Top tips for making the most of the Winter Lights
Feeling inspired but not sure where to start?
From the Winter Lights team themselves, here are some of our top insider tips for making the most of your visit, from the best place for toasted marshmallows to the best time to visit if you want to miss the crowds.
The best time to visit Winter Lights
The festival can get quite busy, making Monday and Tuesday evenings the best for those wanting to miss the crowds. If you haven’t visited Canary Wharf then head to the Information Point in Jubilee Place first – staff will be more than happy to give you a map to guide you around the estate and answer any questions.
If you had to pick just one artwork to see
There are so many impressive artworks at Winter Lights that it’s hard to choose just one, but if you had to pick, make it either Sign by Vendel & De Wolf at Westferry Circus or the synergy of pieces in Crossrail Place Roof Garden. Sign resembles a mass of flickering flames, making it an impressive sight both from afar and up close. Meanwhile, the collection at Crossrail Place Roof Garden uses a fusion of nature and technology to take you on a unique interactive journey.
Maximise your time visiting the festival
If you want to see all the artworks at a fairly leisurely pace then make sure you allow around three hours to visit. That will give you plenty of time to enjoy each piece and make the odd pit stop on the way.
Don’t let the weather put you off
Don’t forget to wrap up warm and dress for the weather as the exhibition is outdoors. That said, don’t let the rain put you off visiting – the event will run in all weather and often the best photos come from the wetter days when the reflections make the artworks even more spectacular.
Did you know?
The Winter Lights event takes a whole year to plan – as soon as we finish one festival we are on the search for new artists and installations for the next one. Sometimes people contact us but we also travel across the UK and Europe to find the perfect pieces. Whilst the dedicated team of six all work on multiple elements in the run up to the event, during the festival itself they are joined by over 130 staff on site, making everything run as smoothly as possible. It’s an amazing team effort across lots of different departments to make it all happen.
The best places for a hot drink
There are lots of great places to grab a hot drink on your way round the exhibition, so consider it part of the experience. There are two pop-up food markets – one in Cabot Square and one in Union Square as well as plenty of shops and cafes in our shopping malls. 640East on Montgomery Square is a great place to pick up a hot chocolate whilst enjoying the mesmerising Submergence by Squidsoup. Meanwhile, Grind in Cabot Place Mall sells delicious coffee if you want to pop indoors. A really special place to warm up however are the marshmallow fire pits in Jubilee Park for gourmet marshmallows by the fire.
Insider tips on where to eat
There are so many fantastic places to choose from to eat, whether you are looking for something quick to grab on the go or you want to treat yourself to a leisurely meal, there will be something here for you. At the Winter Lights Bites food markets, Duck Shed is a firm favourite amongst the team – their duck wraps are the perfect winter warmer. Wharf Kitchen is great for a quick stop. With so many options to choose from such as Greek souvlaki, Indian street food or authentic Chinese noodles, it’s especially good for big groups or families with differing tastes. If you have time for a more leisurely meal then mallow in Wood Wharf has the most delicious plant based dishes and is wonderful for a spot of people watching as it’s on the main festival route of the festival.
