London Christmas lights with kids

Seeing the Christmas lights illuminating Oxford Street and Regent Street is at all times a spotlight of the 12 months – however if you happen to’re trying to spy among the finest London festive lights with kids, there’s extra to find than these alone. (UPDATED FOR 2024)

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Each 12 months, 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 solution to brighten up the winter (and who doesn’t), right here’s my choose of the perfect London Christmas gentle trails with kids, 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 kids, try my high 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 among 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 House gentle present, whereas the Camellia Walk will probably be reworked ito a snowy lane.

Keep an eye fixed out for Ombre by TILT, which takes the type of a sequence of big vegetation in bloom, in addition to two installations illuminating the lake crossing

More of this 12 months’s highlights will embody a the ‘Fire Garden’ lighting up the Temperate House, in addition to the Christmas cathedral.

As effectively as being an amazing wander by the gardens, there are foods and drinks stalls alongside the best way: earlier years have included the whole lot from mulled cider to sourdough pizza and sizzling chocolate.

Christmas at Kew runs from November 13 to January 5, 2025, with classes from 4.20 pm, final entry at 8pm (gardens open to 10 pm). You should ebook upfront (and it normally sells out – tickets with reserved parking go in a short time with restricted slots for 2024 dates left).

You can enter by the Victoria Plaza, Brentford Gate, and Elizabeth Gate this 12 months, and also you’ll have to 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 out there. Tickets don’t embody day entry to Kew Gardens.

Fulham Palace illuminated gentle path

The gardens will probably be glowing at Fulham Palace this winter, with the London Illuminated Light Trail going down, together with Santa’s grotto.

The grounds will probably be reworked into an enchanted winter wonderland, with hundreds of lights twinkling within the gardens, in addition to performances by fireplace breathers, stilt walkers and magician Markele (from Britain’s Got Talent), plus reside music.

There’ll be fireplace pits for toasting marshmallows, plus meals, sizzling chocolate and mulled wine to purchase alongside the best way, and Father Christmas will probably be in his grotto on daily basis.

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 in an effort to purchase the add-on grotto entry).

For extra of the perfect issues to do for Christmas in London with kids, try my high 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 12 months noticed a model new attraction for Christmas, The Luminaze. So far, there’s no official phrase on what would possibly happen this winter.

Last 12 months’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, dropping your self within the gentle and artwork.

At the center of The Luminzae was an set up known as The Houseglass, delivering tales by aimations and audio, together with items from native artists. Previous occasions have included 2021’s Winterfest, with its theme of ‘Reunited in Light’.

For extra concepts of issues to do at Wembley Park with kids, try my ideas

Canary Wharf winter lights

TBC You needn’t lay our a fortune (or get squashed by the crowds in Oxford Street) to see London’s festive lights with kids without spending a dime – and the Canary Wharf Winter Lights normally make a good way to brighten up the New Year.

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 have to 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 Power Station Light Festival

TBC Another free set of illuminated to brighten up the New Year, the Battersea Power Station Light Festival 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 reside performances together with music and glo reveals.

2025’s occasion is tbc, and particulars are sometimes introduced simply weeks upfront. Last 12 months’s occasion ran from January 25-February 25.

Christmas Light Trails, London not confirmed for 2024

Just a few standard 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 2024.

Illuminature at WWT London

Another newer London gentle path, there’s no affirmation but whether or not Illuminature will return to WWT Barnes – the London Wetland Centre – this 12 months, 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 among the animals and hop throughout interactive light-up lily pads.

In between stress-free underneath fairy lights within the Twilight Tweatery with snacks and toasted marshmallows, you may additionally catch just a few glimpses of real-life night-time animal magic with night time 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 House

One of the loveliest illuminated trails for households, this mile-long route winds across the decorative lake and arboretum at Syon House, ending within the Great Conservatory – and normally has slots from 5 pm if you happen to’re heading out with youthful kids.

The Enchanted Woodland illuminations gentle up the woods with over 400 totally different species of timber illuminated in numerous colors and lasers and strobe lights set to music.

There are usually drinks and snacks in the stores from the restaurant in the beginning and end too, together with sizzling chocolate.

In earlier years, Enchanted Woodland has run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from mid to late November at Syon House – the home itself is closed for the winter in any other case.

Last 12 months, tickets price £10 for adults and £7.50 for kids. Sadly the occasion is not going to be going down in 2023, 2024 continues to be tbc.

Check out a few of my photographs from the occasion right here, together with the sunshine present on Syon House itself

Christmas at Kenwood

One of London’s newer festive gentle trails, the gardens of Kenwood House 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.

Running by the landscaped gardens after darkish, final 12 months noticed 13 new installations and an entire new look , plus the same old color, gentle and loads of Instagrammable sparkle.

Usually working from early December till early January, ticket slots included twilight viewing in addition to basic admission.

Last 12 months, tickets price from £22 for adults excluding ticketing charges, from £17.50 for kids aged three to 16 (underneath threes go free) for basic admission, with household tickets out there and a reduction for English Heritage members.

Enchanted Eltham Palace

For years, Eltham Palace has reworked its wonderful gardens every winter for Enchanted Eltham, changed by the Christmas at Eltham Palace final 12 months. However, there’s a brand new occasion, The Spirit of Christmas at Eltham working this 12 months so it appears unlikely that the sunshine path will happen.

Usually 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 Great Hall bathed in gentle and highlights together with speaking timber, a glimmering maze and a disco ball suspended above the moat.

There’s foods 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.

Usually runs from early December to early January. Previously Tickets price from £17.50 for adults, £11.50 for kids, with a reduction for English heritage members and household tickets out there. Day entry isn’t included – if you happen to go to on a day when Eltham Palace is open, you’ll have to go away the grounds and return in your Enchanted slot.

It’s value realizing there’s no parking on website (aside from Blue Badge holders), so that you’re requested to come back by prepare the place attainable – Mottingham station is round 10 minutes away whereas Eltham is round 15 15-minute stroll, or you’ll be able to take bus 161 to Eltham Church, which is 5 minutes away.

Hampton Court Palace

After 2021’s Palace of Stardust and 2022’s Palace of Light path at Hampton Court Palace, there was nothing comparable in 2023 and no affirmation that there’ll be one other illuminated extravaganza for 2024.

Previous gentle trails have drawn inspiration from the palace’s well-known Astronomical Clock, put in by Henry VIII, and royal beasts, a sequence of heraldic statues – with the whole lot 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 may watch from the gardens.

The trails normally take round 45-60 minutes for the expertise, with seasonal foods and drinks to purchase alongside the best way.

Check out my assessment of Palace of Stardust right here

More Christmas lights in London

While you’re out exploring London with kids, maintain an eye fixed out for the festive lights over the principle purchasing streets from November onwards – I’ve obtained a self-guided Christmas lights strolling path to observe so you’ll be able to see the principle shows.

There have been fewer large change 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, 2025 though you’ll be able to count on all of them to be switched off by January 6.

Check out the following pointers for the perfect sizzling chocolate in London with kids, if you happen to’re trying to heat up afterwards

Carnaby Street

Often one of many first units of lights to change on in November, Carnaby Street can boast spectacular 25 years of lights – the anniversary featured among the highlights of the previous quarter century, from lights impressed by Queen and the Rolling Stones, underwater scenes and outsized robins, whereas 2023’s lights have been are themed round house and the universe. Switch-on date Nov 6 tbc

Covent Garden

For those that liked the enormous baubles and mirrorballs out there, the brand new bells and bow from 2023 are again once more at Covent Garden this 12 months. The beautiful conventional sleigh is again for 2024 too, returning to Covent Garden in November, though no phrase if the pretend snow will return. Switch-on date Nov 5 tbc

Regent Street

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 Street in addition to Regent Street as soon as once more. Switch-on date Nov 7

Oxford Street

Thousands of stars will probably be glowing above London’s busiest purchasing avenue, with LED lights as soon as once more to make use of much less vitality. You can normally sponsor one to help youngsters’s charity Starlight as effectively. Switch-on date Nov 5

For one other solution to see the London Christmas lights, take the Tootbus Christmas Lights bus tour visiting Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street & Oxford Street – click on right here to ebook

Bond Street

The lights right here change frequently from 12 months to 12 months: 2022’s royal-themed show of crowns changed the illuminated peacock tails that shimmered above the realm round Bond Street 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 Street close by. Switch-on date November tbc

Belgravia

The twinkling lights are returning to Elizabeth Street, Motcomb Street, Eccleston Yards, Halkin Arcade and Pimlico Road as soon as once more. There’s usually a change on occasion to rejoice together with an look by Santa. Switch-on date Nov tbc

Trafalgar Square

Every 12 months since 1947, the individuals of Norway have given the individuals of London a Christmas tree as a gesture of appreciation for town’s help in the course of the Second World War. The lighting ceremony takes place on the primary Thursday in December – and takes place in on December 5 2024 (tbc).

Check out these posts for extra concepts of the perfect Christmas markets in London with kids in addition to the perfect of London’s festive ice rinks with kids

PIN FOR LATER: LONDON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WITH KIDS

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

Main picture/Kew at Christmas: Jeff Eden/RBG Kew; Enchanted Syon: Simon Hadleigh-Sparks; Enchanted Eltham ©English Heritage.

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