Christmas things to do in London 2019: From Claridge's to Kew, the capital's festive landmarks

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

The Claridge’s tree — the sign the festive season has begun — was unveiled yesterday: a five-metre fir designed by Christian Louboutin, installed in the lobby next to a huge red train (also designed by Louboutin).

That’s just the beginning — from sequins at the Shard, to rink-side liquor lodges at Somerset House, this is an east-to-west Christmas crawl to spruce up your night out.

Twice as nice at the Ace Hotel

What to know: Shoreditch’s Ace Hotel unveiled its festive firs last night, and it’s two trees for the price of one. The first fir is decorated by fashion designer Christopher Kane, the second is a colourful Rainbow Rag Tree in the lobby designed by Zandra Rhodes — think pink lights, plaited chains and laser-cut Zs in Rhodes’s iconic handwriting.

USP: Hot baubles. Kane’s tree is hung with glass capsules from his latest collection, ranging from a festive “More Joy” bauble to a cheekier white version with “Sex” emblazoned across the front.

What to drink: A hot buttered rum at Ace’s rooftop winter terrace, made with pineapple, egg yolk, spices and orange bitters (£8).

100 Shoreditch High St, E1, acehotel.com

The fashion pick at The Curtain

What to know: Fashion designer Sadie Williams and her friend Jack Hanson, a metal artist, created this year’s centrepiece: a sleek steel, pentagonal tree made from shards of glitter.

USP: A truly green tree. Williams’s installation is an upcycling masterpiece, made from left-over materials from her and Hanson’s previous projects: sequins, metal, bonded velvets, craft pipe-cleaners and vintage dead-stock sparkling ribbon.

What to drink: A mulled berry wine at the Queen of Hoxton’s cosy Emerald City rooftop next door, made with fresh berries and spiked with optional sloe or strawberry gin (£5).

45 Curtain Rd, EC2A, thecurtain.com

Roaring Twenties at Aqua Shard

What to know: Scottish fashion designer Holly Fulton has designed Level 31’s glamorous six-metre tree and it’s inspired by Busby Berkeley’s musicals from the Roaring Twenties — the perfect excuse for sequins.

USP: The feel-good factor — 50 per cent of all Christmas cocktail and dessert sales go to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

What to drink: The limited edition white chocolate mousse, with Veuve Cliquot champagne jelly and spice wine sorbet. A dessert, but served in a cocktail glass (£9).

31 St Thomas Street, SE1, aquashard.co.uk

Skater’s choice at Somerset House

Hoda Davaine

What to know: A towering 40ft tree returns to the courtyard at Somerset House for the 20th anniversary of its Christmas residency, in partnership with Fortnum & Mason.

USP: The ice rink. Check out Skate Lates, late-night sessions with light displays and AR effects.

What to drink: A Treacle cocktail at Fortnum’s alpine-inspired rink-side lodge, made with rum, brandy, golden syrup and apple juice (£10.50).

The Strand, WC2R, somersethouse.org.uk

Northern Lights at Coal Drops Yard

John Sturrock

What to know: Art lovers should start in Granary Square, where curator David Batchelor has created a bold tree made of scaffolding and LED lights. Round the corner, Coal Drops Yard is dotted with festive shrubs and colourful lights.

USP: Fluorescent firs. Coal Drops Yard has been sprinkled with pink, green and purple firs and Batchelor’s tree draws on his love of geometry and colour. Even the water jets across the square have been lit up in rainbow hues.

What to drink: sample a MisoMilkNog at Sons + Daughters bar (£6.50), a festive, boozy take on its cult drink MisoMilk (think cereal milk but salty).

King’s Cross, N1C, kingscross.co.uk

The theatrical Edition

What to know: artist Luke Edward Hall designed this year’s London Edition tree, a wondrous 20ft structure covered with fresh pine greens in the grand Georgian lobby, complete with bows, vintage baubles and giant cut-out illustrations of animals and angels.

USP: A golden galleon, sitting at the top of the tree. Hall says it represents the notion of “drifting off into a dream or being taken to a magical land”.

What to drink: an Alpine Spritz cocktail in the Lobby Bar, a festive blend of Grey Goose and oakmoss syrup, garnished with pine needles, icing sugar and a sprig of mint (£14).

10 Berners Street, W1T, editionhotels.com

From Paris with love at Claridge’s

Daniel Hambury/@stellapicsltd

What to know: It’s the 10th year Claridge’s has asked one of its VIPs to design their Christmas tree and this time Louboutin has installed a red train carriage, The Loubi Express, in the lobby next to the tree (adorned with shoe-shaped gingerbread biscuits).

USP: On-board dining. Stop by The Loubi Express for champagne, lobster Wellington and truffle gougères in the red velvet dining carriage.

What to drink: Pineapple Punch from the on-board Cocktail Conductor (£19).

Brook Street, W1K, claridges.co.uk

Join the Kew

Jeff Eden

What to know: One million lights will illuminate Kew Gardens for the next six weeks, transforming the grounds into a sparkling trail of light tunnels, fire gardens and selfie arches. This year, the highlight is newly restored Temperate House, which forms the canvas for the trail’s grand finale: a kaleidoscopic laser show over the lake.

USP: The treetop walkway, 18m above ground in the arboretum. This year, four spiralling waterfalls of light cascade towards visitors on the ground below.

What to drink: Mulled wine and spiced rum cocktails (in recyclable paper cups) as you wander through the gardens (from £4) (there are top-up spots along the way).

Richmond, TW9, kew.org

For more tips on Christmas fun in London, check out our guides to Christmas tree displays, Christmas lights, ice skating rinks and winter terraces.

London's best Christmas trees - and where to see them

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