Today I want to bring you the A Lady in London guide to the best London Christmas decorations. Whether you’re looking to see lights and installations around the city or you want to buy things to decorate your home, there’s a place in the UK capital that will delight you during the festive season. From Christmas markets to major thoroughfares, department stores to hidden corners, you have a lot of options. I’ve included a map, too.
London Christmas Decorations
Christmas in London is a big deal. Like many cities around the world, the UK capital embraces the seasonal spirit in the run-up to December 25th (and for a couple weeks after).
From streets with bright lights to squares full of decorations and shops bursting with baubles, there’s a lot of festive fun to be found during the Christmas season in London.
Whether you’re looking for the most unique Christmas trees or the best places to shop, there’s plenty of variety when it comes to London Christmas decorations.
You can also take a Christmas walking tour, bus tour, or black cab tour in London if you want a guided experience. You can see options and book one here. They’re fun ways to see the highlights of the festive season in the city.
When to See Christmas Decorations in London
As far as when you’ll start to see Christmas decorations in London, there’s no such thing as too early. In fact, in most years I see lights going up in October. Many shops start selling Christmas decorations and gifts even earlier than that.
Most of London’s Christmas lights and markets are in full-swing by early to mid-November. They usually stick around until the first week of January. You can check online for exact dates to make sure you see what you want to when you’re here.
Keep in mind that London is very popular at Christmas, and the city can get crowded on weekends. Going on a weekday or a weekend morning is a good way enjoy a quieter experience in the shops, markets, and popular places like Covent Garden.
That said, it’s worth being in the city in the evening to see the lights. They’re some of the best London Christmas decorations, after all. Given it gets dark around 4pm in December, you don’t have to wait until very late to see them.
Where to Buy Christmas Decorations in London
Shopping for London Christmas decorations is a treat. Whether you go to a big department store or a range of independent shops, the UK capital has no shortage of places to get what you need.
Covent Garden and Seven Dials offer a great mix of retail outlets. There’s a variety of high street names and independent boutiques to choose from.
Streets like Floral Street and Monmouth Street have some of my favorites, and the Apple Market in Covent Garden is the perfect spot to pick up unique and unusual finds.
Knightsbridge is also a great place to go Christmas shopping in London. This area is home to seasonal heavyweights like Harrods and Harvey Nichols, both of which decorate their windows and interiors with festive displays in winter in London.
Another of the top places to shop for Christmas decorations in London is the city’s festive markets. They’re some of my favorite Christmas highlights in London.
From Tower Bridge to Trafalgar Square and Winter Wonderland, the Christmas markets in London have stalls selling all kinds of unique finds.
Whether you shop at the Christmas market in Leicester Square or the ones on the South Bank, there are chalets offering everything from candles to ornaments, garlands, lights, and more.
Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Carnaby Street are also fun places when it comes to all things festive retail in the UK capital. They’re some of the best shopping streets in London.
Oxford Street and Regent Street are also home to famous department stores like Selfridges and Liberty, both of which have great Christmas decorations for sale.
Mayfair’s Bond Street is another perfect place for a shopping trip to London during the festive season. It’s the ideal place if you’re looking for high-end decorations.
St James’s is another one of my favorite places to go shopping for Christmas decorations in London. Packed with luxury goods shops, art galleries, and independent boutiques, it’s a great place to find the finer things.
It’s also home to Piccadilly, where famous stores like Fortnum & Mason are synonymous with Christmas shopping.
Marylebone is another good area. It has some of my favorite shopping streets in the city, and the mix of stores makes it a great place to pick up seasonal decorations.
Marylebone High Street, St Christopher’s Place, and Marylebone Lane have some of the best shops in Marylebone.
If you’re looking for something on the alternative side, Camden is one of the best places to shop for Christmas decorations in London.
The maze of stalls in Camden Market is packed with vendors offering everything you could want to deck your halls with.
Where to See London Christmas Decorations
When it comes to places to see London Christmas decorations, there’s no shortage of choices. From the West End to the South Bank, the city is full of festive installations and fun. My free self-guided Christmas walks will show you the best places.
The Covent Garden Christmas decorations are legendary. From lights to a giant tree, the area around the piazza goes all-out for the festive season.
Nearby Seven Dials has a fun mix of lights and seasonal decor, too. I particularly like the decorations in Slingsby Place.
And that’s to say nothing of the Christmas trees. From hotels to train stations, secret courtyards, and major squares, they grace London with their presence all season long.
In Mayfair, Bond Street is an amazing place to see London Christmas decorations. From larger-than-life bows on shopfronts to installations along the road, there’s no shortage of seasonal cheer here.
Mayfair is also home to some of the best shopping arcades in London at Christmas. From Burlington Arcade to the Royal Arcade, they’re great places to take in the decor.
And that’s to say nothing of London’s hotels. Many of the luxury hotels in London get all dressed up for the season. The annual gingerbread house and afternoon tea at The Dorchester are my favorites, but there are lots of hotels that go all-out each year.
Where to Find Christmas Lights in London
When it comes to finding the best Christmas lights in London, you have a lot of choices.
Major thoroughfares like Regent Street, Oxford Street, Bond Street, and Piccadilly come alive with lights during the Christmas season. They’re some of the most popular places to see the sky brighten up at night.
Right behind Regent Street, Carnaby Street is a pedestrianized retail heaven complete with lights, popular shops, and restaurants. It’s a fun place to see Christmas decorations and lights in the city.
I also like the lights in Sloane Square in Chelsea. They spill out along the King’s Road, which is also another great place to shop.
Map of London Christmas Decorations
As promised, I’ve created an interactive map of all the places I’ve included in this blog post. You can see it here. If you click on the pins, you’ll find my blog posts about each one.
Christmas Decorations in London
I hope my guide to London Christmas decorations has given you good ideas for where to go this festive season. If you want more direction, you can take a look at my Christmas itinerary and my guide to things to do in London at Christmas for ideas.
Whatever you do, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the seasonal spirit in the UK capital. Happy Christmas!
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