How to find the spirit of Christmas around London’s Mews
Few can disagree that London comes alive during the Christmas period – streets shimmering with festive lights, extravagant window displays and elaborate decorations; shoppers stopping for a warming mulled wine and an air of anticipation and excitement as people prepare for the seasonal holiday.
We may be biased, but it’s fair to say, that no city does Christmas better than London and there’s no better place than a charming mews to explore what’s on offer minutes from your front door. Whether you’re fortunate enough to live in a mews house, you’re a house guest for Christmas, or you happen to find yourself walking near a mews street in prime central London, now is the time to enjoy some of the best Christmas events, pop-up shops, artisan markets and celebrations taking place during December.
Seasonal Shopping Delight
The Royal Mews Christmas Shop from the 14 November until 5 January, a first-time ever pop-up shop has opened at the Royal Mews. Part of the 200-year-old original stables belonging to Buckingham Palace, has been transformed into a festive boutique. Visitors will be able to peruse and buy official royal gifts, and food and drink from the Royal Collection Trust, a department of the Royal Household. A full-size advent calendar will feature daily reveals of new products, limited editions, exclusive treats and collector’s items. To celebrate the Christmas spirit, seasonal drinks and nibbles will also be available. The income from purchases contributes to the care and conservation of the Royal Collection and helps the Royal Collection Trust share it with everyone, wherever they are.
A festive pop-up
If you love a pop-up where you can browse handmade treasures and uniquely designed gifts, head to Notting Hill and check out 700QiBai Space Christmas Pop-Up at 281 Portobello Road until the 15 December. For lucky residents in picturesque St Luke’s Mews W11, this pop-up is literally on the doorstep – perfect for that last-minute Christmas present!
Cultural Christmas Gifting
London’s marvellous museums never fail to inspire and their curated Christmas shops offer the opportunity to find something for even the trickiest of recipients. On Kensington High Street, the Design Museum and its Christmas shop has plenty of original ideas for stocking fillers and iconic design pieces; whether it’s a beautiful coffee table book for your mews, a limited edition print, a quirky pen, marbled candlestick, London brick soap, or a funky t-shirt, they sell something for everyone of all ages.
Pay a visit to the Natural History Museum
Who doesn’t love a dinosaur? South Kensington’s Natural History Museum has stuffed its shop full with Christmas goodies – items for the young (and the young at heart), the curious and the adventurous. If you live in a local SW7 mews, you may think that the museum is just for visitors, but think again and make a point of popping in to pick up T.Rex festive jumpers for all the family. If you want to see a quintessential English mews, Kynance Mews is a skip away from the museum, and a beauty to behold in all its Christmas glory adorned with festive wreaths, garlands and decorative lights.
Fancy a Crafty Christmas?
London gets crafty at this time of year with a choice of Crafty Fox Markets dotted around the capital from Kings Cross to New Street Square (just off Fleet Street). Our top pick, being close to the neighbourhood mews around Mayfair and the West End, is the Crafty Fox Market at the Royal Society of Arts on Saturday 6th December. It’s the first time that the Crafty Foxers will be showcasing a beautiful selection of independent designers and makers selling thoughtful original, handcrafted gifts in the Benjamin Franklin Room and Great Room within this fine Georgian building, located just off the Strand. As well as fascinating things to see and buy, there will be festive foodie treats and drink, with creative workshops and live performances running throughout the day.
Belgravia’s Stylish Christmas Sunday
Save the date – on the 4 December, Elizabeth Street will host the tenth Christmas Sunday market in Belgravia, festooned with twinkling lights, alive with an array of wonderful seasonal events and an unmissable Christmas market. On the day there will be a line-up of artisan crafts and independent stall holders, as well as wintry food and drinks pop-ups from local traders. The festive market is free to enter and explore, so you can wander the market at ease with a warming mulled wine in hand.
Pay a visit to Anya’s Grotto
Ebury Mews SW1 runs directly off Elizabeth Street, so it’s more than likely you’ll meet a friendly mews resident or two if you visit Anya’s Grotto this year. For anyone wanting the chicest Father Christmas experience, book tickets to visit Anya’s Grotto on Pont Street and pop into the Anya Village to pick out your new handbag for your Christmas wish-list.
Celebrate Christmas in Chelsea
Right up until Christmas Day, the King’s Road takes on a seasonal party vibe in the run-up to Christmas beginning with the traditional Christmas lights switch-on in mid-November. Admission is free and seasonal fun, fizz and fancy food can be enjoyed here with family and friends. At the heart of Sloane Square, The Ralph Lauren Holiday Experience makes its glamorous debut. Celebrating the holiday spirit of togetherness and giving back, ten percent of proceeds from all activities within The Ralph Lauren Holiday Experience to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, an organisation supported by Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony initiative; its longstanding commitment in the fight against cancer.
For six weeks, there is a festive-themed barn that will host a variety of activities throughout the mountain-inspired installation – including seasonal craft and wreath-making workshops, a florist-in-residence on select weekdays, artisan cookie decorating at The Cookie Atelier, and a charming Father Christmas experience complete with snow-dusted pine trees. There is also a Ralph’s Coffee pop-up serving warming beverages, seasonal mulled wine, and some of Ralph Lauren’s favourite treats – including the iconic Ralph’s Brownie, festive S’mores cookies, and a classic Hot Dog. For a helping hand with your Christmas shopping, The Holiday Shop will provide plenty of inspiration displaying a thoughtfully curated selection of holiday favourites – from iconic Polo Bear collectibles to Polo classics. The Ralph Lauren Giving Tree will invite visitors to create and dedicate a personalised star ornament in honour of a loved one, which they can hang on the tree, with a donation to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Happily ever after…in the Duke of York Square
For the first year, one of London’s most loved annual festive experiences, The Ever After Garden is lighting up Chelsea located in the Duke of York Square Green until the 16th December. Visitors will be greeted by a mesmerising display of over 30,000 illuminated white roses and invited to reflect and remember loved ones while helping to support The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Bring a little traditional spirit into your countdown to Christmas and explore ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ with even more seasonal sparkle and surprise for a perfect free family activity at Duke of York Square. You will discover enchanting trails of displays to follow and learn more about their magic inspired by the classic Christmas favourite carol. Have great fun searching high and low for all of the characters in lyrics – from Maids-a-Milking, Lords-a-leaping, and even French Hens – not forgetting to take photos to share with your friends and family.
Merry-Making in the Mews
There are infinite choices when it comes to eating, drinking and celebrating Christmas in or near the mews. Should you find yourself in the heart of Bayswater W2, Queens Mews off Moscow Road is handy for The Phoenix – a cosy, traditional pub serving homecooked British food, Sunday roasts and a good pint; popular with local mews residents and their dogs.
Not far away, on the edge of Hyde Park and between Lancaster Gate and Paddington station is the beautifully refurbished pub, The Mitre. Situated within a fine Grade II listed building boasting many period features, the pub occupies three floors cleverly arranged to suit different occasions with the traditional pub on the ground floor, the Lord Craven’s dining room above for a more opulent setting and sophisticated celebration, and the Old Mary’s speakeasy basement bar serving delicious cocktails and charcuterie platters. Now that Winter Wonderland is underway in Hyde Park, this great local is ideal for a pit-stop before or after skating in the park and enjoying the magic of the Bavarian Village, the Magical Ice Kingdom and so much more.
Residents of the quiet cobbled cul-de-sac Princes Mews, which is located at the end of Hereford Road are fortunate to have The Princess Royal as their local. For sipping a glass of something sparkling in style this Notting Hill gastro pub and boutique hotel is a fantastic choice. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and supper with an enticing menu, private dining room, live music and New Year’s Eve events.
Singing from the rooftops
Churches across London welcome those who wish to celebrate Christmas by joining a carol service. On the top of Notting Hill in Lansdowne Crescent stands St John’s Church W11, an important part of the parish community, opening its doors throughout advent and Christmas with candlelight services and nativity plays. Alternatively, everyone, religious or not, is welcome to attend the Christmas carol singalong at St Mary’s Magdalene in Paddington on the 8th December, which is very close to Celbridge Mews, a modern style mews dating back to the late 1980s built around an attractive courtyard.
The possibilities are endless when you’re at home in London for Christmas. It could be enjoying a Christmas Day walk in a London garden square, gazing at London’s beautiful Christmas lights on a clear night, cheering on the swimmers in Hyde Park who take to the Serpentine on Christmas morning, or simply hunkering down at home in the mews. Whatever you choose, wherever you find yourself, we wish you a very happy festive season!
