Christmas shopping in London is a yearly highlight for many people. There’s something about the festive magic of the city which draws people in from all over the UK. This article highlights some top tips for Christmas shopping in London, particularly noting new and exciting elements exclusive to 2022. Be one step ahead and incorporate some of these tips into your time to have the best shopping experience yet!
1. Have a Christmas pudding disco in Selfridges
Selfridges is an iconic part of London shopping. It is a retail at any time of year, however, no company does Christmas quite like Selfridges. Impossible to miss, the yearly window displays are only one part of an incredible experience. For the 2022 displays, if you head into the store and hop on the main escalators, you will be transported into the glimmer and shimmer of a disco. Created by Christmas-Pudding-Disco-Balls suspended from the ceiling across four floors, this 2022 insta-worthy moment is an absolute must.
2. Visit the Christmas lights honouring the Queen
Since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II earlier this year, it’s no surprise that she has been remembered at the end of 2022 across London through Christmas lights. Suspended down Bond Street and inspired by the Imperial State Crown, you’ll find a beautiful royal display, featuring four enormous crowns at key junctions. The crossings and gateways will see glimmering necklaces, pearl lights and a tiara like theme. Made of reusable, recyclable and long-life materials, the displays are much more sustainable than standard lights, and with energy consumption at the forefront of design, the display’s hours of illumination are reduced.
3. Look up!
This November, London’s best shopping streets, avenues and roads are adorned by overhead Christmas lights. When you’re out in London at Christmas, if you’re shopping, the chances are that you’ll be standing under a luminous piece of artwork. Amidst the rush and bustle and hustle of the shops, don’t forget to take a second to look to see what you might be missing! Though the angels down Regent’s Street and the stars on Oxford Street are the same as last year’s, make sure to head to the insta-worthy installations on Carnaby Street, this year under the zesty theme ‘Carnaby Celebrates’. Don’t miss out by forgetting to look up!
4. Stop at a Christmas market
There are a couple of spots along the London shopping routes which fill with wooden huts, hot chocolate, mulled wine and twinkling ornaments. If you know where to go, you can take a break from shopping and delve into the world of Christmas with a stop at a pop-up Christmas market. Covent Garden is home to three daily markets full of unique gifts and handmade crafts and a daily sprinkle of snow. New for 2022, you’ll have the chance to sit in the Covent Garden Christmas Sleigh, a reconditioned carriage from 1885, hand-painted by British artist James Gemmill. A short walk away from Oxford Circus and you’ll find the Trafalgar Square Christmas Market, a traditional market with tasty treats and the infamous Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree, which marks its 75th anniversary this year. If you know where to go, you can spend some time listening to carol singers with a glass of mulled wine before you resume your shopping!
5. Visit the F&M Christmas Store
Fortum and Mason always takes festive celebrations to a whole new level of luxury. Lit up a deep scarlet, with bright white numbers dressing the windows as a perfect advent calendar, adorned by wreaths and baubles, it is a Christmas staple. However, to view it is simply not enough. Take a step inside, where this year you’ll find two floors dedicated purely to Christmas treats – the first and the third. Think of endless buckets of baubles, specialised advent calendars, Christmas china sets, magical crackers and festive feasting. New for 2022 includes the theme ‘Makers of Merriment’, and new produced include ‘The Christmas Party at Piccadilly Hamper’ and the ‘Christmas 2022 Caramel Truffle Bauble’. It is an absolute must.
6. Explore the magic of Liberty
London at Christmas is not London at Christmas without a trip to Liberty London. Tucked away behind Oxford Street, it is a landmark so beautifully concealed yet also so difficult to miss. The mock Tudor style exterior invites you into the Home of Christmas, where deep wooden floors stretch out to reveal an endless hamper of clothes, accessories, homeware and art. Take the stairs up to the top floor, where the Christmas shop inspires absolute delight. Choose out a bauble from their collection of more than 1,200 seasonal decorations for 2022, have it wrapped in that dark purple paper and placed into an embossed bag and put it under the tree to add to your collection on Christmas Day.
7. Take a walk through the Burlington Arcade
On your way to or from Fortnum and Mason, take the route which passes through the Burlington Arcade. You won’t regret choosing this special cut-through! Home of the most beautiful, luxurious boutiques, this arcade takes you on a dazzling trip through London. Celebrated perfumers complement the jewellers, macarons and Manolo Blahnik along the way. Stop to admire the diamonds, rubies and pearls which adorn the windows of the arcade, and marvel in its glamour and beauty. Partnering with Moet & Chandon to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the James Bond films in 2022, don’t forget to take a trip to the Bollinger Burlington Bar which will be showcasing a special installation in honour of the event.
8. Play in the snow in Covent Garden
Imagine this – out with family, friends or your loved ones in London, Christmas shopping. Suddenly, a small, white snowflake flutters down in front of you. Before you realise, you are in a gentle flurry of soft, white snow. As unpredictable as London weather can be, the dream of a winter wonderland is perfectly in reach. Head over to Covent Garden, where magical dustings of snow are returning from December 1st. Most importantly, the snow for 2022 has been created to be entirely sustainable.
9. Wander through the Seven Dials
Just a short walk from the Covent Garden shops, Seven Dials market combines even more shopping, food and drink, theatres and hotels. The Seven Dials Market in particular is spectacular, containing an array of incredible street food stands, and the infamous ‘Cheese Bar’. This year sees some spectacular events, such as two show-stopping Christmas parties held on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th December at the market. The Winter Feast takes place on the 19th December, and ensure not to miss the range of Christmas specials taking place throughout December. When leaving the market, on your way through Seven Dials, the halo of lights and feathers overhead connecting the seven streets will fill you with all the joy and warmth of the season.
