Littlehampton, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Littlehampton Christmas Lights Switch-On
One day only — 54 days to go
One afternoon only — the High Street lights go on, with entertainment and local stalls from 3pm.
- Dates
- Sat 21 Nov 2026
- Opening hours
- 3pm–8pm
- Admission
- Free entry
- Address
- High Street, Littlehampton
Dates last checked 27 August 2026 · source · Always confirm with the organiser before travelling.
Littlehampton’s switch-on is a single afternoon and evening on the High Street, and it is a good example of what a town switch-on actually is: free, local, family-oriented, and over in a few hours.
What happens
Things start in the middle of the afternoon with stalls from local traders, entertainment and late-night shopping along the High Street. The crowd builds through the afternoon, and the lights come on in the early evening. Then it finishes and everyone goes home or to the pub.
It is free to attend and there is nothing to book. Expect local school and community groups performing, charity stalls, and a queue for anything involving Father Christmas.
Getting there
Littlehampton station is a few minutes’ walk from the High Street, with direct trains along the coast from Brighton, Worthing and Chichester, and from London Victoria. The town centre is small and roads are likely to be closed or congested, so the train is much the easier option.
Why the date matters more than usual
A market runs for weeks; a switch-on lasts one evening. Turn up on the wrong Saturday and you are on an ordinary high street with no event at all. Our date here is Saturday 21 November 2026, confirmed against the official listing — and it is worth checking the weekday matches the date on any other source you read, because recycling last year’s date is the commonest error on the internet.
Worth knowing
Dress for standing still outdoors after dark in November. If you are bringing children, arrive before the countdown rather than for it — the crowd at the front builds well in advance.
Making a day of it
Littlehampton is a seaside town, and the switch-on falls at a time of year when the seafront is bracing but empty and rather good for it. The Long Bench on the promenade — reputedly one of the longest benches in Britain — and the beach are a ten-minute walk from the High Street, and the East Beach Café is a short stroll further. Arundel, with its castle and cathedral, is fifteen minutes away by train and runs its own festive events.
If you are coming with children
Arrive early rather than for the countdown. Small children at the back of a packed high street see nothing at all, and the hour before the switch-on is when the stalls and entertainment are actually accessible. It is free, so leaving early costs you nothing.
