In recent years, waiting to discover which designers will be trimming London’s most glamorous Christmas trees has become an annual tradition that heralds the start of the festive season. This year, there are some truly spectacular designs appearing across the city, all of which warrant a visit (and perhaps a festive cocktail too). They might just inspire you to rethink your own decorations at home...
Claridge’s x Louis Vuitton
The legendary Mayfair hotel is known for pushing the boundaries each year with its surprising and creative Christmas tree, each created in collaboration with one of the world’s most famous fashion houses, and 2023’s offering is no exception. Designed by longtime friend of the hotel Louis Vuitton, it takes the form of a giant travelling trunk which opens to reveal a glittering stack of mirrored cubes.
Both founded in 1854, the two brands have a long association, with Monsieur Louis Vuitton himself appointed as the personal layetier to Napoleon III’s wife Empress Eugénie, who made Claridge’s her winter residence. A visit to the iconic black and white tiled lobby to see the tree, followed by afternoon tea, is one of our favourite festive traditions. claridges.co.uk
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The London Edition x Campbell Rey
Interior design duo Campbell-Rey strove to capture the childlike joy felt on Christmas Eve in their tree for the London Edition hotel, saying ‘We wanted to connect with the sense of joy, wonder and magic surrounding the holidays, especially the way we remember it from childhood’.
Looking to Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s 1816 set design for Mozart’s The Magic Flute for inspiration, they played with symbolism and scale, using colourful oversized Murano glass baubles and hand-painted spheres that resemble lapis, onyx, marble and malachite to distort perspective and add a fantastical feel.
A hand-gilded star and huge silk ribbons from Dedar give the final luxurious finishing touch. Campbell-Rey has chosen Unicef to be The London Edition’s festive charity partner this year. editionhotels.com/london
The Connaught x Dame Rachel Whiteread
In Mayfair, renowned British artist and sculptor Dame Rachel Whiteread is following in the footsteps of Damien Hirst, Antony Gormley and Tracey Emin by taking on the task of designing the Connaught Christmas tree.
Standing outside the hotel on the corner of Mount Street and Carlos Place, the British-sourced fir is hung with 102 circular neon white hoops, with Whiteread hoping the circles (a signature of her artistic practice) will evoke a sense of togetherness and hope. She explains: ‘I love the simplicity of the idea, the light illuminating the beautiful Premier Nordmann tree. Creating a simple and ornamental tree that will light up the Mayfair neighbourhood.’ the-connaught.co.uk
The Londoner x Huishan Zhang
Dramatic black and white roses bring a chic contemporary feel to the festivities at The Londoner in Leicester Square – and inspiration to try something a little different with your own Christmas tree at home.
They are the work of designer Huishan Zhang, who showed their Spring/Summer 24 collection in the ballroom at the hotel during London Fashion Week. The roses were first seen in Zhang’s ‘Resort ‘24’ collection which found inspiration in Eileen Chang’s 1944 novela, Red Rose, White Rose and its evocative imagery around themes of love, passion and femininity. thelondoner.com
Aqua Shard
Diners can enjoy the spectacular view from the 31st floor of one of London’s most iconic skyscrapers under the watchful gaze of a tree-ful of teddies. That’s because founder David Yeo is supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity with The Giving Tree.
Designed by McQueens Flowers, it is decorated with wooden toys, teddy bears and hot air balloons, with replicas being given to children at GOSH. Those dining at the restaurant can also make a donation to GOSH Charity’s Christmas Appeal. Stockings filled with goods will be donated to local food banks and underneath the tree will be ‘sheltersuits’ by The Shelter Foundation, a programme dedicated to supporting the homeless. aquashard.co.uk
Further afield...
The Pulitzer Amsterdam x Roksanda
Known for her powerful and unexpected colour blocking combinations, Roksanda Ilincic was the perfect choice to take on the tree at The Pulitzer in Amsterdam. The heritage hotel saw its interiors reimagined in 2016 by Jacu Strauss and Roksanda found inspiration in those playful, colourful schemes, covering the tree in swathes of vibrant pink tulle as if to transform it into one of her statuesque gowns. pulitzeramsterdam.com
The Tokyo Edition Toranomon x Akira Fujimoto
Lush, colourful and unconventional, the Christmas tree standing in the Lobby Bar at The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon is designed to deliver a powerful message about sustainability. Titled ‘Babel of the Ocean #Nature takes in’, it was created by the artist Akira Fujimoto out of rubbish taken from the ocean to highlight this critical environmental issue. editionhotels.com/tokyo-toranomon
