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London dazzles with first festival of light

January 15, 2016

London's iconic Westminster Abbey was lit up like multi-colored confectionery and a giant flame loomed over the capital's top shopping area on January 14, for the city's first festival of light.

https://p.dw.com/p/1He9t
London Lumiere Lichter Festival
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Arrizabalaga

Crowds flocked to dazzling sculptures puncturing the cold winter night, including ghostly fish swooping through the air in Piccadilly and an enormous animated elephant near Regent Street's upmarket shops.

Organizers of "Lumiere London," a venture backed by Mayor Boris Johnson, say it is the biggest light festival to hit the capital, and its 30 works are distributed among some of the city's most famous landmarks.

A million visitors are expected during the festival's four days, timed to boost tourism during the capital's quietist weekend. The free festival runs until January 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. each evening.

London: Along the Thames

ak/eg (AFP)