Deck the halls with boughs of holly and, if you’re a five-star hotel, a magnificent Christmas tree. From a high-fashion collaboration at Claridge’s to a sustainable reimagination at Pan Pacific, these are the most impressive Christmas trees in London to scout out this winter…
Claridge’s, Mayfair
Claridge’s can always be relied upon to pull out all the stops for the festive season and this year it’s called on Louis Vuitton for a little help. The fashion house unveiled its creation for the hotel lobby on 23 November, bringing together two names that have long celebrated the art of travel that inspired the tree’s Vuitton trunk design.
Claridge’s and Louis Vuitton were both founded in 1854 and have a long and stored history. The 1850s also saw Louis Vuitton (the man) appointed as the personal layetier (trunkmaker and personal packer) to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, who made Claridge’s her winter residence. Eugénie famously hosted Queen Victoria at the hotel, leading to the hotel being known as the annex of Buckingham Palace. Accordingly, three decades later, Vuitton would open his first London store around the corner from Claridge’s, and the brand has been a favourite with the hotel’s guests ever since.
Brook Street, W1J, visit claridges.co.uk
The Ned, City of London
A venue as vast as The Ned demands an equally magnificent tree and the private members’ club has risen to the occasion with a 22-ft British-grown Premier Nordman variety. In keeping with the opulent surrounds of the former banking hall, the tree is decked out in 4,000 fairy lights and more than 1,000 glittering baubles.
27 Poultry, EC2R, visit thened.com
The London Edition, Soho
This festive season, The London Edition has collaborated with renowned artistic design studio, Campbell-Rey, to create a 20-foot tree capturing the wonder of Christmas. Inspired by the childlike joy felt on Christmas Eve and with a nod to Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s 1816 set design for Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Campbell-Rey has created oversized hand-blown Murano glass baubles and hand-painted decorations to make what appears heavy feather-light.
10 Berners Street, W1T 3NP, visit editionhotels.com
Shangri-La The Shard, Southwark
Shangri-La The Shard has partnered with British beauty brand Jo Loves to create a classic candy-striped confection for its 2023 Christmas decoration scheme. Standing proudly in the lobby at 14-feet tall, the tree is decked out in red-and-white striped baubles and bows and accompanied by a life-size perfume bottle inviting guests to step inside for a photo moment. Scented by clouds of Jo Loves fragrance, mirrors and lights also provide a multi-sensory spectacle that brings the season to life.
31 St Thomas St, SE1 9QU, shangri-la.com
Dorchester, Mayfair
The Dorchester’s resident florist Phillip Hammond is behind the five-star hotel’s festive decorations this year, including Christmas trees in the Promenade, rose-gold furnishings in The Grill by Tom Booton and a resplendent arrangement in the forecourt and fireplaces festooned with baubles and stockings. The centrepiece at the entrance is a towering 15ft Nordmann fir, beautifully adorned with green and gold baubles. The arrangements are accompanied by a whole host of festive occasions, including a Santa’s grotto where children can write their own letter to Father Christmas and send it via The Dorchester’s post-box to the North Pole.
53 Park Lane, W1K 1QA, visit dorchestercollection.com
The Connaught, Mayfair
While Mayfair’s Connaught hotel promises to be wonderfully seasonal inside, the festive magic starts on the street thanks to this magnificent Christmas tree designed by influential British artist and sculptor Dame Rachel Whiteread. Whiteread regularly uses circular forms in her art and this tree is no exception, highlighting a symbol of hope this Christmas. The 31-foot Nordmann Fir has been decorated with 102 circular neon white hoops to encourage Londoners to celebrate a feeling of togetherness and brightness throughout the festive season. This is the eighth consecutive year an artist has been called upon to design The Connaught tree, with alumni including Damien Hirst, Antony Gormley, Tracey Emin and Idris Khan.
Carlos Place, W1K 2AL, visit the-connaught.co.uk
The Lanesborough, Knightsbridge
The grand Regency residence of The Lanesborough has been transformed into an enchanted country house in time for Christmas, filled with stunning seasonal displays titled Magical Regency Splendour. Created by Leanne Roberts-Hewitt from Wildabout Flowers, the fabulous installation starts with the exterior and entrance to the hotel, which is draped with a dramatic pine garland and oversized red bows. A red sleigh sits to the right of the entrance, piled up with presents, rugs and cushions (ideal for the ‘gram), while upon entering the five-star hotel, guests will discover a custom-made pine arch and multiple pine trees, paving the way for the stunning visual centrepiece.
Hyde Park Corner, SW1X 7TA, visit oetkercollection.com
45 Park Lane, Mayfair
The festivities commence at 45 Park Lane with the launch of the hotel’s first Artist’s Christmas tree which will include bespoke decorations by artist Hormazd Narielwalla. The tree, which represents part of the 45 Park Lane art series, will spotlight handcrafted representations of iconic pop culture figures, all under the overarching theme of Christmas Stars. Using his series on British singer David Bowie as his starting point, Narielwalla has created bespoke decorations based on British music icons.
45 Park Lane, W1K 1PN, visit dorchestercollection.com
Aqua Shard, London Bridge
Aqua Shard, one of London’s highest restaurants, introduces The Giving Tree, adorned with wooden toys and cuddly teddy bears to bring joy to the children at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Throughout December, guests can contribute to GOSH Charity’s Christmas Appeal with a £1 donation, bringing festive cheer to those continuing treatment during the holiday season. Beneath this tree of giving, discover presents brimming with essential food items, ready to be gifted to local food banks.
Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY, visit aquashard.co.uk
The Londoner, Leicester Square
Uber-hip West End hotel The Londoner called on a suitably fashionable figure in the form of renowned London-based luxury designer Huishan Zhang for its 2023 Christmas tree. The new tree is adorned with large black and white roses, first seen in Zhang’s Resort 2024 collection, which drew inspiration from Eileen Chang’s 1944 novella Red Rose, White Rose. While less obviously festive than some of its counterparts, the black and white colour scheme is designed to celebrate both the pure and dark side of a woman.
38 Leicester Square, WC2H 7DX, visit thelondoner.com
St Pancras, King’s Cross
Experience the magic of the season at King’s Cross station courtesy of Hatchards’ 12-metre masterpiece. This literary wonderland has been inspired by the enchanting realms created by authors, featuring a winding staircase and 270 shelves adorned with over 3,800 hand-painted books, including timeless classics like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Within the tree are eight cosy nooks where visitors can immerse themselves in the magic of Christmas. Each booth is equipped with speakers that allow you to select a five-minute excerpt from 16 different Penguin Books audiobooks, featuring authors including Charles Dickens, Beatrix Potter, Zadie Smith, and more.
Euston Road, N1C 4QP, visit stpancras.com
Pan Pacific London, Liverpool Street
Putting a unique spin on the traditional Christmas tree, Pan Pacific’s Mosaic is a sustainable reimagination designed by renowned artist Arnaud Lapierre and located on One Bishopsgate Plaza, just outside the five-star hotel. Set to illuminate the heart of the city against the impressive backdrop of the hotel’s external ‘orchard of trees’ light installation, the iridescent structure reflects every detail of its surroundings, epitomising the diversity of old and new London architecture through the reflection of light. The striking and sustainable installation is made entirely of recycled emerald-green glass and mirrored cubes.
80 Houndsditch, EC3A 7AB, visit panpacific.com
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