Regent Street Lights Switch-on Event: "Unity"

The switch-on ceremony was on Tuesday 20 November 2007.
The theme of the 2007 lights is "Unity".

The traffic was stopped and people came onto the road at either end of Regent Street.
Drummers and costumed stilt-walkers entertained the crowds.


Processions started to walk towards the middle of Regent Street.


After the two groups met, the lights were turned on along the whole length of the street ...


The lights change colour. They react to different things such as music, movement on the street or weather conditions.
Visitors can make the colours change by pressing touch-sensitive pads in the window of Nokia's new store (240 Regent Street).
At 7pm each evening there is a special light show.
The lights will be on during the hours of darkness until 6th January 2008.


Christmas traditions

Two Christmas traditions took place in one of the streets off Regent Street on the night of the switch-on.
Freshly roasted chestnuts were given out, and a Salvation Army band played seasonal music


Hamleys

Hamleys is a world-famous toy shop in Regent's Street.
The pictures below show the store's Christmas decorations and some of its 2007 window displays.



Carnaby Street

From Wednesday 14 November 2007 a giant, brightly coloured "paper chain" links together the roads around Carnaby Street
(next to Regent Street, nearest Tube: Oxford Circus; map). For details of the shops in this area, see: http://www.carnaby.co.uk

Carnaby Street Xmas decorations by day ...

... and by night