Soho at Christmas is nothing short of magical, transforming into a vibrant hub filled with holiday cheer. Festive lights are draped across buildings, illuminating the streets with a warm glow, while restaurant windows entice passersby. The area is turned into a Winter Wonderland. You don’t want to miss any of the sparkling displays and Christmas hot spots, so I have curated the perfect Soho Christmas walking tour for you, featuring must-see locations and hidden gems. Grab a mulled wine or a hot chocolate, wrap up warm in cosy layers, and get ready for this fabulous festive stroll that will leave you enchanted…
The Perfect Christmas Lights Walking Tour
Start Here: Piccadilly Circus
We begin at Piccadilly Circus. Once you have parted the sea (aka the Christmas crowds) you will be able to get a glimpse of the Regent’s Street angels. These are a Christmas staple and are every bit as magical, each year they are turned back on. They are comprised of 300,000 LED lights and illuminate the dark winter nights.
Piccadilly Circus, London, W1D 7ET
Stop 1: Glasshouse Street
Moving past Piccadilly long Regents Street, you’ll arrive at Glasshouse Street, where you’ll be greeted with a warm display of lights that read “Fly Away”, with the addition of more angel wings, lighting up your path into Soho. Glasshouse Street is often a quieter passage to escape the busy Piccadilly crowds.
Glasshouse St, London W1B 5RL
Stop 2: Brewer Street
Bypassing The Devonshire, which will almost certainly be busy with people spilling out onto the streets, head towards Brewer Street. Now, you have entered Soho with its array of cosy restaurants and vibrant Christmas windows that make you want to come inside. Some of my favourites are Bills and Randall & Aubin. They both have stunning Christmas displays adorned with twinkling lights and decorated wreaths.
36-44 Brewer St, London W1F 9TB
Stop 3: Carnaby Street, London
Of course, no Christmas tour would be complete without a visit to Carnaby Street. This year they’ve kept it simple in comparison to previous years, going on for a display of large golden Christmas crackers hanging overhead as shoppers wander. The design takes a minimalist approach, allowing the elegant simplicity of the decorations to shine.
A fun addition to the tour would be to catch the Choir performances on Carnaby Street. Every Wednesday at 6:15pm, stop by Newburgh Street and Foubert’s Place junction for a cosy, acoustic performance. If that is too early for you, at 7pm, you can feel the magic on Carnaby Street with Christmas choir performances underneath the winter installation ‘Into the Light’.
Carnaby Street, London, W1F 9PL
Stop 4: Soho Xmas Kids Christmas Lights
You’ll have noticed on your walk that the pavements are lit up by playfully illustrated Christmas lights. These are the amazing designs created by children of Soho Parish Primary School. The school is located on Great Windmill Street, and for the last four years, the children have been designing the lights displayed across Soho. See how many you can spot during this walking tour. I think they are a special touch and show Soho’s love of community.
Stop #5: Ham Yard Hotel
A gorgeous display I stumbled upon is in Ham Yard Square. The Ham Yard Hotel, adorned with a blanket of warm, twinkling fairy lights, sets an enchanting atmosphere. As I walked through, I was greeted by the cheerful sounds of the live band and gorgeous smell coming from the Hotel’s hot chocolate stand. It was a lively, yet cosy atmosphere as many of the guests from the hotel were enjoying drinks outside. It’s a lovely respite from the busy Soho streets.
1 Ham Yard, London W1D 7DT
Stop 6: The Yard
If you’re already getting tired on this walk and need somewhere to pop in for a drink, then head to The Yard. This LGBTQ bar has a magical Christmas light tunnel leading into their bar. If you’re used to going in the Summer and sitting out on the cobblestones, try heading inside for a Mulled Wine and a huddle around a heater.
The Yard, 57 Rupert St, London W1D 7PL
Stop 7: Broadwick Soho Hotel
The shining star of this tour has to be Broadwick Soho Hotel, located on Broadwick Street. On the façade of the hotel are two huge playful elephants, Christmas Crackers and wrapped sweets. The festive display is inspired by traditional British Christmas Day celebrations. It includes their classic dapper-dressed elephants and might be my favourite yet!
20 Broadwick St, London W1F 8TH
Stop 8: Ping Pong Restaurant
By now, I know you will be feeling extremely Christmassy, possibly hungry, and slightly cold. You have done an entire Soho tour now, so I’m sure you will have spotted some places to stop by for some festive food.
If you are looking to try a new festive menu, Ping Pong has their Parcels Of Joy Set Menu available. The set menu consists of prawn cracker nibbles, crispy wagyu beef, crispy duck, and spring rolls. You will also get a large dish full of steamed gyoza and dumplings. Finally, the perfect matcha and yuzu cake to top you off. The menu is filled with gorgeous flavours, and I can promise you won’t be hungry after! The set menu is priced at £40 per person.
45 Great Marlborough St, Carnaby, London W1F 7JL
End at: Liberty London
You can also pop into Liberty, just a few doors down from Ping Pong, to do some Christmas shopping, enjoy a luxury Wildsmith Skin treatment located on the 4th floor, or simply check out some of the Wicked Movie collaboration displays along the entrance!
Whether you’re enjoying the twinkling lights on Carnaby Street, browsing the boutique shops, or sipping a warm drink while strolling the twinkling streets, Soho’s Christmas magic is sure to put a smile on your face.
Season’s Greetings from the team at My Soho Times!
Written by Evie Allen-Jones @evieajones.media
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