A stroll through London at Christmas can often lead to meandering through swathes of people stopped in a daze, staring away at the lights. If you wish to shamelessly be one of these NPCs that are dazzled by the shiny (they do look lovely, in fairness), then note down the date of November 6, as that’s when the Regent Street lights will be switched on.
It’s a special one this year for Regent Street and St James, with 2025 marking the 10th anniversary of their ‘Spirit Of Christmas’ display that has become synonymous with the area. 300,000 LED lights will sparkle across the surrounding area each day across the festive period, all the way up until January 4, 2026.
Any glum end-of-year facial expression will be upgraded to a neutral setting, or even to a glimmer of a smile or (whisper it) a BEAM, when confronted with these babies, sparkling across those long winter nights to see you right through until 2026 rears its head.
Head over to see the sparkling spirits formed in the light display that illuminates the West End alongside the returning ‘Wishing Tree’, which arrived last year and allows visitors to tap their card and donate to The Felix Project, which triggers a twinkling of lights. Taking part not only means creating a light response from the tree, but also helps a worthy cause that deals in rescuing surplus food in the city and distributing it to those who need it across the city.
Though this is the 10th year of the lights in their current form, the Regent Street lights are actually steeped in history, dating all the way back to 1954, making them one of the most legendary as well as one of the biggest displays in the city. Take a stroll through to soak in the festivities once again for another year in the lead-up to the big day.
Regent Street and St James Christmas lights will switch on from November 6, 2025. Read more about The Felix Project and donate directly here.