With the festivities kicking off in full swing this year, it’s no wonder that people want to go all out when it comes to decorations. I think it’s a wonderful way to express your creativity and makes for such a lovely atmosphere. While traditionalists believe that Christmas trees should go up 12 days before Christmas, we love to enjoy the festivities for a little longer and so our tree is up by mid-November. The wonderful Fabienne Egger and her team help me style it by sourcing some wonderful decorations. I also have a collection of my own decorations from over the years which gives my tree some history and meaning. This year we opted for traditional red, green and gold. We chose a crimson red which is the universal symbol of love and almost identical to the infamous jewellers – Cartier. What could be more luxurious than a Cartier inspired Christmas tree?!
London hotels are fabulous for those festive celebrations. My favourite being The Savoy and Claridge’s. This year Francis Bourgeois officially unveiled ‘coming home for Christmas’ at The Savoy. Stationed in the front hall, the Savoy steam train is the star of the show for a quintessentially London Christmas. Guests can indulge in a glass of Laurent Perrier rosé and enjoy the nostalgic ambience of the decorations. I shall certainly be paying a visit with the kids this Christmas I think they are going to love the train!
The iconic Claridge’s Christmas tree has everyone in suspense. Each year they collaborate with a leading creative from a fashion house to create a unique tree. This year Louis Vuitton have created a tree within two large open wardrobe trunks towering on top of each other. Each trunk is adorned with Claridge’s travel stickers and an oversized LV luggage tag. The tree itself is composed of 15 chic chrome trunks to create a silhouette of a Christmas tree and an ode to transporting one’s most personal and precious items.
The most magical place for families at this time of year has to be Lapland UK. If you haven’t been then, where have you been?! Unless like us you missed out on getting tickets back in March…major faux par! So, this year we have decided to go to the REAL Lapland in Finland. It has been on our bucket list for some time and we realised it was actually the perfect time to go before baby number 3 comes along. There are many package holidays that you can opt for which organise everything for you from the moment you step foot on the plane. After extensive research I decided to book everything separately. As the children are still young I felt as though the packages were too jam packed with activities and we wanted to do things at our own pace. Whilst Rovaniemi in Finland is known to be the main ‘Father Christmas village’ I got the impression that it was very much a production line, and dare I say it, a little tacky. From extensive reviews I’ve read and speaking to friends, people have said it’s very commercialised, full of queues and souvenir shops and you don’t actually get to spend very much time with Santa.
We will be staying in a town called Levi. Levi is best known for its winter ski slopes and is only a 20-minute drive from Kittila airport. We will be going on husky rides, reindeer rides and of course going to visit the main man himself. In Levi, visiting Santa is less commercialised and located in a beautiful remote location in a wood by a frozen lake. There are little huts scattered around for gingerbread making and activities with the elves. You also have at least a 10-minute private meeting with Santa. Stay tuned on my Instagram where I will be documenting everything.
Ice-skating is also a must to get into the Christmas Spirit. A winter tradition of mine is to go ice skating at Beaverbrook. This year, it will be returning up to the 30th January 2024. It’s an enchanting ice rink with stunning views of the Surrey Hills. Adults can sip on a glass of champagne whilst they also offer sweet treats for children. Please note that you cannot skate only and have to book it as part of a skate and dine package. This ensures that it is never overcrowded and makes for a really special experience.
After visiting Battersea power station in the Summer, I was so impressed. There are over 140 shops, bars and restaurants to choose from. Not to mention a handy car park so you can drive straight there. London’s only riverside ice rink, Glide at Battersea power station, is open until 7th January 2024. This is not one to be missed. Enjoy unrivalled views of the Thames as you skate around on three interconnecting rinks under the iconic chimneys. It’s the perfect spot for shopping, dining and festive fun.
Whatever you wish for this Christmas, the best gift of all, is love.
