Over 1 million LED bulbs across London’s West End were lit up, making history as the world’s largest Christmas light switch-on. From the shopping mecca of Oxford Street, Regent Street and South Molton Street, the luxury boutiques of Bond Street and Mayfair to the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus, culture of St James’s and theatreland of Leicester Square. 20 streets across London’s West End collectively switched on their iconic lights to officially mark the start of the festive season in the capital.
Following what has undoubtedly been a challenging 18 months, West End businesses are kick
starting a 6-week campaign to shine a light on the exciting and thrilling experiences that can
Only be discovered in the West End. Only in the West End …. This Christmas aims to
encourage Londoners and Brits to come together and celebrate the true joy of ‘in real life’
festive experiences.
Visitors can discover the top 50 places to explore, experience, snap and shop that can be found Only in the West End. From visiting Selfridges Christmas Market on the Mews or shopping at the oldest toy store in the world Hamleys to experiencing a West End Theatre show or iconic, quintessentially English Afternoon Tea at The Ritz London there is so much to see and do Only in the West End this Christmas.
“London is the greatest city in the world and I’m thrilled that this year the West End is hosting the largest Christmas lights switch-on ever seen. From our world-class shops, attractions, arts, and culture to our incredible bars and restaurants – all of which will be sparkling under more than a million lights – there is so much to see and do this festive season. With just six weeks to go until Christmas, I’m urging Londoners and visitors to enjoy the best our capital has to offer, see the amazing lights and support our hospitality industry to continue to bounce back. My message to Londoners and tourists from all over the UK and the world is, Let’s Do Christmas in London!”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
In keeping with the West End’s commitment to sustainability, all of this year’s Christmas lights
utilise the latest in LED technology, which provide energy savings of up to 75% against
conventional lighting. Plus, retailers across the West End have sustainable festive offerings for those looking to shop more sustainably. 60% of products in Selfridges’ Christmas store are
sustainably sourced and John Lewis has a ‘Makers Market’ pop-up shop for local artists and
makers.
To help visitors discover what is on offer Only in the West End this Christmas, London based
illustrator Olivia Brotheridge has created a map of the West End. To view the map and find out more about Only in the West End this Christmas visit the below websites, follow on social and be part of the conversation #onlyinthewestend #mywestend #letsdochristmas
Oxford Street www.oxfordstreet.co.uk @oxfordstreetw1
Regent Street www.regentstreetonline.com @regentstreetw1
Bond Street www.bondstreet.co.uk @bondstreet
St James’s www.stjameslondon.co.uk @stjameslondon
Leicester Square www.leicestersquare.london @disoverlsq
Mayfair London www.mayfairldn.com @mayfairldn