Kensington High Street switches on its lights on Tuesday 10 November from 6pm, with Val Garland leading the countdown. Portobello follows on 12 November.

Kensington High Street switches on its Christmas lights on Tuesday 10 November from 6pm, the first switch-on in the borough this year. It happens at Holland Green Place, outside the Design Museum shop.

The details come from the council’s Christmas events page for 2026, updated on 5 November.

Kensington High Street, Tuesday 10 November

The council says the evening will have entertainment and treats from local businesses. It is the fourth year of the event.

Two things are new this year:

  • the reusable Christmas tree structure gets a new look as the street’s centrepiece
  • the countdown is led by Val Garland, the make-up artist and judge on the BBC’s Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star

The switch-ons are free public events, the council says. Food, drink and some activities around them may cost money.

Holland Green Place runs beside the Design Museum, west of High Street Kensington station. Check our roadworks and travel page before you set off.

Portobello, Thursday 12 November

Portobello’s lights go on at 4.45pm on Thursday 12 November, at the Christmas tree on Tavistock Square by the Westway bridge.

Portobello Road Market then runs Winter Sunday markets from 10am to 4pm on:

  • Sunday 6 December
  • Sunday 13 December
  • Sunday 20 December

More on those and every other market in our Kensington Christmas markets round-up.

Every switch-on in the borough

Date Time Where
Tuesday 10 November From 6pm Kensington High Street, Holland Green Place
From Tuesday 10 November Not yet announced Knightsbridge: Brompton Road and Hans Crescent
Thursday 12 November 5pm to 7.30pm Duke of York Square, King’s Road: 40ft tree
Thursday 12 November From 4.45pm Portobello: Tavistock Square
Saturday 14 November 1pm to 7pm Sloane Street Christmas Celebration
Friday 27 November From 4.30pm World’s End: Chelsea Theatre, 7 World’s End Place

Knightsbridge’s lights return to Brompton Road and the streets around Harrods from 10 November. The council says a public switch-on time “has not yet been verified”, so check before travelling.

The Chelsea events are covered in full on our Chelsea Christmas lights page. At World’s End, the Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea switches the lights on, with speeches and a sing-along from 5pm.

What it means for you

  • The first switch-on is next Tuesday, 10 November, from 6pm on Kensington High Street.
  • The switch-ons are free, the council says, though food, drink and some activities may cost money.
  • Thursday 12 November has two at once: Duke of York Square from 5pm and Portobello from 4.45pm.

For the rest of the season, see what’s on in Kensington this month.