Viewing Claridge’s Christmas Tree & The Connaught Christmas Tree

Hotfoot it to Mayfair to marvel at two of the most magnificent Christmas trees in London. First, head to The Connaught hotel on Carlos Place, where you’ll see a wonderous Nordmann fir designed by East London artist and sculptor Suzy Murphy. It is decorated with soft white neon dogs based on a series of sketches inspired by Murphy’s childhood pet Toby. At the base of the tree, Toby is surrounded by neon titles of sculptural works that were made for a series called A Girls Progress.

‘My vision was to create a tree that symbolises my childhood experience and is closely related to a series of works I have created over the years,’ Murphy says. ‘Toby travelled with me artistically, in symbolic form, through various landscapes. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes dark…but here she is arriving now, triumphantly, on the Connaught Christmas tree. It is truly magical.’

Then, scoot over to Claridge’s to see The Diamond, a magnificent sculptural creation standing over five metres tall designed by Sandra Choi for Jimmy Choo in partnership with set designer Simon Costin.

Installed in the hotel’s iconic lobby, the dazzling tree is crafted from 69 shining, reflective mirrors, and embellished with 250 individual aluminium panels and 60 meters of sparkling lights which pulse, undulate and reflect off the multifaceted surface. Topping the tree is a giant, glittering bow — a nod to one of the key motifs of Jimmy Choo’s winter collection.

‘I have always said I would love to know what it is like to step inside a diamond, and now I can,’ said Choi. ‘Claridge’s is a London jewel, it’s multifaceted, like the diamond that inspired our tree, like Jimmy Choo.’ What better way to slide into the festive season?