Christmas lights switch on, the Harry Potter shop opens, Bonfire Night and the big fireworks weekend: London from 2 to 8 November 2026.
Things to do in London this week: 2 to 8 November
The short version: this is the week London switches into Christmas. Carnaby and Regent Street switch on their lights, the UK’s biggest Harry Potter shop opens on Oxford Street, Bonfire Night falls on Thursday, and the big fireworks displays are on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November. Remembrance Sunday closes the week.
Below is the week day by day, with times, prices, how to get there and when it’s quieter. Every date has been checked against the organiser and at least one other source.
The week at a glance
| Day | What | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 2 Nov | Spirit of Christmas Fair opens at Olympia (until Sun 8) | Adults from about £26, under-12s free |
| Mon 2 Nov | Southbank Centre Winter Market opens | Free to walk in |
| Wed 4 Nov | Carnaby Christmas lights switch on | Free |
| Wed 4 Nov | Harry Potter shop opens, Oxford Street | Free to enter |
| Thu 5 Nov | Bonfire Night: free display at Coram’s Fields | Free (adults with a child) |
| Thu 5 Nov | Regent Street and St James’s lights switch on, 5pm to 9pm | Free |
| Thu 5 Nov | Winston Taylor Photo Portrait Prize opens, National Portrait Gallery | Ticketed |
| Fri 6 Nov | Glide ice rink opens at Battersea Power Station | Ticketed |
| Sat 7 Nov | Fireworks: Alexandra Palace, Battersea Park, Blackheath and more | From about £16 |
| Sun 8 Nov | Fireworks: Alexandra Palace and Battersea Park family evenings | From about £17 |
| Sun 8 Nov | Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph | Free |
Monday 2 November: Christmas shopping starts
Spirit of Christmas Fair, Olympia
More than 600 independent brands under one roof in Kensington, from Monday to Sunday. It’s open 10am to 6pm most days, with a late opening until 9pm on Thursday and an earlier close of 5pm on Sunday. Adult tickets start at around £26 and under-12s go in free. From Thursday, your ticket also covers the Luxury Travel Fair next door, so Monday to Wednesday are the calmest days. Kensington (Olympia) station is right next to the hall. Full details in our Spirit of Christmas Fair guide.
Southbank Centre Winter Market
Alpine-style chalets open along the Queen’s Walk under Hungerford Bridge, between the Royal Festival Hall and Jubilee Gardens. Expect street food, mulled wine, hot cider and gift stalls. It’s open every day from 11am to 10pm (craft stalls until 9pm) until 4 January, and it’s free to walk around. Waterloo and Embankment are the nearest stations. More markets in our Christmas markets in London guide.
Wednesday 4 November: Carnaby lights and Harry Potter
Carnaby’s Christmas lights
Carnaby is the first big West End street to switch on this year. The display hangs across Carnaby Street and the lanes around it, and it’s free to walk through. Oxford Circus is two minutes away.
The Harry Potter shop opens on Oxford Street
The UK’s largest official Harry Potter shop opens at The Ribbon, 134 to 140 Oxford Street, near Tottenham Court Road. It covers more than 21,000 sq ft over two floors, with a Diagon Alley-style interior, a dragon over a Gringotts-style area, a full-size Knight Bus and a café serving Butterbeer. Opening hours haven’t been announced, and the first days are likely to be busy, so a weekday morning later in the month will be easier. See our Harry Potter shop guide.
Thursday 5 November: Bonfire Night and Regent Street
Free fireworks at Coram’s Fields
Coram’s Fields in Bloomsbury holds central London’s only free Bonfire Night display. It opens at 3.30pm and the fireworks start at 6pm. Adults can only go in with a child. Russell Square is the nearest station.
Wimbledon Park fireworks
Merton Council’s Fireworks in the Park is at Wimbledon Park on Thursday. Gates open at 5.15pm, there’s a smaller show for young children at 6.45pm, and the main display is at 8.30pm. Adult tickets are £15.90.
Regent Street and St James’s switch-on
The Spirit of Christmas angels light up over Regent Street with a free evening event from 5pm to 9pm. Combine it with Carnaby, which is already lit, using our free Christmas lights walk. Expect crowds around Oxford Circus, and use Piccadilly Circus station if you can.
Friday 6 November: skating season
Glide opens at Battersea Power Station, the second outdoor rink of the season after Leicester Square. Somerset House follows on 11 November. All the rinks, dates and prices are in our ice skating guide.
Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November: the big fireworks weekend
Most of London’s big displays are on the weekend after Bonfire Night. Nearly all are ticketed, and prices go up as cheaper releases sell out.
- Alexandra Palace, Saturday and Sunday: fireworks and a drone show, with views across the city. Saturday’s display is at 8pm, Sunday’s family evening at 6pm
- Battersea Park, Saturday and Sunday: Sunday has the earlier start, with fireworks at about 7pm
- Blackheath, Saturday only: around 40,000 people, a fairground and street food, display at 8pm. Adults £16
- Walthamstow, Dulwich, Beckenham and Harrow have smaller local displays
Every display, with times and prices, is in our London fireworks guide.
Sunday 8 November: Remembrance Sunday
The national service at the Cenotaph on Whitehall begins with the two-minute silence at 11am. Crowds gather early, and some roads around Whitehall are closed. See our Remembrance Sunday guide for where to stand and how to get there.
If it rains
London’s free museums are the obvious choice. See things to do in London when it rains.
Looking ahead
Next week brings the Marylebone and Covent Garden switch-ons, Somerset House’s rink, the London Jazz Festival from 13 November and the Lord Mayor’s Show on 14 November. All the dates are in Christmas in London 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What’s on in London this week?
The Carnaby and Regent Street Christmas lights switch-ons, the Harry Potter shop opening, Bonfire Night, the Spirit of Christmas Fair, the big fireworks weekend and Remembrance Sunday.
Is there a free fireworks display in London on Bonfire Night?
Yes, at Coram’s Fields in Bloomsbury on Thursday 5 November, from 6pm. Adults must be with a child.
When are the Regent Street Christmas lights switched on?
Thursday 5 November 2026, with a free event from 5pm to 9pm.
When does the Harry Potter shop on Oxford Street open?
Wednesday 4 November 2026.
Sources
- JustPark: Spirit of Christmas Fair 2026
- South Bank: Winter Market
- Visit London: Harry Potter Shop
- IanVisits: London fireworks 2026
- Lewisham Council: Blackheath Fireworks
- Londonist: Christmas 2026 dates
Last checked: 31 October 2026. Image: The wub, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
