In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

Here’s a short photo series showing some of the Christmas lights and decorations currently lighting up the streets around central London.

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

The ‘s somewhat torpedo-shaped Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has been donated to the people of Britain by the city of Oslo, Norway, each year since 1947.

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

Choir singers belt out a tune in front of the tree.

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

Perhaps my favourite was the traditional orange peel decoration on the big tree inside the National Portrait Gallery.

The custom of hanging fruit and baubles from green tree branches goes back to Roman times, where the decorations were used to symbolise the fruits of the Earth and the fiery sun.

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

More decorations around the centre of London.

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

I loved this Art Deco style decorations,

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

The decorations near Piccadilly Circus incorporated the famous Eros character.

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

Tree by the market stalls in the courtyard of St James Church, Piccadilly.

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

Hyde Park was once again taken over by the Winter Wonderland event, a curious mix of Bavarian Christmas fair, fairground, festival food stores, Brit-style booze up.

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

I felt for this band. It must be a tough gig (but hopefully well paid),

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

Working these stalls in the freezing cold must be quite a shitty job.

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

Tat galore!

In photos: the Christmas lights of London: Trafalgar Square, Mayfair and Winter Wonderland, December 2017

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