London in mid-January can be a dark, gloomy city – but not this year. For four nights, the capital's dark streets are being lit up by more than 50 light-based artworks across the city as part of the Lumiere arts festival.
People cycle to power the installation The Rose by Mick Stephenson at Westminster Cathedral PlazaChris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
Organisers say more than a million people attended the free festival when it was first held in the city two years ago, enjoying the rare chance to stroll usually traffic-clogged streets closed to traffic. Helen Marriage, director of arts charity Artichoke, which organises Lumiere, said the festival taps into a hunger for live experience — "the 'be there or you've missed it' moment" — in an age when we spend much of our time staring at screens. "Standing in a crowd, sharing a moment, is really important," she said.
Visitors to the South Bank walk through The Wave, by VertigoPeter Nicholls/ReutersThe Wave by Vertigo at Riverside Walkway, South BankDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesWaterlicht by Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde at Granary Square, King's CrossJustin Tallis/AFPA man feeds treats to his dogs at the installation Waterlicht, by Daan Roosegaarde at Granary Square, Kings CrossChris J Ratcliffe/Getty ImagesMembers of the public interact with Illumaphonium by Michael Davis, Mount Street, MayfairDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesMembers of the public interact with Impulse by Lateral Office and CS Design in South Molton Street, MayfairDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesThe Light of the Spirit Chapter 2 by Patrice Warrener at Westminster AbbeyChris J Ratcliffe/Getty ImagesThe Light of the Spirit Chapter 2 by Patrice Warrener at Westminster AbbeyChris J Ratcliffe/Getty ImagesReflektor by Studio Roso in St James's MarketDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesEntre Les Rangs by Rami Bebawi at Lewis Cubitt, Kings CrossChris J Ratcliffe/Getty ImagesLight on Their Feet Footfalls for Rambert by David Ward on the South BankDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesEchelle by Ron Haselden on top of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church. Trafalgar SquareDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesVoyage by Camille Gross and Leslie Epsztein in Piccadilly CircusDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesMembers of the public interact with Supercube by Stephane Masson in St James's MarketDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesLove Motion by Rhys Coren in the Royal Academy CourtyardDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesChild Hood, by Collectif Coin in Trafalgar SquareDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesWas That a Dream? by Cedric Le Borgne in Berkeley SquareDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesSpectral, by Katarzyna Malejka and Joachim Slugocki in St James's SquareDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesThe Plug and Bulbs by James Glancy Design on Ganton Street, CarnabyEamonn McCormack/Getty Images for Lumiere London, London's West EndControl No Control by Daniel Iregui, Whitfield Gardens, FitzroviaJustin Tallis/AFPLightbench by Bernd Spiecker for LBO LichtBankObjekte, on Weighhouse Street, MayfairJustin Tallis/AFPAquarium by artists Benedetto Bufalino and Benoit Deseille, on Earlham Street at Seven DialsJustin Tallis/AFPNightlife by the Lantern Company with Jo Pocock in Leicester Square GardensEamonn McCormack/Getty Images for Lumiere London, London's West EndNightlife, by Jo Pocock and the Lantern Company at Leicester Square GardensEamonn McCormack/Getty Images for Lumiere London, London's West EndLampounette by TILT at King's Boulevard, Kings CrossChris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
