DISCLOSURE! None of these photos are from this year, so as not to spoil the surprise.
Ah Christmas. Just around the corner again. Well not really. It's the middle of November. But all the lights are on - I expect because the dark evenings and soggy weather are so miserable, we've got to have something to cheer us up. Anyway, want a free, festive and fitness-inspired activity? And want to take in all the best of London's lights in one go? Try my self-guided walking tour of central London to see the best of the bunch.
Stats
Distance: 2.5 miles
Start: Bond Street or Marble Arch Tube Stations
End: Covent Garden
Duration: Allow a minimum of an hour, more for a relaxed pace and even more for vital refreshment stops
Landmarks: Oxford Circus, Hamleys Toy Store, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, China Town, Seven Dials, Covent Garden
Refreshments: There are oodles of cafes, bars and pubs along the way. The Chandos pub and Coffee Island are recommended
Toilets: Public toilets are available in Trafalgar Square
Stats
Distance: 2.5 miles
Start: Bond Street or Marble Arch Tube Stations
End: Covent Garden
Duration: Allow a minimum of an hour, more for a relaxed pace and even more for vital refreshment stops
Landmarks: Oxford Circus, Hamleys Toy Store, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, China Town, Seven Dials, Covent Garden
Refreshments: There are oodles of cafes, bars and pubs along the way. The Chandos pub and Coffee Island are recommended
Toilets: Public toilets are available in Trafalgar Square
Oxford Street
Take the tube to Bond Street (Central and Jubilee) or Marble Arch (Central Line) and exit onto Oxford Street to see this year's offering. From either station you'll be near Selfridges. Take a look at the window displays before heading East towards Oxford Circus.
Oxford Circus
This busy junction is a great place to see the overhead lights of Oxford Street and Regents Street in all directions. On your way you may even find the guy selling roasted chestnuts.
Regents Street
Turn right down Regents Street and peak in the window at Hamleys toy shop. Then retrace your steps and turn down Great Marlborough Street to pass by Liberty of London. This distinctive black and white building always has good displays.
Carnaby Street
At the end of the Liberty building turn right into Carnaby Street. There's always a slightly offbeat theme to the Carnaby Street display! At the junction with Break Street turn right until you rejoin...
Regents Street (again)
Turn left back onto the buzzing shopping street and follow the road all the way to Piccadilly Circus. The usual bright lights here are joined by even more festive glows. Turn right down Haymarket, passing Her Majesty's Theatre and then left onto Pall Mall to emerge in the company of Lord Nelson.
Trafalgar Square
The Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square always used to be the biggest and best in the whole of London. Last year's was a little underwhelming - perhaps it was the minimalist look they were going for. Anyhow, no Christmasy visit is complete without giving it a look. If you need a refreshment break, try the Chandos pub on the corner of St Martin's Place. They'll have mulled wine or cider.
Take the tube to Bond Street (Central and Jubilee) or Marble Arch (Central Line) and exit onto Oxford Street to see this year's offering. From either station you'll be near Selfridges. Take a look at the window displays before heading East towards Oxford Circus.
Oxford Circus
This busy junction is a great place to see the overhead lights of Oxford Street and Regents Street in all directions. On your way you may even find the guy selling roasted chestnuts.
Regents Street
Turn right down Regents Street and peak in the window at Hamleys toy shop. Then retrace your steps and turn down Great Marlborough Street to pass by Liberty of London. This distinctive black and white building always has good displays.
Carnaby Street
At the end of the Liberty building turn right into Carnaby Street. There's always a slightly offbeat theme to the Carnaby Street display! At the junction with Break Street turn right until you rejoin...
Regents Street (again)
Turn left back onto the buzzing shopping street and follow the road all the way to Piccadilly Circus. The usual bright lights here are joined by even more festive glows. Turn right down Haymarket, passing Her Majesty's Theatre and then left onto Pall Mall to emerge in the company of Lord Nelson.
Trafalgar Square
The Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square always used to be the biggest and best in the whole of London. Last year's was a little underwhelming - perhaps it was the minimalist look they were going for. Anyhow, no Christmasy visit is complete without giving it a look. If you need a refreshment break, try the Chandos pub on the corner of St Martin's Place. They'll have mulled wine or cider.
Leicester Square
Leave Trafalgar Square heading north, passing the church of St Martin-in-the-field's on your right, and the National Portrait Gallery on your left. Turn left into Irving Street and emerge in Leicester Square. Pass diagonally through the bustling walkways with the Odeon Cinema on your right. Sneak down Leicester Street, turn left onto Lisle Street, right onto Wardour Street and then immediately right into China Town.
China Town
The gates of China Town tower above you. Grab a lotus bun as you walk the length of this street before ultimately turning left onto Gerrard Place. Turning right onto Shaftesbury Avenue will quickly bring you to Cambridge Circus. This is a confusing junction. Head straight across, sticking to Staftesbury Avenue and then you want the second right, which is Earlham Street.
Seven Dials
Earlham Street leads you to one of my favourite spots. Seven Dials is the meeting point of seven roads and is usually a surprisingly quiet spot given the noise around you. Is you need a caffeine break, head down Monmouth Street (first right) for Coffee Island. If you don't need a break, take Mercer Street (not the next road on the right but the next one). At the junction with Long Acre turn left, then the second right will take you past Covent Garden Station on James Street and you'll join the throngs in...
Covent Garden
Take time to wander around here. You'll see the Royal Opera House, St Paul's Church (known as the actor's church), and the best tree in the West End. Visit the stalls and shops of the Jubilee Market and enjoy the street performers with some more mulled wine. You've now seen the best of London's Christmas lights!
Leave Trafalgar Square heading north, passing the church of St Martin-in-the-field's on your right, and the National Portrait Gallery on your left. Turn left into Irving Street and emerge in Leicester Square. Pass diagonally through the bustling walkways with the Odeon Cinema on your right. Sneak down Leicester Street, turn left onto Lisle Street, right onto Wardour Street and then immediately right into China Town.
China Town
The gates of China Town tower above you. Grab a lotus bun as you walk the length of this street before ultimately turning left onto Gerrard Place. Turning right onto Shaftesbury Avenue will quickly bring you to Cambridge Circus. This is a confusing junction. Head straight across, sticking to Staftesbury Avenue and then you want the second right, which is Earlham Street.
Seven Dials
Earlham Street leads you to one of my favourite spots. Seven Dials is the meeting point of seven roads and is usually a surprisingly quiet spot given the noise around you. Is you need a caffeine break, head down Monmouth Street (first right) for Coffee Island. If you don't need a break, take Mercer Street (not the next road on the right but the next one). At the junction with Long Acre turn left, then the second right will take you past Covent Garden Station on James Street and you'll join the throngs in...
Covent Garden
Take time to wander around here. You'll see the Royal Opera House, St Paul's Church (known as the actor's church), and the best tree in the West End. Visit the stalls and shops of the Jubilee Market and enjoy the street performers with some more mulled wine. You've now seen the best of London's Christmas lights!
If you're not tired of walking the streets and you still need some festive cheer then head to the South Bank Christmas market or Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Let me know how what you think of this year's lights. Comment below and share your pictures with me at www.facebook.com/hannahthetraveller or tag me on instagram @hannah_the_traveller
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