Historic traditions and modern marvels light up the capital

There's something utterly magical about stumbling upon a Christmas tree in London during the festive season. Whether you're clutching a steaming cup of hot chocolate or dodging last-minute shoppers, these glittering giants have a way of stopping you in your tracks. This year's offerings are particularly special. Here are my five trees you absolutely need to see before the baubles come down.

The Classic Charmer: Covent Garden

Covent Garden's iconic 55-foot Christmas tree takes pride of place in the West Piazza, illuminated by 30,000 LED lights, while the Market Building transforms into a theatrical wonderland. The 2025 theme, "The Theatre of Christmas," feels perfectly at home in London's beating heart of theatreland.

What makes this tree special isn't just its impressive height; it's the atmosphere. The display includes 40 gigantic golden bells adorned with bows, 12 giant baubles and eight spinning mirror balls, creating a festive fever dream. The cobbled streets around the tree buzz with energy: street performers entertain crowds, shoppers dart between boutiques and the sweet scent of roasted chestnuts wafts through the air.

 Visit just after sunset when the lights first twinkle on. The Market Building's bells catch the light in the most Instagram-worthy way possible, and you'll beat the late-evening crowds who pile in after the theatre shows end!

The Hidden Gem: Hay's Galleria, Southwark

While everyone's fighting for elbow room in Covent Garden, slip across the Thames to discover Southwark's best-kept festive secret. Tucked inside the magnificent glass-roofed Hay's Galleria stands a Christmas tree that feels like it belongs in a period drama.

What makes this spot truly special is its tranquillity. It's Christmas magic without the chaos. The tree reflects beautifully on the polished floors, and the nearby views of the Thames add to the atmosphere. Pop into Hay's on the River cocktail bar afterwards- their festive decorations are sublime, and sipping a hot toddy while watching boats drift past Tower Bridge is peak winter bliss. This is also really close by to Butlers Wharf Hall, so make sure you stop by! 

The Tech Marvel: Battersea Power Station's Projected Trees

Something completely different: Christmas trees that don't physically exist. Apple's "Your Tree on Battersea" campaign invites the UK public to design digital Christmas trees on iPad, with 24 winning submissions projected onto the iconic river-facing chimneys and wash towers of Battersea Power Station starting 4 December.

 It's tech-meets-tradition in the most delightfully modern way possible. Plus, the Power Station itself is worth visiting- Malaysia Square features a selfie-worthy 40-foot physical Christmas tree adorned with over 1,000 glittering baubles, while the historic Turbine Halls are transformed with Art Deco-inspired decorations and cascading trees.

Even if your tree design doesn't make the cut, watching the projections dance across that iconic Art Deco landmark while sipping something warm at the riverside is peak London Christmas vibes.

The Fashion Forward: Claridge's x Burberry

When Mayfair's most elegant hotel teams up with British fashion royalty, you know something spectacular is about to happen. Employing the creative vision of Burberry's Chief Creative Officer, Daniel Lee, Claridge's 2025 festive offering includes a traditional 16-foot Christmas tree decorated with hanging bells, chess piece figures (a nod to the label's Equestrian Knight figurehead) and approximately 600 bows made from surplus Burberry fabrics.

The chess theme is crazy, oversized floor-standing chess pieces surround the tree's base, while miniature chess figures dangle from branches alongside those signature Burberry bows. The crown topper gleaming at the summit adds a regal touch that feels perfectly suited to Claridge's.

This is luxury Christmas: sophisticated, sustainable (those bows are repurposed fabric!), and utterly covetable. Even if afternoon tea at Claridge's isn't in the budget, popping by the lobby to see the tree is free and well worth it.

The Legend: Trafalgar Square

You can't talk about London's Christmas trees without mentioning the grandest of them all. The Trafalgar Square tree is a gift from the people of Oslo to London, given every year since 1947 as thanks for Britain's support during World War II. This isn't just any tree – it's a carefully selected Norwegian spruce, over 20 metres tall and 50 to 60 years old, chosen from forests surrounding Oslo months or even years in advance.

What makes this tree genuinely moving is the ceremony behind it. The Lord Mayor of Westminster, the British Ambassador to Norway, and the Mayor of Oslo all participate in a felling ceremony in November, before the tree travels by sea and then by lorry to London. The lighting ceremony takes place on the first Thursday of December, this year on 4 December at 5 pm, with carols sung by the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields and performances by the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines.

The tree is decorated in traditional Norwegian style with vertical strings of white lights- it's simple, dignified, and deeply symbolic. Standing beneath it while hundreds of voices join in "Silent Night" is one of those quintessentially London moments that gives you goosebumps, even if you've lived here for decades. It's free to visit any time (the square never closes), and if you time it right, you can catch one of over 40 charity choirs performing nightly from 9-23 December.

Making the Most of Your Tree Tour

The beauty of London's Christmas trees is that each tells a different story. Trafalgar Square carries the weight of history and gratitude, Covent Garden buzzes with theatrical energy, Hay's Galleria offers riverside serenity, Battersea combines cutting-edge tech with festive wonder and Claridge's serves pure elegance on a silver platter.

My suggestion? Start at Trafalgar Square mid-afternoon to beat the carol-singing crowds, then walk to Covent Garden (it's only 10 minutes away) when the lights first come on. Grab dinner in the area (you're spoiled for choice), then hop on the Tube to London Bridge for a peaceful evening stroll to Hay's Galleria. Save Battersea for a late evening visit when the projections look most dramatic against the dark sky- it's a quick Tube ride on the Northern Line. Pop by Claridge's whenever you're feeling fancy.

The festive season in London is fleeting, as these trees typically come down in early January, so don't put it off. Whether you're a local who's seen a thousand Christmas trees or a visitor experiencing your first London winter, there's something genuinely special about watching a city transform itself into a glittering wonderland, one spectacular tree at a time.