London Christmas lights with kids

Seeing the Christmas lights illuminating Oxford Street and Regent Street is always a highlight of the year – but if you’re looking to spy some of the best London festive lights with kids, there’s more to discover than these alone. (UPDATED FOR 2025)

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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 Christmas light trails with kids, as well as switch-on dates for the Christmas lights in central London.

For more of the best things to do for Christmas in London with kids, check out my top picks, as well as my London Christmas lights walking route

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 Father Christmas along the way.

The illuminations in the botanic gardens are back once more, with eight new installations making their world debuts. Keep an eye out for Christmas Orchestra, by Culture Creative, with festive music co-ordinated with a collection of lights, and In Bloom, which evokes delicate flower petals dancing through the air.  

There’ll be some old favourites too, including the Palm House pond light show, this year featuring 100 lillies, while Fire Garden, Christmas Cathedral and Pealight Tree are back along Holly Walk. And the Great Pagoda will be illuminated for the first time as part of Christmas at Kew.

Starting at the Palm House this year, the 3km trail, the finale is a show on Kew’s iconic Temperate House glasshouse. As well as being a great wander through the gardens, there are food and drink stalls along the way: previous years have included everything from mulled cider to sourdough pizza and hot chocolate.

Christmas at Kew runs from November 14 to January 4, 2026, with sessions from 4.20 pm, last entry at 8pm (gardens open to 10 pm). You must book in advance (and it usually sells out – tickets with reserved parking go very quickly with no current slots for 2025 dates remaining).

You can enter through the Victoria Plaza, Brentford Gate, and Elizabeth Gate, and you’ll need to specify which, with latest entry at the Victoria Gate.

Tickets cost from £27.50 for adults, from £18 for children aged four to 16, with discounts for members and family tickets are also available. Tickets don’t include day entry to Kew Gardens.

Neverland at Kenwood

Kenwood’s light trails are often some of the most creative in London at Christmas, and this year looks set to be just as memorable with the new Neverland trail.

Follow Tinkerbell on an unforgettable journey to a place of magic, imagination and adventure, leaving the ordinary world behind and following the stars.

The new outdoor light trail is the perfect mix of enchantment and festive fun, transporting you to the world of Peter Pan, even coming face to face with Captain Hook’s legendary pirate ship. Plus £1 from each ticket will go to support Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Runs from November 21 to January 3, 2026, with gates opening at 4.30pm. Tickets cost from £28 for adults, £18 for children aged 3-16, with family tickets also available. Prices are slightly reduced for English Heritage members.

For more of the best things to do for Christmas in London with kids, check out my top picks

Canary Wharf winter lights

You needn’t spend a fortune (or get squashed by the crowds in Oxford Street) to see London’s festive lights with kids for free – and the Canary Wharf Winter Lights make a great way to brighten up the New Year.

2026’s event is tbc but usually runs from mid January to earl February a string of temporary light installations. Last year’s trail was designed to show the otherworldly qualities of art and light, with an added dose of the surreal – think portals, black holes, mirages and a towering stack of bathtubs which pulse with light and sound.

With this, there’s no need to prebook tickets, just turn up to check out the illuminated installations between 5pm and 10pm, whenever you need a pick-me-up in January. The map will be available in January to plan your route, with drinks and snacks available to buy along the way (as well as Canary Wharf’s usual cafes and restaurants).

The Canary Wharf ice rink will also be open until February 22, 2026, so it’s easily to combine with the winter lights

Chelsea Winter Village & Illuminations

There’s a brand new festival experience at the Royal Hospital Chelsea this year, starting with a 1.5km illuminated light trail through the historic grounds.

Along the way, you’ll find a giant shooting star, walk-through bauble booth, plus plenty of twinkling lights and 15 immersive installations along a string of enchanted avenues, ending at the Chelsea Winter Village with its festive food stalls, Christmas market and pop-up curling club.

Runs from November 26-December 28, with festive workshops available to book in the winter village too, including everything from wreath making to bauble painting. Tickets for the light trail cost from £5 for kids, £15 for adults, while entry to the winter village is free.

The Luminaze at Wembley Park

TBC Wembley Park’s regular free festive events often have their own set of festive illuminations, and 2023 saw a brand new attraction for Christmas, The Luminaze. So far, there’s no official word on what might take place this winter.

At the heart of The Luminzae was an installation called The Houseglass, delivering stories through aimations and audio, including pieces from local artists. Previous events have also included 2021’s Winterfest, with its theme of ‘Reunited in Light’.

For more ideas of things to do at Wembley Park with kids, check out my tips

Battersea Power Station Light Festival

TBC Another free set of illuminated to brighten up the New Year, the Battersea Power Station Light Festival usually takes place in january and February along the riverfront.

The previous event included soundscapes and interactive elements to bring the lights to life as well as live performances including music and glo shows.

2026’s event is tbc, and details are often announced just weeks in advance. Last year’s event ran from January 23-February 23.

Christmas Light Trails, London not confirmed for 2025

A few popular light trails in London failed to make an appearance last year, with no word if they’ll be back once more in 2025.

Illuminature at WWT London

Another newer London light trail, there’s no confirmation yet whether Illuminature will return to WWT Barnes – the London Wetland Centre.

The previous event was inspired by the creatures that call the wetlands their home, with illuminated sculptures of some of the animals and hop across interactive light-up lily pads.

In between relaxing under fairy lights in the Twilight Tweatery with snacks and toasted marshmallows, you could also catch a few glimpses of real-life night-time animal magic with night vision goggles, plus the London Wetland Centre otters snoozing away.

Enchanted Woodland at Syon House

One of the loveliest illuminated trails for families, this mile-long route wound around the ornamental lake and arboretum at Syon House, finishing in the Great Conservatory. But it hasn’t taken place for the past couple of years and there are no current plans to hold it again.

A popular night out for around 20 years, the Enchanted Woodland illuminations lit up the woods with over 400 different species of trees illuminated in various colours and lasers and strobe lights set to music.

Check out some of my photos from the event here, including the light show on Syon House itself

Enchanted Eltham Palace

For years, Eltham Palace has transformed its glorious gardens each winter for Enchanted Eltham, replaced by the Christmas at Eltham Palace in 2023. A new event, The Spirit of Christmas at Eltham ran last year instead of a light trail, and there are no confirmed plans yet announced for this festive season.

The interactive light trail featured installations designed to fit with the natural surroundings, promising a twist on the usual classic Christmas effects along the 2km route, which took around an hour to explore.

In previous years, this ran around the palace itself and through the gardens, with the exterior of the Great Hall bathed in light and highlights including talking trees, a glimmering maze and a disco ball suspended above the moat.

Hampton Court Palace

After 2021’s Palace of Stardust and 2022’s Palace of Light trail at Hampton Court Palace, there’s been nothing similar for the past couple of years.

Previous light trails have drawn inspiration from the palace’s famous Astronomical Clock, installed by Henry VIII, and royal beasts, a series of heraldic statues – with everything from a fantastical wonderland of clocks, moons, planets, and sundials, glittering unicorns to polka-dot panthers.

The grand finale last year also saw the palace facade lit up with its own fabulous light show, which you could watch from the gardens. The trails usually took around 45-60 minutes for the experience, with seasonal food and drink to buy along the way.

Check out my review of Palace of Stardust here

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 – I’ve got a self-guided Christmas lights walking route to follow so you can see the main displays.

There have been fewer big switch-on events in recent years to avoid crowds, but here’s what to see and when to spot them. Most will stay on until at least January 3, 2026 although you can expect them all to be switched off by January 6.

Check out these tips for the best hot chocolate in London with kids, if you’re looking to warm up afterwards

Carnaby Street

Often one of the first sets of lights to switch on in November, Carnaby Street can boast more than impressive 25 years of lights, featuring everything from space to the Rolling Stones – this year’s display, All Is Bright, builds on last year’s which featured hourly light displays with some 6m light sculpture and star installations. Switch-on date Nov 6

Covent Garden

For those who loved the giant baubles and mirrorballs in the market, the new bells and bow from 2023 are back again at Covent Garden this year. There’s usually a traditional sleigh as part of Christmas in Covent Garden, kicking off in November, and hourly flurries of fake snow. Switch-on date Nov 12

Regent Street

The Spirit of Christmas angels are another favourite sight in central London, with the soaring figures returning to St James’s, Piccadilly, and Jermyn Street as well as Regent Street once again. Switch-on date Nov 6

Oxford Street

Thousands of stars will be sparkling above London’s busiest shopping street, with LED lights once again to use less energy. You can sponsor one to support children’s charity Starlight as well. Switch-on date Nov 3

For another way to see the London Christmas lights, take the Tootbus Christmas Lights bus tour visiting Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street & Oxford Street – click here to book

Bond Street

The lights here change regularly from year to year: in the past few years, royal-themed display of crowns replaced the illuminated peacock tails that shimmered above the area around Bond Street, a reference to the society dandies (or peacocks) who once strutted the streets here. Don’t miss the illuminated Christmas trees in South Molton Street nearby. Switch-on date November 12

Belgravia

The twinkling lights are returning to Elizabeth Street, Motcomb Street, Eccleston Yards, Halkin Arcade and Pimlico Road once again. There’s often a switch on party to celebrate including an appearance by Santa and his elves. Official switch-on date Nov 16 (though the lights themselves may go on before the switch-on date)

Trafalgar Square

Every year since 1947, the people of Norway have given the people of London a Christmas tree as a gesture of appreciation for the city’s support during the Second World War. The lighting ceremony takes place on the first Thursday in December – this year’s event will be on December 4 2025.

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

PIN FOR LATER: LONDON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WITH KIDS

Disclosure: contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission

Main image/Kew at Christmas: Jeff Eden/RBG Kew; illuminated trees courtesy Chelsea Winter Village; Enchanted Syon: Simon Hadleigh-Sparks; Regent Street angels: Depositphotos; all others copyright MummyTravels

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