London lights up at Christmas - literally! Check out these photos of London's West End taken in the evening when it's really worth visiting the big stores on Oxford Street and Regent Street. And it won't cost you a penny!
1. London Christmas Lights 2012
© Fred Duval/Getty Images
Switch on dates:
- Harrods Christmas Parade: Saturday 3 November
- Oxford Street: Monday 5 November - sponsored by Marmite
- Westfield London: Taylor Swift on 6 Nov
- Covent Garden: Wednesday 7 November, 6.30pm
- Carnaby Street: Thursday 8 November
- Regent Street: Tuesday 13 November - Team GB & ParalympicsGB + fireworks
- Westfield Stratford City: 19 November - Rhianna
- St James's: Friday 21 November
- Bond Street: Thursday 22 November
- Greenwich Market: Wednesday 28 November
- Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree: Thursday 6 December
2. London Christmas Lights 2011
© Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Switch on dates:
- Oxford Street: Tuesday 1 November - The Saturdays
- Harrods Christmas Parade: Saturday 5 November
- Westfield London: Monday 7 November, 5pm - Justin Beiber
- Westfield Stratford City: Monday 7 November, 7.45pm - Justin Beiber
- Regent Street: Tuesday 8 November, 5-6.30pm - Arthur Christmas
- Covent Garden: Wednesday 9 November
- Carnaby Street: Thursday 10 November
- Bond Street: Friday 18 November
- Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree: Thursday 1 December
3. London Christmas Lights 2010
© Laura Porter
Switch on dates:
- Oxford Street: Thursday 4 November, 6pm
(no celebs, Kids Company children switching on in private) - Harrods Christmas Parade: Saturday 6 November
- Regent Street: Tuesday 9 November, from 5pm (Full details)
- Covent Garden: Thursday 11 November, 6.30pm
Theme: Kissmas (Find out more) - South Molton Street: Tuesday 16 November, 5.30pm
- Bond Street: Thursday 18 December, 6pm
- Whiteleys: Thursday 18 December,6pm (Find out more)
- Elizabeth Street SW1: Tuesday 23 November, 6-7pm
(Amanda Holden switching on the lights) - Greenwich: Thursday 24 November 4-9pm
- Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree: Thursday 2 December
4. London Christmas Lights 2009
© Disney
3 November is the big night in London as the lights switched on across town by the stars of the new Disney film, A Christmas Carol. Find out more...
5. London Christmas Lights 2008
© Laura Porter
In 2008, I loved Selfridge's Santa windows: Santa at the supermarket, Santa doing laundry, Santa on a bumper car, and even drunk Santa!
6. London Christmas Lights 2007
© Laura Porter
In 2007, Oxford Street's lights were sponsored by Disney to celebrate the Enchanted movie.
7. London Christmas Lights 2006
© Laura Porter
In 2006, Regent's Street's lights were themed around the Flushed Away movie.
