A Guiding Light by Louisa Smurthwaite & Douglas Green

The highly anticipated, large-scale public art commission, 'A Guiding Light,' is back! We've once again transformed our iconic Olympic Way into an immersive canvas of light, colour, and movement for the winter season.

Created by renowned light artists Douglas Green and Louisa Smurthwaite, this stunning installation explores celestial navigation and humanity's timeless fascination with the night sky. As proud residents and visitors of Wembley Park, this is one spectacle you won't want to miss.

Here are the top 5 reasons why you need to look up and experience 'A Guiding Light' right here in your neighbourhood:

1 - An Epic Celestial Journey

Take a walk beneath 36 monumental banners that line Olympic Way. This sequential artwork beautifully depicts the 12 hours of the moon rising and the 12 hours of the sun setting, offering a visual meditation on our enduring connection to the cosmos. It’s a journey of light and colour right here on your doorstep.

2 - Perfect for Photos

Olympic Way provides the most dramatic setting in Wembley Park, and this installation elevates it even further. The immense, colourful, seven-metre banners and the new overhead twinkling lights create a dramatic, photo-ready setting for your winter snaps. Don't forget to capture the unparalleled view of the iconic Wembley Stadium arch perfectly framed behind the art—a guaranteed showstopper for your feed!

3 - New Immersive Overhead Luminaries

For its 2025 return, ‘A Guiding Light’ features an exciting new element: a series of twinkling overhead luminaries suspended above the boulevard. These gently swaying lights complete the immersive environment, creating a soothing, rhythmic counterpoint to the massive banners and making your stroll truly magical.

4. Created by A-List Light Artists

We are thrilled to bring back the work of Douglas Green and Louisa Smurthwaite. These established figures in light art design have worked with global musical icons like Lady Gaga, David Byrne, Lorde, and Kylie Minogue, as well as major visual artists. Experience their world-class creativity right here at Wembley Park.

5. Plus! Explore More Festive Installations Across Wembley Park

Your visit to Olympic Way can be part of a larger cultural tour around the district. Be sure to explore these other captivating festive installations complementing the main celestial commission:

• The Wishing Tree: Visit the 30ft participatory installation on the Spanish Steps. Grab a tag and add your community messages, hopes, and wishes throughout December.
• 'From Saint to Santa': A fascinating outdoor exhibition tracking the history of Father Christmas, from Roman Saturnalia to the modern day.
• Wembley Park Art Trail: Discover other stunning, permanent light interventions that interact with our architecture, including the neon-filled Grade II-listed K6 telephone boxes and the mesmerizing Shadow Wall installation by Jason Bruges Studio.

Christmas at Wembley Park

Christmas in Wembley Park brings the neighbourhood to life with new lights, festive installations and a busy programme of things to see and do. Market Square hosts the festive market with live performances and a 15-metre Christmas tree at the centre of it all. Olympic Way is home to this year’s showstoppers, from the Gingerbread Arch to the return of A Guiding Light lighting installation.

Families can visit Santa’s Grotto at London Designer Outlet, open across selected dates in December, and pick up the Winter Trail map for a fun wander around the centre. BOXPARK Wembley is hosting free Christmas film screenings, adding a relaxed way to round off a festive day out.

Across the estate you’ll find new selfie spots, glowing decorations and winter activations, including the Climbing Tree on the Spanish Steps. With places to eat, shop and celebrate, Winter in Wembley Park is ready for visits with friends, family or a much-needed seasonal escape.