Marks and Spencer unveil their 2022 Christmas advert

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The cost of living crisis has hit London’s famous Oxford Street Christmas lights, which will be turned off during the day to save on energy bills. The display, made up of 300,000 LED lights, will officially light up for the first time on Wednesday.

The lights normally stay on for 24 hours a day, but this year will just be illuminated between 3pm and 11pm. 

The reduced hours, combined with the switch to more efficient bulbs, are expected to cut down the energy output by two-thirds compared to last year. 

The New West End Company (NWEC), which runs the lights, told ITV the changes were made to reflect the economic situation. 

Dee Corsi, their interim Chief Executive, said: “Obviously we are in a cost-of-living crisis and we’re acutely aware the cost of energy is part of that. 

“We really recognise that consumers want to come and experience the magic in the night-time hours but in the day, it would be more appropriate to have them switched off.

The display will be made up of 5,000 dazzling stars strung along the central London shopping street. 

This year, the light display is accompanied by a new campaign called “It’s The Love You Give”.

Aiming to honour the stars who deserve recognition this year, the campaign asks people to nominate those they believe should be “Star of The Week”. 

Six individuals or groups will be given a special “Star Treatment” experience ahead of Christmas 2022, with Oxford Street set to offer three “Magic Days” where brands will offer exclusive deals and free gifts.

NWEC has also partnered with family support charity Home-Start UK and plans to donate 100 hampers to those who need them the most.

Retailers in the West End are bracing for a difficult festive season. This Christmas will be the first in three years without coronavirus restrictions, but spending is predicted to be lower than in 2019. 

Research from the New West End Company (NWEC), which represents 600 businesses in the area, estimated £1.55 billion will be spent over the eight-week Christmas trading period.

That is 24 percent higher than in 2021, but still 28 percent lower than in 2019. Footfall in the area has still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, sitting at 83 percent of what was seen in 2019, it said.

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The cost of living crisis coupled with a lack of high-spending overseas visitors and rising household costs are to blame for the bleak predictions, NWEC told the Evening Standard. 

It called on the government to reconsider the introduction of tax-free shopping and extend Sunday trading hours.

NWEC said shoppers from overseas are “often disappointed” to find that stores are forced to close by 6pm on Sundays, limiting potential spending. Opening longer could add £250 million in sales, it said.

Research shows 68 percent of households are considering not putting up some or all of their lights this year thanks to current energy prices.

Tips for saving money while not missing out on Christmas cheer include switching to LED bulbs or battery-operated lights, using solar lights outside or buying a plug-in timer.

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