London’s Top 5 Christmas Window Displays
Nothing signals Christmas more than the arrival of the Christmas window displays in the major city centre department stores. The streets are twinkling with tiny lights and Christmas music can be heard behind every door. Each department store will be offering up its very own ‘real’ Santa Claus and the shelves and displays will be groaning under the weight of assorted Christmas gift items. There is a general unspoken competition between the big name stores for who pulls off the most show stopping window. So where can you go to see the very best window displays in the city this year?
Harrods – The Harrods Express
As usual the Harrods windows are quite something to behold. This year their window displays are the most extravagant that they have ever been. Each window has been made into a luxury train carriage, complete with moving wintery scenery moving behind the rear window of the carriage. Some of the dresses worn by the mannequins are worth £80,000. Some of the carriages/windows have been sponsored by specific designers who are taking the opportunity to display, if not show off, some of their very best items to a captive and captivated audience.
John Lewis – Simply Nostalgic
This Year the John Lewis Christmas television advert was so good it went viral, and the window displays have taken on the innocent charm of the rabbit and his friend bear and all of the woodland folk as they celebrate the season. These are Christmas windows the likes of which have never been seen before. Many of the creatures from the television advert have been recreated for the window displays, but they have been recreated in a unique way, using only goods and items that you will find inside the store.
Fortnum & Mason – Traditional Christmas
As usual the windows of Fortnum & Mason do not disappoint. Tradition is the theme with snow-capped houses and children playing on sledges which travel around the decorated Christmas tree. Of course there is also a traditional Santa Claus to give the scene a truly authentic Christmas appeal.
Selfridges – Oversized for Christmas
Rather than go down the path of the magical winter wonderland theme as they have in the past, this year the focus seems to be on simplicity. Yes you will find the snowy backdrops that you would expect, but these are more reminiscent of the ski slope and there is not a sledging child in sight. Taking centre stage in each window is a giant version of their popular products such as a giant bottle of tequila and a huge pair of Beat headphones.
Happy Socks – Strikingly Simple
It may not be a name that you instantly recognise, but their window is attracting plenty of people through its sheer creativity. They have used their socks to make a Christmas tree. It is the only decoration in the window but it really is the only one that they need. People are stopping to take as many pictures of this one window as they are of the windows of some of the big department stores.
