The countdown to Christmas is on and the CF team are making the most of the season. Including cosy UK staycations, festive films on the big screen, and sparkly accessories to take everywhere we go, these are some of the top things to do, shop, eat and try in December 2025.
Christmas aside, this month we’re visiting countryside hotels and spas, booking tables at London’s hottest restaurants and visiting new must-see exhibitions. This is all the inspiration you need to make this December a fun-filled one.
Sheena Bhattessa, Founder
TREAT MYSELF The busy year has called for some downtime and self-pampering. I’m very (very) excited to try Dr Galyna Selezneva (aesthetic doctor and wellness extraordinaire) at The Lanesborough Club & Spa (be sure to watch out for before and after pics!) EAT Before travelling for Christmas, I’m meeting a lot of friends and Aki London is on my list. A Kyoto-inspired, farm-to-table menu set in a Grade II-listed former banking hall, it’s visually stunning. WATCH I absolutely love Selfridges at Christmas, they turn the entire store into a fairytale Christmas and, on select days, they have the Confetti Spectacle. The Atrium has Father Christmas and his helpers coming down the escalators, so we all grab a couple of macarons and watch the 15 minute show. WEAR I am travelling to the Caribbean this Christmas and treating myself to a couple new pieces to enjoy wearing while there. These sunglasses are my go-to essentials, and these easy-to-throw-on shorts work really well with a swimsuit. VISIT A regular lunch at Eden Rock St Barths is always welcome; truffle pizzas under the hanging chandelier monkeys followed by a walk on the beach and a dip in the warm Caribbean waters. Bliss!
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Katie Silcox, Managing Editor
EXPLORE London! I’ve just moved back here after almost 15 years living abroad (India, the UAE, Greece) and am so excited to become a Londoner again. First stop: a Christmas lights tour along Piccadilly, through Berkeley Square and onto New Bond Street (picking up festive decor at Fortnum & Mason on the way). STAY At the brand-new Maya Hotel Courchevel in the French Alps on the day it opens (5 December). Watch this space for my first-in review, coming to Citizen Femme next week. BUY Winter-proof clothes, which are very much needed (and currently missing from my wardrobe) for both London and The Alps. This Nour Hammour long shearling coat is at the top of my wishlist (Santa, are you listening?) EAT At these festive restaurants over the next few weeks. Can I manage them all? Probably not, but I can try! WATCH One of the Christmas movie screenings in December: Home Alone in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall is already sold out, but other options include Elf at Backyard Cinema, Love Actually at W London, and It’s a Wonderful Life at the BFI.
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Becki Murray, Beauty & Wellness Director
STAY In a Chewton Glen treehouse for a cosy festive retreat in the New Forest. The rooms come complete with a hot tub, which sounds perfect for winter nights, but I’ll be slipping out to the award-winning spa too, for a dip in the pool and an indulgent two-hour treatment. LAUGH Out loud at Sleeping Beauty starring Catherine Tate and Julian Clary – the classic pantomime at the London Palladium; my family’s favourite signal that the festive season has truly begun. TRY The new Mind Oasis treatment at Ritual’s flagship store on Oxford Street. After just 30 minutes of the immersive sensory experience, it’s rumoured to feel like you’ve slept for two more hours – just what you need when dealing with the hectic nature of Christmastime. DRINK Festive-themed smoothies at Elevate – a new cafe concept that supercharges your drinks with health benefits. My top pick: the gingerbread spice smoothie that contains digestion and gut health-boosting ingredients, so indulging doesn’t make you feel sluggish – unlike many festive treats! ATTEND Jazz on the Water at St Katharine Docks, a unique opportunity to experience live Christmassy jazz music surrounded by twinkling lights on a floating pontoon. SUPERCHARGE My skin before the work Christmas party, using the new Nooance Elite X600 Led Mask. With 600 medical-grade LEDs and an ultra-soft, flexible design, it actually fits your face so can deliver its skin quality-boosting benefits more effectively, including around tired eyes.
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Rachel Story, Style & Commerce Director
VISIT The Christmas Lights Trail at Blenheim Palace. It gets booked up so far in advance – we completely missed the boat last year – so I’m excited for a festive day out with my whole family to get us all in the Christmas spirit. BOOK A Festive Afternoon Tea at Cliveden House. The reception at Cliveden is filled with the most beautiful Christmas tree, bedecked with glorious red velvet bows and maximalist giant baubles, which is worthy of a visit alone. Steeped in history, it’s the perfect place to toast someone special – exactly what I plan on doing for my mother-in-law who is turning 70 and is an afternoon-tea enthusiast. A brisk walk around the National Trust grounds afterwards will help compensate for an indulgent afternoon of tea and cake. WEAR Argyle prints are back and this oversized cashmere jumper from Reformation is on my knitwear hitlist. I’ll be pairing it with my Agolde recycled leather trousers which are butter soft and perfect teamed with slouchy knits. GLOW UP If, like me, winter takes a serious toll on your skin then bookmark a KICHI facial for the ultimate pre-festive glow. A non-ablative multi-fractional laser creates micro channels in the skin for deeper penetration and absorption before a serum containing salmon sperm DNA polynucleotides are applied to the face (without injectables). RECHARGE All of this is done in 180 Health Club – block out an afternoon to really make the most of a visit and book in for more party season pampering.
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Ella Alexander, Fashion Features Director
SHOP I am obsessed with Christmas, so will be drinking up as many festive wonders as I can muster, starting with Toast’s East London Christmas market on Friday 5 – Sunday 7 December 2025, which brings together independent makers creating unique gifts. I’ll also pop into Astrid & Miyu’s new jewellery gifting store on South Molton Street, the perfect spot to find a treat for someone you love. EAT My friends and I have a Christmas tradition where we gather at Soho institution Andrew Edmunds for a festive, candle-lit dinner. It’s hard to beat. LISTEN I’m really into Jefferson Hack’s podcast Where It’s At, in which he interviews the figures shaping our culture from fashion critics to actresses to restauranteurs. I always come away having learnt something new. WATCH I’m going to see The Last Dinner Party at Brixton Academy, pop at its most intelligent. DO Every year, I drag my husband and son to our local woods to go foraging for decorations, from trails of ivy and pine cones to fir tree clippings – there isn’t much that smells better than Mother Nature’s own brand Christmas. WEAR I am proud to say that, despite so much temptation, I haven’t bought anything new to wear this party season. Over the years, I’ve collected a few dresses that make me feel great, a winning pair of sequinned trousers that go with everything and heels that feel special, but comfortable. There is such a pull to buy anew when curating party looks, but just make sure you have a dig into your wardrobe first – trust what you already own.
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Bibiana Obahor, Head of Graphic Design
WATCH I’m finally going to see Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre, and I’m taking my mum as it’s one of our favourite Netflix series to binge together! I’ve heard amazing things about the stage design and storyline and can’t wait to see how they bring that world to life in a live setting. EAT Bottega 35 opened on Kensington High Street not long ago, taking over the old Zuaya spot and it’s already on my list. Hand-rolled pasta, fresh seafood, and a cosy, Tuscan-inspired atmosphere? Yes please. Perfect for a slow lunch or festive dinner that isn’t trying too hard. WEAR I’ve got my eye on the Reformation Jillian Silk Dress – the perfect festive season look. Relaxed, lightweight, and that deep green feels very December without screaming Christmas. BUY I’ve been on the hunt for something low-effort but effective for my skin this winter, and Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream is back in rotation. It’s affordable, and my skin genuinely loves it for when the weather turns cold. READ I’ve just started Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy and so far, so good… It’s set in the Scottish Highlands and follows a biologist trying to reintroduce wolves into the wild while dealing with her own past. Quietly haunting and beautifully written.
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Alex Carello, Head of PR
BUY Jennifer Chamandi has dropped the most beautiful festive capsule. Named Chiaroscuro the collection plays with light and depth with plenty of crystals. Mules are very in right now and I would opt for these. WEAR Sparkly party bags are a must this season, and I love these from Marina Raphael – so tiny and so shimmery! They’ll have every magpie oohing and ahhhing. GIFT I find buying gifts impossible and have turned to my friend Rosanna Falconer to help me out. I love her embroidered napkins for a beautiful yet useful gift. WRITE Memo Press is my go-to stationary brand, it’s so delicate and so chic. Founder Alice Edwards also does all the illustrations and I’ll be buying these as beautiful gifts for friends and family. I also love their bow-printed wrapping paper. EAT A festive lunch at LPM is one of our favourite family traditions, and I love the Pain Perdue – it might be one of my favourite desserts in London.
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Ella Mansell, Junior Culture Editor
BOOK As many of these festive events in London with friends as is possible to fit in my busy December calendar. SEE As usual, there are so many unmissable exhibitions in London this month, and I am especially looking forward to Diane Arbus: Sanctum Sanctorum opening at David Zwirner displaying the photographer’s work from 1961 to 1971. SHOP It’s not December in London without a trip to Liberty to browse the brands and marvel at the festive flowers and decor. Always leave time for a glass of Champagne at Seventy Five at Liberty. GIFT While giving back is important throughout the year, the festive period is a special reminder of why it’s so meaningful. When shopping for presents I’ll order from Better World Books where a book is donated to a charity or school for every book sold – and you can find plenty of good-as-new coffee table books on the site. DO I love anything to do with florals, which means wreath making is always high on my Christmas to-do list. The new stylish Shoreditch hotel, Sir Devonshire Square, is hosting a wreath making class with talented Kuit Design on 8 December – can’t wait!
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