Reading's Christmas Lights - new for 2024!

20th November 2024

Have you noticed Reading's new Christmas light display? The town's festive display was officially switched on at the annual Reading Light Switch On event, which took place in Reading's Broad Street on Saturday 16 November. This year, Reading has a brand new light display with links to Reading's history and vibrant cultural heritage, celebrating some of Reading's most powerful stories.

If you're wondering what it's all about, and why we need Christmas lights in Reading town centre, read on!

Every picture tells a story
They say every picture tells a story - and we tend to agree. Reading's new Christmas lights feature a series of centrepieces which nod to Reading's connections, past and present, telling some of Reading's best stories. Each of the 22 centrepieces are dotted along Broad Street and feature a picture which represents one of Reading's well-known (or little-known) stories, from Oscar Wilde to Banksy - and even the locally-loved no.17 bus! Read more about the stories our new lights are telling.

Who funds the lights?
Did you know that Reading’s Christmas lights are 100% funded by Reading’s businesses? Reading Business Improvement District (Reading BID) is a business-led and business funded partnership.  A geographical boundary (Reading town centre and Abbey Quarter) is defined, and businesses in this area come together to invest, collaborate, and improve their trading and working environment. Reading's town centre Christmas lights are therefore part of the Christmas activity funded by Reading's town centre businesses through Reading BID.

Why do we need Christmas lights in Reading town centre?
With more online shopping, the impact of austerity and sales down nationally, it is vital that Reading looks its best for Christmas.The Golden Quarter, as the last three months of the year are known in retail circles, is vital to the retail and hospitality sectors, with many retailers relying on the 6 weeks leading up to Christmas to make their annual profit or at least try to balance the books. In Reading town centre in November/December 2023, this equated to a consumer spend of over £57 million with more than 6 million visits during the period (Sources: Beauclair Data & Visitor Insights).

Christmas in Reading
Reading's new Christmas lights scheme for 2024 comprises 800,000 LED festive lights, which will showcase the town’s history and cultural heritage - this is just one part of the Reading Christmas offer provided by Reading BID, which also includes Christmas markets and a festive town centre events programme. The lights alone equate to an investment in Reading of £600,000 over the 5 years of this current BID (2024-29).

An attractive Christmas lights display was a key priority identified by town centre retailers and other businesses as part of the Reading BID consultation in 2023. The BID is now delivering on that mandate to ensure Reading town centre is the most attractive Christmas location in the region, attracting both local and out of area shoppers and revellers to experience Christmas all wrapped up!