In photos: London Christmas lights and markets – Regent Street, Leicester Square, Carnaby Street and Trafalgar Square

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

It may only be the middle of November, but all of London’s main Christmas street lights have now been switched on, and this short photo series shows off the displays in Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street.

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

Hosting a Christmas market for the first time is Trafalgar Square, with vendors and bars set up outside the National Gallery.

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

Approach to Leicester Square.

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

Leicester Square hosts a Santa’s Grotto and all the usual Christmas stalls.

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

A not so festive mini pancake worker.

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

The fudge stall was doing good business.

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

Naturally, there were sausages and gourmet burgers available.

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

More fudge!

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

Charlie Chaplin surrounded by Christmas lights.

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

Piccadilly Circus.

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

The Regent Street lights were switched on by an excitable clusters of B-List celebrities last Thursday, 14th November.

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

Once again, the ‘Spirit of Christmas’ angels were suspended along the length of Regent Street.

The designer says:

Regent Street’s first seasonal lights date all the way back to 1954 where a festive flock of angels were spotted flying overhead, joined by cascading streams of light and iconic twinkling stars.

Now over sixty years later this memorable design has been revisited, becoming a poignant source of inspiration as the angels have been artistically reimagined with a contemporary twist. ‘The Spirit of Christmas’ is one of Regent Street’s most ambitious schemes to date and is a truly enchanting sight to behold. []

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

I liked Carnaby Street’s lights best, with the sustainable display the result of a collaboration with ocean conservation charity Project 0.

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

The street-long display represents areas of the ocean in need of conservation, including a floating kelp ‘forest,’ pink coral, whales, crabs and all other manner of aquatic creatures.

Best of all, it’s all been made using recycled and reusable materials including repurposed fishing nets, 500m of post-use bubble wrap and over 1,500 recycled plastic bottles.

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

In photos: London Christmas lights: Regent Street, Leicester Square and Carnaby Street

 

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