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A giant terrarium Christmas tree will light up King’s Cross this winter

The tree will be made up of 70 glass micro-gardens

Written by
Katie McCabe
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The stretch of King’s Cross from Granary Square to Coal Drops Yard is a curious part of London. It’s home to some quite open and accessible public spaces, as well as a lot of high-end artisanal shops where you’re terrified you might break something. When Christmas rolls around, the area tends to use the holiday as a showcase for its resident designer businesses, as well as local architecture studios, which means its Christmas tree is more likely to be a wacky multicoloured cone installation than a traditional Norwegian spruce. 

This year, King’s Cross will have not one but three elaborate trees. The upmarket Coal Drops Yard shop Botanical Boys has designed The Terrarium Tree, a 28-foot structure made up of 70 little terrariums that will be lit up at night. Each glass orb will house its own micro-garden that will be reflected in the tree’s 168 mirrored baubles. The plan is that the core structure of the tree will be reusable in future and each terrarium will be re-homed in 2021. 

The Electric Nemeton Tree, Granary Square, Christmas in King's Cross
Photograph: The Electric Nemeton Tree, John Sturrock

Granary Square will be getting an interactive structural installation called the Electric Nemeton Tree that’s inspired by ancient Celtic gathering places. And over in Battle Bridge Place, you’ll find the People’s Tree, a sensory light design that responds to the movements of passers-by. 

King’s Cross’s the three ‘designer’ trees were officially switched today (Monday November 23). 

Find out more about Christmas in King’s Cross here

If you’ve had enough of ‘unconventional’ for 2020, try Covent Garden, where you’ll find 1,500 tonnes’ worth of traditionalism courtesy of the 60-foot Christmas tree. 

Thinking of walking into central London? Here’s where to find the best Christmas lights

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