Visit London’s best Instagrammable festive spots to wow your friends and family. With all the festive spots London has to offer, get ready to go on an adventure to find all the most picturesque holiday photo spots, festive markets, and displays — all with easy access from Crown Group’s hotels.
What Are London’s Most Instagrammable Festive Spots in 2025?
Some of the most Instagrammable festive spots around London include the Covent Garden Christmas Village and Christmas at Kew, along with many other magical locations worth exploring on your trip to London.
Here are London’s top most Instagrammable festive spots for 2025:
- Covent Garden Christmas Village – find a giant tree, snowfall, and sparkling decorations
- Carnaby Street Lights – iconic themed displays changing year after year
- Annabel’s Mayfair Christmas Façade – London’s most over-the-top festive exterior
- Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park – dazzling lights, rides and vibrant Christmas energy
- Kew Gardens Christmas at Kew Trail – ethereal light installations and illuminated woodland backdrops (it’s perfect for something truly romantic)
- Chelsea Winter Illuminations – colourful lights, glowing orbs, and an immersive walk
- Wembley Park Winterfest – immersive light installations and colourful seasonal displays perfect for bold, creative photography
Where Should You Go for Classic Christmas Street Lights?
Whether you are in London for a business trip over the Christmas period, one weekend, or are visiting for an anniversary or another special occasion, classic street lights are always worth visiting. These Instagrammable festive spots can create memorable moments with loved ones, and can be enjoyed by gazing from rooftop bars this holiday period.
Top Christmas street light spots to photograph in London this festive season:
- Oxford Street – from 3 November 2025, Oxford Street will be glowing with a canopy of 5,000 stars and over 300,000 LED lights, stretching along this iconic shopping street to create a scene that you just can’t pass up for Instagram, TikTok, or any other social media
- Regent Street (and nearby St James’s / Piccadilly) – find the “Spirit of Christmas” display of angel-like lights typically returning from early November, draping the curve between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus in shimmering festive glow that creates the ultimate backdrop for social media posts and good times
- Carnaby Street (Soho) – Carnaby brings a more eclectic, artistic vibe that everyone can fall in love with. Here, there are distinctive themed lighting installations and a lively, characterful festive atmosphere to make something new and a little bit different for the internet
- Covent Garden – from 12 November 2025, you can expect decorative lights, a giant Christmas tree, and incredible festive window displays to create a charming pedestrian-friendly ambience. Especially magical at dusk, this provides the perfect photo op for social media enthusiasts
- Bond Street (and surrounding luxury streets) – for a more refined festive feel this Christmas period, visit Bond Street’s elegant window displays and soft lighting that creates a stunning backdrop for any social media post as well as casual evening strolls
Which Markets Make the Best Festive Photos?
Want to do some festive photography while enjoying everything else London has to offer? Visit some markets around the city for something really special while also doing your Christmas shopping.
These are the must-see Instagrammable festive spots for photography:
- Covent Garden Christmas Market – from mid-November, this historic area transforms into something magical. With a giant decorated Christmas tree, mistletoe chandeliers, festive stalls and holiday lights, it’s hard to find a market so perfect for a magical evening where picturesque shots can be taken almost anywhere while still capturing classic London charm
- Leadenhall Market – this 14th-century covered arcade looks like it comes straight out of a storybook year-round, but especially around Christmas. Here, you can capture wrought-iron vaults, twinkling garlands and a towering central tree that brings together modern beauty with London’s history. For an unbeatable atmosphere, keep your camera on you and ready for golden-hour photos
- Old Spitalfields Market – a cosy, slightly off-the-beat neighbourhood market where the artisan stalls and covered halls come alive during the festive period every year. Not only can you browse for unique and creative gifts as you explore, but you can enjoy the collection of Christmas trees, twinkling lights, and vibrant colours that come together to make a beautiful backdrop for any social media post
- Southbank Centre Winter Market – possibly one of the most beautiful festive spots in London, this winter market boasts riverside views, wooden chalets, festive lights and a gently wintry vibe by the Thames. Here, you can truly capture London’s winter mood beautifully once the sun sets and the warm glow of twinkling lights creates the perfect ambience for Instagram or TikTok
- King’s Cross Coal Drops Yard / Canopy Market – for a more modern, creative twist, you can capture the festive beauty found among contemporary festive décor and stylish industrial-era architecture, all while perusing independent shops and popups for something really special. This spot is perfect for anyone who wants to capture something really special and share it with the world in the magic of Christmas
When Do Lights and Decorations Switch On — and When Is Best to Photograph Them?
Most (if not all) festive lights and decorations will have already had their grand ‘switching on’ event, and will get turned on every evening around sunset for everyone to enjoy. If you want to capture some truly incredible photos for your social media or to share with loved ones, golden hour could be a magical time of day for your first photography session, then when the sun sets.
Depending on how late different locations keep their lights on for, it could also be worth waiting for the crowds to dissipate and take some late night photographs. However, we encourage you to stay safe and be careful if you do this.
How to Plan a Picture-Perfect Festive Walking Route for Festive Photography
Some of the best Instagrammable festive spots in London are along beautiful walking routes. Head to spots like the Christmas at Kew Light Trail, the Chelsea Winter Illuminations, or the Winterfest light installations at Wembley Park to get the best of both worlds — just don’t forget to secure your spot with a ticket first!
To plan a picture-perfect walking route, make sure to do your research on the area and see what’s around. New events pop up every year, and some take a year off, so everything can change. Consider what you want to photograph, and see how much time you are going to have to get through the walk. If you need to buy tickets, do so as soon as possible before they sell out.
What Are Tips for Crowd-Free, Insta-Ready Shots (Time, Lighting, Angles)?
In a city like London, there are rarely Instagrammable festive spots without a crowd in the background. Unfortunately, there is little way to work around this issue since everyone is there for the exact same reason as you: to get the perfect shot and enjoy the festivities.
With that being said, every location will have different rules that you also need to follow. Generally, the best time for spectacular shots will be at night, when you can bring out the magic of the festive lighting, but some spots look otherworldly at golden hour as the sun sets.
One thing we will always encourage photographers to do is have fun with angles! The magic of festivities in London can only be captured fully when you think outside the box and try new things to work with the environment. Go high, go low, try a wide lens! Skip the boring shots and go straight into something that better reflects the atmosphere you are trying to photograph.
Sometimes you might need to wait for the crowd to die down, or you can make the crowd work. However, whatever you do, always remember to be respectful and mindful of everyone around you. Also, don’t forget the magic of modern technology! You might be surprised by how easy it is to edit a stranger out of an otherwise perfect shot.
Where to Stay to Be Close to Highlights — Why Choose Crown Group Hotels
Many of London’s Instagrammable festive spots are easy to access from our very own Crown Group hotels across the heart of London. Some of the most popular spots, such as Christmas at Kew, are easy to reach from Bloomsbury Palace Hotel, and our central locations make it simple to travel across London to reach festive trails, markets, and illuminated streets.
For the locations a bit further away from our hotels, don’t fear: with just a short walk from our front doors, you can find a train or bus station that will get you to where you need to be without a problem.
Stay With Crown Group of Hotels to Have the Perfect Base for Festive Photography
Ready to capture London’s most magical Instagrammable festive spots? Book a stay with Crown Group of Hotels — and let us help you plan a festive photo tour around the city’s most Instagrammable Christmas spots this season.
Stay with Crown Group of Hotels at Mabledon Court Hotel, Bloomsbury Palace Hotel, Hatton Garden Hotel, Arran House Hotel, Hotel Cavendish, or Great St. Helen Hotel, and please read through our booking and privacy policies and terms and conditions.
