The Best Christmas Decorations in London This Year

If you’re dreaming of London during the holiday season, but can’t make it there in person, why not take a virtual vacation? Our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has rounded up photos of the best Christmas decorations, displays and lights in London this year, from the 2019 holiday store windows to luxury hotels to Christmas trees. here’s a glimpse of a sparkling city decorated beautifully for the holiday season. In our spin around the best Christmas lights in London, unlike in a Dickens tale, there are no ghosts. Just the beauty of Christmas Present.

what are the best Christmas decorations in London this year?

You might envision London during the holidays as being all about tradition. And red and green decorations. But this cosmopolitan city has much more going on than that.

The best Christmas decorations in London this year come in many colors, styles and moods. The holiday lights of London are varied and dramatic.

There’s even a towering Christmas tree presiding over a brightly-lit outdoor skating rink (that doesn’t happen only in New York, dear reader).

It’s extremely difficult to choose a favorite, and we’re not even going to try. We want to see them all!

a rainbow of 2019 holiday decorations in London

Traditional Santa Red

1. The Ritz

Christmas tea at The Palm Court at the Ritz London is like an afternoon in an Edwardian winter wonderland, surrounded by ruby red and gold trimmings and a lavishly decorated tree.

2. Claridge’s

Christian Louboutin designed this year’s Claridge’s Christmas tree. And it is, of course, decorated with his signature red. Look closely for shoe-shaped ornaments made from gingerbread biscuits!

3. Aqua Shard

Scottish fashion designer Holly Fulton juxtaposes the modern architecture of the Aqua Shard restaurant with a whimsical tableau, “DecoDance.” It’s inspired by 1920’s glamour and traditional Christmas motifs.

4. The Ned

The Ned has imported an 18-foot beast into its lobby. The tree is decorated with 4,000 fairy lights, velvet bows and more than 1,000 gold and burgundy baubles.

4. Sketch London

Opulent and ethereal, the immersive installations at iconic Sketch made our jaws drop. Their Christmas tea is a must. 

5. The Beaumont in Mayfair

Our favorite hotel in London, the Beaumont, offers a swanky Art Deco holiday vibe, with dashes of Manhattan in the heart of Mayfair. Their Colony Restaurant will be open on Christmas Day.

6. Leadenhall Market

Leadenhall Market in the City of London casts it magical spell at the holidays with a traditional Christmas tree that happens to coordinate perfectly with its year-round decor.

7. The Dorchester

Created by designer florist Philip Hammond, the ‘Letters to Father Christmas….’ motif includes life-size nutcracker toys and tall stacks of gold-wrapping paper gift boxes.

Snowy White 

1. Annabels

 This year, a towering, silvery-white Christmas tree festoons the facade of this private member’s club. Giant, stylish gold baubles dot the tree with a playful rhythm for instant appeal.

2. Selfridges

The Oxford Street windows at Selfridge’s are the stuff of fairy tales this year. In Future Fantasy: A Christmas For Modern Times, famous stories, including Cinderella, the Princess and the Pea and Jack and the Beanstalk are portrayed with a serene, minimalist and futuristic aesthetic. 

Inside, a 13-meter-high, 1.5 ton mirrored Christmas tree adorns the Atrium space, bringing the theme memorably to life.

3. The Ivy Chelsea Garden

 Welcome to Narnia! Even the doors of the sophisticated Kings Road restaurant is disguised as the iconic wardrobe amidst a magical cascade of snow, ice and sparkles.

4. Harrods

Snowy landscapes and a menagerie of animals celebrate The Kingdom of Christmas in the Brompton Road windows at Harrods. Each animal was chosen by a different luxury brand in reflection of their heritage and product aesthetic. Guess who got the leopard?

5. Tate Britain

Tattered banners, tangled lights, ice and mud transform the facade of the Tate into a post-apocalyptic ransacked temple. From artist Anne Hardy, it is perhaps a sober reminder from the Ghost of Christmas Future.

6. Sketch London

At The Glade bar you’ll find an enchanting floral installation called “a storm in a teacup” created by designer and creative artist Kim Beedie of Figa & Co. The gorgeous and ingenious installation spirals out of a tiny china cup and ascends into a vortex above the room.

Juniper Green

1. Trafalgar Square

In Trafalgar Square, the tree on display is sent from Norway every year. It’s a gift from the country, to express gratitude for the support Britain offered during the second world war.

2. Carnaby Street

Carnaby Street’s Christmas lights are green in philosophy and display. Spotlighting ocean conservation, this sustainable spectacle made of recycled materials features a dazzling and immersive underwater scene of floating kelp, clusters of jellyfish and a five-meter-long whale blowing bubbles, for under-the-sea holiday fun.

3. Oxford Street

New this year, 27 LED ‘light curtains’ adorn the length of the iconic High Street.

4. Fortnum & Mason

Feline festive? We always look forward to the heritage brand’s Christmas windows. The eight windows feature little cats who are big on personality, creating the store’s famous hampers, mince pies and yule logs.

5. The Churchill Arms

 It’s hard to believe that this Kensington pub started their festive tradition 26 years ago with only 10 Christmas trees. Now the trees, over 80 in number, go all the way up to the roof and are outfitted with 22,500 lights for maximalist Christmas cheer.

6. Covent Garden

 The piazza’s giant mistletoe chandeliers are up again for London’s most romantic Christmas display.

7. The Savoy Hotel

Those are all lovely, but by far our favorite green London holiday decoration this year is hands-down the dragon-shaped LEGO Christmas tree at the Savoy Hotel.

Festive Fuschia and Electric Pink

1. Kew Gardens

This year at Kew Gardens, there’s even more nighttime magic than before. The 2019 winter trail takes a magical new route and includes a host of all-new installations. Expect glittering spiral trees and dazzling arch leading to a cascade of glowing silvery shards at the Treetop Walkway. Just like always, the Holly Bushes will sing, the Tunnel of Light will twinkle, and the flickering Fire Garden will captivate. Some things should never change.

2. Liberty of London

Electric pink and lush jewel tones embellish this iconic store with majesty and exoticism. And the ‘Tree of Liberty’ floats and flourishes in the the central atrium with a menagerie of animals and charming baubles. It’s all inspired by the work of poet Gabrielle Djanogly.

3. Eltham Palace

South London’s posh art deco mansion/medieval castle becomes enchanted with a maze of lights, talking trees and even a giant disco ball floating over the moat.

4. The Lanesborough

We always look forward to this Hyde Park gem’s artistic installations. This year, Tony Marklew brings to life the magic of Ralph & Russo’s couture with a canopy of chandelier-like crystals and  silk petal flowers in gorgeous hues of raspberry and ruby red.

Technicolor, Architectural and Abstract

1. Harvey Nichols

Purple and green, why not? The posh department store is inspired by the Northern Lights this year and the festive window displays are decked out with elegant Nordic motifs.

2. The Connaught

From internationally-acclaimed artist Sean Scully, the Connaught’s 30-foot abstract tree reminds us of something from the pages of a Dr. Suess book. And don’t we all want to feel like a kid at Christmas time? The display sports 25,000 light-bulbs separated into four blocks of color. According to the artist, “It’s a Suprematist Christmas tree wearing a starry night magician’s hat”.

3. The EDITION Hotel London

Designed by British artist Luke Edward Hall and conceived as a ‘riot of color,’ this playful 20-foot tree is camp at its best.

4. The Sanderson Hotel

London designer Yinka Ilori designed this abstract “tree” for the Sanderson London. ’s tree-shaped decoration. It’s made of painted wood and lit from within – a very cool way to suggest the idea of the holiday without being so on-the-nose.

5. The Curtain Hotel

More of a festive wigwam than a Christmas tree, Shoreditch hotel The Curtain commissioned designer Sadie Williams to create a holiday display made of recycled materials.

6. Granary Square

Granary Square is the home of fabled design school Central St Martins, so it’s no surprise that their tree this year is highly conceptual. 

7. St. Pancras

the St Pancras tree is always an event, and this year we’ve been treated to a perfectly Parisian display. The 36-foot homage to the Eiffel Tower is made from 1500 Lancôme perfume bottles,

Shimmering Silver and Gold

1. Bond Street

This tony street lined with designer boutiques is sporting feathers for the holiday.

2. Regent Street

The angels are back!

3. Sloane Square Chelsea

In Belgravia, the Chelsea Christmas lights illuminate Duke of York Square, Pavilion Road, Sloane Street and King’s Road.

4. One Aldwych Hotel

One Aldwych Hotel has a gorgeous golden willow tree designed by florist Mark Siredzuk. The lovely display is decorated with handmade ornaments, pine cones, and twinkling lights.

5. The Rosewood London

There’s also a tree of gold at the Rosewood London. 

6. Baker Street Marylebone

For the first time, there are Christmas lights in the Baker Street Quarter in Marylebone. The lights refer to the “blue stocking” parties that were once held in Portman Square Garden. 

the best Christmas decorations in London 2019

Those are our picks for the best Christmas decorations in London this year. Without question, there’s something for everyone. What say you? What’s your favorite of all? Happy holidays.

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Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, fitness and even investigating police misconduct. Julie lives in NYC where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women. Also kickboxing and spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.

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