Lumiere London 2016: Light festival dazzles capital for first time

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London is preparing to light up at night for the free Lumiere festival, coming to the capital this weekend.

From 6.30 to 10.30pm each evening, art installations will dazzle passers-by in iconic areas of the city from Mayfair and King’s Cross to Oxford Circus, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square and Westminster.

Lumiere is produced by Artichoke and first debuted in Durham in 2009. Highlights from the 30-piece strong display include Janet Echelman’s installation “1.8 London”, inspired by fishing nets, the brilliant “Neon Dogs” by Deepa Mann Kler and “Aquarium” featuring fish in a phone box from Benedetto Bufalino and Benoit Deseille.

Westminster Abbey’s West Gate will be an “electric riot of colour” thanks to French digital artist Patrice Warrener’s chromalithe technique, Ron Haselden’s “Diver” will bring fresh excitement to King’s Cross Swimming Pond Club and a life-like elephant will make a slow journey through the Air Street archway in central London.

The full programme is available on the Lumiere website, along with suggestions of places to eat and sights to see while walking between the installations.