The World-Famous Oxford Street Christmas Lights Switch-On Only at M&S

Marks & Spencer and 300 other Oxford Street retailers today announce that on Tuesday, 1 November, a star-studded troop of UK chart toppers will switch on the UK’s most spectacular and iconic Christmas Lights.

With just 55 days until Christmas, and despite decorations being on sale across London since July, the festive season only really kicks off when the world famous Oxford Street Christmas Lights are turned on. For the 52nd year, tens of thousands will gather on Oxford Street for the unveiling of Christmas in the West End.

Hosted at Marks & Spencer’s Marble Arch store and presented by official radio partner Heart 106.2’s Toby Anstis, the festive flick will be switched on by a secret celebrity act, following in the footsteps of Leona Lewis, Westlife, The Sugababes and the Spice Girls. Proceedings will kick off from 5pm.

Dating back to 1959, the annual Oxford Street Christmas lights scheme, funded by Oxford Street retailers, is made up of LED bulbs, which use 75% less energy than conventional bulbs. Similar to all lights in the West End, the mile long scheme suspended over Oxford Street have been carbon offset with PURE, the first UK registered charity dedicated to combating climate change by carbon offsetting.

Jace Tyrrell of New West End Company the organisers of the event says, “London’s iconic Oxford Street Lights will capture the imagination of the tens of millions of visitors over the Christmas period to the West End, including international shoppers coming from as far as China, Russia, Japan, Brazil and Thailand for a Quintessentially British Christmas. With retailers all lit up for the festive season, the West End will attract visitors looking to start their Christmas shopping.”

Steve Rowe, Director of Retail M&S, says, “Turning on the Oxford Street Christmas Lights marks the start of the festive season, and M&S is really proud to be hosting this year’s celebrations. We’re inviting Christmas shoppers far and wide to join us outside our Marble Arch store on 1 November for what is sure to be a spectacular experience.”