London has played host to countless festivals over the years – from food and film to music and much more. But this February it’s set to host a festival the likes of which has never been seen before – the Switched On London festival is the capital’s first festival entirely dedicated to lighting.

A shining festival
Switched On is set to light up the London sky like never before, with a host of landmarks all being decorated with beautiful and innovative lighting schemes. Various buildings around the Pool of London – between Tower Bridge and London Bridge on the Thames – will be lit up with a variety of lighting designs. The second year of the festival also sees more unusual locations benefit from the addition of illumination, as the likes of Bermondsey Street carpark and Southwark Post Office are lit up too.

Environmentally friendly
Environmentalists, don’t fret – the Switched On London festival is more environmentally green than you might think. The project uses 320 LED light strips, each one of which only uses about 8 watts of electricity. Over the week of the festival last year, it’s estimated that the running cost will be only £20.00, which is less than many Londoner’s electricity bills.

Lit up landmarks
London’s most famous landmarks will be temporarily lit up during Switched On London in a blast of colour. Expect to see the HMS Belfast, Southwark Cathedral, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge all aglow from 6pm to 12pm every day. Head down toward the Pool of London to see various buildings and the Thames awash with light and colours.

The art of light
Having created a fantastic display of aroudn 15 artistic and sustainable lighting displays, the designer behind the Switched On London festival want everyone in the city to head out into the streets and enjoy their handiwork. By placing emphasis on the need for light in darker streets and places normally deemed unsafe after nightfall, the festival is providing realistic alternatives for the costly and wassteful lighting schemes currently in place. So don't hurry home after work - take your time to enjoy the unusual illuminations, be they on London Bridge or Potters Fields Park.

Environmentally enlightening
It's not all about lighting up the dark in London - the festival of light this year ainms to carry on its good work by highlighting the criminal waste of CO2 in offices where whole floors are kept lit when they are not in use. Lighting is one of the biggest contributors to CO2 emissions and if Switched On London can help people reassess their lighting for the better, then everyone benefits.

The Switched On London festival runs from Thursday 7th February to Thursday 14th February at buildings near the Thames from Tower Bridge to London Bridge. The lights will be lit from 6pm to midnight daily. For more information click on the link below.