London Christmas lights by private car: the 90-minute route, fixed price
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The West End's Christmas lights are best seen at walking pace from a warm seat, without the open-top bus queue or the pavement crush. Our lights tour is a private car or MPV with a driver who knows the route and the timing: Regent Street, Oxford Street, Bond Street, Piccadilly, Covent Garden, Carnaby and the Trafalgar Square tree in about ninety minutes, at a fixed price per car — which for a family or a group of friends is less than most attractions charge per head.
The route and timing (after 5pm, avoid Saturdays)
The lights come on at dusk and the route works from about 17:00. The standard loop: pick up at your hotel or an agreed point; Trafalgar Square (the Norwegian tree); Piccadilly and the Ritz; Bond Street; the western end of Oxford Street from Marble Arch to Selfridges; then — because the central section of Oxford Street from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street is pedestrianised from late October 2026 and closed to cars — a short walk along the lights from Selfridges to Oxford Circus while the driver loops round via Wigmore Street to meet you on Harewood Place or Great Marlborough Street; Regent Street (the angels) by car; Carnaby Street (on foot for ten minutes — the car waits); Seven Dials and Covent Garden (the Piazza tree, again on foot if you want); back along the Strand. Ninety minutes on a weekday evening, and the Oxford Street walk is optional if mobility is an issue — the eastern end from Great Portland Street to Tottenham Court Road is still driveable. See L("oxford-street-pedestrianisation-taxi-drop-off.html", "Oxford Street pedestrianisation and drop-off points") for the drop-off points. Saturdays in December are gridlocked and we would rather you did not pay to sit in it — Sunday to Thursday is the advice.
What's on the route in 2026
- Regent Street — the Spirit of Christmas angels, switched on in early November.
- Oxford Street — the full-length light installation from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road, and in 2026 the first Christmas with the central section traffic-free, so you walk it under the lights rather than crawl past them.
- Bond Street — the peacock feathers and the jewellers' windows.
- Carnaby Street — a new themed installation each year.
- Covent Garden — the giant tree and mistletoe chandeliers in the Piazza.
- Trafalgar Square — the Norwegian tree, lit from early December.
- Optional additions: Sloane Square and the King's Road; Kew Road for the Christmas at Kew glow; Winter Wonderland from Park Lane.
Switch-on dates for 2026 are announced in October and added here.
Price per car, not per person
The tour is priced as a fixed 90-minute hire: from £120 for a saloon (up to 4), from £150 for an MPV (up to 6) and from £180 for an V Class, on Sunday to Thursday evenings. Extend by the half hour at a published rate. Compared with open-top bus tours priced per head, a car with four or more people is usually cheaper, and it is warm.
Families, mobility, older relatives
Nobody has to walk anywhere they don't want to. The tour is popular with families showing the lights to grandparents, and with hotel guests on their first evening.
Add a hotel or airport pickup
Start the tour straight from a Heathrow arrival (the West End is on the way in), from your hotel, or finish at a restaurant for dinner. Each extra leg is a fixed price quoted with the tour. See Winter Wonderland drop-offs.
- Quote and book online at any hour — the fare is fixed at the moment you confirm.
- Driver details (name, vehicle, registration, direct mobile) arrive the day before.
- Flight tracking on every airport pickup: if your flight is early or late, the pickup moves with it at no charge, with 60 minutes' free waiting after landing.
- Pay by card when you book. No cash, no meter, no surge.
Frequently asked questions
- When are the London Christmas lights switched on in 2026?
- Regent Street and Oxford Street switch on in early November; Covent Garden and Carnaby Street in early-to-mid November; the Trafalgar Square tree in early December. Exact 2026 dates are announced in October.
- How long does the lights tour take?
- About 90 minutes for the standard West End loop on a weekday evening; longer on Saturdays, which we advise against.
- Can we get out and walk?
- Yes — Carnaby Street and Covent Garden are pedestrianised, so the driver waits nearby while you walk through. Waiting time is included in the 90 minutes.
Essentials for international visitors
Flying in from abroad? The six things that catch people out, in one place. Full detail, with official links, in our UK visitor essentials guide.
Entry
Most visitors from Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia need a UK ETA (£20, apply in the UK ETA app, valid two years) — airlines have enforced it since 25 February 2026. eGates from age 8 for EU, US, Canadian, Australian and most other visa-free passports. More ›
Money
Pounds sterling; cards and phones are accepted almost everywhere, contactless taps up to £100. Choose to pay in pounds when a terminal offers your home currency. Prices include VAT and there is no tourist tax refund. More ›
Phone
Free Wi-Fi at all London airports; UK SIMs and eSIMs from £75 in every arrivals hall; EU roaming depends on your operator. WhatsApp +44 20 8888 9988 works from any country. More ›
Christmas & New Year
Bank holidays on 25 and 28 December 2026 and 1 January 2027. No public transport at all on Christmas Day, reduced service and engineering works on Boxing Day; shops shut on 25 December. Pre-booked cars run every day at the fixed fare. More ›
Children & luggage
Child seats on request when you book. In a licensed private hire car children may travel without one if none is available (under-3s on the rear seat). Tell us the bag count and the right size of car turns up. More ›
Emergencies
999 or 112 for police, fire or ambulance; NHS 111 for urgent advice; A&E is free at the point of use, but bring travel insurance. Plugs are Type G, 230 V; traffic drives on the left — look right. More ›
Book your Christmas lights tour
Fixed price per car for the 90-minute route, quoted when you book. Add a hotel, restaurant or airport pickup at either end.
