London looks pretty during the Christmas season. I enjoy looking at London's Christmas lights every year, and this This year had a mixture of new lights and lights used in previous years. I had a walk around west London on various days to get some photographs.
Oxford Street used the same lights as the previous year. These are silvery-white orbs that go all the way down the street. They are simple yet very pretty.
The usual shops were lit up, such as Boots and John Lewis and Marks and Spencers. I recognised them from last year. However, I think Debenham's lights on Oxford Street this year are new.
Selfridges used its "Destination Christmas" sign with mushrooms on top on the main entrance.
New Bond Street has new Christmas lights which remind me of peacock feathers and diamonds. South Molton Street have used the same archway lights as they did last year.
Stella McCarney's shop in Mayfair was decorated with several lights.
Carnaby Street's Christmas lights are always one of my favourites, and they always do a unique set of lights every Christmas. In the past, we had robins and Rolling Stones lips. This year, to celebrate the Christmas and 1960s music and fashion street, we had headphones and sunglasses and mustaches. When examined at a certain angle, these separate shapes form a Santa-like figure wearing sunglasses and headphones.
I was in this area during the Christmas light switch-on for Regent Street. I watched some fireworks get launched and brighten up the sky on Carnaby Street.
Regent Street's lights have been the same for a few years now. They simply replace the plaque in the middle of the lights. This year, their Christmas lights are sponsored by the film "Night at the Museum".
Here's some photographs of these lights lit up after the light switch-on ceremony.
Each year, the statue of Eros at Piccadilly Circus becomes the centrepiece for something festive. Last year, it was a snowglobe. This year, Eros is surrounded by a pile of gifts that light up in different colours.
I did not get photographs, but I did see Seven Dials' new lights this year, which I feel are an improvement on the strands of lights that they have had for the past couple of years. Covent Garden retains its large red baubles and Christmas tree, although they do have a new reindeer, which I previously posted about here.
The Christmas lights are more prominent in west London, but the City of London and east London also have Christmas lights. The displays are not as large, though. Broadgate, near Liverpool Street, has its own ice rink. Outside is a giant lit-up reinderr.
I have included some posts from previous years:
2012 Christmas lights and window displays
2012 Marmite Oxford Street lights
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