As the holiday season approaches, the city of London transforms into a magical winter wonderland adorned with twinkling lights, festive decorations, and an unmistakable air of merriment. And there is no better way to soak up the enchanting atmosphere than by embarking on a FREE walking tour of London’s Best Christmas Lights in Mayfair and Soho!
Come with us on a delightful journey through Mayfair and Soho, two of London’s most vibrant and charming neighbourhoods. These two boroughs of London are found side by side but have two distinctly different vibes. Mayfair is known for its elegance, luxury, and a touch of old-world glamour. On the other hand, Soho is known for its vibrant and eclectic atmosphere. But both are two of the best neighbourhoods to experience the true essence of London’s Christmas spirit. Grab your comfiest walking shoes, bundle up in your coziest scarf, and join us as we explore the dazzling lights, charming streets, and hidden gems on our FREE Mayfair and Soho Christmas Lights walking tour!
Where Does the Walking Tour Go?
This FREE walking tour will take you from Oxford Street, down Bond Street, over to Regent Street and ending along Carnaby. London’s most impressive Christmas lights are all found in this area. But if you want to see the complete list of All London Christmas Lights, we have an entire post where you can find all this information.
How Long is the Walking Tour?
The Mayfair and Soho London Christmas Lights Walking Tour is a two-hour-long leisurely walk. If you wanted to walk without stopping, you could cover the area in under an hour, but we want you to take your time and make stops along the way. Especially to fill up hot drinks to keep you warm!
What to Wear?
When venturing out to see the Christmas lights in London, it’s important to dress for the weather. While Winter in London isn’t as cold as other cities around the world, it can still get quite chilly, so dressing appropriately is essential to enjoy your festive outing.
- Layered Clothing: Layering is key to staying warm. Start with a thermal or moisture-wicking base layer to keep sweat away from your skin. Add a warm sweater on top.
- Winter Coat: Invest in a good-quality, insulated winter coat to provide warmth and protection from the cold. A waterproof coat is best to protect against the rain. Look for one with a hood to keep your head warm and dry.
- Hat: A hat or beanie is essential to prevent heat loss from your head.
- Scarf: A thick, woollen scarf can keep your neck warm and be pulled up to cover your face if necessary.
- Gloves: Opt for insulated, waterproof gloves or mittens to keep your hands warm.
- Thermal Leggings: We had days below zero last year, which is pretty rare for London, but on days like this, you should wear thermal leggings under your pants to add an extra layer of warmth.
- Warm Socks: Invest in warm, moisture-wicking socks to keep your feet cozy. You can even wear two pairs if it’s exceptionally cold.
- Waterproof Boots: Choose waterproof boots with insulation to keep your feet dry and warm. Ensure they have good traction to prevent slipping on icy or wet surfaces.
- Hand and Foot Warmers: For extremely cold nights, consider using disposable hand and foot warmers that can be placed in your gloves and boots for extra warmth.
- Umbrella: London’s winter weather can be unpredictable, so it’s a good idea to carry a compact, windproof umbrella in case of rain or snow.
Map of Walking Tour
Start Your Walking Tour: Oxford Street
Oxford Street is Europe’s busiest shopping street, with around half a million daily visitors and over 300 shops! Look up and down the street to admire the over one million twinkling stars raining down onto the pedestrians below. They are genuinely some of the most impressive sights in the city. And you can almost always spot a myriad of red double-decker buses, almost grazing the tops of the lights. This scene makes for the most perfect photo op!
South Molton Street
Make your way off Oxford street, down South Molton Street. South Molton Street was built in the mid-18th century, and much of the area still retains the original Georgian homes built in the 1900s. At Christmas time, it hosts a series of astonishing illuminated arches. Their bright blue glow beckons you in from far beyond. The blue is so bright, in fact, that it casts a blue glow over the entire street.
Claridge’s
As you reach the end of South Molton Street, turn west down Brook Street towards one of London’s most prestigious luxury hotels, Claridge’s. Claridge’s has a rich and storied history dating back to the early 19th century. Over the years, it has hosted royalty, celebrities, and dignitaries from around the world. The hotel’s elegant exterior is adorned with twinkling lights, lifesize Christmas trees and decorative garlands, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Each year, renowned fashion designers and artists are invited to create unique and imaginative Christmas trees that adorn the hotel’s lobby. Be sure to pop your head inside!
Grosvenor Square
Continuing down Brook Street, you’ll come to the entrance to Grosvenor Square. Grosvenor Square is one of London’s most prestigious garden squares. It transforms into a festive wonderland with a beautiful Christmas light installation during the Christmas season. The Square is adorned with 20,000 illuminated roses each year, forming a glowing carpet of flowers. Each flower can be purchased as a dedication to a lost loved one. All the money raised from these donations is then given to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Walking through the garden is a beautiful and sombre experience, especially at Christmas; it’s important to think of those who might be missing someone special.
Hedonism Wines
Make your way through the square, exiting onto Grosvenor Street and heading east. Turn down Davies Street until you arrive at the charming displays outside Hedonism Wines. Hedonism Wines is a luxury wine and spirits boutique in the heart of Mayfair. It has become somewhat of a destination for wine enthusiasts, especially during Christmas when it showcases its festive displays! Throughout the years, Hedonism Wines transformed its store exterior with enchanting decorations, and during the Christmas season, they make sure to go all out! You can get right up close to these displays, making them ideal for cute photo-ops.
Annabel’s
Walking along Davies Street onto Berkeley Square, take a few minutes to admire the stunning exterior Annabel’s private members club. Annabel’s is located inside a gorgeous Georgian mansion across the historic Berkeley Square. The highly exclusive club was established in 1963 for wealthy members to privately gamble after partying. Everyone from the Queen herself to Olivia Newton-John and Lady Gaga has been deemed important enough to be allowed inside these hallowed gates.
And while you might never have the chance to enter the fairytale-like interior, all can enjoy their out-of-this-world Christmas decorations! Every year, they try to outdo themselves with bigger and better designs. Last year, the entire exterior was transformed into a magical carousel!
Bond Street
Cross through Berkeley Square and make your way east onto Burton Street. Even from a distance, you can spot the twinkling lights beckoning you onto New Bond Street. New and Old Bond Streets are home to some of the most prestigious and expensive shops like Tiffany & Co, Sotheby’s and Bonhams. The Christmas installations here are larger than life! Framing the entire street are these twinkling designs made to emulate the shape of peacock feathers.
The peacock feathers honour a group called the Bond Street Loungers, who, in 1820, became well-known for their fabulous fashions. They often wore expensive wigs and were seen strutting up and down Bond Street as if they owned it. They were also often called the “peacocks,” and the Christmas lights shine on to commemorate their daring fashions.
Above the intersections are these amazing crowns that incorporate those same peacock designs but so subtly that only those in the know will see them.
Many of the high-end shops on the street go ALL OUT. Cartier, Fenwick, Dior, Stellar McCartney and Ralph Lauren are just some of the incredible shops that spend thousands on decking out this exterior facade for the holidays. Despite being some of London’s most expensive shops, you don’t need to spend a dime to enjoy their beautiful lighting displays.
Ralph’s Coffee
Near the end of Old Bond Street, make sure to stop inside Ralph’s Coffee for a cup of hot chocolate, tea or coffee to warm up! Ralph’s Coffee is a part of Ralph Lauren, the iconic American fashion brand known for its timeless style and commitment to luxury. Ralph’s Coffee embodies the classic and refined aesthetic. Their coffee shop is decorated for the holidays in the same traditional Ralph elegance. Outside are some cafe tables where you can sit down to enjoy your hot drink while soaking in all the Christmas ambiance.
Burlington Arcade
From Ralph’s, dash across the street and quickly saunter down Burlington Gardens until you reach the entrance to Burlington Arcade. This covered shopping street was built in 1819 and featured incredible Regency-era architecture. As this strip is home to many fine jewelry makers and bespoke tailors, they always decorate their interiors to entertain and amaze their high-end clients. Hanging from the glass roof is a series of giant disco balls and silver and gold baubles sparkling along the length of the arcade. Its covered roof also provides a little escape from the brisk wind (or potential rain) of London’s winter.
Piccadilly Arcade
Across the street from the Burlington Arcade is another covered shopping street, the Piccadilly Arcade. Piccadilly Arcade is a beautiful neo-classical covered shopping arcade known for its exclusive boutique shops that offer a curated selection of high-end luxury goods. The arcade’s interior is decorated in blue and silver mirrored snowflakes, illuminating the architectural details throughout the arcade.
Fortnum & Mason
Walking east along Piccadilly, it won’t be long before your eyes are amazed at the spectacular decorations outside Fortnum & Mason. Fortnum & Mason is a quintessential British emporium of gourmet food and elegant home decor. This historic establishment has been a symbol of sophistication since its founding in 1707.
The store’s large street-facing windows are transformed into a magical life-size advent calendar with sumptuous garland and Christmas lights adorning the entire facade. Each window represented the days leading up to Christmas. A different window’s number lights up every day to count down the days until Christmas.
If you have time, pop inside to explore Fortnum & Mason’s Christmas holiday products. Shelves are stocked with seasonal delights, including beautifully packaged hampers, limited-edition teas, festive chocolates, and a wide array of culinary treats that make perfect gifts or indulgences during the holiday season.
Picadilly Circus
Making your way east along Piccadilly Street, at the intersection of Piccadilly and Regent Street, you’ll arrive at the famous Piccadilly Circus. Piccadilly Circus at Christmastime is an absolute spectacle of joy and festivity. As the sun sets, the junction of several major roads, including Piccadilly, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Coventry Street, Piccadilly Circus, are washed in illuminated lights. No matter where you look, you can see London all aglow.
Regent Street
From Piccadilly Circus, walk up Regent Street. Regent Street was designed in the early 19th century by the renowned architect John Nash to symbolize London’s grandeur and world-class urban planning. Regent Street was named after King George, the Prince Regent who reigned over England from 1820 to 1830. The sweeping curve of the street, the ornate facades, and the regal terraces make it a timeless icon of London’s magnificence.
The Regent Street lights are my favourite Christmas light installation. Soaring above the passersby are these giant “spirits” with sparkling wings. Many people refer to these as angels, but they are, in fact, officially called the spirits of Regent Street.
The decorations were inspired by historic Christmas lights displayed initially on Regent Street that featured traditional angels playing trumpets. The illuminations were created with the input of the Crown since Regent Street is owned by the Royal Family, and they must approve everything. The spirits are made up of over 300,000 lights. Their golden 17-meter wingspan reaches across the entire length of the street. Watching over delighted shoppers. The lights glitter and flash, giving the effect of the fluttering wings. Almost as if they could simply take off at any moment.
Kingly Court
When you reach Beak Street, turn right and a quick left up through Kingly Court. Kingly Court is a three-storey alfresco food and dining destination nestled in a charming courtyard away from the bustling streets of Soho. The square has many restaurants, cafes, and eateries, making it a food lover’s paradise. Whether you’re craving international cuisine, street food, gourmet burgers, or artisanal coffee, you’ll find something to satisfy your palate here. This is the perfect place to stop for something to eat if you want to sit under the twinkling lights and fuel up for the rest of the evening.
Carnaby Street
After exploring Kingly Court, head one street over to explore the neon kaleidoscope that is Carnaby Street! Whereas Regent Street focuses on historical references, Carnaby Street aims to break away from tradition and draws you into a festive wonderland with unique and eye-catching decorations. Carnaby Street gets its name from ‘Karnaby House,’ a large and impressive mansion built here in 1683. The estate was so iconic that people began to refer to the area simply by that name.
Every year, the colourful streets of Carnaby explore a different theme that inspires their decorations. Everything from Rock and Roll to tropical carnivals and under-the-sea adventures. Last year, instead of creating something new, all the lights and designs from years past were collected to celebrate the history of Carnaby’s creative expression.
Liberty of London
To finish the night off, make a quick stop inside Liberty London, a luxury department store along historic Great Marlborough Street. The shop opened in 1875 and was immediately one of the most popular spots for high-end Christmas decorations. One of the iconic aspects of the store is the Tudor revival design of the building. Despite being a Tudo style, this was actually designed in 1920.
Every year, Liberty London unveils its festive Christmas window displays. The charming designs attract visitors from all over the city to gaze in awe at the delightful displays. Inside, the smell of balsam and eucalyptus fills the air with scents inspired by fragrant winter forests. Its enormous five-storey atrium is home to a fantastical paper Christmas tree with Christmas lights dangling from the ceiling. It’s a wonderful to behold.
I hope you have enjoyed this enchanting journey through the glittering streets of Mayfair and Soho. Happy holidays, dear readers, and may the festive magic of London light up your heart throughout the season and beyond! 🎄❤️
Happy Travels, Adventurers
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