It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — and no wonder, after the Royal Borough’s Mayor Tom Bennett helped flick the switch to bathe Kensington High Street in a blaze of festive colour.

Cheered on by mums, dads and excited youngsters, the Mayor led the countdown before the High Street glowed – fairy lights twinkling, trees glittering and carols ringing out across the mild November evening.

The ceremony at the Design Museum Plaza, in Kensington High Street, marked the official start of the Borough’s festive season, with shop windows already shimmering in gold and silver. Local traders are hoping the Christmas crowds will give sales a much-needed lift after a tough year.

Chelsea’s big Yuletide switch-on is Saturday afternoon when part-pedestrianised King’s Road and Duke of York Square will host a Christmas market, bands and choirs.

Mayor Bennett, who was accompanied by his Italian wife Beatrice, told The Chelsea Citizen: “Christmas lights bring civic pride. Tonight’s a celebration of that. I think we’ll see residents, businesses and tourists stopping by, having fun — and anything that draws people in is good for retailers.”

The lights in W8 are funded by Opportunity Kensington, the business-backed marketing group paid for by a levy on local firms. 

Festivities kicked off with a feel-good performance from the RBKC Choir, belting out Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and much-loved carol classics like Silent Night.

Crowds gathered around artist Amy Jackson’s dazzling creation Oru – The Listening Tree — a sustainable ‘talking’ Christmas tree that glows brighter the more people chat to it. 

Performers on stilts mingled with the crowd, while free smoked salmon rolls and iced cakes kept everyone’s spirits high.

Then came the big moment — a flash, a cheer, and the High Street was shining brighter than Rudolph’s nose.

‘It’s just what our High Street needed,’ said Angela Martin, 47. ‘I’m so glad organisers made such an effort.’

Long-time resident Colin Lewis, 62, agreed: ‘I’ve lived in Kensington for more than 20 years — this is one of the best switch-ons I’ve seen. Big credit to the organisers.’

As for the Mayor, he’s braced for a packed festive diary. ‘I’ve got about 20 carol concerts, Christmas lights to turn on and so many lunches,’ he laughed. ‘I’ll be like an episode of the Vicar of Dibley — when she had ten lunches a day! I’m really looking forward to it.’

Bennett, who will spend Christmas Day in Rome with Beatrice and their two children, told crowds: ‘Kensington is a destination now…an experience.’

 

All photos courtesy of Opportunity Kensington