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London Christmas lights with kids

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 if you happen to’re seeking to spy among the greatest London festive lights with youngsters, there’s extra to find than these alone. (UPDATED FOR 2024)

Credit score Jeff Eden/RBG Kew

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Annually, the capital appears to have extra illuminations, mild festivals, and festive trails lighting up town than ever earlier than, each standalone occasions and at a few of London’s best-known household points of interest.

So if you need a option to brighten up the winter (and who doesn’t), right here’s my choose of the perfect London Christmas mild 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 among 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 two new installations making their world debuts.

There’ll be some previous favourites too, together with the Palm Home mild present, whereas the Camellia Stroll can be reworked ito a snowy lane.

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

London Christmas lights with kids
Credit score Jeff Eden/RBG Kew

Extra of this 12 months’s highlights will embrace a the ‘Hearth Backyard’ lighting up the Temperate Home, in addition to the Christmas cathedral.

In addition to being an important wander via the gardens, there are foods and drinks stalls alongside the way in which: earlier years have included every part 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 need to ebook 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 via the Victoria Plaza, Brentford Gate, and Elizabeth Gate this 12 months, and also you’ll have to specify which.

Tickets value 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.

Image showing a graphic of the London Eye on the Essential Guide to London with kids ebook cover, and the words 'click to buy my 33-page guide to London. Itineraries, tips and all you need to know before a visit to London with kids' linking to my the London with kids shop page

Fulham Palace illuminated mild path

The gardens can be glowing at Fulham Palace this winter, with the London Illuminated Gentle Path happening, together with Santa’s grotto.

The grounds can be reworked into an enchanted winter wonderland, with hundreds of lights twinkling within the gardens, in addition to performances by hearth breathers, stilt walkers and magician Markele (from Britain’s Bought Expertise), plus stay music.

There’ll be hearth pits for toasting marshmallows, plus meals, sizzling chocolate and mulled wine to purchase alongside the way in which, and Father Christmas can be in his grotto day-after-day.

Runs on choose dates from November 28-December 22, with first entry at 4.30pm, final entry at 9pm. Tickets value 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 kids, however you do want a lightweight 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 12 months noticed a model new attraction for Christmas, The Luminaze. Up to now, there’s no official phrase on what may happen this winter.

Final 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 mild and artwork.

On the coronary heart of The Luminzae was an set up known as The Houseglass, delivering tales via 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 suggestions

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 free of charge – 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 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 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 components to deliver the lights to life in addition to stay performances together with music and glo exhibits.

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

Christmas Gentle Trails, London not confirmed for 2024

A number of in style mild 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

One other newer London mild 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 house, with illuminated sculptures of among 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 might additionally catch a couple of 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 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 if you happen to’re heading out with youthful youngsters.

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

Illuminated bridge and trees of Enchanted Woodland at Syon House - one of my top festive lights trails for kids in London

There are usually drinks and snacks that can be purchased from the restaurant at 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 Home – the home itself is closed for the winter in any other case.

Final 12 months, tickets value £10 for adults and £7.50 for kids. Sadly the occasion won’t be happening in 2023, 2024 continues to be tbc.

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

Christmas at Kenwood

One in all London’s newer festive mild 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 via the landscaped gardens after darkish, final 12 months noticed 13 new installations and an entire new look , plus the standard color, mild and loads of Instagrammable sparkle.

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

Final 12 months, tickets value from £22 for adults excluding ticketing charges, from £17.50 for teenagers 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 - the light trail at the historic English Heritage property is one of my picks of the festive light trails with kids to visit in London
©English Heritage

Enchanted Eltham Palace

For years, Eltham Palace has reworked its superb gardens every winter for Enchanted Eltham, changed by the Christmas at Eltham Palace final 12 months. Nonetheless, 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.

Often the interactive mild path options installations designed to suit with the pure environment, promising a twist on the standard basic 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 mild and highlights together with speaking bushes, a glimmering maze and a disco ball suspended above the moat.

There’s foods and drinks alongside the way in which, together with mulled wine, mince pies, and conventional fairground rides to take pleasure in – for an additional small cost, card funds solely.

Often runs from early December to early January. Beforehand Tickets value 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 – 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 price realizing there’s no parking on website (apart 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’ll be able to take bus 161 to Eltham Church, which is 5 minutes away.

Hampton Courtroom Palace

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

View of the front entrance of Hampton Court Palace illuminated in purple and blue lights after dark - one of the places to enjoy a festive light train in London with kids in previous years

Earlier mild 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 mild present, which you might watch from the gardens.

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

Take a look at my assessment of Palace of Stardust right here

Extra Christmas lights in London

Whilst you’re out exploring London with youngsters, hold an eye fixed out for the festive lights over the principle procuring streets from November onwards – I’ve acquired a self-guided Christmas lights strolling path to comply with so you’ll be able to 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 a minimum of January 3, 2025 though you’ll be able to count on all of them to be switched off by January 6.

Take a look at the following pointers for the perfect sizzling chocolate in London with youngsters, if you happen to’re seeking to heat up afterwards

Shooting star lights above Oxford Street and Oxford Circus in London - and my tips on where to see the best Christmas lights in London with kids

Carnaby Road

Usually one of many first units of lights to modify on in November, Carnaby Road 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. Swap-on date Nov 6 tbc

Covent Backyard

For many who cherished 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. The attractive conventional sleigh is again for 2024 too, returning to Covent Backyard in November, though no phrase if the pretend snow will return. Swap-on date Nov 5 tbc

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. Swap-on date Nov 7

Oxford Road

Hundreds of stars can be glowing above London’s busiest procuring avenue, with LED lights as soon as once more to make use of much less vitality. You’ll be able to normally sponsor one to assist kids’s charity Starlight as nicely. Swap-on date Nov 5

For an additional option 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 ebook

Bond Road

The lights right here change recurrently 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 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 bushes in South Molton Road close by. Swap-on date 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 occasion to have a good time together with an look by Santa. Swap-on date Nov tbc

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 assist through the Second World Conflict. The lighting ceremony takes place on the primary Thursday in December – and takes place in on December 5 2024 (tbc).

Take a look at these posts for extra concepts of the perfect 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]

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

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

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