Our top six London spots for festive inspiration

We can’t help noticing that London’s department stores are playing down their Christmas displays this year – a sign, perhaps, of straightened times. But fear not. If you are seeking some festive wow with statement trees and eye-catching illuminations, then London’s luxury hotels, private members’ clubs, restaurants and the city’s most glamorous railway station have delivered with aplomb. 

Their winter creations add extra sparkle as the backdrop to a celebratory glass of fizz. And for many of our clients who are embarking on renovation projects, they can inspire some innovative design ideas too. In one newly-completed project in Chelsea, we have one task left and that’s to decorate the client’s Christmas tree. We’ll be echoing the soft palette that adorns the room, but with enough gold to make it sparkle. Rich and elegant is the idea – and Christmas is one time of year where less is more doesn’t apply. 

Beyond our own dazzling projects, here are some of our favourite London locations that are packing a fun, festive punch this season. 

Claridge’s 

Mayfair’s world-famous art deco hotel has invited famous fashion houses to design its Christmas tree for the past 13 years, including Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry and Dior. This year it’s Louis Vuitton’s turn to bring their signature style to the party, marking the latest chapter in a partnership between the fashion house and hotel that began 170 years ago, when Monsieur Vuitton would personally pack the trunks belonging to the Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, for her long winter stays at Claridges. 

Don’t expect anything as traditional as tinsel, baubles or even branches in 2023, however, as the fashion brand’s take on a tree – which stands in the hotel’s famed black and white marbled lobby – consists of a 5.2-metre high tower of 15 chrome trunks, adorned with vintage Claridge’s travel stickers to celebrate ‘the art of travel’. Book a table in the Painter’s Room bar for a prime view. 

Annabel’s 

If the festive season means going OTT on the glitz and glamour, then it’s Christmas all year round at Annabel’s, the private members’ club in Berkeley Square whose 2018 revamp has inspired many an Instagram frenzy. The ladies’ powder room alone, with its rose-strewn ceiling, is a must-see, and many a member (or guest of) has whiled away an hour or two over a cocktail in the club’s exuberantly decadent rooms, making a mental note of how to reinvigorate their own homes. 

This season provides the perfect excuse to go all out with the façade too. Last year saw an illuminated Carousel of Dreams, complete with flying horses, designed by Tatiana Kharchylava, Creative Director at The Birley Clubs. This Christmas, Kharchylava has turned the front of the 18^th century townhouse into a magical hot air balloon, to symbolise hope that we can rise above difficult times ahead. 

The Shangri-La at The Shard

The olfactory power of a property should never be under-estimated as smell is one of the first senses to be triggered when we enter a property. Some of our clients are attracted to the idea of a bespoke scent that has been crafted specifically for their home by artisans with impeccably trained noses – so they may like to drop by The Shard, whose Shangri-La hotel has partnered up with Jo Loves for a fragranced 14ft Christmas tree decorated with mini perfume bottles. This immersive experience also allows visitors to step inside a life-size bottle, where you will be swept into the aromatic world of scent, light and mirrors. 

Pop downstairs to Aqua Shard on Level 31 to soak up not just some of the best panoramic views of London but the joyful seven-metre-tall Giving Tree with its huge teddy bears, hot air balloons and big red bows designed to encourage donations for children who are spending Christmas in Great Ormond Street Hospital. 

The Connaught Hotel 

Artists including Damien Hirst, Antony Gormley and Tracey Emin are among those who have designed the destination tree that stands outside this landmark Mayfair hotel. This year, Turner prize-winning artist Dame Rachel Whiteread has gone for a pared back approach with her yuletide tree adorned with 102 neon white hoops that symbolise togetherness. Her design shows that you don’t need to use excessive detail or colour to make a statement. Simplicity can also have a great impact. Once you’ve bathed in its glow, why not sink back in a leather sofa in the hotel’s coolly elegant Connaught Bar. 

Sketch 

There’s nothing remotely simple about the design concept at this three-Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant where each room is a differently themed visual experience, including a bar in a magical forest and a sultrily red Parlour. Its winter makeover is similarly show-stopping. Pass through the winter wonderland in the reception to the sumptuously red and gold Lecture Room and Library, whose centrepiece is a surreal, crystal-studded Christmas tree inspired by Dali and Magritte and designed by event designer Tony Marklew.  

St Pancras International Station 

For those seeking a novel way to display their prized literature, St Pancras’s tree-shaped tower of tomes, designed in collaboration with Hatchard Books, will get you thinking about book storage with fresh eyes. You can also while away time in the cosily-lit, Christmassy green and red alcoves beneath the shelves of books.