Follow Santa's Journey Around London On This Charming Instagram Account

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr Santa Claus - London (@santaclauslondon) on Nov 23, 2019 at 9:40am PST

Santa Claus isn't coming to town — if Instagram is anything to go by, he's already here.

Charming Instagram account @santaclauslondon is back in the festive swing of things, depicting the man in red at various landmarks around the capital, often with eerily empty streets as a backdrop.

It's been going for a couple of years, and is the work of photographer Neil Andrews, who runs the account with help from some friends (because obviously the real Santa is too busy at this time of year to manage his own Instagram). We spoke to Neil last year, when he told us that he started it as a way to add a bit of fun back into the photo sharing app.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr Santa Claus - London (@santaclauslondon) on Nov 21, 2019 at 11:24am PST

Santa's already been spotted scoping out the capital for Christmas 2019. But before we see where he's been this year, let's have a look at what he's been up to since last December.

He packed his bags in early January and headed for St Pancras, presumably for a well-earned break in Paris or Amsterdam.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr Santa Claus - London (@santaclauslondon) on Jan 5, 2019 at 10:27am PST

He later popped up on jaunts to the seaside during the summer heatwave, and in a flower field to mark the halfway point between last Christmas and this Christmas.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr Santa Claus - London (@santaclauslondon) on Jun 25, 2019 at 2:35am PDT

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr Santa Claus - London (@santaclauslondon) on Jul 25, 2019 at 9:56am PDT

But now, Christmas is coming and he's back in the capital.  The two-month countdown to the big day started at a very autumnal Tower Bridge:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr Santa Claus - London (@santaclauslondon) on Oct 26, 2019 at 8:37am PDT

He's also been spotted at Richmond Hill scoping out this year's route through London's skies (so many new skyscrapers to dodge since last year's journey...)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr Santa Claus - London (@santaclauslondon) on Nov 18, 2019 at 9:53am PST

At last, we know where Santa stays on his trips to London:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr Santa Claus - London (@santaclauslondon) on Nov 22, 2019 at 10:15am PST

We've heard a rumour that he's thinking of upgrading his sleigh this year (here's hoping Rudolph and co. are unionised):

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr Santa Claus - London (@santaclauslondon) on Nov 24, 2019 at 9:48am PST

Follow the account to see what else Santa gets up to here in London before the big day — it's truly one of the best Instagram accounts to follow in the capital at this time of year. If it's an appointment with Santa you're after, take a look at our guide to Santa's Grottos in London.