty of shops to keep the Christmas shopping on the go!
22. KOYN
In Memoriam. KOYN was a Japanese restaurant in Mayfair which had a very cute little Christmas decorated Mini which parked outside during the festive period. Unfortunately, KOYN has closed and so this one comes off the festive list.
For more London inspiration make sure you check out some of my other posts about the city!
Cat x