UK: Thousands gather as London switches on its Christmas lights

Loading the video No Comment Video. UK: Thousands gather as London switches on its Christmas lights Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 6 November 2026 - 14:09 GMT+1 Thousands of people gathered on London's Regent Street on Thursday 5 November as the famous shopping destination welcomed the Christmas season with a spectacular lights switch-on and fireworks display. Around 300,000 energy-efficient LED lights brought the famous shopping street to life, with more than 30 angel-shaped decorations returning for their 11th year. Presenter Harriet Fisher switched on the display at 6.30 pm, coinciding with Britain's Bonfire Night celebrations. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT With traffic banned for the evening for the first time since 2019, crowds filled the pedestrianised street to enjoy live bands, a Christmas choir, LED dancers, stilt walkers and playful Hamleys elves. This year's decorations feature glowing words including "Joy", "Smile" and "Hope", as well as illuminated hearts, stars and new installations in Princes Arcade. Nearby, visitors to St James's Market could also support food-rescue charity Felix through the returning Wishing Tree, where a tap triggers a £5 donation. United Kingdom London Christmas light festival pedestrians Top stories Now playing Next UK: Thousands gather as London switches on its Christmas lights Now playing Next Japan: Commuters flock to see two goats grazing at Tokyo station Now playing Next Paraguay: Thousands protest banking scandal as president faces impeachment Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | November 6th, 2026 – Midday Now playing Next Pope Leo XIV departs for Uruguay as he begins tour of South America Now playing Next EU prosecutors open fraud probe into Spain’s high-speed rail funds Now playing Next Emergency services deployed after school bus crash kills two in France Now playing Next North Korea tells EU to 'mind its own business' on human rights Now playing Next Comedian Russell Brand found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults Now playing Next China threatens retaliation as EU mulls trade “kill-switch” Now playing Next Hundreds of thousands march in nationwide strike in France Now playing Next Putin seizes Russian operations of Japanese tobacco giant JTI Now playing Next Could Thailand be your second home? Inside the membership that helps you stay for years Now playing Next Scotland wants visitors to stay longer, slow down and experience authentic hospitality Now playing Next Cycling, castles and outdoor adventures: Wales gears up for a busy 2027 Now playing Next How Greece aims to become a year-round destination as it looks beyond its beaches and islands ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment West Bank: Palestinians harvest olives under Israeli military restrictions No Comment Spain: Zelensky urges Latin America to help repair Ukraine's power grid No Comment Greece: Students march in Athens demanding more education funding No Comment France: Up to 55,000 march in Lyon amid clashes and tear gas Europe Today Exclusive: US is 'playing politics' with Patriot missiles - Finnish minister EU News Poland warns allies: Don't negotiate with Russia over Eastern Europe's head Canada Grizzly bear hunt underway after mother and daughter killed in Canada Earth News This Greek ship has collected enough waste from remote shorelines to fill 22 Olympic swimming pools Europe Today 'Weaponising disruption.' Travel expert Eoghan Corry comments on recent European hoax bomb threats Europe Today 'Biggest wave' in 50 years, says US political analyst Bruce Stokes on US midterm election results Europe Today 'Political willingness' from the US needed to start sending Patriot missiles to Ukraine Cinema Euronews Culture's Film of the Week: 'Wild Horse Nine' – Guns, coups, and suicidal birds ADVERTISEMENT Europe News Audio reveals moment Ryanair pilots are told military aircraft is intercepting them Europe Today Europe Today: Trump weighs Iran strikes as Ukraine talks head to Abu Dhabi Markets European stocks join global rout after worst US chip sell-off since 2020 Europe News Zelenskyy urges Latin American leaders to help repair Ukraine's power grid Paraguay Paraguayan president resigns amid bank collapse leaving 3M people without access to bank accounts United Kingdom British comedian Russell Brand found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults by London jury Focus World Investment Forum in Doha examines what attracts investment and what holds it back Russia Putin seizes Russian operations of cigarette giant Japan Tobacco International ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT