London – The Reawakening
From theatres to exhibitions, iconic London institutions to unique cinematic experiences, discover our top suggestions to experience the capital without the crowds as the city gradually comes back to life.
23rd November 2019
London’s most famous shopping street puts on an incredible display of lights every year, and 2019 is no different. This year a series of ‘light curtains’ will adorn the street – made from hundreds of thousands of LED lights. The lights will be on from 21 November 2019 to 5 January 2020.
The first London department store to unveil its Christmas window displays this year, the festive scenes depicted certainly do not disappoint. With windows portraying Christmassy spins on beloved fairy tales and famous festive scenes, the end result is truly enchanting. Inside too, Christmas confetti cannons are showering the store with yet more festive spirit.
The charming shopping streets of Carnaby are wonderful at any time of year, but this Christmas is extra special. Carnaby Street has partnered with the ocean conservation charity Project 0 to create a Christmas display made only with recycled and recyclable materials. Everything from bubble-blowing whales to tentacled squid can be spotted amid the twinkling lights. The display is on from 7 November 2019 to 5 January 2020.
With rich and warming colours, plus décor covered in jewels and crystals, Liberty London’s Christmas window displays are truly sumptuous. Incorporating art in many guises, quirky creatures sculpted by Billie Achilleos sit alongside bonsai trees instead of traditional Christmas trees. Modern, cosy and whimsical, it’s worth visiting to see a genuinely unique take on Christmas.
This light installation can be found in Belgravia’s Eccleston Yards – a cosy square that finds itself covered in 500 suspended orbs this festive season. Designed by the artist collective Squidsoup, each coloured orb is said to have a different effect, such as causing a boost in energy or happiness. The installation will be in place from 28 November 2019 to 11 January 2020.
With moving window displays featuring cats in red jackets – who were first used in the department store’s Christmas campaign in the 1950s – Fortnum & Mason has taken a quirky approach to its window displays this year. A little like Santa’s elves getting everything ready for Christmas, the cats are depicted filling up bottles of champagne and working on mince pie assembly lines!
Another cherished Christmas light display among Londoners, the Regent Street lights this year are breath-taking. Featuring angels stretching their wings the full width of the street, the effect is totally mesmerising. The lights will be on from 14 November 2019 to 5 January 2020.
The world-famous botanic gardens at Kew have created another incredible light trail for Christmas 2019. A mile-long trail features everything from mythical creatures to laser illuminations, as well as a Tunnel of Light and a cosy fire garden. This light installation is running from 17 November 2019 to 5 January 2020.
With displays inspired by the fantasy worlds created in children’s books, the window displays at Harrods this year depict a series of enchanting winter scenes. With endearing animals, fluffy white snow and some aspirational festive products featured, window shopping at Harrods is the perfect way to get that festive feeling.
World famous from the festive advert that runs each year, the Coca Cola Christmas truck is undertaking a tour of the UK this year. Go and see it at the O2 Arena in London on 15 December for a piece of Christmas nostalgia. It’s supporting a good cause too – Coca Cola is donating 10p to the charity Crisis for every can thrown away in recycling bins for the duration of the tour.
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