Christmas Trees and Lights

Is it really Christmas until you’ve taken some time out to see the magic of Christmas lights? Keeping your hands warm clutching a cup of spicy, scented mulled wine, watching the vapour of our breath in the winter air and getting all rosy cheeked while having a sing-along to Christmas classics.
This year, we could all use a bit of extra festive cheer in our lives, so to save you from tears, it’s fine if we start celebrating Christmas a bit earlier. Raise your Christmas spirits and head out in your social bubbles to see all the festive lights and amazing decorations, whilst taking in the lovely, crisp winter air and showing a bit of support for your favourite local businesses traders.

Heading to Maritime Greenwich to see the beautiful lights is a Christmas tradition! From the heart of our Regency-fronted, historic covered Greenwich Market which is decked out like a giant Christmas shopping grotto each year, to the river where you’ll find the biggest decoration of all covering the entire height of the fore mast of beautiful Cutty Sark!

Sitting right beside her in Cutty Sark Gardens is the official Royal Borough of Greenwich Christmas Tree, which sits right in between the River Thames, Cutty Sark and Greenwich town centre, ideal for framing that obligatory Christmas selfie, whichever way you point the camera!

It’s not just the big attractions though as Greenwich residents take pride in their neighbourhood with a trail of unique Christmas displays that knit together a community of businesses, residences and Nicholas Hawksmoor’s St. Alfege Church which has it’s own magical display as well as a wonderful charity Christmas card shop inside!

Greenwich Peninsula is one of our favourite places to take a walk at any time of the year, so when Christmas comes around it’s a must-visit! To begin with, you’re surrounded by the stunning wraparound city skyline views of Canary Wharf, plus The Tide – a futuristic, elevated walk-way linking Peninsula Square to the Thames Path, gives great views of the Emirates Air Line and the river.

Standing in the grand, spacious Peninsula Square, you’re surrounded on all sides by funky modern design, between iconic Ravensbourne University, North Greenwich station and ever-innovative art space the NOW Gallery. Here a beautiful row of silver birch trees, annually decked in sparkly fairy lights, create the perfect atmosphere for a seasonal squad-selfie against the backdrop of the world’s most popular entertainment venue – The O2!

You can even make like The Snowman and try “walking in the air” while soaring 90m high over the Thames on the Emirates Airline Cable Car. The views of an evening are truly spectacular, and a 360 Tour is well worth it for the views of Greenwich Peninsula and Canary Wharf on your return.

The Thames Path here is beautifully lit and ideal for a magical walk along the modernised district of Upper Riverside. Stop for a takeaway drink from Ardoa and take in the views as you walk along the river under a sparkling canopy of fairy lights.

As well as the amazing perspectives on this new creative and residential district of London, there are also works of art to enjoy on London’s first outdoor sculpture trail – The Line, featuring works by Damien Hirst and Antony Gormley among others and is dotted with fun and delicious restaurants, cafes and bars to enjoy along the way!

Travel directly to Woolwich Pier with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and you’ll arrive via the wide-open avenues and grand piazzas of the old Royal Arsenal. The sparkle of the illuminated tree-lined avenue, stretching out in front of you feels like a grand, festive welcome! Wander up past Artillery Square and there’s a choice of pubs to grab a mulled wine before heading over to Woolwich town centre, where the Royal Borough of Greenwich Christmas Tree stands proudly glowing among the low lit angular walkways of General Gordon Square in front of the impressive Equitable House. Lovely!

Blackheath has that rarity of being one of London’s oldest traditional villages, which makes it the ideal place to head in search of a unique atmosphere that’s just perfect for a Christmas outing. Every year the pretty, winding streets are transformed in December by the rows of coloured bulbs that hang overhead across the entire village. There’s a traditional Christmas tree to the west of the village and there are fairy lights illuminating tree on the little green to the North side.

So take a refreshing stroll on the Heath and follow the warm glow from this glamorous corner of London for an afternoon of boutique shopping, followed by a late lunch in one of the gorgeous artisanal cafes. Staying a little later? The Ivy Café are serving up some wonderful cocktails with a festive twist!

Eltham High Street has been transformed over recent years, and none more so than at Passey Place, where they regularly hold a farmer’s market as well as seasonal street markets, like this year’s Christmas market. Take a stroll out after dark and you can’t miss their lovely Christmas tree and seasonal decorations, lighting up the whole town.