Christmas trees are starting to appear all over London. Can't get out and about to see them this year? No problem — ogle them from your armchair with these photos, and let the Christmas spirit come to you. From the traditional offerings in Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, to less conventional festive firs in King's Cross and St Pancras, take a look at these photos. If you are going to see them in person, please remember to stick to current government guidelines when out and about.
El&N's Tree of Hope at St Pancras International
The St Pancras tree is always a creative one, with Lego, Disney toys and perfume bottles all featuring in recent years. For 2020, new St Pancras resident EL&N Cafe was given free reign, and as you'd expect from the famously Instagramable chain, the result is very pink.
While it'll look great on the 'Gram, there's another meaning behind the 34ft tall colourful creation too — 1,200 metres of festive ribbon are wound around the tree, printed with quotes of love and hope from staff members at Imperial College Healthcare, Guy’s & St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Ambulance Service and Royal Mail.
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For a further festive treat, EL&N branches are serving a special Tree of Hope cake, an edible replica of the tree, with 10% of sales going to food charity FareShare.
St Pancras station concourse, until 3 January 2021.
King's Cross Christmas trees
The King's Cross neighbourhood is hosting three Christmas trees for the 2020 season, each more unconventional than the last.
Head to Granary Square to ogle the Electric Nemeton Tree. It's the work of local architecture practice Sam Jacob Studio, and works on the idea of merging a fairytale forest with modern architecture.
Round the corner in Coal Drops Yard you'll encounter Terrarium Tree. Sustainability is key for this design, which features 70 living terrariums by Coal Drops Yard-based business Botanical Boys, surrounded by 168 mirrored baubles. The plants will go throughout the festive season, and be rehomed in 2021.
Finally, Battle Bridge Place houses The People's Tree, our favourite of the N1C trio. The illumination reacts to the steps and hand movements of visitors, meaning you control what you see, and no two visits are the same.
Covent Garden Christmas tree
It's a classic, a staple of the festive season, returning every year with its recognisable red and silver baubles, and towering wooden bucket (seriously, how many people could you fit in that thing?). The Covent Garden tree is back in the Piazza for 2020, and all seems right with the world.
United in Light Christmas tree at Wembley Park
Though Wembley Park's plans for Winterfest have been postponed for a year, the festivities aren't cancelled completely. The tallest LED Christmas tree ever built in London goes on display from 26 November.
Named United In Light and situated outside London Designer Outlet, it's 25 metres tall and features 100,000 LED lights in a kinetic display. Artist Siân Bliss has created a digital artwork, Aurora Arbour, which shows the movements of the winter night sky, to be displayed on the tree.
Trafalgar Square Christmas tree
The famous Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is being given to the UK by Norway as usual this year, though there won't be the usual lighting ceremony and carol concerts. It's usually in situ by the first week in December... watch this space.
See what else is happening in London over Christmas 2020.
