Christmas lights, Regent Street 1979
$20.00
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A wonderfully atmospheric view of Regent Street during the 1979 Christmas season, captured on a wet winter evening when the reflections on the slick pavement doubled the glow of the decorations. By this time, the traditional chandelier-style lights of the early ’70s had been replaced with these more stylised sweeping comet-and-star motifs, which were used for several years before the long hiatus in the 1980s.
The curve of Regent Street is instantly recognisable, framed by its grand Portland stone façades. Shops are brightly lit for late trading, and the whole street feels alive with shoppers — note the umbrellas and raincoats along the left pavement. Down the centre, the lights form a brilliant cascade drawing the eye towards Piccadilly Circus.
Traffic is classic late-’70s London. Scaffolding on the right hints at another phase of building refurbishment — common throughout the West End at the time.
This image captures the final era of the original Regent Street festive lights before rising costs and energy concerns halted them in the early 1980s, making it a perfect snapshot of London Christmas nostalgia.
About Retro Stock Photography
Retro Stock Photography specializes in genuine vintage color photographs from the 1950s through the 1990s, all available as royalty-free instant downloads. Our photos are popular for editorial features, books, magazines, websites, documentaries, advertising, social media, local history projects, creative design, and as unique gifts when printed.
All of our images are scanned directly from original slides and negatives, preserving their authenticity, detail, and character. And because we own the original photographs and copyrights, all of our collection is exclusive to us and not available elsewhere.
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