Lights
When Should You Book Christmas Light Installation? (2026 Timeline)
Month-by-month: when premium installers open bookings, when slots run out, and the cut-off week most homeowners miss every year.
Book a premium Christmas light installation between September and mid-October 2026. Prime slots in late November and early December are almost always fully booked by the end of October, and by the first week of November we are turning new clients away for the season.
Why a "quick" Christmas job isn't really quick
A high-quality installation is a detailed process that begins months before our vans arrive.
- Consultation and design — we discuss your home's architecture and style, then create a digital mock-up overlaying the proposed design onto a photo of your house.
- Sourcing and preparation — commercial-grade IP67 LED lights, custom-cut to your exact roofline, windows and doorways, prepared in our Barnes workshop.
- Logistical scheduling — teams cover all of London and the South East, scheduled geographically (a dozen homes in Richmond one day, Beaconsfield the next) — solved in September and October.
- Installation and service — trained, insured teams install safely, then provide in-season maintenance and a scheduled January takedown.
We can't uphold that quality promise while squeezing in last-minute jobs.
The professional installer's calendar for 2026
| Period | What we're doing | Your action |
|---|---|---|
| January | Taking down last year's displays across the South East | None |
| February – March | Testing, cleaning, repairing and storing every light string | None |
| April – July | Planning season: inventory, new equipment, safety training | Browse for inspiration |
| August | Returning clients get first choice of dates (70%+ of schedule fills) | Have your budget and vision ready |
| September | Bookings open to new clients on the first Monday | Contact us in the first two weeks |
| October | Popular late-November dates likely gone; ~95% full by Halloween | Book now for a guaranteed spot |
| November | Fully booked for pre-Christmas installs; teams on the road | Join next year's waitlist |
| December | Installation finishes early in the month, then maintenance only | Enjoy your lights |
What does a professional installation cost in 2026?
| Property type | Typical price range (incl. VAT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small London terrace (Barnes, Fulham) | £1,500 – £1,600 | Roofline, front façade, doorway or bay window |
| Standard detached home (St Albans, Esher) | £1,500 – £2,500 | Roofline, porch, one or two feature trees |
| Large detached property (Cobham, Beaconsfield) | £3,000 – £8,000 | Multiple gables, pillars, windows, large trees and bushes |
| Grander estates / bespoke projects | £8,000+ | Fully custom design, equipment and installation time |
Guide prices from the 2025 season. A final quote follows a design consultation.
What's included
- Design
- Bespoke consultation and digital mock-up
- Equipment
- Commercial-grade lights, greenery, timers and cabling, yours to keep
- Installation
- Fully insured (Rhino Insurance), trained team
- Maintenance
- Any fault fixed in-season at no extra cost
- Takedown
- Removed in January, with optional secure storage
DIY vs professional: a quick comparison
| DIY | Cosy Christmas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £300–£600 for lights that last one or two seasons | All-inclusive price shown above |
| Time | One to two full days of your own time | A 30-minute call and a short consultation |
| Hassle | Detangling, testing, storage for 11 months | Zero — we handle it all |
| Quality | Inconsistent spacing, drooping cables | Perfectly straight lines, uniform colour |
| Safety | Ladder falls are the top reason clients switch to us | Insured, trained for working at height |
Your 3-step action plan
- Gather inspiration (July–August). Decide on the look — warm classic glow, or crisp modern feel — and photograph displays you admire.
- Contact us (early September). Visit our homepage or call on the first Monday of September 2026; the sooner you reach out, the better your choice of dates.
- Book your consultation (September). We finalise the design, provide a firm no-obligation quote, and your spot is secured once you approve it.
Booking for 2026
Our schedule for the 2026 festive season opens in September 2026. Returning clients get priority access in August, so new-client slots are limited and filled first-come, first-served. If you're reading this in November or December, our schedule is very likely already full — you're welcome to join the cancellation waitlist, though openings are rare. To be beautifully lit for Christmas 2026, the time to plan is now, and the time to book is September.
Ready when you are
Want it done properly, and yours to keep?
We design, install and maintain it across London and the South East, and the display is yours afterwards. Send a few photos and we'll price it.
Where to go next
More on lights
- Christmas Light Installation in Kensington, Chelsea & KnightsbridgeHow Christmas light installation actually works on London's most expensive postcodes — SW1, SW3, SW7 and W8. Real prices, conservation rules, and why the prime streets choose warm white.
- Christmas Lights for Esher, Cobham, Weybridge & Virginia WaterLighting Surrey's Golden Triangle — St George's Hill, Wentworth, Burwood Park and the surrounding country house belt. Real prices for £2m+ homes and how to brief a serious estate display.
- Christmas Light Installation in Hampstead, Highgate & St John's WoodWhat homeowners in NW3, NW8 and N6 need to know about Christmas lights — conservation areas, listed buildings, period villas, and how to install without touching the brickwork.