Okay, so the switch-on is early November, but when can you see them without being lost in a sea of selfie sticks? The lights are typically turned on from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM every day. On weekends, some streets extend to midnight, because nothing says “holiday cheer” like stumbling into a plastic Santa at 11:45 PM. But here’s the kicker: they turn off on January 6th (Twelfth Night).
The best Christmas lights in London 2026 | CN Traveller
Don’t be fooled by the “January sales” crowd—come January 6th, the magic vanishes. One minute you’re under a canopy of glowing snowflakes, the next you’re staring at bare wires and a sad, deflated reindeer. It’s like Cinderella’s carriage turning back into a pumpkin, except the pumpkin is a wet pigeon perched on a lamp post.
The Secret Best Time to Go
If you want quiet lights, go during a weekday morning—I know, I know, mornings are for coffee and existential dread, not Christmas. But here’s the trick: the lights are still on from the night before until 9:00 AM. That means you can get a photo with zero tourists, just a few homeless people and a confused fox. Go at 7:30 AM, and you’ll feel like a stealthy holiday ninja.
Alternatively, embrace the chaos. The worst time is between 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM on a Saturday. That’s when the crowds are so thick you’ll be breathing the same oxygen as 400 strangers. You’ll leave smelling like mulled wine, regret, and someone else’s perfume. But hey—that’s the experience.
London Christmas Lights
