Christmas in Knightsbridge: Celebrate the festive season in style

Knightsbridge is in a celebratory mood this festive season, with a line-up of exquisite shopping, dining and Christmas experiences. Here is a lowdown of the highlights that mustn’t be missed when enjoying Christmas in Knightsbridge…

Queen Charlotte Festive Afternoon tea brings Georgian joy at The Lanesborough

Expertly conceptualised and crafted by Head Pastry Chef, Salvatore Mungiovino, The Lanesborough’s Festive Afternoon Tea menu pays tribute to the key characters in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, as well as the festive Regency era. Highlights include Your Majesty, an exquisite sharing cake, King George Dreams of Venus inspired by The King’s love of astronomy, Queen Charlotte’s Christmas Tree and the Danbury Delight, a nod to Lady Danbury’s love of hats and jewels. Delicate sandwiches with Christmas-inspired fillings, plus scones with jam and Devonshire cream complete the playful menu. 

Alongside a choice of teas, guests can enjoy The Queen Charlotte Festive Cocktail (a warming fruity mix of Fords Gin, Chambord liqueur, cranberry, exotic lychee, home vanilla sweetness and lime sunshine topped with Champagne) or a delicious mocktail equivalent. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and a children’s version are also available. The price for the Queen Charlotte tea is £90 with a cocktail and £95 with a glass of Champagne. The children’s version cost £40 per person. The tea will be available from 10^th November 2023 to 7^th January 2024.

Live Music Festive nights in the Lanesborough Grill

Couples, friends and family seeking a seasonal evening get together are in for a treat at the Festive nights in the Lanesborough Grill. Comprising a three-course menu served with a glass of Champagne from a seasonal British menu composed by Executive Chef Shay Cooper, and accompanied by live music, the Live Nights take place on 18th and 25th November 2023, then every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in December 2023 and on 6th January 2024. The price is £86 per person.

For the full Christmas menus throughout the Christmas period visit: https://www.oetkercollection.com/hotels/the-lanesborough/festive/festive-dining/

Winter Wellbeing at The Lanesborough

Fancy a bit of festive pampering? The Lanesborough Club & Spa has a Winter Warmer day-package starting with an amethyst gel body wrap with a face and head massage to relax and balance the nervous system, stimulate circulation, and regenerate skin cells and boost cell growth. This relaxing day also includes a full-body massage and an indulgent 24-Carat Pure Gold Manicure as well as a healthy two course lunch and access to the spa facilities and thermal suites. Available from 9^th November to 7^th January 2024 it costs £500pp. https://www.lanesboroughclubandspa.com/explore/offers/winter-warmer/

Harrods and Harvey Nichols for the ultimate Christmas magic

From their world-famous windows to their decadent food halls piled high with every kind of Christmas treat, as well as fabulous festive shopping from baubles and decorations to hampers and advent calendars, Harrods and Harvey Nichols encapsulate the essence of the season. Adding to the festive fun this year is Harrods’ new-look Dining Hall where visitors can feast in style while, Harvey Nichol’s Fifth Floor line-up is delivering some Christmas magic too. Enjoy a seasonal three course menu at the Fifth Floor Café and Terrace for £36 per person with a glass of prosecco. For more information about the Christmas events, activities and shopping delights visit www.harrods.com and www.harveynichols.com

Christmas at the Berkeley

Guests staying at The Berkeley on a two-night Christmas in Knightsbridge break will be welcomed with an impressive ‘Snowfall’ installation on Christmas Eve. Plus, alongside all the festive cheer (including a welcome bottle of champagne, an impressive tree, carol singers, in-room Christmas stockings/presents and hot toddies), they can stroll to St. Paul’s Church for a mesmerising Midnight Mass by candlelight. On the big day itself, following a full English breakfast, the hotel is offering guests an exclusive present: a horse-drawn carriage ride across Belgravia, hot chocolate in hand. This is followed by an all-the-trimmings five-course Christmas Day feast served in the Collins Room. A two-night stay in a classic room arriving on 24^th December starts from £3,660 for two with breakfast, Christmas lunch and festive treats as above. https://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/special-offers/christmas/

Home of the creator of the first commercial Christmas Card

Knightsbridge is home to the creator of the first commercial Christmas card. The English Heritage blue plaque outside 33 Thurloe Square, SW7 2SD, marks the site where Sir Henry Cole (1808-1882) lived. This celebrated campaigner and educator, who was the first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum sent the first commercial Christmas card in 1843.

In the 1840s, he was instrumental in reforming the British postal system, helping to set up the Uniform Penny Post which encouraged the sending of seasonal greetings on decorated letterheads and visiting cards. Christmas was a busy time in the Cole household and with unanswered mail piling up, a timesaving solution was needed. Henry turned to his friend, artist John Callcott Horsley to design the Christmas card.

Sir Henry had a thousand cards engraved and hand coloured, sending half of these to his friends and selling the remainder for a shilling a piece, a great deal of money for most Victorians!  

Lanesborough Land of Snow – Weekend Afternoon Tea

On the 2nd and 3rd December, The Lanesborough’s grand ballroom will be transformed into a utopia of The Land of Snow for a magical afternoon tea.  Guests on these two days will experience a perfect setting of twilight winter, white gypsophila will cover the floor and Christmas Trees will create a magical twinkly woodland. £105 per person for adults for Afternoon Tea including a glass of Champagne and £65 per child on Sunday 3rd December.

Christmas on the Park at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

From Monday 20^th November, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park’s reception area will transform into a Winter Wonderland with dazzling decorations and complimentary festive treats including Heston’s Winter Spice Hot Chocolate and delicious cakes from The Mandarin Cake Shop. On Thursday 7^th and 14^th December, passers-by will be treated with complimentary hot chocolate and mince pies from 5 – 6pm.

From 20^th November Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will offer a festive menu and The Aubrey will take diners on an adventure of innovative cocktails, Japanese ingredients and live DJs, it will also host an unforgettable New Year’s Eve party. A unique seasonal cocktail will provide a taste of holiday spirit in Mandarin Bar.

Sunday 10^th December brings the hotel’s Christmas Fair selling special gifts and unique pieces from neighbouring stores. The uplifting voices of London Contemporary Voices will fill the lobby with festive favourites on Christmas Eve at 6pm and on Christmas Day the big man himself with meet and greet guests of all ages from 2-4pm.

Guests booking over the festive season and spending Christmas in Knightsbridge can choose from three special packages: Christmas on the Park for couples staying 23^rd – 27^th December, Wintery Wonderland breaks available from 20^th November to 26^th December and the family-friendly Little Festive Ranger (20^th November to 27^th December) with lots of unforgettable treats for children.  For full package details click here 

Festive Fayre

Bulgari Hotel London will be elegantly dressed for Christmas this year with wonderful trees and chic decorations.  Set in the heart of Knightsbridge with all it has to offer, the hotel will be putting its own spin on holiday traditions with a festive afternoon tea in The Bulgari Lounge, special set menus for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve in its Sette by Scarpetta restaurant plus a truly magical afternoon of tree-decorating with festive cocktails and canapes followed by a festive brunch with live music on 3^rd December.

Nolita Social is the place to celebrate the season in style with carefully crafted cocktails, live music, DJs and a special New Year’s Eve party. https://www.settelondon.co.uk/festive-season/

Knightsbridge is equally great when a nightcap is needed. Although Hawksmoor is best-known for beef, the steakhouse also excels at cocktails. Among this winter’s options and the highlights of Christmas in Knightsbridge are an Irish coffee laced with salted hazelnut praline as well as the Golden Hour, a gin sour involving mandarin liqueur and moscato.

Up next: Clementine’s: A one-of-a-kind Christmas pop-up is coming to New Bond Street – The Sloaney

by TheSloaney