While the evenings keep on getting darker, we don’t mind so much if it means we get to enjoy dazzling Christmas light displays.
From giant baubles, angels and of course, sparkling Christmas trees, they’re festive, fun and, more often than not, free.
And now, the best Christmas light displays in Europe have been crowned, and it was our capital city that came out on top.
Yes, really! From the Oxford Street stars to Carnaby Street’s neon solar system strung up, London was the best overall city for Christmas light displays.
The Regent Street lights were also crowned the top light display in Europe, with four other London spots also making the top 10.
It shouldn’t really come as a surprise that the city shines the brightest at Christmas time, after all, it was also just revealed to be the world’s prettiest Christmas city, beating New York and Paris to claim the top spot.
The research, by ferry and cruise operator DFDS, used TikTok data to determine where the best light displays in Europe were, compiling a list of places that have garnered the most posts and likes on the video-sharing app.
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London was the clear winner, with five of the city’s festive installations making it into the top 10, with the iconic Regent Street angels coming in at number one, thanks to a whopping 2.3 million views on TikTok.
The angels were closely followed by the Covent Garden Christmas lights in second place with 1.4 million views. This year the spectacular display features over 40 giant bells with bows, 12 giant baubles and eight spinning mirror balls.
Also on the list was Oxford Street in fifth, with Carnaby Street in eighth place and Christmas at Kew rounding out the top 10.
Other noteworthy European light displays that made the cut included Christmas at the Botanics in Edinburgh, the George Square Christmas lights in Glasgow, and Bahnhofstrasse street in Zurich.
The research also included a list of Europe’s top 10 overall best cities to visit for Christmas light displays. London was of course at number one, but other high ranking cities included Barcelona, Paris, Lisbon, Vienna, and Budapest.
Top 10 best Christmas light displays in Europe
- Regent Street Christmas lights, London, 2,300,000 views
- Christmas in Covent Garden, London, 1,400,000 views
- Brussels by Lights, Brussels, 510,200 views
- Christmas at the Botanics, Edinburgh, 195,600 views
- Oxford Street Christmas lights, London, 60,800 views
- George Square Christmas lights, Glasgow, 39,000 views
- Bahnhofstrasse street/Lucy Christmas lights, Zurich, 27,000 views
- Carnaby Street Christmas light, London, 26,900 views
- Colmar Christmas lights, Colmar, 26,200 views
- Christmas at Kew, London, 21,500 views
As well as fabulous Christmas lights, London also has a number of other festive treats to enjoy, from idyllic ice-skating rinks at iconic locations such as Somerset House, Kensington Palace, and Queen’s House in Greenwich.
There are also plenty of cute Christmas markets you can peruse to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones.
Those keen to get into the hustle and bustle of the season can head to Winter Wonderland to enjoy the neon lights, shopping stalls, and giant rides. But if you’d prefer something a little calmer, there’s always the Winter Market at Southbank which is filled with craft stalls and festive food.
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