Library-botherers will be delighted by this year’s St Pancras tree, which is a majestic tower of more than 3,800 books. In partnership with Hatchards, the UK’s oldest bookshop, St Pancras station has created the 12-metre-tall tree that features a winding staircase, wrapping around 270 book shelves. At its base, eight cosy cubby holes offer visitors a spot to sit down and listen to a five-minute excerpt of an audiobook provided by Penguin Books from authors including Charles Dickens, Beatrix Potter, Zadie Smith, and Richard Osman. Perfect for a bit of relaxation before your train arrives.
Christmas is when London is at its glittering best. Everywhere you look, there are festive lights illuminating wintry skies, Yuletide markets offering mulled wine and kitschy trinkets, elaborate shop window decorations and gleaming ice rinks. But for true Christmas connoisseurs, London's fir tree displays are a highlight.
The presents arrayed round them might be fake, but the magic of these Christmas trees is real. Trafalgar Square's towering fir is a prized London tradition. Covent Garden always goes all out on the festive glitz. You'll typically find an arty riff on a classic at Coal Drops Yard. And London's fanciest hotels often commission top designers to create oh-so-chic trees you could never emulate at home. Here's our rundown of London's best Christmas tree displays this year.
RECOMMENDED: Where to buy a Christmas tree in London.