Only in the West End … This Christmas: The World’s Largest Christmas Light Switch-on

It’s official – the festive season has kicked off and is now underway. Ticked off the Autumn list is Halloween, Bonfire Night and Remembrance Day; now nothing stands in our way… it’s plain sailing under an artificially illuminated sky right up to December 25th, the big one.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan alongside the cast of ‘& Juliet’, and staff from John Lewis, Hamleys and Fortnums & Mason at Piccadilly as the Christmas lights are switched-on across the whole of London’s West End district at the same time. Photo credit: David Parry/PA Wire

Getting the West End lit for Christmas is an annual November ritual but this year, as if to make up for the past nearly-two-years-now-for-Pete’s-sake of disruption, over 1 million LED bulbs across London’s West End were lit up, making history as the world’s largest Christmas light switch-on. From the shopping mecca of Oxford Street, Regent Street and South Molton Street, the luxury boutiques of Bond Street and Mayfair to the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus, culture of St James’s and Theatreland of Leicester Square. 20 streets across London’s West End collectively switched on their iconic lights to officially mark the start of the festive season in the capital.

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General views of London’s West End, as the Christmas lights are switched-on across the whole district at the same time, St. James’s. Photo credit: David Parry/PA Wire

But it’s not only awestruck ooo-ing and aaah-ing (though please do take your time to
wander the streets with your mouth open) that’s being encouraged – West End businesses have kick-started a campaign that shines a light on the exciting and thrilling experiences that can only be discovered in the West End. Only in the West End …. This Christmas aims to encourage Londoners, and vistors to come together and celebrate the true joy of ‘in real life’ festive experiences.

Visitors can discover the top 50 places to explore, participate, snap and (of course) shop that can be found – you guessed it – Only in the West End this Christmas.

Other festive lights in the West End include Carnaby x Choose Love kaleidoscope of shimmering neon butterflies displayed above Carnaby Street and the network of side-streets which make up CarnabyLondon, and 21 lighting panels around Soho all designed by the children of Soho Parish School.

Now’s the time – the bright lights of the big city are aglow and waiting. It’s Christmas, in case you haven’t noticed!

Written by Gillian Smith.

Season’s Greetings from the My Soho Times team! x

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