Winter needn’t be dark and dull, thanks to London’s proliferation of Christmas lights displays and light trails that illuminate the night. But what to do when the Christmas lights come down? Are we supposed to just exist in darkness come January? Not at all – thanks to our saviour: the Canary Wharf Winter Lights.
The display of gorgeously lit-up art installations will once again take over the estate this winter, shortly after the Christmas period is over. Featuring installations by artists from all around the world, they’ll light up the night between January 21, 2025 – February 1, 2025. Based on past years, it’s sure to be a stunning showcase of neon, LED, and all things illuminated, showing what an unbridled imagination (and state-of-the-art light technology) can do.
Oh, and did we mention it’s completely free to visit? All you have to do is head on down between 5-10PM each day to check it out. Obviously, it has to take place when it’s dark and you can appreciate the lights at their best… There’s no point turning them on when the sun is out!
At the Canary Wharf Winter Lights
11 new pieces are joining the display this year, alongside the existing permanent large-scale light artworks that delight us year-round. Among the new installations are brand-new commissions as well as pieces that have never been seen before in the UK.
Now, you’ll have to do some exploring to see all of the light displays. They’re quite literally scattered all around the estate. Among the permanent installations is crowd favourite ‘The Clew‘. Made by a Portuguese team of artists and builders, Ottotto, it frames the Cubitt Steps bridge with 100 circles of red light. The circles become a quasi-tunnel for pedestrians, and the reflection in the water evokes that of a sunset.
Other pieces range from a “towering stack of bathtubs pulsing with light and sound”, to “a mesmerising tornado of lights orbiting a pylon”. A mysterious portal of light also waits somewhere in the area to be found… And be sure to head over to Eden Dock, to marvel at a “20m wide sink hole encircled by light”.
You can find out more about the Canary Wharf Winter Lights here. And pro tip: the Winter Lights display gets VERY busy on the weekends. So if you can visit on a weekday we highly recommend it! Oh, and be sure to wrap up warm for the weather!
📍 The Canary Wharf Winter Lights will run from January 21 – February 1, between 5 – 10pm each day.
🗺️ You can download the Winter Lights map from Canary Wharf’s free app to navigate the exhibition.
