Christmas is my favourite time of year! The decorations, the lights, the trees, the music, the mulled wine...I just can't get enough.
One of my favourite things to do each holiday season is to visit London's iconic department stores to check out their yearly Christmas shops.
Even if I don't intend on buying anything, I enjoy wandering around to see what's on offer.
And, as you may expect, the Christmas Shop at Harrods is one of the best.
Synonymous with luxury for well over a century, the unveiling of the holiday window displays at Harrods is my most anticipated seasonal event.
I do think Harrods is worth visiting throughout the entire ear, but the store really shines (literally!) at Christmas.
Check out Sinead, one of my colleages at Tours by Foot London, in the video below, as she showcases the lights and window displays from last year.
To find out what's on for the 2024 holiday season, look no further!
As a local tour guide who leads Christmas-themed tours, I am uniquely qualified to write about Harrods's Christmas decorations.
I've also taken some inspiration from questions and suggestions made by users in our London Travel Tips Facebook page.
I've written extensively on tips for those visiting London during the Christmas holiday so read on!
Harrods Christmas Shop
London is known throughout the world for the incredible variety of luxury shopping on offer, and one of the most famous destinations in the capital is Harrods.
It's probably the London shop I get asked about the most on my tours as the name is just synonymous with London luxury.
Harrods boasts over 1.1 MILLION square feet of retail space (and I swear I have seen them all!) which makes it a top-destination for shoppers from all over the world...or just people who want to have a peek.
Although I dare you to go inside and not purchase anything - I don't think I've ever managed it.
Every year, the store goes all out for Christmas with both decorations and their Christmas Shop.
The external lights and the holiday window displays will appear at some point in November, but the interior is already glitzed and glittering for 2024.
I have noticed that the Christmas shop opens earlier and earlier each year - in fact I have even browsed their Christmas decorations in July!
Given its reputation as one of the finest department stores in the world, it's no surprise that the Harrods Christmas shop brands itself as a Luxury Christmas Shop.
Whatever your heart desires, you are likely to find it at the 2024 Harrods Christmas Department!
One of the things I like about the Harrods Christmas Shop is that it is split into different and specific sections.
It makes it easy for me if I am looking for something specific.
And, I always revel in the surreal experience of walking past dozens of perfectly decked out trees listening to the holiday music playing through the specially positioned speakers.
All while I daydream about how I'd decorate my mansion when I inevitably inherit millions of pounds from a previously unknown distant relative.
A girl can dream, right?
Harrods teddy bears are legendary and there is a new one each year.
And, 2024's offering is Noah - a white bear in a cable knit jumper which is probably more posh than anything I've got in my own wardrobe.
I'm not a huge buyer of stuffed animals but I do find the annual Harrods teddybear to be a charming gift and a little something special to give to the younger members of my family.
I love how the foot of each bear has the signature Harrods logo and the years' date which also makes them a lovely collectable.
I am a lover of real Christmas trees but sometimes it's just not practical.
I have an artificial Christmas tree but I want it to look as authentic as possible and that's where Harrods excels!
I honestly was shocked that they weren't real the first time I saw them all.
Now there's no wallet-watching here.
However, the last time I was there, I looked at a price tag just out of curiosity and dropped it immediately when I saw that the tree was selling for £1,100.
Yes, really!
Christmas Crackers and Advent Calendars
Christmas Crackers are a lovely British tradition!
I usually just get mine from Sainsbury's...but the ones at Harrods are a luxury splurge, filled with hand-crafted treats and even fancy baubles.
You can pay hundreds of pounds if you'd like, but I picked up a box of 6 (featuring the Harrods teddy bear) for £30.00, which I am looking forward to bringing out on the big day.
The Advent Calendars are no different and I saw at least 5 different types - and not just with edible treats inside.
My favourite is the in filled with the finest branded beauty products in the place of tiny chocolates.
Cake stands, crockery, porcelain plates, and literal silverware, this is an elevated experience.
Think names like Waterford and Wedgwood just for a start!
But there are more affordable items, too.
I don't have the money to splash out for an entire tableware set but I did pick up some beautiful trays which I am looking forward to using over the holidays.
So what if the food I serve on them is from Aldi?!.
Christmas World and Decorations
When I say Christmas World...that is what I mean.
When I walk into the ground floor of Harrods this time of year I feel like I am being transported into another realm.
The floor is jam packed with beautifully decorated trees and all the accessories you need to make yours just as fabulous.
And this is where I suggest you go if you are on a budget!
There are some really beautiful Christmas ornaments and baubles and some of them are priced under £10.
I think they make lovely little gifts, too, as they are beautiful, high quality, affordable and come with the name-recognition of Harrods.
In fact, I gifted one each to my mom (a white star) and dad (a gold moon) back in 2001.
And each can still be found on their Christmas tree today - with the price tag still attached!
They've really become part of our family traditions.
Whenever people ask me if it's worth it to go to Harrods I always tell them that even if they find the rest of the story boring - it's impossible to not be blown away my the Harrods Food Hall!
It's worth a gander all long (and I am guilty of going in specifically to buy their salted caramel truffles) but, of course, at Christmas, it's beyond description.
Here they lay out everything you need to make an unimaginable Christmas dinner, but you can also buy fancy treats to gift - or keep for yourself!
Think delicious panettone, traditional mince pies, cookies, hand-crafted chocolates, and luxury branded hampers.
They also do catering.
Now, at first I thought there was no way I could ever afford to have Harrods cater my Christmas dimmer but...it's £250.00 for a meal for 6-8 guests.
Which isn't that much more than what I normally spend for Christmas dinner!
What caught my eye this year, though, is their Entertaining Bundle featuring a selection of canapes, sandwiches and mini verrines.
I've bought one for this Thanksgiving (you can take the woman out of the U.S. but you can't take the U.S. out of the woman) and I am excited to surprise my family with it.
Harrod's 2024 Christmas Decorations
Aside from all the beautiful decorations for sale, I love exploring the decor scattered throughout the entire store during the Christmas season.
I spotted stunningly decorated trees, garlands, and wreathes sprinkled throughout all the different floors and departments.
In addition, the interior and exterior are twinkling with hundreds of thousands of sparkling Christmas lights!
The 2024 Christmas window decorations have not yet been unveiled but the countdown is on!
I will be heading down there in about a month to check them out.
I don't want to get my hopes up but one year I went and as I was strolling along, looking at all the detailed window displays, it started to snow!
That's unusual for us in London in December so I was quite surprised...and even more so when I realised that it wasn't even real.
Harrods made it snow with snow machines located on the rooftop, sending millions of beautiful flakes down onto me and others who had come to watch.
That was real Christmas magic!
Every year I hope they bring it back.
(Covent Garden has done something similar in the past although I have heard it won't be appearing this year, regrettably.)
Harrods is easy to get to, and is just a short walk from Westminster and Kensington.
I like to combine my visit to Harrods with a walk through Hyde Park - or even a trip to Winter Wonderland.
Nearest London Underground Stations: Knightsbridge (I love that there is an actual tube station exit dedicated specifically to Harrods so you literally can't miss it!).
Hyde Park Corner and South Kensington are also options.
The walk from Hyde Park Corner takes me past a number of other stores so I usually choose that station if I'm in the mood for some window shopping.
Bus Routes: 14, 74, 414, C1
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