It starts earlier every year: Christmas shops open in August, light shows sell out in September, tubs of Christmas chocolates go on sale in October, and Mariah Carey has fully defrosted come November. But when London’s iconic Christmas trees start to light up the capital? That’s when you know the festive season has truly begun.
From spectacular festive hotel displays to twinkling landmarks, here are some of the best Christmas trees in London to check out this festive season.
Claridge’s
A tree shape (or indeed a tree at all) is in no way a given at Claridge’s. Every year, the iconic institution of the art deco hotel’s tree is passed from designer to designer, and despite its modern appearance, this year Jimmy Choo have kept things pretty traditional – by Claridge’s tree standards anyway.
The stunning installation has been named ‘The Diamond’, standing at over five metres tall and having taken 350 hours to construct. It’s crafted from 69 mirrors and sparkling lights which pulse and reflect off the mirrored surfaces and 250 aluminium panels, finished off with a giant, glittering bow topper – a nod to Jimmy Choo’s winter collection.
Guests can even stand inside the tree to take in the enchanting reflections themselves, turning the hotel lobby into a fully immersive space for the festive season.
WHERE: BROOK STREET, LONDON W1K 4HR
WEBSITE: WWW.CLARIDGES.CO.UK
Covent Garden
Arguably the most festive spot in town, it wouldn’t be Christmas in London without a visit to Covent Garden and their iconic tree.
Standing at a whopping sixty feet tall, the tree sparkles with over 30,000 dazzling lights to transform the West Piazza into the festive destination of dreams. There are over 115,000 lights in total, taking 126 hours to install with 100 people involved in the process.
For the most magical of experiences, head down to the Piazza from 1st December for hourly flurries of snow.
WHERE: COVENT GARDEN, LONDON
WEBSITE: WWW.COVENTGARDEN.LONDON
St. Pancras International
Christmas has arrived at St. Pancras with their much-anticipated 2022 tree. Every year, the station pulls out all the stops with a new brand partnership for their iconic tree, and this year they’ve partnered with The Prince’s Trust to share their wonderful work, helping thousands of young people every year to realise their full potential and find meaningful employment.
The tree itself is inspired by the London skyline, and on closer inspection, you’ll find London landmarks like Big Ben and St Pauls, alongside terraced houses, red phone boxes, ferris wheels, bridges and skyscrapers.
WHERE: EUSTON RD, LONDON N1C 4QP
WEBSITE: WWW.STPANCRAS.COM
Shangri-La The Shard
The highest hotel in London is putting a celestial twist on the festive season with a space-age Christmas tree and futuristic festive décor designed by McQueens Flowers – titled ‘Shangri-La Christmas of the Future’.
Watch the neon lights shimmer down the tree before tucking into a galaxy-inspired Festive Afternoon Tea or viewing London’s NYE fireworks from the best spot in the sky.
WHERE: 31 ST THOMAS ST, LONDON SE1 9QU
WEBSITE: WWW.SHANGRI-LA.COM
The Ritz
Twenty-five feet of tree, covered in glorious red and gold decorations, makes a visit to The Ritz feel spectacularly Christmassy this December.
A rare, traditional tree on the festive luxury hotel scene, the festive décor matches the interiors of the building perfectly, dripping in gold and velvet, with over 6,500 lights to make sure it’s sparkly enough.
WHERE: 150 PICCADILLY, ST. JAMES’S, LONDON W1J 9BR
WEBSITE: WWW.THERITZLONDON.COM
Mondrian Shoreditch
Visitors will no doubt be stopped in their paths when met with Mondrian Shoreditch’s magical abstract Christmas tree.
Created in collaboration with internationally renowned East London artist Martin Richman, the tree is made up of acrylic blades dangling from nylon threads, projecting a rainbow of colours around the hotel in an extraordinary visual experience.
WHERE: 45 CURTAIN RD, LONDON EC2A 3PT
WEBSITE: WWW.SBE.COM
The Connaught
The seventh year The Connaught Christmas Tree has been designed by a celebrated artist, 2022’s tree has been designed by influential East London-born artist and sculptor Suzy Murphy, and is inspired by childhood nostalgia.
Influenced by ‘Toby was a girl’, a series of sketches based on her childhood pet, the neon dogs ‘run’ around the tree while the mantra ‘solitude, truth, passion and peace’ is illuminated at the bottom.
No strangers to four-legged friends themselves, it’s the perfect homage to The Connaught’s famous Connaught Hound, too.
WHERE: 16 CARLOS PL, LONDON W1K 2AL
WEBSITE: WWW.THE-CONNAUGHT.CO.UK
Sketch
The term ‘tree’ is used loosely here, but you wouldn’t expect anything less from Sketch. This festive season, they pay homage to the origins of their Conduit Street home with the theme of ‘A Georgian Christmas’. And so, their Christmas tree isn’t really a tree at all, but a dancing Pegasus instead.
Located in The Lecture Room & Library, and drawing inspiration from the mystical fairy tales and familiar fables told around the fireplace on a cold Christmas evening, it’s adorned with over 2,000 preserved and pearled roses, sparkling foliage and feather wings, and encrusted with Swarovski Crystals.
We’re obsessed.
WHERE: 9 CONDUIT ST, LONDON W1S 2XG
WEBSITE: WWW.SKETCH.LONDON
The Savoy
Every year, a team of elves work incredibly hard to bring Christmas to life at The Savoy, where hotel guests wake up to a sparkling lobby that’s been magically transformed.
This year, The Savoy has partnered with Champagne Laurent-Perrier to create the hotel’s transformation into their ‘It’s Showtime’ theme, complete with champagne trolleys, a gazebo centrepiece in the Thames Foyer, glistening mirrored baubles, and a small stage where guests can become the stars of the show.
WHERE: STRAND, LONDON WC2R 0EZ
WEBSITE: WWW.THESAVOYLONDON.COM
The Westin London City
Not your average Christmas tree, The Westin London’s festive display transforms the hotel into an enchanted wood, full of life-sized snowy animals right in the middle of London.
Pop in every Wednesday from 5:30pm and be enchanted by your favourite traditional songs performed by an acapella quartet in a snowy wonderland overlooking the River Thames.
WHERE: 60 UPPER THAMES ST., LONDON EC4V 3AD
WEBSITE: WWW.MARRIOTT.CO.UK
The Franklin
It’s not just the Christmas tree that’s been given a glow up this year at The Franklin. The decorations, interior design and furniture have all been designed by the renowned and award-winning Anouska Hampel for a look that brings the whole lobby together.
The opulent interiors and embroidered furnishings elegantly combine with thick deep green wreaths, glittering white lights and shimmering silver baubles, capturing the spirit of a eras gone by while creating something totally modern.
WHERE: 24 EGERTON GARDENS, LONDON SW3 2DB
WEBSITE: WWW.COLLEZIONE.STARHOTELS.COM
Trafalgar St James
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at The Trafalgar St. James! Truly making a colourful splash, the tree stands tall in the luxury hotel, with warm lights and metallic baubles.
If you really want to get into the festive swing of things, book in to Tipple Tea at Rockwell after a spot of Christmas shopping, or head up to The Rooftop to overlook the dazzling lights of Traflagar Square.
WHERE: 2 SPRING GARDENS, TRAFALGAR SQ, ST. JAMES’S, LONDON SW1A 2TS
WEBSITE: WWW.TRAFALGARSTJAMES.COM
Claridge’s
Covent Garden
St. Pancras International
Shangri-La The Shard
The Ritz
Mondrian Shoreditch
The Connaught
Sketch
The Savoy
The Westin London City
The Franklin
Trafalgar St James
