Aerial view of Christmas lights along Regent Street in London

© Jason Hawkes/Getty Images

Aerial view of Christmas lights along Regent Street in London

What do Joan Collins, Anthony Hopkins, Kylie Minogue and Take That have in common? Well, apart from being on our dream dinner party guest list, they've all turned on the Christmas lights on Regent Street – an iconic symbol of London's West End during the festive season. The tradition stretches back to 1954 after a Daily Telegraph article criticised London for looking 'drab' at Christmas, which led Regent Street to launch an annual festive makeover of sparkling lights and decorations. Due to a recession, the display took a break for several years in the 1970s, but the lights have been switched on for every Christmas since 1978.