Every festive season, the capital’s finest hotels and cultural landmarks pull out all the stops when it comes to creating the most spectacular Christmas trees in London. From Covent Garden’s traditionally elegant pine to Jimmy Choo’s contemporary marvel at Claridge’s and Daniel Lismore’s thought-provoking installation at the London Edition, this year’s offerings are some of the most exciting yet. Here, we’ve rounded-up the best Christmas trees in London to visit this season.
The Most Stylish Christmas Trees in London
You know the festive season is well and truly underway when the Claridge’s Christmas tree is unveiled. This year they’ve partnered up with Sandra Choi, creative director of Jimmy Choo, on a spellbinding festive creation. Named ‘The Diamond’, the tree is a dazzling feat of sculptural creation, standing 16-feet tall and taking over 350 hours to construct. Crafted from 69 shimmering mirrors and festooned with 60 metres of sparkling lights, it’s finished off with a giant glittering pink bow – a nod to one of the key design themes of Jimmy Choo’s winter collection. But what really sets this tree apart is the fact that you can actually step inside it and experience just what it feels like to be in the heart of a diamond. Truly magical.
Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR
claridges.co.uk
For their festive offering this year, the London Edition has partnered with artist Daniel Lismore to create an eco-friendly festive offering that champions Lismore’s love of repurposing when it comes to fashion. The artist has long been an active campaigner for the recycling of clothes, and this ethos is reflected in his show-stopping 18-foot tree, which is layered with gold and jewel-coloured upcycled fabrics and textiles and topped with an angelic figure to create an opulent – yet sustainable – look. Created in partnership with LSD Studios, electric vehicles were used to deliver all the materials to the hotel, and the magnificent tree itself was crafted from repurposed timber and biodegradable vinyls, in a bid to make it as eco-conscious as possible.
10 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3NP
editionhotels.com
This year, the piazza in Covent Garden has been transformed into a Christmas Village, complete with a festive food market, a mulled wine festival and an immersive pop-up space designed by Dolce & Gabbana. At the heart of all this festive magic sits the 60-foot British-grown Christmas tree – their biggest yet – adorned with 30,000 sparkling fairy lights, thousands of traditional red and silver baubles and topped off with an enormous bow. And if that wasn’t enough to get you in the holiday spirit, they’re even hosting daily snowfalls every hour in front of the tree.
Cranbourn Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 7AR
coventgarden.london
The Ned really pulls out all the stops when it comes to their Christmas celebrations, with special festive menus across all their restaurants and carols organised by choral maestro extraordinaire Gareth Malone. But the highlight has to be their splendid tree, created by their in-house florists Grandirosa, which this year stands at 21-feet tall, making it one of the largest indoor Christmas trees in London. The British-grown Nordmann Fir has been dressed with 4,000 traditional fairy lights and more than 1,000 decorations in this year’s suitably festive colour scheme of burgundy, gold and champagne.
27 Poultry, The City, London EC2R 8AJ
thened.com
Standing proudly on Carlos Place in the heart of Mayfair, The Connaught’s Christmas tree has once again been designed in collaboration with a top British artist – last year it was dynamic duo Annie Morris and Idris Khan OBE, and this year it’s the turn of influential East London-born artist Suzy Murphy. The 30-foot tall British-sourced Nordmann Fir is bedecked with 34 white neon dogs, inspired by Murphy’s own childhood dog, Toby. The whimsical creation features neon canines running around the tree, while at the top sits her beloved Toby. Along the bottom, meanwhile, Murphy has added her own philosophical mantra – ‘solitude, truth, passion and peace’ – which describes the various stages one must pass through in order to arrive at peace.
Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL
the-connaught.co.uk
Skate at Somerset House has become a regular staple on the Christmas calendar over recent years, turning the spectacular neoclassical courtyard into a winter wonderland complete with festive foodie pop-ups and DJ sets. This year Skate has partnered up with Moët & Chandon for a fizz-filled takeover that includes indulgent post-skate cocktails. The French champagne house has even left its mark on the eye-catching 40-foot Christmas tree, which is topped with shimmering decorations in the shape of champagne corks nestled in amongst the gold baubles.
Strand, Covent Garden, London WC2R 1LA
somersethouse.org.uk
As the nation prepares itself for its first Christmas without the Queen, it seems only fitting that The Goring – the only hotel to have been granted a Royal Warrant for hospitality services by Her Majesty herself – should pay tribute to our beloved late monarch with their Christmas tree this year. Created in partnership with world-renowned British jewellers (and fellow Royal Warrant holders) Garrard, they’ve designed two tiara-themed trees, each one adorned with glittering replicas of the Queen’s favourite tiaras. Eagle-eyed Royal fans will spot the Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara, which was worn by Her Majesty on her wedding day, and The Lover’s Knot Tiara, perched right at the top of the tree, which famously became Princess Diana’s signature tiara.
15 Beeston Place, Westminster, London SW1S 0JW
thegoring.com
Nobody does Christmas quite like the Ritz, and its gloriously traditional tree has long been a highlight of the festive season in London. Towering 25-feet-high in the hotel’s lobby and grown specifically for the hotel in the Scottish Highlands, the tree always follows a chic red and gold theme and is decorated every year by Paul Thomas Flowers. Strewn with 75 sets of lights, its bedecked with enormous gold bows, shiny wrapped presents and sparkling reindeer, but on closer inspection you’ll find delicate teacups and miniature crowns nestled in amongst the fir fronds.
150 Piccadilly, St James’s, London W1J 9BR
theritzlondon.com
Following on from the success of their Fiona Leahy-designed tree last year, the Television Centre have tapped another one of London’s stylish creatives for their latest festive offering, asking jeweller Rosh Mahtani, founder of Alighieri, to bring her sought-after designs to their Christmas display. The 40-foot tree has been crowned with the Alighieri Hand of Protection – based on one of the jewellery brand’s signature talismans – designed to symbolise a message of hope this festive season. The sculpture was modelled on Alighieri’s popular Curator necklace, and as part of the partnership, 15% of all Curator sales will be donated to Refuge through the Christmas period. Visitors will also find QR codes dotted around, where you can find out more about this vital domestic abuse charity and donate directly.
101 Wood Lane, White City, London W12 7FW
televisioncentre.com
Those rushing through St Pancras station this Christmas might have reason to stop and pause for a moment, if only to admire the magnificent sculptural tree that has been unveiled there. Created in partnership with The Prince’s Trust, the 33-foot tree takes inspiration from the London skyline, which the station has been part of since opening in 1868. The style of hand illustration used to design the distinctive tree was inspired by a 1955 version of Twelfth Day of Christmas – a British production of Edwardian Britain – showing the chaos that ensued from receiving all 364 gifts from the 12 Days of Christmas. So keep your eyes peeled for lords-a-leaping and maids-a-milking among the terraced houses, towers and monuments depicted. Throughout the festive season, visitors to St Pancras will be able to learn more about the work that The Prince’s Trust does, as well as pledge donations.
Euston Road, King’s Cross, London N1C 4QP
stpancras.com
