London's most Instagrammable locations: Christmas edition

Sketch

You can count on Sketch to deliver festive extravagance year-on-year, and the title of their 2019 Christmas installations aptly reflects the restaurant's glorious brand of excess: Christmas Here, There and Everywhere.

Serious Narnia vibes descend on you the moment you enter the front hall which has been turned into a snow-capped grotto. Enter the Glade Room where you'll encounter a spiralling floral installation designed by Kim Beedie titled A storm in a tea cup. Upstairs in the Lecture Room, a glorious Japanese-inspired tree, created by floral designer Ricky Jackson, is resplendent with burning candles and roses dipped in wax.

A flying saucer lies-in-wait in the restaurant's famous bathrooms, bringing space-age sparkle to one of the most Instagrammable spots in the city.

Bluebird Chelsea

Glitzy Chelsea haunt the Bluebird is transforming into a graceful swan this Christmas. The theme of their courtyard is inspired by Tchaikovsky's haunting ballet, Swan Lake, and invites guests to snuggle up in winter chalets and sip swan-related drinks such as their Sygnet Sour.

Clos Maggiore

'London's most romantic restaurant' will certainly steal your heart during the festive period. Its famous decorative canopies have been given a Christmassy twist and this year, guests will dine under a bonanza of baubles and pine leaves.

Montague on the Gardens

Montague on the Gardens's alpine-themed bar is back this year bringing après-ski magic to central London. Think pine trees, reindeer, snowmen, ski racks, piste maps and strings of fairy lights and lanterns. Hot chocolate cocktails are the main drinking draw here.

Dalloway Terrace

An alpine theme continues at Bloomsbury's Dalloway Terrace. This decorative dining spot has been transformed into a winter wonderland inspired by the Swiss mountain resort, Gstaad. Of course, there's a fondue on the menu, as well as a host of other hearty Swiss fare that's perfect for festive feasting.

Fortnum & Mason

The cat's got the cream this Christmas at Fortnum & Mason's Piccadilly flagship store where festive feline scenes have taken over the window displays. Eight moving installations show the creatures hard at work, crafting the perfect crackers, bottling champagne, and even creating the department store's famous hampers.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden once again becomes home to a giant, glittering Christmas tree, decorated with no fewer than 30,000 lights. But that’s not all that’ll shine in these quarters: 115,000 'mistletoe' lights twinkle across the Piazza and neighbouring streets, while plenty of festive entertainment is set to bring smiles to visitors' faces.

Selfridges

Selfridges's opts for a more paired down look this year in keeping with their chosen theme: Future Fantasy: A Christmas For Modern Times. Minimalist design is coupled with only sparse hints of wintry decor. But it's not all devoid of tradition; subtle nods to festive stories offer a contemporary re-telling of beloved tales and encourages us to embrace the new.

Rosewood London

A Brobdingnagian Christmas tree welcomes visitors in the courtyard of this five-star Bloomsbury hotel. Inside, stockings hang over flickering fire-places, nutcrackers are abound and twinkling installations fill the hotel's Mirror Room where a festive food menu will delight the senses further.

Carnaby Street

Carnaby's unusual light display is one for those fed up with your classic baubles and snowflakes. This Christmas, it’s all about sustainability as the shopping street unveils its collaboration with ocean conservation charity, Project 0. Expect underwater scenes including a floating kelp ‘forest’, pink coral reef and deep, dark sea.