A festive walk to see the Christmas lights in London’s West End and the Marmite extravaganza

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• I have to admit I was baffled.  How could Marmite, a tangy yeast extract spread be transformed into an interesting Christmas theme and festooned in lights along  Oxford Street?  My scepticism was compounded by the displays of recent years; to my eye, they seemed tacky and tawdry rather that magical and fun.

  I decided to photograph the Marmite themed lights for this blog.  And I completely changed my mind.  They are brilliant, creative and funny.  Some people love Christmas, whilst others hate it. Just like Marmite’s slogan.

  For the celebrity spotters, Robbie William’s turned them on and I love this short clip made by a member of the public.  He really captures the atmosphere.

  The gallery this week covers the lights along Oxford Street, with detours along South Molton Street, a look down New Bond Street and Regent’s Street.  This map shows the route I took.  I started with Selfridges and their Christmas windows because my parents used to take me to see them when I was a child.

  And photos were taken using my new mobile phone in its night time mode.

  

  (as always – click on any photo to switch to gallery mode)

  

  Outside Selfridges, near Marble Arch, walking east.

  

  

  Christmas window display, Selfridges

  

  Christmas window, Selfridges

  

  Christmas window, Selfridges

  

  Christmas window, Selfridges

  

  

  anyone could submit their photo, via facebook and see themselves projected here.

  

  

  

  South Molton Street lights, off Oxford Street

  

  couldn’t discover who designed these lights but they’ve been in use since 2009

  

  

  Looking down New Bond Street

  

  Lights on New Bond Street

  

  back on Oxford Street

  

  

  

  

  

  This banner had four phases. This is part one.

  

  part 2

  

  part 3..

  

  boom! the taste explodes onto your tongue. The last of the four phases

  

  The Regent Street lights

  

  Looking down Regents’ Street

  

  A stranger who wanted his photo taken.

  

  back at Oxford Circus, looking back at the direction i’ve come, from Marble Arch

  

  continuing east along Oxford Street, heading towards Tottenham Court Road.

  

  this is the final Marmite banner.

  

  And this design was also being recycled from last year.

  

  

  Well, do you love them or hate them??  They’re certainly different!