Regent Street Christmas Lights Switch-On

Regent Street’s Christmas lights are among the best known in the world. For several years the street has hung its “Spirit of Christmas” angels high above the road between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus, and their switch-on marks the start of the West End’s festive season for many Londoners.

A date that has been recycled

Many listings give the 2026 switch-on as “Thursday 6 November”. But 6 November 2026 is a Friday. It was a Thursday in 2025 — so this is last year’s date with this year’s heading. We caught this one while building the site, and it is still circulating. The street has not yet announced its 2026 date.

What usually happens

Based on recent years, the lights come on in early to mid-November and stay lit every afternoon and evening until early January. The angels and the illuminations of the side streets and nearby St James’s make for one of the best Christmas walks in London.

Getting there

Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus tube stations sit at either end of Regent Street. The lights are best seen on foot, walking south from Oxford Circus after dark.

Make an evening of it

Carnaby Street runs parallel, and Covent Garden is fifteen minutes’ walk east. Hamleys toy shop, on Regent Street itself, is a Christmas destination in its own right.

When will we know?

We are checking the official source weekly and will update this page the day the dates are confirmed. In the meantime, our What’s open? tool shows the markets that have confirmed dates for any day you’re travelling.

When the dates are confirmed, dress for standing still outdoors in the cold — see our guide to what to wear.