London is one of the most exciting cities to visit at Christmas with a range of lights, experiences and pop-up stores from retailers arriving to celebrate the festive season.

Stores are vying for customer attention with a variety of seasonal displays including chalets, snow covered trees, and wine windows.

Charitable giving was also a feature this month, with stores donating profits to charity, offering products to borrow or purchases to support refugees.

Customers could visit an ice bar, get their hair styled, and watch an extravagant dance and light show.

Get your festive inspiration from this list of the best Christmas pop-ups in London.

 

Choose Love Department Store, Regent Street

Returning to London this Christmas is the Choose Love Store, a charitable store to raise money for refugees and displaced people.

The space includes a section selling Choose Love merchandise by Katherine Hamnett, including tote bags and t-shirts. There is also a Christmas section where customers can find gift wrap and decorations.

The Choose Gifts area has a selection of fashion items from past seasons, second hand and new, chosen by Holly Eva White, Aimee Croysdill and Felicity Kay. Arriving exclusively this year is the Choose Love Coffee Shop donated by Allpress, with proceeds also supporting charitable efforts.

An extra special element for this year is a free gift wrapping service with exclusive Regent Street x Choose Love wrapping paper. This will only be available on three days in December (11, 14 and 20), but customers can take in any other gifts that they have bought from participating Regent Street or St James’ stores.

 

The Ralph Lauren Holiday Experience, Sloane Square

Open from 14 November to Christmas Eve is an immersive experience from luxury brand Ralph Lauren.

The brand has launched a pop-up with a snowy barn where a series of events and activities will be held daily, including wreath-making and workshops with a florist. The space also has a Cookie Atelier where visitors can decorate cookies.

There is a meet and greet with Father Christmas experience against a snow-covered pine trees backdrop and customers can browse The Holiday Shop, filled with iconic Ralph Lauren products, including Polo Bear and other seasonal items. Finally, shoppers can relax at Ralph’s Coffee for mulled wine and other hot drinks, plus American treats like s’mores, brownies and hot dogs.

The pop-up will also support The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, with 10% of proceeds donated. Additionally, visitors can dedicate a star to a special someone at the Ralph Lauren Giving Tree.

 

ALO Ski Lodge, Covent Garden

Outdoor brand Alo launched a new pop-up at its existing West End store, which was open until 14 December.

The new space resembled a winter chalet with luxury furnishings and relaxing lights, to help customers celebrate wellness. Visitors received a free hot chocolate similar to Apres-ski style drinks and could pose in front of areas to take selfies.

The brand’s range of athleisure was available to purchase, including products for running and workouts. The brand also had some exclusive ranges on offer such as the gifting collection and the holiday collection.

 

Selfridges/Disney ‘A Most Magical Christmas’, Oxford Street

Iconic department store Selfridges is collaborating with Disney on a festive pop-up in London, as well as Manchester and Birmingham.

In Oxford Street, there is a light show with music every evening between 5-9pm. The show features pixie dust from Tinker Bell starting up a light display showcasing classic Disney characters and motifs, including the carriage from Cinderella. Visitors who follow the lights will find a 3D Disney Castle. The store also features a series of interactive windows of Disney characters, as well as concept art of Alice in Wonderland and Sleeping Beauty.

Other activities include Cinema at Selfridges, where visitors can see a range of Disney films, a dance show, and an afternoon tea. The pop-up also includes a range of collaborations with other brands and products that are exclusive to this location. 

Finally, The Corner Shop has been refashioned as a Disney Castle with capsule collections from The Skateroom, Steve O Smith and another release of The Lost Boys products from Disney x Zara, designed by Harry Lambert.

 

Aperol Festive Spritz Window, Mayfair

A bit of Florentine history made its way to the busy capital of London, courtesy of drinks brand Aperol.

The new Festive Spritz Window, open from 2-4 December in Mayfair, was inspired by the classic Buchette del Vino – ‘wine windows’ – which were once used to sell wine from palaces.

The small window was open in the evenings between 5-9pm, when customers could ring the bell to receive a free Aperol Spritz and enjoy a moment of ‘slow living’.

 

Home A Loan (Creditspring), Brick Lane

A different type of Christmas pop-up has launched, courtesy of financial provider Creditspring.

The Home A Loan store allows families to borrow a range of items for Christmas, including decorations, Christmas trees and toys. The store has been developed following research that parents in the UK are finding Christmas difficult, due to the expectations of the holiday and the cost of living crisis. Many are also cutting back on heating in order to be able to afford to purchase things for the festive season.

Instead, the Home A Lone pop-up, which is free to attend, offers a range of items inspired by the types of family Christmas seen in classic films such as Home Alone. Visitors can borrow homeware, toys and Christmas decorations, keep them for the following year, or return them back to the store. Any returned items will then be donated to a range of charities.

 

Pepsi Max, Westfield White City

Drinks brand Pepsi opened a new winter experience, the Pepsi Max Put it on Ice Bar, designed to help stressed out Londoners have fun.

Open from 11-13 December, the ice bar offered a range of wintery activities, including Pepsi Pong, where winners received Pepsi Max merch, like socks and vest tops. There was also a photo wall of ice, where visitors could take selfies. Finally, there was a bar for Pepsi Max cocktails, specially designed for the event. 

Excited fans could book a free ticket for 20 minutes which included the chance to win getting their Christmas list sorted by a Pepsi Max member of staff. 

 

Dyson, Covent Garden

Another arrival to Covent Garden was a pop-up from electronics brand Dyson, taking place from 11-21 December.

The new pop-up, Crafted and Gifted by You, focused on showcasing Dyson’s range of hair care tools. The space included a salon with both seated and standing style areas. Customers could browse the range of tools including the limited edition Amber Silk in a range of colours and designs.

Customers who purchased one of the tools were able to personalise the box with their initials, get their tool luxury gift wrapped and sealed, and receive a free gift. They were also entitled to book a free dry styling appointment to help learn more about how to use their new tool.