Scheduled to be unveiled in the hotel’s iconic lobby on November 25, the 2026 holiday installation will transform a traditional fir tree into an imaginative, whimsical treehouse. Woven directly into the branches of the towering evergreen and illuminated by a cascade of twinkling lights, Hindmarch’s design is intended to evoke a nostalgic, fairy-tale world filled with playful details and imaginative touches.
The annual Claridge’s Christmas tree commission has evolved into a major seasonal fixture in the capital, officially signaling the arrival of the festive period in London. This year’s holiday centerpiece marks the 16th time the Maybourne-owned property on Brook Street has invited a visionary guest designer to interpret the holiday spirit through their own creative lens.
For Hindmarch, the invitation carries a deeply personal resonance that connects her decades-long relationship with the historic hotel to her professional design career.
“Claridge’s has always been special to me,” Hindmarch said, reflecting on the commission. “There is something about crossing that marble entrance, that sweeping staircase, those Deco doors. I had my 21st birthday there many moons ago, and for my family, it has always been a place of special celebrations and a place to make memories.”
The designer expressed her hope that the intricately crafted treehouse installation would serve a similar purpose for the hotel’s international guests, visitors from across London, and families experiencing the festive season at Claridge’s, inspiring them to forge their own holiday memories within the historic walls.
Thomas Kochs, managing director of the Maybourne-owned hotel, emphasized that the collaboration represents a natural alignment between two quintessential British names renowned for their commitment to craftsmanship, wit, and luxury. Kochs praised Hindmarch’s distinctive creativity and trademark playful style, offering a tantalizing hint that further details regarding the partnership and the unfolding holiday programming will be revealed next year.
The unveiling of the Claridge’s Christmas tree is widely anticipated each year by design enthusiasts, travelers, and Londoners alike, drawing massive crowds to the Mayfair lobby to witness the latest interpretation of holiday decor. Over the past decade and a half, the hotel has established a formidable tradition of collaborating with some of the most influential figures in fashion and design.
Previous iterations of the prestigious holiday commission have featured an extraordinary roster of creative directors, couturiers, and design luminaries. Past collaborators include the late fashion titan Karl Lagerfeld, Kim Jones for Dior, Sandra Choi for Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin, Paul Smith, Diane von Furstenberg, and Christopher Bailey, who served as Burberry’s chief creative and executive officer, as well as the brand’s current chief creative officer, Daniel Lee, among other prominent names in the global design community.
Each past installation has brought a distinct perspective to the Mayfair hotel’s art deco interiors, ranging from avant-garde conceptual structures to hyper-traditional yet extravagantly reimagined natural forests. As the countdown to November 25 begins, anticipation is building for Anya Hindmarch’s nostalgic treehouse, promising to add a fresh chapter to the hotel’s storied holiday tradition while honoring its deep roots in British design and culture.
