Christmas at The Royal Exchange, London: A Landmark Dressed in Light and Tradition for 2025
London at Christmas has a magic of its own; the glow of lights on historic stone, the smell of pine drifting through the streets, the buzz of last-minute shopping and festive evenings out. Among the city’s most beloved destinations to experience this seasonal splendour stands The Royal Exchange, an architectural icon in the heart of the Square Mile. Its 2025 Christmas installation has now been revealed, and once again it positions the landmark as one of the most enchanting festive displays in London.
From sparkling 30-metre pillars to a striking Fortnum & Mason Christmas tree, the Royal Exchange has been transformed for the season; a celebration of elegance, history and contemporary spectacle. The installation, designed by creative agency Fier & Folk for The Ardent Companies, will be in place until 4 January 2026, giving Londoners and visitors ample time to experience it.
A historic landmark dressed for Christmas
For more than 450 years, The Royal Exchange has been a central point of commerce, culture and social life in the City of London. Its neoclassical façade, distinguished by eight monumental columns, has long framed one of the capital’s most recognisable silhouettes. At Christmas, however, the building takes on an entirely new character: one that glimmers, captivates and feels almost theatrical in scale.
This year’s decorations emphasise both grandeur and warmth. The eight 30-metre columns have been delicately wrapped in thousands of lights, creating luminous gold pathways of vertical illumination. At night, the effect is especially powerful, like lanterns rising to the sky, drawing visitors inside from the cool winter streets.
At the entrance, real spruce and pine adornments soften the stone with festivity and scent, enhancing the sensory experience and grounding the visual spectacle in natural seasonal materials.
The Fortnum & Mason Christmas tree
Front and centre of the Royal Exchange’s festive experience is the Fortnum & Mason Christmas tree, a nod to one of Britain’s most celebrated heritage houses. Decorated with gleaming baubles, fairy lights and signature Fortnum tones, the tree feels both traditional and glamorous, echoing the spirit of the building behind it.
For many Christmas enthusiasts, and increasingly, for tourists, visiting the Royal Exchange tree is fast becoming a must-see ritual, much like Covent Garden, Regent Street, and the Trafalgar Square tree. Its setting in the historic financial district offers a different kind of festive atmosphere: quieter, more refined, and architecturally rich.
Inside the design: Fier & Folk’s vision for Christmas 2025
Returning after the success of last year’s installation, Fier & Folk have once again reimagined the Christmas identity of the Royal Exchange, this time with a focus on radiance and scale. Commenting on the project, Carlin Fier explains:
“After last year’s successful candy cane columns, we wanted to give the Royal Exchange another exciting display with the use of over 7 kilometres of LED lights on its iconic columns. It is always such a pleasure to work with The Ardent Companies to continually innovate ways in which we can celebrate the season and bring joy to Londoners seeking the magic of Christmas.”
The use of light as material is central, immersive, sculptural, and almost architectural. Rather than overwhelming the building, the illumination highlights its details, celebrating the craftsmanship and form of the neoclassical pillars.
A festive destination for shopping, dining and city exploration
Alongside the decorations, The Royal Exchange remains a hub of luxury retail, dining and festive experiences. From designer goods to fine jewellery, gifting, cocktails and celebratory dinners, it offers a more intimate alternative to London’s busier shopping districts, perfect for those seeking festive outings at a slower, more elegant pace.
As Andrew Hilston, Managing Director of The Ardent Companies, notes:
“It is fantastic to see the new Christmas lights at The Royal Exchange switched on and bringing festive cheer to the City of London. They look absolutely stunning, as is only fitting for the Square Mile’s foremost line up of luxury shopping, dining and socialising brands and operators.”
Why you should visit this Christmas
Whether you’re a London local, a weekend traveller or a festive-season explorer, the Royal Exchange ranks among the city’s most compelling Christmas displays this year. Its scale is striking, its detail refined, and its combination of heritage and seasonal creativity makes it truly one-of-a-kind and with the display running until 4 January 2026, there is time to visit throughout the season, from pre-Christmas shopping to post-holiday winter strolls.
Plan your visit
📍 Location: The Royal Exchange, Cornhill, London
🗓 Installation live until: 4 January 2026
🎁 Best for: Christmas lights, festive photography, seasonal shopping, luxury dining, City of London wanderings
Experience Christmas at The Royal Exchange, London: real spruce displays, glowing baubles and an iconic Fortnum & Mason tree create a spectacular festive setting until 4 January 2026. A must-see for London Christmas lovers.