What’s On in Chelsea This Christmas
By Ellie Smith
3 years ago
From glittering festive installations to special shopping experiences
One of London’s most famous and upmarket districts, Chelsea is especially magical come Christmas time. Ever a place to be seen, the King’s Road and Sloane Street are littered with lovely shops: from world-famous designer stores to pretty boutiques.
Not only that, but Chelsea really pulls out the stops when it comes to festive décor – from the 36-foot tree standing proudly in Duke of York Square to a twinkling walk-through winter forest. Read on to find out what’s on in Chelsea this Christmas.
For more information, visit chelseachristmas.co.uk
The Best Restaurants in Chelsea
Astrid & Miyu
Contemporary jeweller Astrid & Miyu is offering five days of discounts this month including 25 per cent off best-sellers on 10 December and 20 per cent off everything on 11 December. 27 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 4RP
Poetry
Tucked away just off Sloane Square you’ll find the flagship store of Poetry, with two floors of carefully selected styles including everything from knitwear to jewellery. Just in case you needed a little extra incentive to visit, you’ll receive a bar of complimentary handmade soap with every in-store purchase. 10 Symons Street, Sloane Square, SW3 2TJ
Hayley Menzies
From silk cushions to sleep masks, Hayley Menzies in Duke of York Square has an array of gifts for glamorous homebodies. Its eclectic collection includes clothes, accessories and homeware. 40 Duke of York Square, SW3 4LY
The Saatchi Gallery
Inject a bit of culture into your December by popping into the Saatchi Gallery. There are two great exhibitions on there at the moment: Lobsteropolis, an odyssey of painting and sculpture by pop artist Philip Colbert, and Antisocial Isolation, which sees emerging artists responding to the pandemic. Both are free, but require pre-booking.
Staycation at 11 Cadogan Gardens
For the perfect festive staycation, spend a night in one of Chelsea’s finest hotels, 11 Cadogan Gardens. Book a December stay and you’ll receive a number of discounts and treats including 15 per cent of the best available rate, £20 credit per person to spend on food and drink and a complimentary Christmas keepsake. More information here. To book, call 020 7730 7000 or email [email protected]
Joseph
This winter is all about luxury loungewear, and it doesn’t get much cosier than Joseph’s Pure Cashmere Luxe Gift Set: a collection of timeless knitwear cashmere essentials. Like all Joseph’s branches, the Chelsea store is beautifully designed too. 76 Duke of York Square, Chelsea, SW3 4LY
Complimentary delivery
It can be tiring lugging around all your bags while Christmas shopping – but with Cadogan’s new e-cargo bike delivery service, you can have your purchases whizzed home for you. The majority of stores in the area are participating in the service, at no cost to them, you or the planet, as delivery is completely zero emission.
Santa’s helpers
Whether you can’t find a particular store or have a question about the Christmas entertainment going on, Chelsea’s team of elves will be on hand to help. They’ll be visiting the area each weekend to ensure everyone remains on Santa’s good list through social distancing, so you can rest assured Chelsea is a COVID-safe shopping destination.
NARS Cosmetics
A true beauty innovator, NARS is renowned for its award-winning concealers, lipsticks, colour-rich blushers. Visit the Chelsea store between 10 and 14 December, and you’ll receive a 20 per cent discount on all products, or be treated to 30 per cent off with a minimum spend of £150. 27 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 4RP
Cadogan Hall
Visit Cadogan Hall on 12 December for a socially-distanced evening of Christmas classics performed by The Rat Pack – a surefire way to get you feeling festive. Choose between two performances: one at 5pm, the other at 8pm. 5 Sloane Terrace, Belgravia, SW1X 9DQ
Cartier
Looking for an extra special gift for a loved one? Head to Cartier on Sloane Street – the Parisian jeweller which Edward VII rightly declared as “jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers”. If you’re after a sparkling stocking filler, it doesn’t get much better than the Pasha de Cartier, which has been the brand’s cult watch since its creation in 1985. Be sure to admire the shop’s festive façade too. 143-144 Sloane Street, Chelsea, SW1X 9BL
Everyman Cinema
For the perfect family event, book tickets to Everyman Cinema’s Christmas pantomime: Peter Duncan’s Jack & the Beanstalk. This sees the classic Jack & The Beanstalk tale recreated in Blue Peter legend Peter Duncan’s back garden, complete with a stellar cast, ingenious sets and even a real beanstalk. It’s being shown exclusively to Everyman audiences on 12 and 13 December.
Rigby & Peller
Since being founded in 1939 by Gita Peller, Rigby & Peller has established itself as one of the best British luxury lingerie retailers. The quality of its products is unrivalled – and if you spend over £165 there this Christmas, you’ll receive a special gift. Can’t make it to the shop in person? Book a virtual styling appointment via the Rigby & Peller website. 13 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 4RP
Anabela Chan
It’s the little things that make shopping experiences special, which is why jewellery shop Anabela Chan is offering a complimentary gift wrapping service for all purchases – plus a box of Charbonnel et Walker pink champagne truffles. 35B Sloane Street, Knightsbridge, SW1X 9LP
Haines of Sloane Square
When you come out of Sloane Square station, your first stop should be Haines of Sloane Square: a lovely little shop filled with everything from chocolates to magazines – stocking filler gold. Sloane Square Station, Sloane Square, Belgravia, SW1W 8AL
Horse & carriage rides
Tired legs after being on your feet shopping all day? Hop aboard one of Chelsea’s complimentary horse and carriage rides. Seating six people from the same household, or two people from different households, the complimentary tours include a 20-minute spin around some of the area’s festive delights. Just look out for the elf hanging around Kate Spade on the corner of Pavilion Road.
New store arrivals
We may have all been swept up in the online shopping craze this year, but nothing beats the allure of in-person browsing and buying. And while we love Chelsea’s long-standing institutions (Peter Jones will never lose its charm), a whole host of new shops have popped up in the area recently too. There’s outdoor clothing brand Shackleton, for instance, complete with a life-size replica of explorer Ernest Shackleton’s boat, alongside organic greengrocer Ben’s.
A beautiful Christmas tree
Duke of York Square is also home to one of London’s most magnificent trees during the winter season: a 36-foot Norway Spruce, adorned with shimmering golden bows and weighing in at a whopping 600kg.
Glittering installations
Looking to jazz up your Instagram feed with some festive snaps? We’ve got just the ticket. Look out for the first entrance to Duke of York Square when you’re coming from Sloane Square station, which has been transformed into a glittering winter forest using silver birch, pure white magnolia and woodland twigs threaded through hundreds of fairy lights. You’ll also find two glowing majestic crowns gracing each end of the King’s Road as a nod to its heritage – the road was created for King Charles II, the monarch who ‘brought back Christmas’ after a decade long ban from Cromwell. And, last but not least, the giant ‘King’s Road’ lettering installation returns to Chelsea this year: another great backdrop for your snaps.
Festive entertainment
Chelsea has plenty of entertainment to offer during the Christmas season. Head there on a weekend afternoon in December to enjoy seasonal tunes from roaming gospel choirs and local choral societies, Nutcracker soldiers on stilts, a duo performing in a giant snow globe and much more.
Bavarian Pop-Up Curling Experience
Try your hand the ancient art of Bavarian curling at Chelsea’s new pop-up: a 45ft rink surrounded by the twinkling Christmas lights of Sloane Square. Book a slot for groups of six before heading to the Alpine-inspired log cabin, which serves up a takeaway menu of festive food and drink including chilli sausages and mulled wine. The pop-up adheres to the new Tier 3 restrictions.
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