The Oxford Street Christmas lights 2017 brought a busy evening crowd out to watch London’s shopping street brighten for the festive season. I joined the people waiting beneath the decorations, watched the switch-on and then walked along the illuminated shopfronts. This archive film was originally published on 8 November 2017.
Christmas begins on Oxford Street
At the start of the film, I talk about the weeks leading up to Christmas. For me, that is when London feels particularly festive: meeting friends, going for dinner and drinks, seeing markets and looking forward to the lights. Christmas Day itself is a quieter family occasion. The build-up gives the city plenty of opportunities to celebrate beforehand.
Oxford Street brings another part of that season into view: Christmas shopping. The shops and the decorations above the road belong to the same evening scene. Standing outside among the crowds, I could already see the hanging shapes stretching along the street, waiting for their moment.
Watching the event from the crowd
There were far too many people for everyone to get a close view of the stage. Screens relayed the event to people further along the street, and I pointed one out while filming. From my position, the plan was simple: keep an eye on the screen and look up when the lights came on.
I also wondered how the department stores would coordinate their own displays with the street lights. Marks & Spencer and Selfridges came into the conversation as I looked around. Part of the pleasure of a switch-on is waiting to see how the whole street will look together.
The Oxford Street Christmas lights 2017 switch-on
Waiting is part of the story in this film. I checked the time and commented that it was already 6.15. A little later, just as I was about to say that the wait might become boring, the lights came on. My unfinished thought became the reaction to the moment we had all been waiting for.
The change is easy to see in the footage. The dark shapes overhead became glowing decorations, with an illuminated display spanning the road. The camera then moves away from the waiting crowd to take in the street itself. After watching for the signal, there was suddenly plenty to look at in every direction.
Illuminated buildings and glowing globes
Marks & Spencer’s corner building stood out in red and pink. Further along, a bright curtain of white lights covered another shopfront, while spherical decorations hung above the pedestrians. These wider views are my favourite way to finish the evening: they show the lights as part of a busy London street.
The film ends with another view along the glowing globes and a short sign-off. I was already thinking about the other shopping streets and their own Christmas displays. Each location has a different setting, so seeing several switch-ons builds a fuller picture of the season.
Watch the original Oxford Street film
The original video below includes the wait, the moment the lights appeared and the walk afterwards. It is a record of the 2017 display, with the street sounds and reactions that still photographs cannot capture.
Continue this Christmas archive with the Carnaby Street Christmas lights in 2017 and the Regent Street switch-on.
