West End Archives | London Cheapo

London is a big city that likes to get sparkly at Christmas. You can’t squeeze in every festive display in one evening, so we bring you ‘The Twelve Stars of Christmas’ - a walking route that includes the essential street lights, window displays and a couple of super-Christmassy shops, finishing at the perfect spot for dinner or drinks. It won’t be a surprise that most of the stops have serious Christmas shopping opportunities but we've thrown in a couple of specific recommendations, along with tips for refuelling as you go – whether you are after a meal, Christmassy cocktails or a warming hot chocolate. The whole route should take just over an hour at a relaxed pace, so probably allow an hour and a half to include photos (you could begin your walk at stop 5, Fortnum & Mason, for a shorter walk of about 45 minutes). Check out our suggestions of the most useful London Apps for recommended navigation apps to guide you. Don't forget to check out our guide to London's winter markets, the best places for outdoor ice skating and even where to catch a pantomime or Christmas show. 1. Somerset House If you’re planning on a bit of festive outdoor skating against a picturesque London backdrop, or perhaps just soaking up the Christmas rom-com vibes of couples hand-in-hand on the ice, then this should be your starting point. There’s also a huge Christmas tree at one end of the rink to start your selfie journey. Walk: 9 minutes 2. Covent Garden Piazza The Covent Garden decorations are always spectacular, with the tree one of the biggest and brightest in town. This year the market will be adorned with over 50 giant golden bells and baubles, plus spinning disco balls and falling 'snow' hourly for selfies. Feeling chilly? Try a next-level hot chocolate from Knoops, or Whittards of Chelsea. Walk: 7 minutes 3. Seven Dials Decorations here are charmingly low-key and old-school, with real trees in tubs along Neal’s Yard tunnel and simple strings of lights across the streets. It’s all very Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ and absolutely worth a visit. If you're still ticking presents off Santa's shopping list, this area has some of the coolest options. Walk: 11 minutes 4. Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street This gives you one of the best views of the soaring Regent Street ‘Spirit of Christmas’ lights, one of our absolute favourites. Anything that can make you pause for a moment of reflection in the midst of one of the busiest shopping areas in the world is worth appreciating. If you want to shorten the walk, there is another great opportunity to see these later, so you can start from the next stop. Walk: 5 minutes 5. Fortnum & Mason Whilst not technically Christmas illuminations, Fortnums are famous for turning the whole shop façade into a giant advent calendar and for their Christmas window displays, which we think are part and parcel of a festive lights experience. This year the windows feature striking magical creatures; get ready for a unicorn selfie. It’s worth popping inside for a quick look at the lavish decorations throughout the store and the great gift options in their iconic food department. Their hampers are legendary (but perhaps a tad pricey for the average Cheapo); we recommend their huge range of teas and biscuits, available in gorgeous tins designed to treasure. Feeling chilly? Fortnum’s Parlour does fabulously indulgent hot chocolate. Walk: 3 minutes 6. Burlington Arcade It's worth a peep into Burlington Arcade, whose glittering chandeliers give any lights a run for their money; this year they have the characters from The Twelve Days of Christmas dancing amongst them. Walk: 8 minutes 7. Savile Row We love the classic elegance of these ‘tailoring shears and ribbon’ lights in Savile Row. It’s an imaginative way to highlight London’s traditional areas for different skills and trades; it would be fabulous if other similarly famous areas picked this up. Walk: follow Old Bond Street (checking out the window displays as you go) until it becomes New Bond Street, about 5 minutes 8. Bond Street The high-end establishments in this ritzy shopping street always go large at Christmas; look out for the traditional Ralph Lauren Giving Tree, where you can dedicate a star to a loved one by donating to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. This year we love Dior's sparkling mythical creatures and Chanel's huge twinkling bow in classic Chanel tweed. Walk: along New Bond Street, around 7 minutes, then to Oxford Street, 4 minutes 9. Oxford Street The classic ‘Sky Full of Stars’ Oxford Street lights are back for 2025; this year you can sponsor a star (or make an immediate donation, see below) to help the Starlight children’s charity make Christmas a little brighter for children in hospital. If you'd like to include the window display at Selfridges, it's a 15-minute round trip down Oxford Street. Cheapo Top Tip: You may be loving the buzz, but if you've had enough of the Oxford Street crowds you can carry on down South Molton Street, which is also beautifully lit, and then along Brook Street and Hanover Street to the next stop. Walk: 6 minutes (plus 15 mins if you went to Selfridges) 10. Liberty Save time for a wander through Liberty’s wonderful timbered, multi-level maze; it is so much more than a shop and particularly gorgeous at Christmas. If you are looking for glamorous Christmas ornaments, this is your Aladdin’s cave. Walk: 3 minutes 11. Hamleys Proper grown-ups, you can skip this stop. For all the other big kids out there – this is the greatest toyshop in the world, at the most magical time of the year. Walk: 3 minutes 12. Carnaby Carnaby is always a riot of colour and they usually go all out at Christmas; last year we have to say it was a little underwhelming, and the same lights are back for 2025. No matter though, as Kingly Court is a fairylit courtyard surrounded by three floors of great places to eat and drink. Renowned chef Asma Khan’s Darjeeling Express is here, as is Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, Le Bab, Dirty Bones, Pizza Pilgrims and Shoryu. Thirsty Cheapos can go back to the 1940s at the immersive bar Cahoots, stay classy at Disrepute or get rowdy at Rum Kitchen. There are also some fabulous restaurants tucked away in the tiny surrounding streets, including Pastaio and Dehesa. Happy Christmas Cheapos!

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