Let’s start with the big guns. Oxford Street’s lights usually flip the switch in early November—often around the first or second week. In 2026, it was the 2nd of November. Mark your calendar, folks!
Regent Street, however, is a bit of a diva with its own schedule. It often goes live a week or two after Oxford Street, sometimes in mid-November.
And pro tip: Don’t just stand there gawking. Grab a mulled wine from a street vendor and pretend you’re in a rom-com. You’ll thank me later.
Carnaby Street & Covent Garden
Now, Carnaby Street is the cool, hipster cousin of the Christmas lights family. Their switch-on is usually around the same time as Oxford Street—early November. But they always have a theme that makes you say, “Oh, that’s clever.”
Covent Garden? That lot is extra. Not only do they switch on their massive, sparkling Christmas tree (often mid-November), but they also have dancing performers and a giant reindeer. It’s like a Christmas fever dream.
Just remember: if you’re standing under the mistletoe in Covent Garden, be prepared for a crowd that’s thicker than the queue for a Soho brunch on a Saturday.
