One of the West End’s best-loved festive traditions now has a date. Regent Street will switch on its Christmas lights on Thursday, November 5 — and for four hours the famous shopping street will close to traffic, handing the roadway to pedestrians for an evening of celebration that marks the unofficial start of Christmas in the capital.
At a glance: Regent Street Christmas lights switch-on
- Date: Thursday, November 5
- Traffic-free: 5pm to 9pm
- Where: Regent Street and St James’s — including Jermyn Street, St James’s Market, Glasshouse Street, Swallow Street, Princes Arcade and the Quadrant Arcade
- Getting there: nearest Tube stations are Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus and Green Park; buses along Regent Street will be diverted, so check TfL before travelling
The centrepiece of the evening is the return of The Spirits of Christmas, the street’s signature display of more than 30 illuminated spirits crafted from over 300,000 LED lights. Each spirit is strung across the street on wires, creating the impression of a flock of glowing angels drifting above the shoppers below. The installation is back for its 11th year, and organisers say new details will be revealed on the night itself.
The display will stretch well beyond Regent Street’s famous curve, lighting up St James’s too — taking in Jermyn Street, St James’s Market, Glasshouse Street, Swallow Street, Princes Arcade and the Quadrant Arcade.
The switch-on promises to be about more than the moment the lights go on. The traffic-free street will host family-friendly entertainment throughout the evening, while shops along the route lay on special in-store experiences and offers — making it an ideal opportunity for some early Christmas shopping. Road closures of this kind are rare on one of the West End’s busiest thoroughfares, and the pedestrian takeover is expected to draw large crowds.
Over in St James’s Market, the Wishing Tree will return for another year. The illuminated installation invites visitors to make a £5 donation with a simple tap — and each donation lights up the tree a little more. Every penny raised goes to Felix, the charity that rescues surplus food and redistributes it to communities in need across the UK.
There is plenty to combine with the evening. The neighbourhood has welcomed a string of new openings, including SKIMS’ first-ever European flagship store alongside DakaDaka, Antler and Monte Lys — joining the area’s established flagship stores, restaurants, bars and hotels. Food lovers are well served nearby too: a New York-style deli recently arrived in Mayfair, giving away free bagels on its opening day.
Anyone who cannot make it on the night will still have weeks to catch the display. The lights run on an energy-efficient timer system, glowing from 3pm until midnight every night through to January 5.
Regent Street holds a special place in the capital’s festive history: back in 1954 it became the first street in central London to put up Christmas lights. The current Spirit of Christmas installation — giant luminous angels swooping above the roadway — was introduced in 2016 and has since become one of London’s most photographed seasonal sights. The switch-on lands just as autumn colour reaches its peak across the capital’s parks, the traditional changing of the seasonal guard.
With the road closed to traffic between 5pm and 9pm, visitors are advised to leave the car at home and arrive by public transport. Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus and Green Park are all a short walk away, and bus routes that normally run along Regent Street will be diverted for the evening. Allow extra time for your journey and check live departure boards on the night. The switch-on kicks off a packed festive calendar across the city, from theatre and gallery shows to seasonal attractions — the Brent Cross ice rink reopens this month with £10 early-bird tickets for skaters.
For more information on the switch-on and the season’s events in the area, visit regentstreetonline.com and stjameslondon.co.uk.
