Seeing the Christmas lights illuminating Oxford Road and Regent Road is at all times a spotlight of the yr – however in case you’re seeking to spy a few of the finest London festive lights with youngsters, there’s extra to find than these alone. (UPDATED FOR 2024)
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Annually, the capital appears to have extra illuminations, gentle festivals, and festive trails lighting up town than ever earlier than, each standalone occasions and at a few of London’s best-known household sights.
So if you’d like a strategy to brighten up the winter (and who doesn’t), right here’s my choose of the perfect London Christmas gentle trails with youngsters, in addition to switch-on dates for the Christmas lights in central London.
For extra of the perfect issues to do for Christmas in London with youngsters, try my prime picks, in addition to my London Christmas lights strolling route
Christmas at Kew
There’s by no means a foul time to go to Kew Gardens however Christmas at Kew is likely one of the finest to get you feeling festive – particularly with Father Christmas alongside the best way.
The illuminations within the botanic gardens are again as soon as extra, with two new installations making their world debuts.
There’ll be some previous favourites too, together with the Palm Home gentle present, whereas the Camellia Stroll will likely be remodeled ito a snowy lane.
Maintain a watch out for Ombre by TILT, which takes the type of a collection of big crops in bloom, in addition to two installations illuminating the lake crossing
Extra of this yr’s highlights will embrace a the ‘Fireplace Backyard’ lighting up the Temperate Home, in addition to the Christmas cathedral.
In addition to being a fantastic wander by means of the gardens, there are food and drinks stalls alongside the best way: earlier years have included every thing from mulled cider to sourdough pizza and scorching chocolate.
Christmas at Kew runs from November 13 to January 5, 2025, with periods from 4.20 pm, final entry at 8pm (gardens open to 10 pm). You should e book prematurely (and it normally sells out – tickets with reserved parking go in a short time with restricted slots for 2024 dates left).
You’ll be able to enter by means of the Victoria Plaza, Brentford Gate, and Elizabeth Gate this yr, and also you’ll must specify which.
Tickets price from £25.50 for adults, from £16 for kids aged 4 to 16, with reductions for members and household tickets are additionally obtainable. Tickets don’t embrace day entry to Kew Gardens.
Fulham Palace illuminated gentle path
The gardens will likely be glowing at Fulham Palace this winter, with the London Illuminated Gentle Path going down, together with Santa’s grotto.
The grounds will likely be remodeled into an enchanted winter wonderland, with 1000’s of lights twinkling within the gardens, in addition to performances by fireplace breathers, stilt walkers and magician Markele (from Britain’s Received Expertise), plus dwell music.
There’ll be fireplace pits for toasting marshmallows, plus meals, scorching chocolate and mulled wine to purchase alongside the best way, and Father Christmas will likely be in his grotto each day.
Runs on choose dates from November 28-December 22, with first entry at 4.30pm, final entry at 9pm. Tickets price from £14.95 for adults, £6.95 for kids aged 3-15. A ticket to Father Christmas’s grotto prices £5 (adults don’t want a ticket to accompany their youngsters, however you do want a light-weight path ticket with the intention to purchase the add-on grotto entry).
For extra of the perfect issues to do for Christmas in London with youngsters, try my prime picks
The Luminaze at Wembley Park
TBC Wembley Park’s common free festive occasions usually have their very own set of festive illuminations, and final yr noticed a model new attraction for Christmas, The Luminaze. Up to now, there’s no official phrase on what may happen this winter.
Final yr’s occasion ran from early December to early January, with a light-based interactive maze taking you thru a string of neon installations, all with a particular soundscape, shedding your self within the gentle and artwork.
On the coronary heart of The Luminzae was an set up known as The Houseglass, delivering tales by means of aimations and audio, together with items from native artists. Earlier occasions have included 2021’s Winterfest, with its theme of ‘Reunited in Gentle’.
For extra concepts of issues to do at Wembley Park with youngsters, try my ideas
Canary Wharf winter lights
TBC You needn’t lay our a fortune (or get squashed by the crowds in Oxford Road) to see London’s festive lights with youngsters without spending a dime – and the Canary Wharf Winter Lights normally make a good way to brighten up the New 12 months.
The 2024 occasion ran from January 17 to 27, after a two-year break with 13 new installations together with a walkthrough expertise, a large illuminated marble run and lights impressed by the human mind.
With this, there’s no must prebook tickets, simply flip up to take a look at the illuminated installations, everytime you want a pick-me-up in January. 2025’s occasion is tbc, particulars are usually introduced in round November.
Battersea Energy Station Gentle Competition
TBC One other free set of illuminated to brighten up the New 12 months, the Battersea Energy Station Gentle Competition normally takes place in january and February alongside the riverfront.
The earlier occasion included soundscapes and interactive parts to carry the lights to life in addition to dwell performances together with music and glo reveals.
2025’s occasion is tbc, and particulars are sometimes introduced simply weeks prematurely. Final yr’s occasion ran from January 25-February 25.
Christmas Gentle Trails, London not confirmed for 2024
Just a few widespread gentle trails in London did not make an look final yr, with no phrase in the event that they’ll be again as soon as extra in 2024.
Illuminature at WWT London
One other newer London gentle path, there’s no affirmation but whether or not Illuminature will return to WWT Barnes – the London Wetland Centre – this yr, after it didn’t run in 2023.
The earlier occasion was impressed by the creatures that decision the wetlands their residence, with illuminated sculptures of a few of the animals and hop throughout interactive light-up lily pads.
In between enjoyable below fairy lights within the Twilight Tweatery with snacks and toasted marshmallows, you would additionally catch a couple of glimpses of real-life night-time animal magic with evening imaginative and prescient goggles, plus the London Wetland Centre otters snoozing away.
Ran Friday to Sunday in 2022, from mid November to early January.
Enchanted Woodland at Syon Home
One of many loveliest illuminated trails for households, this mile-long route winds across the decorative lake and arboretum at Syon Home, ending within the Nice Conservatory – and normally has slots from 5 pm in case you’re heading out with youthful youngsters.
The Enchanted Woodland illuminations gentle up the woods with over 400 completely different species of timber illuminated in varied colors and lasers and strobe lights set to music.
There are usually drinks and snacks in the stores from the restaurant firstly and end too, together with scorching chocolate.
In earlier years, Enchanted Woodland has run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from mid to late November at Syon Home – the home itself is closed for the winter in any other case.
Final yr, tickets price £10 for adults and £7.50 for kids. Sadly the occasion won’t be going down in 2023, 2024 continues to be tbc.
Try a few of my images from the occasion right here, together with the sunshine present on Syon Home itself
Christmas at Kenwood
Certainly one of London’s newer festive gentle trails, the gardens of Kenwood Home in Hampstead have come alive with an illuminated path for the previous two winters, however there’s no affirmation they’ll return in 2024, with different Christmas occasions deliberate.
Operating by means of the landscaped gardens after darkish, final yr noticed 13 new installations and an entire new look , plus the same old color, gentle and loads of Instagrammable sparkle.
Normally working from early December till early January, ticket slots included twilight viewing in addition to normal admission.
Final yr, tickets price from £22 for adults excluding ticketing charges, from £17.50 for youths aged three to 16 (below threes go free) for normal admission, with household tickets obtainable and a reduction for English Heritage members.
Enchanted Eltham Palace
For years, Eltham Palace has remodeled its wonderful gardens every winter for Enchanted Eltham, changed by the Christmas at Eltham Palace final yr. Nonetheless, there’s a brand new occasion, The Spirit of Christmas at Eltham working this yr so it appears unlikely that the sunshine path will happen.
Normally the interactive gentle path options installations designed to suit with the pure environment, promising a twist on the same old traditional Christmas results alongside the 2km route, which takes round an hour to discover.
In earlier years, this ran across the palace itself and thru the gardens, with the outside of the Nice Corridor bathed in gentle and highlights together with speaking timber, a glimmering maze and a disco ball suspended above the moat.
There’s food and drinks alongside the best way, together with mulled wine, mince pies, and conventional fairground rides to take pleasure in – for an additional small cost, card funds solely.
Normally runs from early December to early January. Beforehand Tickets price from £17.50 for adults, £11.50 for kids, with a reduction for English heritage members and household tickets obtainable. Day entry isn’t included – in case you go to on a day when Eltham Palace is open, you’ll have to depart the grounds and return in your Enchanted slot.
It’s price realizing there’s no parking on web site (aside from Blue Badge holders), so that you’re requested to come back by practice the place attainable – Mottingham station is round 10 minutes away whereas Eltham is round 15 15-minute stroll, or you possibly can take bus 161 to Eltham Church, which is 5 minutes away.
Hampton Court docket Palace
After 2021’s Palace of Stardust and 2022’s Palace of Gentle path at Hampton Court docket Palace, there was nothing comparable in 2023 and no affirmation that there’ll be one other illuminated extravaganza for 2024.
Earlier gentle trails have drawn inspiration from the palace’s well-known Astronomical Clock, put in by Henry VIII, and royal beasts, a collection of heraldic statues – with every thing from a fantastical wonderland of clocks, moons, planets, and sundials, glittering unicorns to polka-dot panthers.
The grand finale final yr additionally noticed the palace facade lit up with its personal fabulous gentle present, which you would watch from the gardens.
The paths normally take round 45-60 minutes for the expertise, with seasonal food and drinks to purchase alongside the best way.
Try my assessment of Palace of Stardust right here
Extra Christmas lights in London
When you’re out exploring London with youngsters, hold a watch out for the festive lights over the principle buying streets from November onwards – I’ve received a self-guided Christmas lights strolling route to observe so you possibly can see the principle shows.
There have been fewer massive change on occasions lately to keep away from crowds, however right here’s what to see and when to identify them. Most will keep on till no less than January 3, 2025 though you possibly can anticipate all of them to be switched off by January 6.
Try the following pointers for the finest scorching chocolate in London with youngsters, in case you’re seeking to heat up afterwards
Carnaby Road
Usually one of many first units of lights to modify on in November, Carnaby Road can boast greater than spectacular 25 years of lights, that includes every thing from house to the Rolling Stones – this yr will characteristic hourly gentle shows with some 6m gentle sculpture and star installations alongside the road. Change-on date Nov 7
Covent Backyard
For many who beloved the enormous baubles and mirrorballs out there, the brand new bells and bow from 2023 are again once more at Covent Backyard this yr. The beautiful conventional sleigh is again for 2024 too, returning to Covent Backyard in November, though no phrase if the pretend snow will return. Change-on date Nov 12
Regent Road
The Spirit of Christmas angels are one other favorite sight in central London, with the hovering figures returning to St James’s, Piccadilly, and Jermyn Road in addition to Regent Road as soon as once more. Change-on date Nov 7
Oxford Road
1000’s of stars will likely be glowing above London’s busiest buying avenue, with LED lights as soon as once more to make use of much less power. You’ll be able to normally sponsor one to help youngsters’s charity Starlight as nicely. Change-on date Nov 5
For one more strategy to see the London Christmas lights, take the Tootbus Christmas Lights bus tour visiting Trafalgar Sq., Piccadilly Circus, Regent Road & Oxford Road – click on right here to e book
Bond Road
The lights right here change recurrently from yr to yr: 2022’s royal-themed show of crowns changed the illuminated peacock tails that shimmered above the world round Bond Road in 2021, a reference to the society dandies (or peacocks) who as soon as strutted the streets right here. Don’t miss the illuminated Christmas timber in South Molton Road close by. Change-on date mid-November tbc
Belgravia
The twinkling lights are returning to Elizabeth Road, Motcomb Road, Eccleston Yards, Halkin Arcade and Pimlico Street as soon as once more. There’s usually a change on get together to have fun together with an look by Santa. Change-on date Nov 17 (although the lights themselves could go on earlier than the switch-on date)
Trafalgar Sq.
Yearly since 1947, the folks of Norway have given the folks of London a Christmas tree as a gesture of appreciation for town’s help throughout the Second World Warfare. The lighting ceremony takes place on the primary Thursday in December – and takes place in on December 5 2024 (tbc).
Try these posts for extra concepts of the finest Christmas markets in London with youngsters in addition to the perfect of London’s festive ice rinks with youngsters
PIN FOR LATER: LONDON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WITH KIDS
![The best London festive lights with kids - discovering the Christmas and festive illuminations in London and which are best for families. From Kew Gardens and historic sites like Syon House, Eltham Palace and Chiswick House, including some running into the New Year. [Photo: Jeff Eden/RBG Kew]](https://www.mummytravels.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/kew-gardens-christmas-lights-pin.jpg)
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Fundamental picture/Kew at Christmas: Jeff Eden/RBG Kew; Enchanted Syon: Simon Hadleigh-Sparks; Enchanted Eltham ©English Heritage.