The Carnaby Street Christmas lights in 2016 bring a bright mix of colour, music and late-night shopping to Soho. This Roberts London film follows my walk from Piccadilly Circus to the street party, then into Kingly Court and around the corner for coffee at Soho Grind.
Originally published on 11 November 2016, it records that year’s festive evening as I found it. The decorations are already glowing when I arrive. Above the crowds, large illuminated words turn the length of the street into a display of Peace, Love and Hope.
Walking from Piccadilly Circus to Carnaby Street
I start at Piccadilly Circus, with its bright lights and busy pavements, before heading through Soho. The opening walk gives me time to talk about Carnaby Street and the evening ahead. It is a familiar destination, but a Christmas lights party changes the pace of a visit.
In the commentary, I connect the display’s revolution theme with an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The street’s links with fashion and music also come up along the way. Once I reach Carnaby, however, the camera turns towards the people, shopfronts and decorations in front of me.
The Carnaby Street Christmas lights party
The lights are on by the time I arrive, so this is a walk through the illuminated street rather than a countdown to the switch-on. Looking along the road, the suspended signs repeat between the buildings. Their bold lettering is easy to pick out against the night sky.
At pavement level, the shop windows provide another layer of colour. People pause to take photographs, browse the shops or watch what is happening around them. The film moves between those smaller moments and wider views down the street.
The original evening included DJs, dancers and shopping offers. In my description at the time, I mentioned 20 per cent discounts in many participating shops, bars and restaurants. Those were offers for this 2016 event, part of the reason the area was so busy that night.
Colourful performers stand out among the coats and shopping bags. The camera stays with the party for a while, looking back towards the Carnaby sign and the large Love lettering beneath it. These scenes capture the energy of the evening without needing to hurry to another destination.
Then a change of direction offers a little breathing space. The surrounding streets show a different side of the display, with illuminated installations and shopfronts away from the thickest crowd. It is worth looking sideways as well as straight along Carnaby.
Through the entrance to Kingly Court
Next I head into Kingly Court. From the street, the entrance gives only a small hint of the space beyond. Walking through brings a sudden change: the narrow passage opens into a courtyard with restaurants and bars arranged around several levels.
The camera looks across the diners and up towards the balconies. Strings of lights soften the scene, while the open central space lets you see how the different floors fit together. After the bustle outside, this part of the film feels like a separate stop within the same neighbourhood.
I also point out a sign reading “To the Trains”. As I explain in the video, it leads towards an underground bar rather than a railway station. Small discoveries like that are part of the pleasure of wandering through Kingly Court.
Coffee at Soho Grind
Finally, I leave the courtyard and go around the corner to Soho Grind. My order is a black Americano. The red lighting and neon inside provide another change of scene after the bright white decorations outside.
Coffee in hand, I return for one last look at the Carnaby Street Christmas lights. The film closes much as the walk began, with a few words to the camera and the London evening continuing behind me.
For another walk from the same season, see Bond Street’s Christmas lights in 2016. You can also compare the decorations with Carnaby’s 2017 Christmas Carnival. The shops, offers and displays described here belong to the original 2016 visit.
