London, Christmas 2026
London Christmas lights walk.
A loop from Oxford Circus past the West End’s Christmas lights: Oxford Street, Seven Dials, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street and Carnaby Street. Read the stops here, print the map, or open the route on your iPhone.
2026 switch-on dates
- Carnaby Street: Wednesday 4 November (Londonist).
- Covent Garden: Thursday 12 November (Londonist).
- Regent Street: 5 November reported, not confirmed.
- Oxford Street: not announced yet.
Checked on 16 October 2026; see Londonist’s switch-on list for updates. The lights usually stay up into early January. Walk the route any evening once they are on.
Eight stops, in walking order
Stop 1
Oxford Circus and Oxford Street
Start at Oxford Circus and walk east along Oxford Street, whose lights hang above the street towards Tottenham Court Road. The 2026 switch-on date for Oxford Street had not been announced when this route was published.
Stop 2
Tottenham Court Road
At the east end of Oxford Street, turn south towards St Giles and Seven Dials. Crossings here are busy in the evening; use the signalled crossings.
Stop 3
Seven Dials
Seven streets meet at the sundial pillar. The narrow streets around it lead straight into Covent Garden and are usually less crowded than the main shopping streets.
Stop 4
Covent Garden
The Piazza and market building are decorated for Christmas. Covent Garden’s 2026 lights are due to switch on on Thursday 12 November, according to Londonist.
Stop 5
Leicester Square
Walk west through Leicester Square, one of the busiest spots in the West End on December evenings.
Stop 6
Piccadilly Circus
The big screens and the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain mark the turn onto Regent Street.
Stop 7
Regent Street St James’s
Walk down the lower stretch of Regent Street towards Waterloo Place, then turn back north. Regent Street’s lights run up towards Oxford Circus; a 5 November switch-on has been reported but was not confirmed when this route was published.
Stop 8
Carnaby Street
Finish with Carnaby Street, known for its themed installation above the street. Its 2026 lights are due to be unveiled on Wednesday 4 November, according to Londonist. From here it is a short walk back to Oxford Circus.
Before you go
- Weekday evenings are calmer than Friday and Saturday nights; late-night shopping evenings are the busiest.
- Keep valuables close in the crowds and use signalled crossings on Oxford Street and Regent Street.
- Street closures and diversions are common in December; follow local signs.
- The route follows mapped pedestrian streets; it has not been walked on site by DailyWander.
Christmas lights walk questions
When are London’s Christmas lights switched on in 2026?
At the time of writing: Carnaby Street on Wednesday 4 November and Covent Garden on Thursday 12 November (Londonist). Regent Street has been reported for 5 November but not confirmed, and Oxford Street had not announced a date. Check the official announcements before you go.
How long is the Christmas lights walk?
The mapped loop is about 4.3 km (2.7 miles), roughly 55 minutes of walking at 4.8 km/h. Allow 1½–2 hours on busy December evenings with stops.
Is there a map I can print or save as a PDF?
Yes. Print this page or save it as a PDF from your browser; the route outline, stop list and notes are included. You can also download the GPX file.
Can I follow the route on my iPhone?
Yes. Tap Open the route in DailyWander, check the preview and choose Open in DailyWander. If you need the app, install it first and come back to this page.
When is the best time to see the lights?
Weekday evenings are calmer than Friday and Saturday nights. Lights are usually on from late afternoon; arrive soon after dark for the best views with fewer crowds.
Does the walk start and finish in the same place?
Yes. It starts and finishes at Oxford Circus.
Plan another London walk
For a loop from your hotel, office or flat, use the London walking route planner: choose miles or minutes and DailyWander suggests a circular walk from where you are.
Original route by VANTH Studio, published 16 October 2026. Route geometry from OpenStreetMap via the FOSSGIS pedestrian router; distance measured along the track. Dates as published by Londonist on the check date; events are run by their organisers.