London at Christmastime is always magical from its ice skating rinks to its array of twinkling lights.
This year my favourite decorations are the fairy lights along the Strand.
They are appropriately festive and magical, given the city’s love affair with Wicked, but also a sweet tribute to the works of Joseph Swan, who created the first-ever fairy lights in 1882, for performers to wear as they danced on the opening night of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe, the first show to premiere at the Savoy Theatre in London.
These would be a high contender for my all-time favourite London decorations but they have been pipped to the post by just one other...
Carnaby Street’s wonderfully weird 2019 under the sea-themed decorations, saw giant sea creatures suspended above the iconic road.
The decorations were part of a collaboration with Project Zero to promote clearing up our oceans.
All of the materials used in the Christmas seascape were recycled or recyclable and the result was truly astounding.
One Ocean, One Planet was the title of the installation, which included a floating kelp forest, coral gardens, bubbles, pearls, fish, swarms of jellyfish, angler fish, whales, dolphins, sea horses, and crabs.
Scroll through to see more photos from this majestic marine installation from 2019.

1. Carnaby Street Christmas decorations 2019
A whale, with a pearly blow hole, hung over Carnaby Street | Oast House Archive

2. Carnaby Street Christmas Decorations 2019
Majestic glittering jellyfish hung above shoppers on the street | Oast House Archive

3. Carnaby Street Decorations 2019
The effect of the decorations was truly dazzling | Oast House Archive

4. Carnaby Street Christmas Decorations 2019
Majestic luminescent jellyfish appeared above the shops | Oast House Archive