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 Louis Vuitton’s magnificent sculptural creation at Claridge’s and Campbell-Rey’s fantastical 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.
Christmas Trees in London
Claridge’s
You know the festive season is well and truly underway when the Claridge’s Christmas tree is unveiled – it’s always one of the most talked about Christmas trees in London. This year they’ve partnered with Louis Vuitton on a spellbinding festive creation. Inspired by the art of travel, the tree is a dazzling feat of sculptural creation, immersed within two towering open LV Wardrobe Trunks standing on top of each other and covered in vintage Claridge’s travel stickers.
The tree itself is made up of 15 vertically placed chrome repurposed trunks of varying heights, which together create the silhouette of a traditional Christmas tree and reflect the hotel’s Art Deco architecture. Taking centre stage at the top of the tree is Asnières, the historic Louis Vuitton family home and atelier. It’s a fitting festive tribute to the thousands of LV trunks that have crossed the Mayfair hotel’s threshold since the design was first created in 1857.
Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR
claridges.co.uk
The London Edition
When it comes to the finest Christmas trees in London, the offering at the Edition always comes near the top of the list. This year, they’ve partnered with design studio Campbell-Rey, founded by Duncan Campbell and Charlotte Rey, to create a fantastical festive offering that embodies the wonder of Christmas. The 20-foot tree has been designed to evoke the sense of childlike joy felt peering up into the tree on Christmas eve, and was inspired by Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s 1816 Romantic set design for Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte).
Perspectives are played with through oversized handblown Murano glass baubles and with hand-painted decorations in materials of faux stones like lapis, onyx, marble and malachite – designed to look heavy but are, in fact, feather-light. Huge bows in Dedar silk moiré add to the sense of celebration, while the hand-gilded star crowning the tree adds a final magical flourish.
10 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3NP
editionhotels.com
The Ned
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 6,000 traditional fairy lights and more than 1,600 decorations in this year’s suitably festive colour scheme of burgundy, gold and plum.
27 Poultry, The City, London EC2R 8AJ
thened.com
The Lanesborough
For some Regency-style pomp and pageantry, head to The Lanesborough, who have turned to the popular era for their Christmas decorations this year. Their ‘Magical Regency Splendour’ display has been created by Leanne Roberts-Hewitt from Wildabout Flowers, and instantly transports visitors to a Bridgerton-esque festive scene. The hotel’s grand exterior portico has been draped with a luxurious pine garland and oversized red bows, while next to the entrance sits a bespoke red Lanesborough sleigh piled high with presents. Inside, you’ll find a veritable grotto of Christmas trees, all bedecked with vintage velvet bows in a traditional red, gold and green colour scheme. Lady Whistledown would definitely approve.
Hyde Park Corner, Belgravia, London SW1X 7TA
oetkercollection.com
The Connaught
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 influential East London-born artist Suzy Murphy, and this year it’s the turn of sculptor Dame Rachel Whiteread. The 31-foot tall British-sourced Premier Nordmann tree is bedecked with 102 circular neon white hoops, illuminating the streets of Mayfair. Whiteread often uses circular motifs in her artistic practice and here the circles of light have been incorporated to encourage Londoners to celebrate a feeling of togetherness and positive brightness throughout the festive season. The tree’s shimmering silhouette acts as a true beacon of hope this Christmas.
Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL
the-connaught.co.uk
Somerset House
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 with Switzerland Tourism to create a Swiss winter wonderland in the heart of London. They’ve even left their mark on the 40ft Christmas tree, which features a built-in chalet at its base with adorable skiing figurines inside each window, and beautiful red, gold and ‘paper airplane’ baubles.
Strand, Covent Garden, London WC2R 1LA
somersethouse.org.uk
The Ritz
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
St Pancras x Hatchards
Those rushing through St Pancras station this Christmas might have reason to stop and pause for a moment, if only to admire the magnificent tree that has been unveiled there. Created in partnership with Hatchards, London’s oldest bookshop, the tree stands at 12 metres tall and features a winding staircase, wrapping around 270 shelves. On them, you’ll find more than 3,800 books, which have been hand-painted and inscribed with titles of Christmas Classics such as Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
For the first time ever, visitors can actually sit within the tree, using one of the eight immersive cubby holes. There, kids and adults alike can sit and listen to five-minute excerpts read by top authors, including Zadie Smith, Michael Morpurgo and Richard Osman.
Euston Road, King’s Cross, London N1C 4QP
stpancras.com
Covent Garden
For the first time in almost a decade, the piazza in Covent Garden has introduced a brand new Christmas installation, complete with over 40 giant gold bells with red and gold glittering bows, as well as a festive food market and an immersive pop-up space designed by Marc Jacobs. At the heart of all this festive magic sits the 60-foot British-grown Christmas tree – undoubtedly one of the most impressive Christmas trees in London – adorned with 30,000 sparkling fairy lights, thousands of traditional red and silver baubles and topped off with an enormous bow. As if that wasn’t magical enough, there’s also a traditional Santa sleigh and the return of the Wonder Wood, filled with beautifully decorated Christmas trees.
Cranbourn Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 7AR
coventgarden.london
The Londoner
The most fashion-forward Christmas tree in town this year can be found at The Londoner, who have partnered with London-based designer Huishan Zhang on their festive offering. This isn’t their first collaboration – the luxury label showed their most recent collection in The Ballroom at the hotel during London Fashion Week in September. Featuring a dramatic monochrome colour scheme to celebrate both the pure and dark side of a woman, the tree is adorned with large black and white roses, which were first seen in Zhang’s Resort 2024 collection, and has been designed to celebrate the complexity of female identity.
38 Leicester Square, West End, London WC2H 7DX
thelondoner.com
45 Park Lane
In a nod to the hotel’s strong connections to the arts, 45 Park Lane has unveiled their first ever Artist’s Christmas tree, designed by renowned British collage artist Hormazd Narielwalla. Blending pop culture and timeless Christmas traditions, Narielwalla has crafted a range of bespoke decorations based on British music icons to hang from the tree. You’ll find the likes of David Bowie, Elton John and Freddie Mercury nestled amongst the fronds, all covered in twinkling jewels and glitter. If you fancy adding one to your own tree next year, all of the decorations will be available for purchase in January, with proceeds being donated to charity.
45 Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1PN
dorchestercollection.com
Shangri-La The Shard
This year, Shangri-La The Shard has teamed up with Jo Malone and iconic British home interiors brand Warner House on a special scent-inspired tree. Standing 14 feet tall, the tree is adorned with twinkling lights, chic red and white bows, and an array of mini bottles of Jo by Jo Loves, which also scents the fragrant tree. Next to it, meanwhile, you’ll find a life-size perfume bottle that visitors can actually step into for Instagram-worthy moments. Beneath the tree, you’ll discover a snowy scene where gifts wrapped in Warner House’s Starlight and Knotted Sash prints await.
31 St Thomas Street, London Bridge, London SE1 9QU
shangri-la.com
