Christmas in the capital: where to see London’s best festive pop-ups

Claridge’s

Forget Christmas window displays – a tour of London’s top restaurants and hotels is a decidedly warmer way to get your dose of festive creativity in the capital. Here’s this year's highlights, from immersive, Narnia-esque installations to towering trees dressed by fashion’s finest.

Claridge’s

Claridge’s Christmas tree and The Loubi Express

Pioneer of the themed Christmas tree tradition, Claridge’s celebrates its 10th year with a five-metre high tree and The Loubi Express, courtesy of Christian Louboutin. Tables aboard the glittering red train carriage are allocated on a first come first served basis, and customers can enjoy champagne, cocktails and bar snacks; claridges.co.uk

The Shard

DecoDance at Aqua Shard

This illustrated wonder is created by British fashion designer Holly Fulton; aquashard.co.uk

Photography David M. Benett

Rainbow Rag tree at the Ace Hotel

A sustainable answer to decorations, with pieces of material recycled into bows, by British designer Zandra Rhodes; acehotel.com

Photography Justine Trickett

Miracle at 34 Mayfair

Florist Jane Wadham has taken a maximalist approach at this sleek Mayfair haunt, installing 14,000 decorations – including 8,400 baubles – from floor to ceiling; 34-restaurant.co.uk

Photography Mark Cocksedge

Christmas ‘Here, there and everywhere’ at Sketch

Not just one, but four fairytale installations take over Sketch restaurant. This ‘A storm in a tea cup’ floral scene is by Figa & Co’s creative director Kim Beedie; sketch.london

Photography Mark Cocksedge

Christmas ‘Here, there and everywhere’ at Sketch

Meanwhile, above the East Bar and pods is ‘Over the moon for Christmas’, with a UFO in residence for the festive season. It's orchestrated by creative director Carly Rogers; sketch.london

Thomas Alexander

Lodge d’Argent at Coq d’Argent

The City restaurant's popular festive pop up has returned. The alpine lodges offer the best seats in the house, hosting up to eight in après-ski themed surrounds; coqdargent.co.uk

Yinka Ilori Christmas tree Sanderson Hotel London

Milo Brown

Yinka Ilori tree at Sanderson London

It's a decidedly modernist Christmas at Sanderson London, who have commissioned colour king Yinka Ilori to create a bright and bold tree from industrial materials; sandersonlondon.com

Jonathan Stewart

Jack Irving tree at W London

Artist and fantastical fashion designer Jack Irving's collaboration with W London continues, in the form of this iridescent inflated tree; marriott.com