16km Christmas Lights Tour
South Molton Street, Mayfair
Into the Light from Darkness
Ride Overview
It used to be the Yule Log; a large tree cut earlier in the year and brought inside to burn in the grate of an inglenook fireplace during the darkest days of the year. Around the fire, there would have been carousing and much feasting. Rather than the log and a fire, we have the London Christmas lights, but the carousing and feasting still continues. This ride around the principle streets and markets of London’s West End, rides under canopies of angels, stars, sharks and trees festooned with hundreds of thousands of LED bulbs. The results are spectacular and the ride will lift any spirit made low by another damp and dark December day.
Into the Light from Darkness
Ride Notes
The route begins in the heart of Chelsea at Sloane Square which sparkles under the gaze of LED stars. Around the square are stalls selling mulled wine and festive food which should give you the zip you need for the ride. Fortified, ride up the dazzling Sloane Avenue towards Knightsbridge and onto Harrods where the facade of the world famous shop is an extraordinary festive display, as are its Christmas window displays.
After the very disappointingly lit Kensington High Street, you arrive at the Churchill Arms with its 8,000 lights decorating countless Christmas trees. Inside, the beers are good as is the Thai food that it famously serves. From here, the route rides through through Bayswater and up to Marylebone before crossing the glittering stars of Oxford Street and into dazzling Mayfair.
It is not permissible to ride down South Molton Street, which is a positive thing for the display is often the most spectacular of London’s winter streets. After taking many photos, you ride down Old Bond Street. You’ll probably not do a lot of riding here either, for the Christmas shop window displays of Dolce & Gabbana or Dior, to name but two, are truly spectacular.
To Piccadilly, where you ride under the gaze of angels. The heavenly hosts continue up Regent’s Street - where the 800,000 LED lights give a magical golden glow. Then it’s into playful Carnaby Street and Soho. Anything so mainstream as angels and stars are eschewed for illuminated planets, sharks and squid. Then, its onto Covent Garden with its huge tree lit with over 30,000 bulbs. The inside of the market hall is also creatively draped with lights; in 2022 the halls were bedecked with illuminated mistletoe.
You might have planned your ride to include a Christmas carol concert which are held throughout December in many of the beautiful churches along the way. One of London’s principle choirs, The Goldsmiths Choral Union, hold their concert in the Arts and Crafts Church of Holy Trinity, Sloane Square in early December. Two other notable and beautiful churches, St. James’s Church, Piccadilly and St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden are also well worth visiting for some lusty Christmas singing.
From Covent Garden, the route heads down to the Thames, where you’ll see the lights of the South Bank in all their luminescent glory flickering on the water. The ride finishes at Trafalgar Square, at the foot of the nation’s principle Christmas Tree, which is an annual gift from Norway. A Norwegian Spruce is specially chosen from a forest near Oslo and shipped over to the UK as a token of thanks from the Norwegian people for the help which Britain gave them in the last war. Nearby are stalls selling as much sweet starch and booze as you could possibly wish for.
If this night-ride fails to cheer you up after a short, dark - and often damp - December day, then perhaps you may have to consider emigrating to a lighter and warmer place!
Ride Practicalities
Two warnings!
1. This is most definitely NOT a traffic-free ride. The West End of London is always busy with traffic, especially in the run up to Christmas. To really enjoy this ride, it is recommended that you ride as late into the evening as you can. That said, the buzz and press of people do add another dimension to this Christmas ride.
2. In order to save power, most of the festive street lights are displayed between 3.00p.m. - 11.00pm. The light displays usually run from late November until 3rd January.
START/FINISH: Sloane Square/Embankment. Both on the District Line where bikes can be taken for free outside rush hour times. Shepherds Bush and Charing Cross mainline stations are both near to the start/finish of the ride DISTANCE: 16km. TOTAL ASCENT: 130m TERRAIN AND SURFACES: Entirely on roads which can be very busy. Consider riding later in the evenings FOOD: Plentiful throughout- there are Christmas food markets at Sloane Square, Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square.
LINKS TO OTHER LIGHT RIDES: A Light night ride
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