Christmas lights in London 2016

[patricklondon]

Once again the trees in our local commercial centre at Canary Wharf are swathed in lights:





So I thought it worth following kerouac's example, and checking to see what the better-known displays in central London are like.

This year, they seem to have moved away from the heavily commercial and promotional styles of recent years. Regent Street is all angels:




even if the crowd outside Hamleys looks like as mad a scrum as ever:



The small streets around are getting in on the act as well:




and Oxford St has gone to town on a starry theme as a charitable promotion:


Carnaby Street is reviving its 1960s reputation:


Not to be outdone, Covent Garden has seized on a mistletoe theme:


Seven Dials was severely modernistic for several years, but is now back with a more traditional sort of look:



but down on the Strand, they've gone for something more abstract, perhaps echoing the traditional austerity of the Norwegian donors of the Trafalgar Square tree:



In the shops, some have gone for similar restraint:


and John Lewis doesn't go much beyond imagining woodland animals' burrows full of everyday products:


but Selfridges has Santa on an expensive winter sports holiday




which seems to include a hot tub full of champagne


And up in Soho, your friendly neighbourhood sex shop is also keeping up with the season:




My blog | My photos | My video clips
"too literate to be spam"

[bixaorellana]

Oooo ~ absolutely wonderful, Patrick! A site I follow on facebook keeps showing the decorations in London, but with nothing like the verve and beauty you've captured.

I have to say, I don't see the point of restraint in this kind of decorating. I mean, if it's worth stringing lights and stuff up over a city street, why not go all out, right?

The blue trees at Canary Wharf are wonderful and the angels over Regent Street are thrilling, but my hands-down favorite is the mistletoe theme at Covent Garden. Size does count.

My mind skitters away from what "3 for 2, mix & match" might mean at a sex shop.

[Deleted]

It is a real relief that they didn't do the commercial decorations that I saw on Regent Street a couple of years ago. Those were simply appalling.

However, I can't say that I am a fan of the Carnaby Street decorations. I really don't like it when things like this try to send me a specific message.

[Deleted]

I'm not a big Christmas person but one thing I do enjoy is lights especially when they're well done.


Covent garden's display is my all out favorite and I could linger in that atrium for a while.


Thanks for posting these Patrick. and happy safe holidays to you and yours.

[NaNaLa]

Wow, this is very beautiful. Sad, people do such things only on holidays and special days. We can make everyday holiday. And I heard it's a holiday today in uk. Am I right? I'm not sure about it.