London Christmas lights with kids

Seeing the Christmas lights illuminating Oxford Road and Regent Road is at all times a spotlight of the 12 months – however in case you’re seeking to spy a few of the greatest London festive lights with youngsters, there’s extra to find than these alone. (UPDATED FOR 2025)

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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 method to brighten up the winter (and who doesn’t), right here’s my choose of one of the best London Christmas gentle trails with youngsters, in addition to switch-on dates for the Christmas lights in central London.

For extra of one of the best issues to do for Christmas in London with youngsters, take a look at my high picks, in addition to my London Christmas lights strolling route

Christmas at Kew

There’s by no means a nasty time to go to Kew Gardens however Christmas at Kew is likely one of the greatest to get you feeling festive – particularly with Father Christmas alongside the way in which.

The illuminations within the botanic gardens are again as soon as extra, with eight new installations making their world debuts. Maintain an eye fixed out for Christmas Orchestra, by Tradition Artistic, with festive music co-ordinated with a set of lights, and In Bloom, which evokes delicate flower petals dancing by the air.  

There’ll be some outdated favourites too, together with the Palm Home pond gentle present, this 12 months that includes 100 lillies, whereas Hearth Backyard, Christmas Cathedral and Pealight Tree are again alongside Holly Stroll. And the Nice Pagoda will likely be illuminated for the primary time as a part of Christmas at Kew.

Beginning on the Palm Home this 12 months, the 3km path, the finale is a present on Kew’s iconic Temperate Home glasshouse. In addition to being a fantastic wander by the gardens, there are food and drinks stalls alongside the way in which: earlier years have included every part from mulled cider to sourdough pizza and scorching chocolate.

Christmas at Kew runs from November 14 to January 4, 2026, with periods from 4.20 pm, final entry at 8pm (gardens open to 10 pm). You will need to e-book upfront (and it often sells out – tickets with reserved parking go in a short time with no present slots for 2025 dates remaining).

You possibly can enter by the Victoria Plaza, Brentford Gate, and Elizabeth Gate, and also you’ll have to specify which, with newest entry on the Victoria Gate.

Tickets price from £27.50 for adults, from £18 for youngsters aged 4 to 16, with reductions for members and household tickets are additionally out there. Tickets don’t embody day entry to Kew Gardens.

Neverland at Kenwood

Kenwood’s gentle trails are sometimes a few of the most inventive in London at Christmas, and this 12 months appears set to be simply as memorable with the brand new Neverland path.

Observe Tinkerbell on an unforgettable journey to a spot of magic, creativeness and journey, leaving the extraordinary world behind and following the celebrities.

The brand new outside gentle path is the proper mixture of enchantment and festive enjoyable, transporting you to the world of Peter Pan, even coming nose to nose with Captain Hook’s legendary pirate ship. Plus £1 from every ticket will go to assist Nice Ormond Road Hospital.

Runs from November 21 to January 3, 2026, with gates opening at 4.30pm. Tickets price from £28 for adults, £18 for youngsters aged 3-16, with household tickets additionally out there. Costs are barely lowered for English Heritage members.

For extra of one of the best issues to do for Christmas in London with youngsters, take a look at my high picks

Canary Wharf winter lights

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 make a good way to brighten up the New Yr.

2026’s occasion is tbc however often runs from mid January to earl February a string of non permanent gentle installations. Final 12 months’s path was designed to point out the otherworldly qualities of artwork and light-weight, with an added dose of the surreal – suppose portals, black holes, mirages and a towering stack of bathtubs which pulse with gentle and sound.

With this, there’s no have to prebook tickets, simply flip up to take a look at the illuminated installations between 5pm and 10pm, everytime you want a pick-me-up in January. The map will likely be out there in January to plan your route, with drinks and snacks in the stores alongside the way in which (in addition to Canary Wharf’s typical cafes and eating places).

The Canary Wharf ice rink can even be open till February 22, 2026, so it’s simply to mix with the winter lights

Chelsea Winter Village & Illuminations

There’s a model new competition expertise on the Royal Hospital Chelsea this 12 months, beginning with a 1.5km illuminated gentle path by the historic grounds.

Alongside the way in which, you’ll discover a big taking pictures star, walk-through bauble sales space, plus loads of twinkling lights and 15 immersive installations alongside a string of enchanted avenues, ending on the Chelsea Winter Village with its festive meals stalls, Christmas market and pop-up curling membership.

Runs from November 26-December 28, with festive workshops out there to e-book within the winter village too, together with every part from wreath making to bauble portray. Tickets for the sunshine path price from £5 for teenagers, £15 for adults, whereas entry to the winter village is free.

Time by Luxmuralis in Greenwich

Whereas this isn’t a Christmas gentle path, it’s a enjoyable different in case you’re searching for methods to brighten up the darker days.

The sound and light-weight present from Luxmuralis will likely be reworking the Previous Royal Naval Faculty in Greenwich between November 12 and November 22, as you’re taken on an immersive journey by historical past and science.

Taking a look at humanity’s relationship with the idea of time, you’ll journey by wormholes and inside clocks, in addition to seeing how people themselves have modified throughout time, plus a splash of HG Wells’ The Time Machine as a bonus. Have to be prebooked, tickets from £15 for adults, £12 for youngsters, with household tickets additionally out there.

The Luminaze at Wembley Park

TBC Wembley Park’s common free festive occasions usually have their very own set of festive illuminations, and 2023 noticed a model new attraction for Christmas, The Luminaze. To date, there’s no official phrase on what would possibly happen this winter.

On the coronary heart of The Luminzae was an set up known as The Houseglass, delivering tales by aimations and audio, together with items from native artists. Earlier occasions have additionally included 2021’s Winterfest, with its theme of ‘Reunited in Gentle’.

For extra concepts of issues to do at Wembley Park with youngsters, take a look at my suggestions

Battersea Energy Station Gentle Competition

TBC One other free set of illuminated to brighten up the New Yr, the Battersea Energy Station Gentle Competition often takes place in january and February alongside the riverfront.

The earlier occasion included soundscapes and interactive parts to convey the lights to life in addition to dwell performances together with music and glo exhibits.

2026’s occasion is tbc, and particulars are sometimes introduced simply weeks upfront. Final 12 months’s occasion ran from January 23-February 23.

Christmas Gentle Trails, London not confirmed for 2025

A couple of well-liked gentle trails in London didn’t make an look final 12 months, with no phrase in the event that they’ll be again as soon as extra in 2025.

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.

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 beneath fairy lights within the Twilight Tweatery with snacks and toasted marshmallows, you could possibly additionally catch just a few glimpses of real-life night-time animal magic with evening imaginative and prescient goggles, plus the London Wetland Centre otters snoozing away.

Enchanted Woodland at Syon Home

One of many loveliest illuminated trails for households, this mile-long route wound across the decorative lake and arboretum at Syon Home, ending within the Nice Conservatory. But it surely hasn’t taken place for the previous couple of years and there are not any present plans to carry it once more.

A well-liked evening out for round 20 years, the Enchanted Woodland illuminations lit up the woods with over 400 completely different species of timber illuminated in numerous colors and lasers and strobe lights set to music.

Try a few of my photographs from the occasion right here, together with the sunshine present on Syon Home itself

Enchanted Eltham Palace

For years, Eltham Palace has remodeled its superb gardens every winter for Enchanted Eltham, changed by the Christmas at Eltham Palace in 2023. A brand new occasion, The Spirit of Christmas at Eltham ran final 12 months as a substitute of a lightweight path, and there are not any confirmed plans but introduced for this festive season.

The interactive gentle path featured installations designed to suit with the pure environment, promising a twist on the same old traditional Christmas results alongside the 2km route, which took 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.

Hampton Court docket Palace

After 2021’s Palace of Stardust and 2022’s Palace of Gentle path at Hampton Court docket Palace, there’s been nothing related for the previous couple of years.

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 part from a fantastical wonderland of clocks, moons, planets, and sundials, glittering unicorns to polka-dot panthers.

The grand finale final 12 months additionally noticed the palace facade lit up with its personal fabulous gentle present, which you could possibly watch from the gardens. The paths often took round 45-60 minutes for the expertise, with seasonal food and drinks to purchase alongside the way in which.

Try my evaluation of Palace of Stardust right here

Extra Christmas lights in London

Whilst you’re out exploring London with youngsters, preserve an eye fixed out for the festive lights over the principle purchasing streets from November onwards – I’ve received a self-guided Christmas lights strolling path to comply with so you may see the principle shows.

There have been fewer huge switch-on occasions in recent times to keep away from crowds, however right here’s what to see and when to identify them. Most will keep on till at the very least January 3, 2026 though you may count on all of them to be switched off by January 6.

Try the following tips for one of the best 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 change on in November, Carnaby Road can boast greater than spectacular 25 years of lights, that includes every part from house to the Rolling Stones – this 12 months’s show, All Is Brilliant, builds on final 12 months’s which featured hourly gentle shows with some 6m gentle sculpture and star installations. Change-on date Nov 6

Covent Backyard

For many who liked the enormous baubles and mirrorballs out there, the brand new bells and bow from 2023 are again once more at Covent Backyard this 12 months. There’s often a standard sleigh as a part of Christmas in Covent Backyard, kicking off in November, and hourly flurries of faux snow. 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 6

Oxford Road

Hundreds of stars will likely be glowing above London’s busiest purchasing avenue, with LED lights as soon as once more to make use of much less vitality. You possibly can sponsor one to assist kids’s charity Starlight as properly. Change-on date Nov 3

For an additional method 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 usually from 12 months to 12 months: previously few years, royal-themed show of crowns changed the illuminated peacock tails that shimmered above the realm round Bond Road, 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 November 12

Belgravia

The twinkling lights are returning to Elizabeth Road, Motcomb Road, Eccleston Yards, Halkin Arcade and Pimlico Highway as soon as once more. There’s usually a change on celebration to have a good time together with an look by Santa and his elves. Official switch-on date Nov 16 (although the lights themselves might go on earlier than the switch-on date)

Trafalgar Sq.

Yearly since 1947, the individuals of Norway have given the individuals of London a Christmas tree as a gesture of appreciation for town’s assist in the course of the Second World Struggle. The lighting ceremony takes place on the primary Thursday in December – this 12 months’s occasion will likely be on December 4 2025.

Try these posts for extra concepts of one of the best Christmas markets in London with youngsters in addition to one of the best of London’s festive ice rinks with youngsters

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Disclosure: comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee

Predominant picture/Kew at Christmas: Jeff Eden/RBG Kew; illuminated timber courtesy Chelsea Winter Village; Enchanted Syon: Simon Hadleigh-Sparks; Regent Road angels: Depositphotos; all others copyright MummyTravels

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