London looks always fabulous at Christmas. Everywhere you look, there’s a wonderfully designed shop facade, some dazzling festive lights adorning the streets or giant Christmas Trees. I don’t recall having lived in a city as pretty as London at this time of year. To celebrate this magical season, I’ve decided to share with you my top picks…
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON presents you London’s most magical Christmas Trees!

1. Covent Garden

Covent Garden is for me the best place to feel the Christmas vibes. There’s nothing to beat this giant Christmas tree in the middle of the Piazza! All the lovely decorations and lights are set up for the festive period and it’s quite magical when the sun goes down.

In particular, this year visitors can enjoy a daily snowfall on the West and North Piazza from 9th November until 27th December from 12pm until 7pm. Don’t expect a full snowstorm though, these snowflakes are here to mark the occasion above all… But kids will definitely love it!

I’ve read that the Christmas Tree comes from the same farm that the Royal Family gets their trees from, where three trees are planted for every tree that is cut down.

You will find many attractions in December around Covent Garden to cheer you up: the vibrant Apple Market, of course, a few sculptures of monumental balloon dogs by artist whatsisname, some Christmas displays (this year it’s a Disney’s Frozen theme), a Lego immersive adventure, a winter tunnel, and a Christmas Village featuring eight luxury igloos and a few chalets to eat and drink.

 

It’s definitely worth wandering in Covent Garden at Christmas to admire the Christmas tree and get you into the festive mood at this special time of the year.

Try to avoid the peak hours though by getting there either in the early morning or late afternoon. 

2. Trafalgar Square

This is certainly not the most gorgeous one (there’s a lack of ornaments up there!) but definitely the tallest in town!

On the positive side, its location in the center of Trafalgar Square creates a wonderful setting to enjoy the Christmas season, especially as (since last year) you’ll find a Christmas market just in front of the National Gallery with shops selling Christmas presents and warm drinks…

Another interesting fact is historical: every year since 1947, the 20-meter tall Christmas Tree in Trafalgar gets shipped from Oslo to London as a sign of gratitude for Britain’s support during World War II. I can’t even imagine such a journey for a tree like this, nor its installation…

3. National History Museum

This is a special Christmas Tree as it stands right in the middle of the National History Museum’s ice rink. A unique setting to feel the magic of Christmas, isn’t it?

This year will be the final time that the museum will host the ice rink though (they plan to transform their five-acre gardens into a hub for urban wildlife), so if you want to make the most of this fabulous backdrop you’d better hurry!

4. Somerset House

This is another impressive setting for a Christmas Tree: installed in the center of the Somerset House courtyard, close to the ice rink, this giant Christmas Tree welcomes all visitors with elegance.

The atmosphere here is amazing. I love the beauty of the surrounding buildings, the opportunity to either explore the Courtauld Gallery or enjoy some ice skating (or even have a glass of Moet & Chandon champagne who’s the official partner of the Christmas festivities), and the quietness of the place just a few steps away from the hustle and bustle of The Strand.

5. St James’s

Despite its proximity to Trafalgar Square, this Christmas Tree is quite under-the-radar with very few tourists around, thus it is nice to admire and easy to photograph.

I love the style and elegance of St James’s and the perspectives around the tree.

The orange hues of the baubles and ornaments match perfectly well with the sunrise and sunset, it’s a marvel not to miss!

6. Duke of York Square

This Christmas Tree is certainly gigantic and rarely massively decorated. But as said Leonardo Da Vinci “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”!

Its location opposite the Saatchi Gallery on the Duke of York Square Food Market makes it impossible to miss.

It’s a perfect go-to especially if you want to sort out your Christmas shopping and enjoy the festive lights on Kings Road 🙂

7. Leadenhall Market

I’ve discovered Leadenhall Market soon after arriving in London and have visited it regularly since then, especially at Christmas (for its beautiful Christmas tree and unique atmosphere) and in the summer.

Leadenhall Market is a buzzy, gorgeous covered market in the heart of the City of London, featuring a selection of boutiques, shops, restaurants, and bars.

It’s a hidden gem with a rich heritage and stunning architecture dating back to the 14th century (2021 marked the 700th anniversary of Leadenhall Market).

I highly recommend exploring this iconic London landmark at Christmas!

8. The Claridge’s

Every year in this iconic art-deco hotel in the heart of Mayfair a beautiful Christmas Tree is put up in the hall, with everyone free to come and see it!

 

 

 

I love the modernity of this one with the lighting effects. And it is quite stunning to step into this renowned hotel…

9. The Connaught

In front of The Connaught stands the 9m Christmas tree designed by friends of the hotel, influential London-based artist duo Annie Morris and Idris Khan OBE.

Unfortunately, I could not come at night to admire it, as this Christmas Tree isn’t as minimalist as it looks during the day: “Morris’s Stack sculptures comprise of irregular spheres, precariously arranged into tall columns, and painted in vivid hues and have been recreated in 2D especially for The Connaught Christmas Tree. The colourful spheres are individually lit, some with over 1,600 glittering lights.
Stacked with staggering scale, these precarious towers represent the idea of uncertainty that has come to define our lives – particularly as a result of the pandemic – and that beauty can be born from the unknown and positive light can be found in the darkness.
Topping the tree is a shining figure which represents one of Morris’s ‘Flower Women’, a recurring motif that appears in her work”

10. New Bond Street

This is not only the Christmas Tree that is worth the visit here but also the fact that the brands around it (especially Cartier and Ralph Lauren) on New Bond Street take Christmas very seriously and prove their talent by decorating their shop windows with more ingenuity each year…

11. Hay’s Galleria

Hays Galleria is certainly not as well-known as the other places I listed here, but it’s a wonderful covered arcade to discover, especially at this time of year when the Christmas Tree and the Christmas shops are ready for visitors to enjoy the festive season!

There are several coffee shops and restaurants too and the proximity to Tower Bridge and the riverside make it a magical place to explore.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are about to visit any of these places soon, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!

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To go further:
Covent Garden: London WC2E 9DD
Trafalgar Square: Trafalgar Sq, London WC2N 5DN
National History Museum: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, SW7 5BD
Somerset House: Strand, London WC2R 1LA
St James’s: Waterloo Place, City of Westminster, London SW1Y
Duke of York Square: 80 Duke of York Square, London SW3 4LY
Leadenhall Market: Gracechurch St, London EC3V 1LT
Claridge’s: Brook Street, London W1K 4HR
The Connaught: Carlos Pl, London W1K 2AL
New Bond Street: New Bond Street, Mayfair, City of Westminster, London W1S
Hays Galleria: 1 Battle Bridge Ln, London SE1 2HD

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