Christmas trees in London 2021: Where to see the best, from Trafalgar Square to Wembley Park

From Norwegian spruces to LED illuminations, these are the trees worth travelling for
Tree-mendous: The festive display at Leadenhall Market
Press handout
Jochan Embley30 November 2021

With Christmas creeping ever closer, trees are being hoisted up all over the capital.

The days of a simple green triangle and fire-risk tinsel are over: these days, it’s a diverse affair, and London’s offering ranges from traditional spruces to immersive LED creations. Many are worth making the pilgrimage to go and see — especially if your Insta feed is in need of some festivity — and so, here we’ve rounded up the ones that should be on your to-see list.

Trafalgar Square

AFP via Getty Images

Christmas trees in the capital don’t come more historic than the one that pops up in Trafalgar Square every year. As a thank you for Britain’s support during the Second World War, Norway has been sending over a great big Norwegian spruce every year since 1947. Decorated with vertical light strings — that’s the way our friends across the North Sea do it — it stands at more than 65ft tall. A grand lighting ceremony takes place in early December — the date is being shored up shortly — and it’ll stand until just before the Twelfth Night of Christmas, when it’s taken down, chipped and composted.

From December until January (exact date TBC), WC2N, london.gov.uk

Covent Garden

Joe Pepler/PinPep

Whenever Christmas appears on the horizon, Covent Garden is one of the first places to give itself a festive makeover. This year, there will be all sorts going on — a Christmas shopping village, an immersive LEGO installation, lots of mulled wine — but the star among it all is the Christmas tree, which claims to be the biggest in London and is already up.

Until January 3, WC2E, coventgarden.london

St Pancras International

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The Christmas tree at this north London railway station always has a bit more to it than your usual spruce, and this year the alternative take is a collaboration with ZSL London Zoo. Designed to look to a huge pop-up story book, the display plays various sounds made by the zoo’s animals — definitely one to take the kids along to.

Until January (exact date TBC), N1C, stpancras.com

Leadenhall Market

Press handout

The Lord Mayor of London will swing by to kick off the festivities at Leadenhall Market, switching on the lights at 6pm on November 19. That’s when the Christmas tree — always one of the most picturesque in the city — will be unveiled too. Head over to catch a glimpse first hand, and stay to pick up a few presents from the boutique retailers in the market. From December 8, the market gets busy with Christmas workshops and some live music; the shops also stay open later for Christmas shopping. Oh, and don’t forget the pubs for a glass of mulled wine.

From November 19 until January, EC3V, leadenhallmarket.co.uk

Coal Drop’s Yard

John Sturrock

No, it’s not some alien spacecraft landed in King’s Cross — it’s this year’s Christmas tree. The 28ft creation in Coal Drop’s Yard is being described as an “infinity” tree, which has a mirrored interior for guests to step inside. The various lights and reflections throw up all sorts of visual effects — think something along the lines of Yayoi Kusama, but in Christmas tree form. Coal Drop’s Yard is also packed with restaurants and bars, as well as shops; it’s its own Christmas hub of sorts.

Until January, N1C, coaldropsyard.com

Wembley Park

Chris Winter / Wembley Park

The Christmas tree at Wembley Park this year is a real showstopper: standing at 25ft tall, it’s made up of 100,000 LEDs, and is big enough to walk inside — ideal for the ‘gram. It’s all part of Winterfest, a free lights trail that features art installations dotted around the local area.

From November 25, HA9, wembleypark.com

The Ned

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The Ned is always a popular spot for Christmas festivities, but even if you’re not staying over in one of their hotel rooms, it’s worth a trip inside just to see the tree. Found on the ground floor of the former banking hall, the 22ft premier nordman tree is dressed with 6,500 fairy lights and more than 1,000 baubles and golden leather leaf ferns.

Throughout December, EC2R, thened.com

The London EDITION

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This Fitzrovia hotel has teamed up with artist Ed Curtis to create it’s Christmas tree for 2021, and it’s one of the wackier displays you’ll see this year. Described by Curtis as “the Christmas tree of my childhood dreams”, the 18ft “art attack fantasy” is decorated with an array of hand-printed, screen and digital artworks. It’s also a collaboration with the refugee charity Choose Love, with the hotel offering a special cocktail over the festive period and donating a portion of proceeds to the cause.

Claridge’s

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Christmas trees don’t come much fancier than this one. Claridge’s annual creation is always something special to behold, and this year the hotel has teamed up with Kim Jones, artistic director of Dior’s men’s collections, for this luminous beauty, which stands at 21ft tall and chucks out light across the hotel lobby.

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