Oxford Street Christmas lights will be switched on tomorrow (Thursday, November 2) despite a severe warning due to Storm Ciarán, the council has confirmed.

Westminster City Council said it was pressing ahead with the plans but will delay turning on the Carnaby Street lights by six days.

Storm Ciarán is set to batter London this week with heavy rains and winds of up to 60mph, as the Met Office has issued amber ‘danger to life’ warnings along the southern coast. The storm has already caused significant flooding in Northern Ireland.

The switch-on for Carnaby Street will now take place on Wednesday, November 8, at 4pm, rescheduled from Thursday, November 2.

London residents and tourists alike will therefore have to wait one more week to enjoy the 2023 display.

World-renowned for its Christmas installations, the shopping area celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022. To mark the occasion, Carnaby Street decked out in its most iconic decorations of the last two decades.

This year, however, a brand new theme has been chosen: Carnaby Universe, reports MyLondon. Visitors will be immersed in a dynamic and vibrant display of neon colour and light waves creating a moving vortex on the street, with the arches marking the entrances of Carnaby Street being adorned with shimmering discs and neon lights.