It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Mayfair – specifically, at Claridge’s, where London’s grand hotel tradition meets the city’s perennial love affair with fashion. This year, Claridge’s has called on one of Britain’s most compelling creative forces, Daniel Lee, Chief Creative Officer of Burberry, to design its celebrated Christmas tree for 2025.
The unveiling, set for Tuesday 25 November, marks the meeting of two quintessentially British icons: the century-old craftsmanship of Burberry and the Deco-era glamour of Claridge’s. Together, they promise to deliver a festive spectacle that’s both steeped in heritage and alive with modern flair.
A Very British Christmas
Burberry’s history with Christmas stretches back nearly as far as its gabardine. In the 19th century, the house hosted Christmas bazaars and welcomed Father Christmas to its Basingstoke store – the brand’s birthplace in 1856 – long before the idea of “holiday retail experiences” was a thing. This year, that festive lineage finds new expression under Claridge’s vaulted ceilings.
Lee’s design will feature a 16-foot tree swathed in 600 fabric bows, all fashioned from surplus Burberry materials – a nod to sustainability and the brand’s craft-forward ethos. The bows, a Victorian symbol of unity, will be joined by bells and chess-piece ornaments inspired by Burberry’s Equestrian Knight Design, the emblem born from a public competition in 1901. Topping it all: a gilded crown, while oversized chess pieces stand sentry at the base. It’s a tree that seems poised between stately nostalgia and playful grandeur – a Daniel Lee signature.
“Claridge’s has always felt like home from the moment you walk through its doors,” Lee said. “It’s a true symbol of elegance and British heritage. Being invited to design the hotel’s Christmas tree is a huge honour – I wanted to celebrate tradition and togetherness, with vibrant colour and rich texture. Christmas is my favourite time of year.”
Now in its 15th year, Claridge’s designer tree has become something of a London ritual—the moment the city’s festive season officially begins. Past designers have included the likes of Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, and Alber Elbaz, each lending their distinctive vision to the hotel’s marbled lobby.
“Christmas is always the most magical time of year at Claridge’s,” said Thomas Kochs, the hotel’s Managing Director. “We’re honoured to welcome our long-standing friend Daniel Lee this season. We can’t wait to see how guests and visitors immerse themselves in Burberry’s creative world.”
Both Burberry and Claridge’s trade in a particular strain of Britishness – one that values craft, character, and confidence over flash. Under Lee’s direction, Burberry has leaned further into that identity: heritage checks reimagined in electric blue, trenches cut sharper, details made deliberate.
At Claridge’s, that sensibility finds a natural home. For a few winter weeks, the lobby will become a meeting place of icons – fashion and hospitality, nostalgia and newness, tradition and transformation – all wrapped in a bow (or six hundred of them).
If Christmas in London has a beating heart, this year it’s likely to be found under a Burberry bow at Claridge’s.
