Last year, my friend Sarah was having the worst day. She missed her train, stepped in a puddle, and lost her glove. She was trudging through Soho, muttering to herself, when suddenly the Carnaby Street lights flickered on. She stopped, looked up, and saw a giant, glowing sea turtle swim across the street. She started laughing, took a photo, and later said it “fixed her whole mood.”
That’s the power of these lights. They’re not just decoration. They’re a communal hug for a cold city. They remind us that even in the gloom, beauty exists—especially if you’re holding a warm doughnut from a nearby stall.