Seeing the Christmas lights illuminating Oxford Street and Regent street is always a highlight of the year – but there’s more to the London festive lights than these (UPDATED FOR 2021)
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Each year, the capital seems to have more illuminations, light festivals and festive trails lighting up the city than ever before, both standalone events and at some of London’s best-known family attractions.
So if you want a way to brighten up the winter (and who doesn’t), here’s my pick of the best London festive lights with kids.
For more of the best things to do for Christmas in London with kids, check out my top picks
Christmas at Kew
There’s never a bad time to visit Kew Gardens but Christmas at Kew is one of the best to get you feeling festive – especially with Santa and his elves along the way.
The illuminations in the botanic gardens are back with a longer run, with over a million lights involved in the trail, along with branches sparkling like stars and the fire garden.
The Cathedral of Light will be return too, plus a 12 Days of Christmas tree installation along Syon Vista and LED light spheres illuminating the night sky overhead – Spheric, a 15m wide dome of light, will use over 2,000 LED pixels above water creating a mirrored illusion over the lake.
You can also see a recreation of the Aurora Borealis, the Meadow of Life and light projections onto the Palm House to a soundtrack of Christmas classics.
As well as being a great wander through the gardens, there’s food and drink stalls along the way: sponsored this year by Montezuma, you won’t be short of hot chocolate, but there’s with everything from mulled cider to sourdough pizza.
Christmas at Kew runs from November 17 to January 9, with sessions from 4pm, last entry at 8pm (gardens open to 10pm). You must book in advance (and it usually sells out – tickets with reserved parking go very quickly with limited slots for January 2022 left).
This year you can enter through the Victoria Gate, Brentford Gate and Lion Gate. Tickets cost from £21.50 for adults, from £14 for children aged four to 16, while members get a discount (doesn’t include day entry to Kew Gardens).
Enchanted Woodland at Syon House
One of the best illuminated trails for families, this mile-long route winds around the ornamental lake and arboretum at Syon House, finishing in the Great Conservatory – and there are slots from 5pm if you’re heading out with younger kids.
The illuminations festival is back again after a year off, lighting up its woods with over 400 different species of trees illuminated in various colours as well as lasers and strobe lights, all set to music.
There are drinks and snacks available to buy from the restaurant at the start and finish, including hot chocolate.
Enchanted Woodland runs on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays from November 12 to 28 at Syon House – the house itself is closed for the winter otherwise.
Tickets cost £10 for adults and £7.50 for children – book online.
Christmas at Kenwood
Brand new for 2021, the gardens of Kenwood House in Hampstead will be coming alive with a new illuminated trail this winter.
Running through the landscaped gardens after dark, it promises to be a mix of light, fire and sound, giving a modern twist to the classic Christmas lights.
Taking place from November 26 to January 9, 2022, you can book tickets here with general admission and twilight viewing slots.
Tickets cost from £21.50 for adults, from £14 for kids aged three to 16 (under threes go free) for general admission, with extra packages available, or more for the special limited twilight viewing entry.
Enchanted Eltham Palace
Eltham Palace transforms its glorious gardens with the Enchanted Eltham Palace event during December, including the exterior of the Great Hall bathed in light.
The trail is just over a mile long, running around the palace itself through the gardens, with some parts choreographed to music.
Highlights of past years have been interactive installations among the festive lights such as talking trees, a glimmering maze that’s always a hit with kids and a disco ball suspended above the moat.
There’s food and drink along the way, including mulled wine and mince pies, plus traditional fairground rides to enjoy – for an extra small charge, usually around £2-3. Santa won’t be making an appearance this year though.
Takes place on 9-11 December, 16-23 December and 27-30 December with half hourly entry timeslots from 4.30 to 7.30pm, closing at 9pm.
Tickets cost from £14 for adults, £9.50 for children and must be pre-booked, plus there is a small discount for members. Day entry isn’t included – if you do visit on a day when Eltham Palace is open, you’ll have to leave the grounds and then return again for your Enchanted slot.
Once you’ve entered, you can stay as long as you want (until closing) – most people tend to spend around 90 minutes to two hours exploring. Some areas are inaccessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs but there’s an alternate route to let you see the majority of the light trail.
It’s worth knowing there’s no parking on site (except for Blue Badge holders) so you’re asked to come by train where possible – Mottingham station is around 10 minutes away while Eltham is around 15 minutes walk, or you can take bus 161 to Eltham Church, which is five minutes away.
The Palace of Stardust, Hampton Court Palace
Another brand new light trail for 2021, Palace of Stardust is coming to Hampton Court Palace from December, inspired by its famous Astronomical Clock, installed by Henry VIII.
The illuminated trail will feature a fantastical wonderland of clocks, moons, planets and sundials throughout the palace and the gardens – everything from glowing lanterns to magical projections.
You’ll wander past a flickering moonlit ball in the East Front Gardens, as well as being transported to another planet in the depths of the Wilderness.
A brand new experience for the palace, it’s the first time visitors will be able to experience the grounds quite like this – plus there will be seasonal food and drink to buy along the way.
Runs from December 8 to January 3, 2022 (excluding December 11, 24, 25 and 26) – priced £12.50 for adults, £8 for children (under fives go free), with half-price entry to members and members-only timeslots.
Click here to buy tickets for the timed entry slots.
Lightopia, Crystal Palace
Lightopia is returning to London for 2021 – last year’s planned event couldn’t take place at Chiswick House and Gardens (which regularly has illuminations and lantern trail evens during the winter) but it’s returning to the capital to a new home at Crystal Palace Park.
Running on dates between November 19 to January 2, the trail will recreate the famous Crystal Palace in light within the park where it once stood.
There will also be a Christmas light walk and the chance to discover more about the history of the park through interactive displays, with illuminations ranging from lanterns and lasers to water light shows.
Spy the butterfly field and phoenix along the way, not to mention a kids’ zone – and the illuminated dinosaurs to accompany the famous Crystal Palace dinosaurs.
There’ll be food and drink to buy as you walk. Tickets cost from £19.50 for adults, from £13 for children aged three to 15 (under threes are free), plus there are family tickets available.
There are timed entry slots, which run from 5pm to 10pm with the last entry at 8:30pm. There’s limited parking, with tickets available to buy in advance, but Crystal Palace station is less than 10 minutes’ walk away.
Winterfest at Wembley Park
It’s not just south and west London which have winter lights trails – Wembley Park’s Winterfest has been adding a new set of festive illuminations to the capital, returning this November with the theme ‘Reunited in Light’.
Combining light, sound and touch, the illuminated art installations include London’s tallest-ever LED Christmas tree, back for 2021.
As well as some returning favourites – you can marvel again at the Hopeful tree with over 100,000 lights – there will be new installations this year.
Reunion will fill Market Square with a series of interactive light arches forming tunnels, to encourage people to come together again in a technicolour space, while the uplifting Reflections of the Future runs along Olympic Way using optical illusions, as well as light and sound.
Previous highlights have included Illumaphonium: Halo which reacted to touch to play different sounds, while the Sonic Runway, which appeared at Burning Man festival in Nevada, made its European debut in north London.
It’s free to visit. This year’s event takes place from November 25, 2021 to January 9, 2022.
Canary Wharf winter lights
** EDIT: 2022’S EVENT IS NOW CANCELLED BUT HOPING TO RETURN NEXT WINTER ** You needn’t spend a fortune (or get squashed by the crowds in Oxford Street) to see London’s festive lights with kids – and the free Canary Wharf Winter Lights also mean there’s a great way to brighten up the New Year.
Running in January 2022, there will be more than 20 light installations on show, including some favourites from previous years as well as works commissioned for the event, and some which are on display in the UK for the first time – a great one to visit with older kids.
Previous years have seen illuminated installations including giant rabbits, a word waterfall and illuminated graffiti, with themes including Connected by Light and Colourful Nights.
And like last year’s event, some of the illuminations are designed to be appreciated from a distance in order to safely bring people together again.
For more of the best things to do for Christmas in London with kids, check out my top picks
Other festive light trails with kids
Lumiere London
This light festival last took places in the capital for 2018, but isn’t currently due to return for 2021 – instead, Lumiere will be taking place in Durham once again.
London Zoo
London Zoo’s previous Christmas events have included illuminations for an after-dark visit among the animals, as well as options to meet Santa plus festive films as part of its The Magic of Christmas events. Any events for 2021 are tbc.
Southwark Park
The park hosted an Alice in Wonderland themed set of illuminations in 2018.
More Christmas lights in London
While you’re out exploring London with kids, keep an eye out for the festive lights over the main shopping streets from November onwards.
In many cases there are no big switch on events, to avoid crowds, but here’s what to see and when to spot them.
Carnaby Street – from November 4, there will be 600 butterflies floating over the street.
Covent Garden – the giant baubles in the market are always fun to spot, with this year’s lights switching on from November 9, plus a bonus of fake snow on the hour between 12 and 7pm until December 27
Regent Street – the Spirit of Christmas angels are returning from November 13 (although keep your eyes open in October as there are a few switch on tests taking place).
Oxford Street – shooting stars sparkle above London’s busiest shopping street, brand new for 2021
Bond Street – keep an eye out for the illuminated peacock tails shimmering above the area around Bond Street, a reference to the society dandies (or peacocks) who once strutted the streets here.
Belgravia – replacing last year’s rainbow lights, there’s a string of simpler white lights this year, including a small tunnel.
Trafalgar Square – every year, since 1947, the people of Norway have given the people of London a Christmas tree as a thank you for support during the Second World War. The lighting ceremony takes place in early December – 2021 date tbc.
Check out these tips for the best hot chocolate in London with kids, if you’re looking to warm up afterwards
PIN FOR LATER: LONDON FESTIVE 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]](https://www.mummytravels.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/kew-gardens-christmas-lights-pin.jpg)
Check out these posts for more ideas of the best Christmas markets in London with kids as well as the best of London’s festive ice rinks with kids
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Main image/Kew at Christmas: Jeff Eden/RBG Kew; Enchanted Syon: Simon Hadleigh-Sparks; Enchanted Eltham ©English Heritage.
