london ky christmas light tour

Lights Around London

Lights around london christmas lights driving tour, december 2nd – 31st, 2023.

About Lights Around London

The Lights Around London Christmas Light Driving Tour began in 2020 as a way for folks to enjoy the Christmas Lights during the pandemic. Now, in it’s 4th year, Lights Around London will feature dozens of homeowners and businesses all over London-Laurel County. Funds raised through voting benefit our local chapter of Shop with a Cop.

You can find the participating homes and businesses listed on the map below! Visit as many as you like and be sure to vote for your favorite.

The Competition

An independent panel of judges from outside of Laurel County will determine winners from various categories, including Classic Christmas, Best Single Decoration, Best Decorated Tree, etc.

The Clark Griswold Grand Prize Traveling Trophy will be determined by crowd voting. Each vote costs $1 and you can vote as many times as you like. All proceeds go to Shop with a Cop of Laurel County! Your hard work has helped raise over $16,000 for Shop with a Cop since the event began in 2020!

How To Vote

Vote with Venmo (@ShopCopLondonKY): Vote for your favorite using Venmo. Each vote is $1. You can vote as many times as you like. For example, $20 = 20 votes. Be sure to place the participant number in the comments section of the Venmo app!

Vote with CashApp ($ShopCopLondonKY): Vote for your favorite using CashApp. Each vote is $1. You can vote as many times as you like. For example, $20 = 20 votes. Be sure to place the participant number in the comments section of the CashApp app!

Vote In-Person: You can cast your vote in person at the London – Laurel County Visitors Center during normal business hours. Each vote is $1. Be sure to include the participant number when casting your vote.

How To Participate

If you’d like to enter your home or business as a part of the Lights Around London Christmas Light Driving Tour, you’ll need to register at the link below.

View A Map Of The Tour

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The Best Christmas Towns In Kentucky To Visit This Holiday Season

It’s Christmastime and these Kentucky towns are not shy about showing their holiday spirit. From hometown parades and holiday teas to Christmas carolers and festive light displays, it should come as no surprise that some of the most magical holiday experiences are tucked away in Kentucky's most charming towns. Expect town squares dressed to the holiday nines and local restaurants with merry, seasonal menus. Though you'll find cheer in every corner of the state, these are the best small towns to visit for a Kentucky Christmas.

In Paducah , small, local businesses drum up big holiday magic. Downtown watering hole Johnson Bar goes all-out for Christmas; last year their “Home Alone”-themed pop-up featured hanging paint cans, themed drinks and snacks, and a pizza partnership with a neighboring restaurant. Coffee and tea shop, Pipers , presents their annual “12 Days of Pipers Hot Chocolate” which features one-of-a-kind hot chocolate Christmas specials.

The Paducah arts community also pulls out the stops. The Paducah Symphony Orchestra and Chorus’ “A Christmas Celebration” concert is a beloved holiday tradition, and Market House Theatre presents a Christmas-themed production annually. This year, the “Sanders Family Christmas” tells the story of a gospel-singing family snowed in at the local church on Christmas Eve. Yeiser Art Center , Paducah’s oldest non-profit art organization, also presents “The Affordable Art Show,” an annual holiday tradition that showcases local artists’ work, with every item priced under $500 and a portion of the profits supporting the organization.

Don't miss Santa at the annual Christmas in the Park at Noble Park. He arrives the day after Thanksgiving by horse-drawn carriage to officially light up the park at the free event. Enter beneath the twinkling arches to a world of a half million colored light bulbs that lead to Santa’s House and other holiday vignettes.

The holiday fun begins in London the first week of December with “ Randy Smith Christmas on Main Parade ” (named for the deceased former chamber of commerce director who started the event) which features the largest nighttime Christmas parade in southeast Kentucky. London also celebrates the season with its annual 84-foot tree in Town Center Park.

In the last week of December, the winners of the Lights Around London are announced. Businesses and residents compete all month long to see who has the best Christmas lights. Visitors can enjoy lavish light displays on the driving tour and vote for the best. This tour has raised thousands of dollars for London’s Shop with a Cop program.

“We have a Christmas concert with our community orchestra, a Christmas Book Walk for children at our downtown businesses, and just last year we debuted a Christmas Drone Show at Town Center Park,” said Willie Sawyers, who works with the City of London, promising that the drone show this year will be even bigger.

It may be one of the fastest-growing cities in the state, but Georgetown firmly retains its small-town feel with a pristine Victorian downtown with more than 200 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Georgetown welcomes revelers to come “Home for the Holidays” with its annual downtown Christmas tree lighting and parade in early December and lots of holiday activities and open houses taking place throughout the season.

Even before Santa flips the switch on the city's towering downtown tree, the Southern Lights Holiday Festival gets underway at nearby Kentucky Horse Park. Drive through three miles and millions of enchanting holiday lights, the vignettes leading to the North Pole where kids of all ages can wave to Santa, then take a camel or pony ride at Animal Land.

On select December weekends, step inside Ward Hall, Georgetown’s gracious Greek-Revival-style mansion, resplendent in its holiday trappings amidst the glow of dozens and dozens of candles. The annual Christmas Candlelight Tours show off the 12,000-square-foot villa where Sallie Ward, the “Belle of Louisville,” once lived and entertained in grand style.

Grab a bite at Fava’s , a local favorite diner, or enjoy a Kentucky bourbon-glazed salmon or other signature specialties at Wilshire’s . Both downtown restaurants decorate lavishly for Christmas. Settle in for a long winter’s nap at Bluebird Studio ; its trimmed trees and wreaths create a subtle elegance.

Not surprisingly, one of the most beautiful small towns in Kentucky is also one of the state's best to visit at Christmas. With its town square anchored by a towering Christmas tree, historic mansions dressed in seasonal splendor, and festive trains, Bardstown is as idyllic as it comes for Christmas cheer.

It all begins on Nov. 24 with Light Up Bardstown and the lighting of the Christmas tree in Court Square which includes music, refreshments, and pictures with Santa. On Dec. 7, Santa arrives during the annual Bardstown Kiwanis Club’s Christmas Parade.

Meanwhile, the vintage train at the Kentucky Railway Museum makes its yearly excursions to the North Pole for Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening excursions in December. On Sunday, Dec. 3, 10, and 17, guests can join the train for a 30-minute ride to the Legacy at Dant Crossing for brunch, a hot chocolate bar, holiday crafts, and pictures with Santa.

Bardstown’s most famous landmark, My Old Kentucky Home , is decorated each season and welcomes visitors for its annual “Merry & Bright” event. Ladies in hoop skirts and gents in tailcoats will guide visitors through the mansion trimmed with a half dozen, 12-foot Christmas trees, each featuring a Kentucky theme. Learn about traditional Victorian-era Christmas customs like the history of the Christmas pickle and that of Krampus who punished bad children. Travel through different time periods celebrating Christmas, from colonial times to the Roaring Twenties.

Harrodsburg and Shaker Village

Harrodsburg, Kentucky's oldest town, and neighboring Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill come to life each December with holiday events. The annual Christmas parade in historic downtown Harrodsburg lights up the town on Dec. 5, and you can't miss a holiday stay at the century-old  Beaumont Inn .

In Shaker Village, home of the largest restored Shaker community in America, it's a holiday extravaganza. Let the littles dress in their holiday best for Tea Time with Mrs. Claus, which takes place on the first three Saturdays in December. Big kids can gather with friends and family for Holiday Afternoon Tea in the 1839 Trustees’ Office, held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in December.

Shaker Village powers up the holiday wattage for its Illuminated Evenings, held on the first three Saturday evenings in December. The event includes holiday music, roaring fires, twinkling lights, and meet and greets with Santa and Mrs. Claus. You can also stop by the Elf Shop and create a holiday craft.

Join a Candlelight Tour of the Village and learn about the holiday traditions of the Shakers. Board the Jingle Bell Shuttle, a decked-out holiday hay wagon, to tour and hear about Kentucky’s largest National Historic Landmark. Gather around the outdoor Christmas Tree for caroling and the lighting of the tree, and shop The Shops for Shaker-made and holiday items.

Book the Enjoy the Holidays Package at The Inn at Shaker Village and spend the night in one of 72 guest rooms, suites, and private cottages spread throughout 13 historic Shaker buildings.

Madisonville

Visit Madisonville to see City Park transform into a Christmas wonderland from Nov. 23 through Jan. 1, 2024; rides include two Gondola Ferris wheels, a merry-go-round, a Reindeer Ride, and an inflatable snowman bounce house. Plus, beautiful holiday displays, a walk-thru LED ornament, meet-and-greets with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and festive holiday food make this a can't-miss affair.

Take the Mistletoe Art Stroll on Dec. 1 when downtown Madisonville shops host guest artisans for a shopping experience full of one-of-a-kind art, candles, jewelry, pottery, and more. The family-friendly event includes local shop and restaurant specials, a Christmas tree lighting, a local brass ensemble, free horse-drawn carriage rides, and ornament decorating too.

Come for the Christmas Parade on Dec. 2 with a theme of “Christmas Around the World” that will showcase different cultural traditions. Explore beautifully decorated homes on the afternoon of Dec. 3 during the Woman’s Club Holiday Tour of Homes .

For a seasonal treat, pick up a gourmet cupcake or iced sugar cookies at Maggie’s Cakes & More , Madisonville’s newest bakery. Stay overnight on Main Street at The Hammack Moore House B&B to be in the middle of the magic.

The Towns of Northern Kentucky

Lots of little towns comprise Northern Kentucky and all join together like the Whos of Whoville to sing in the holidays.

Burlington’s drive-through Light Up the Fair has so many blinking, winking holiday vignettes—including the smiling visage of Clark W. Griswold—that it takes months to engineer it. The free ChristmasTown event at Petersburg’s Creation Museum is a magical walk-through experience, with lights illuminating gardens and footbridges and reflecting in the ponds. Deck the Y’alls at the Florence Y’alls Stadium blings out for its interactive walk-through Lightfest with over two and a half million lights synchronized to music, plus ice skating, a kids train, and Friday night fireworks.

Catch Scuba Santa’s Water Wonderland at the Newport Aquarium. At ChristmasTown at the Ark , enjoy holiday lights, carousel rides, Christmas caroling, gift shopping, and more at the life-size Noah’s Ark during this free event in Williamstown.

Watch the model trains chug around 250 feet of railroad track (and push dozens of activation buttons to your heart’s content) during Behringer-Crawford Museum’s Holly Jolly Days . Beginning in early November, the Covington venue pulls out all the festive stops with toy trains, antique Christmas decorations, and a winter wonderland of lights in the outdoor NaturePlay area.

Sip some Christmas cheer at the historic and cozy Tousey House in Burlington or the luxe Hotel Covington —both trimmed with greenery and aglow with candlelight.

Related Articles

This Is The Ultimate Festive Walking Tour Of London’s Christmas Lights

Christmas may be over but London is still aglow with twinkly lights and festive displays; this walking tour is the very best way to see (most of) them before they come down!

Let me set the scene for you: you have absolutely no idea what day it is, you haven’t left the house in almost a week, you’re gradually morphing into a Quality Street, and you’re considering a new career in property because you managed to put three houses on Mayfair during a game of Monopoly last night. That’s right folks, it’s the crimbo limbo .

Now, as much as I whole-heartedly support hibernating in pajamas until the new year ; we all know that getting some fresh air and getting some steps in is good for us. And what better way to do both of those things than with a festive walking tour of our lovely capital city ? Christmas may be over but London is still glowing, glistening and giving out some well-needed end-of-year cheer. So, we’ve mapped out the ultimate festive walking tour of London to help you dash your way around the best and the brightest Christmas lights in the city before they’re taken down. You can thank us later…

Start your walking tour at London’s most Christmassy pub

Your journey will begin at the iconic Churchill Arms in Kensington . Here you can admire the magically festive display that adorns its entire exterior (which features a whopping 80 Christmas trees , FYI), and grab a glass of liquid courage to help you brave the cold.

Make your way to Kensington High Street and down Gloucester Road, until you reach Da Mario

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Da Mario Kensington (@da_mario_kensington)

This beloved, family-owned spot is actually Princess Diana ‘s old local Italian restaurant , and is always vibrantly lit-up for the festive season.

Continue through South Kensington and past the Natural History Museum

Although the museum is sadly no longer home to one of London’s best ice rinks ; it’s still well worth a mention. As far as I’m concerned, if one gets the opportunity to gawp at the Natural History Museum ; one should always take that opportunity.

Continue all the way up Brompton Road until you reach Fortnum & Mason

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fortnum & Mason (@fortnums)

Fortnum & Mason’s annual advent calendar and Christmas window display truly never disappoints.

Head to Mayfair via New Bond Street

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lola le Pink Figaro (@lepinkfigaro)

Here’s where you can marvel at London’s most impressive Christmas shopfronts courtesy of Cartier, Chanel and Dior (just to name a few). Oh, and don’t miss this opportunity to do some well-deserved window shopping. Or real shopping. No judgment here.

Take a quick detour to Annabel’s

This much-loved spot on Berkeley Square unveils a sensational new design every year. This year’s uplifting display features an impressive hot air balloon that stretches over and beyond the building’s three floors. Well worth a little detour, in my humble opinion.

From there, head up to Regent Street

It’s an oldie but a goodie. Who can resist the annual event of trying to awkwardly position yourself in front of the camera to make it look like you have angel wings? Our videographer, Phoebe, certainly couldn’t, that’s for sure…

And then on to Oxford Street

Another Christmas-in-London stalwart; the Oxford Street stars are as synonymous with London as angry commuters and big red buses. Be warned, though: Oxford Street during the post-Christmas sales is not for the faint-hearted.

One street over (past Liberty’s, if you can resist popping in) is Carnaby Street

View this post on Instagram A post shared by My Way In London (@mywayinlondon)

The Carnaby Street lights are always a personal favourite of mine and this year they’re – quite literally – out of this world. There’s a plethora of pubs, restaurants and coffee shops for a mid-walk pit-stop here so you can gaze at the lights whilst refueling and rehydrating for the remainder of the festive walk. What more could you ask for?

Make your way through Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Christmas in Leicester Square (@leicestersqxmas)

Top tip: make your way through both of these as quickly as possible because you do not want to get caught up in the rush and chaos here. Trust us.

Now on to the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree …

Each year, the lovely people of Norway donate a tree to London as a thank-you for helping them out in World War II, and have done since 1947, which is rather nice of them. Each year, Londoners love to poke fun at said tree with phrases like “world’s tallest cucumber” often bandied about. But look, lots of effort is required to bring the tree to Trafalgar Square and get it lit, so it’s well worth a visit if you’re in town.

From there, take a wander across the river (and revel in the gorgeous view of the city) to the Southbank

Here you can reward your high step count with a cup of something warm and cosy, and some delicious street food too.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Secret London (@secret.london)

So, there you have it – our ultimate festive walking tour of London’s Christmas lights . We know, we know: so many lights, so little time – but we hope this helps. Most of the city’s lights and displays will be shining until next weekend ( January 6-7 ), so make the most of them while you can, as soon enough they’ll be gone for another year!

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Christmas Lights Tour

To enjoy an incredible evening in london… use our booking system below to secure your tickets for your see london by night christmas tour. tours depart from our stop at green park, just next to the ritz hotel., remember you will be taking a live guided tour in a dedicated open-top bus through london, taking in the sites, the lights and the vibrancy of our amazing capital, come and see the magnificent christmas lighting around london that makes this wonderful city even more magical.…, you will see the lights on oxford street, regents street, piccadilly circus, trafalgar square and many others., before we get fully booked during this very special time of the year, select your date, choose your time, ticket type and make your reservation., the children will love this tour, the adults with love this tour and even the pets will love this tour., there are just 40 seats on the upper deck for each tour so book your seats and secure your seating on the upper deck. [email protected] or +44 (0)207 183 4744 ..

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Lights around London Awards! Thanks to Cumberland Valley Fraternal Order of Police Shop With a Cop, Inc. for being our charity partner! Crowd Favorites –Determined by Public Voting – Helping to raise ...

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