Let’s be real: you don’t want a vague date, you want the exact week so you can book your train. Generally, the first two weeks of November are the “lighting season.” The official dates get announced around September, so keep your eyes peeled on VisitLondon.com.
In 2026, for reference, Oxford Street went live on November 2nd. Regent Street on November 9th. Covent Garden? November 14th. So, if you’re planning a trip for mid-November onwards, every major street will be blazing. You are safe, my friend.
Christmas in London - Going Places Travel
The Sneaky Early Birds (And The Lazy Ones)
Some places, like Kew Gardens (the botanical garden), start their “Christmas at Kew” light trail in mid-to-late November. But they keep it going well into January. So you’ve got a nice, long window to get lost in a tunnel of twinkling trees.
And then there’s the Mayfair and St. James’s areas. Swanky places like Bond Street and Piccadilly often switch their lights on a little later, sometimes even in late November. They’re fashionably late, you see. They take their time to look effortlessly glamorous.
