There’s a reason people talk about the “bright lights” of the city.

When you’re in the city everything is bigger, brighter – and more exciting! The shops are bigger, the buildings are taller and, when it comes to Christmas lights, you’d struggle to find bigger ones than those twinkling through the festive season in our capital.

Christmas shopping can feel like a mountain to climb, but heading to London can make it more of an experience and a day out rolled into one. The bigger stores also have the items which you might only get online, but you’d have to wait in to get them delivered.

Armed with your budget, it’s time to hit the shops, and you’ll be spoilt for choice.

In Oxford Street you’ve got every kind of shop you're looking for, from department stores, to shoes and clothing, to jewellery and beauty. For department stores, there’s the ultimate: Selfridges, for time-honoured quality and up to date style, as well as House of Fraser and John Lewis, which, at this time of year, has a whole floor virtually devoted to all things festive.

For clothing, you’ll be spoilt for choice, but there’ll suit every pocket, from Primark to H&M and Miss Selfridge to Jigsaw.

If accessories are the name of your game, pick up a keepsake most women would cherish at Pandora, or Swarovski, or buy a watch for all ages and tastes from the likes of Swatch to Watches of Switzerland, or music and gadgets from HMV, Samsung and O2.

Some stores also make shopping an experience. Lush, which has its flagship store in the street, gives you the chance to roll up your sleeves and try out a fizzing bath bomb or three, without actually getting in the bath.

The three-floor store has sinks galore for shoppers to sample the bathtime delights and see the colours and effects they create in the water before taking them home for a soak. The store also has a spa on its lower ground floor, where you can try a treatment, and relax and recuperate, or, be fired up and raring to go, depending on your preference, before heading back out to crack the shops again.

You can also give the gift of shopping this Christmas with the OXST gift card, which lets you pay at all the shops on Oxford Street. Buy it online at oxfordstreet.co.uk/gift-card

FUEL YOUR FESTIVE DAY

Everyone needs a break from a hard day’s shopping at some point and Oxford Street knows how to cater for pitstops. There are hundreds of eateries both on the street and just off in its side streets, slightly away from the hustle and bustle.

Carluccio’s, which is at Market Place has a new, sleek menu which has brought all its restaurants’ dishes in line, so if you sample a dish on your day in Oxford Street, you can get a second helping when you come home to Kent.

Push the boat out and have three courses, plus cheese and cocktails, such as Gin Giardino, and don’t forget to pick up a slice of traditional Italian Christmas cake – panettone – or a special Carluccio’s advent calendar.

Details at carluccios.com or oxfordstreet.co.uk and click on Dining to choose where to go.

THE SWITCH-ON

Millions of people headed to the West End for the switching on of the Oxford Street Christmas lights – the official start of the festive shopping season.

For the first time in four years, the length of the street was closed to traffic to host a family festival, in partnership with the NSPCC. There was a full day of entertainment leading up to the switch-on, making it the ultimate Christmas shopping day out.

Grammy-nominated singer Craig David joined the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for the switch-on following live music from the Vamps and last year’s X Factor winner Louisa Johnson.

Click here for Kent's Christmas lights switch-ons

It was also a day to launch the NSPCC’s Little Stars campaign, which asks people to make a suggested £5 donation to name one of Oxford Street’s famous lights for someone special in their life, with money going to the charity. Craig said: “It was a great honour to switch on the lights and light up Oxford Street. I hope everyone has a great Christmas and an incredible 2017.”

Bond Street’s switch-on was on Thursday, November 10 and Regent Street’s will be on Thursday, November 17, with a traffic-free event.

The New West End Company represents traders in 25 streets in London’s retail heartland, including Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street.

PUTTING ON A SHOW

If you head to the capital this weekend, you’re in for a treat as it’s the Lord Mayor’s Show.

The new Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Andrew Parmley, has a special day planned for his first day in office on Saturday, November 12.

Festivities start with a river pageant which sets off from Westminster at 8.30am.
The traditional procession through the streets of London starts from Mansion House at 11.05am, with the Lord Mayor swearing allegiance, before returning to Victoria Embankment at 2pm. A fireworks display is at 5.15pm between Blackfriars and Waterloo piers. There are road closures to ensure everyone gets a good view. Go to lordmayorsshow.london.

TIPS FOR YOUR DAY OUT

* Get an early start – the trains will be quieter. You can get hit the shops before taking a breather with a coffee and you won’t have to rush to pack everything in
* It’s good to get there early but remember that the considerably cheaper off-peak prices on Southeastern only apply on trains getting to London after 10am on Mondays to Fridays
* Check out southeasternrailway.co.uk for offers such as group saving and kids for a quid
* Wear comfortable shoes – you know there’ll be lots of walking
* Have a budget and stick to it
* Most Oxford Street shops open from 9.30am to 9pm but remember on Sundays it’s only from noon to 6pm