This Christmas, our team is taking a season of twinkling lights, cocoa, and cosy evenings, and turning it into something truly special for our children.
We’re planning festive activities with plenty of little rituals so Christmas becomes more than a date on the calendar: it becomes magical. From toddlers to tweens, the team has plenty of ideas to fill any empty days in your calendar, pre and post Christmas.
Sheena Bhattessa, Founder
SEE Various shows over the Christmas period taking in as much Santa as we can! The Snowman at Peacock Theatre is incredible and worth seeing, and of course our regular festive haunt to see Peppa Pig Family Show (an appearance by Evie will be a welcome add-on for my kids)! VISIT Santa Letter writing and meetings at Purple Dragon in Chelsea who really create quite a magical experience! BOOK I love the Storytelling and Music Sessions for babies and toddlers at the Royal Albert Hall. I took both my older kids when they were very little, now my 6 month old enjoys them too. WHILE AWAY Christmas in the Caribbean is not always so festive but we do make the most of it. There’s a Grand-Case Christmas Light Parade on Christmas Eve with floats, music, dancers, and a fireworks display at the end. BEACHTIME Is inevitable. I’ve invested in these aqua shoes for the children, ideal for walking in the hot sand and washing feet before jumping back in the car. DECORATE With fake snow around the Christmas tree as well as snowy footprints as if Santa came straight from Lapland. CREATE I get personalised santa sacks and Christmas baubles for the whole family, so with my new addition I’ve bought one more of each to add to the tree.
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Rachel Story, Style & Commerce Director
SEE The light trail at Blenheim Palace to kickstart Christmas. My little one will love running around the Wizard of Oz installation and the tunnel of light before picking up some souvenirs and Christmassy treats at their Christmas market. VISIT My sister and her fiancé live in Winchester and the Christmas Market in the Cathedral grounds is regularly voted one of the best in Europe. A cosy winter weekend at theirs is very much on the cards and while we’re there I’d also like to try and squeeze in a visit to the Steam Illuminations on the Watercress Line and meet Santa on the Father Christmas Express. WEAR Matching pyjamas, because when else can you really get away with it. At the moment this red tartan pair from M&S are my son’s favourite because they match a pair that Grandad (aka his hero) has too. TREAT If fitting everything in for the festive period already feels like a mammoth task in itself, take the pressure off with a home visit from Secret Spa. I’m already planning my festive nails because it’s the only time of year that I’d be swayed from my usual natural, french or oxblood red. A super cute thing to do with your little one too for their first mani – sparkles and nail art are go!
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Alexandra Carello, PR Director
WATCH I’m sure I am joining millions of others but we have booked to see Wicked at The Everyman and I am so excited! Wondering if my kids will sit through the entire thing! DECORATE We have been having a lot of fun preparing for Christmas early. Peter Jones have some really fun decorations. They loved the ice cream sundae , I loved the caviar! WEAR With potential holidays on the horizon, I would turn to Lison Paris. I have been wanting some of their kaftans for the girls for a while. I choose these matching Kaftans for our next hot holiday. PARTY For party dresses I would turn to Beeboon, I discovered this Portuguese children swear brand recently and loved all the options. These fun jackets are so cosy and this handsmocked dress is perfect for Christmas parties. DO On a non festive note we have signed up to Kumon. We have been finding their unique approaching to teaching Maths and English a game changer.
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Ella Alexander, Fashion Features Director
DO South London gets its own version of Winter Wonderland this month in the form of Winter Gardens, a festive funfair, market and ice rink, hosted in beautiful Beckenham Place Park. Entrance is free, so I imagine I’ll be taking my toddler along more the once. We’re also taking him on an open-top bus tour of the West End Christmas lights (let’s hope it doesn’t rain). WATCH In Twixmas, we’re heading to the O2 to see Disney On Ice – I’ve heard nothing but good things. We’ll also be watching the new Julia Donaldson screen adaptation The Scarecrows’ Wedding, which is out on iPlayer on Christmas Day – perfect for 30 minutes of calm WEAR I found the sweetest Christmas jumper for Lenny at H&M; a lot of the smaller sizes are sold out, but I’m sure there are few of them still to be found in store. BUY I’ve spotted a few great gifts for little ones at London’s museum shops over the past few weeks: Father Christmas will be bringing Lenny a giant cuddly toy snake via the Natural History Museum, and the V&A has some real sweet, mostly plastic-free stocking-filler options in its South Kensington store, all for under £10. I also like the sound of this book, available to buy online called, How To Be A Lion by Ed Vere.
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BUYING There’s a chill in the air that I couldn’t be happier about because it means that it’s jumper weather. I love the British wool brand Herd with a passion, and have been wearing its Fleetwood jumper through Autumn, but now it’s really going to come into its own. I also love the brand Kiltane for its cashmere fingerless gloves, which I have in multiple colours, and TBCo’s beautiful knitted triangle scarves in many colours – although a pop of red is particularly amazing for the complexion on a cold day. BOOKING I hope I can still get tickets for the English National Ballet’s Nutcracker at the London Coliseum because I’d love to take my two daughters, who this year I think are just about both old enough to enjoy it. Plus I have The Elmer Adventure and the The Gruffalo’s Child booked for between Christmas and New Year. READING I’m hoping that Christmas will afford me a bit of time to finally read the stack of books by my bed; I’ve got Zadie Smith’s new collection of essays that I can’t wait to read. WORKING OUT I know this is counter intuitive given the season, but December for me is a time to get ahead of new year wellness intentions. I love weightlifting and running, but new on my radar is a new studio, Yours, which is sculpting pilates under Infra red lights, meaning you get all kinds of skin-boosting and sleep-enhancing benefits while you tone up. CHRISTMAS DAY DRESSING The brand Queens of Archive is new-to-me, but beloved by celebrities ranging from Lily Allen to Zooey Deschanel. I have just bought a long velvet sparkly dress for Christmas Day, which fits beautifully on the waist, and makes me feel like a queen.
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Sadaf Quyoum, Lifestyle Partnerships
VISIT With two teenagers and their growing obsession with beauty and makeup, a trip to Sephora at Westfield is inevitable. We’ll be scouting for teen-friendly skincare — because as a mum of two girls, it feels essential that they understand what ingredients truly support their skin, and which ones can do more harm than good. They’re currently loving the Indu range, a gentle and thoughtful line created specifically for teens. BOOK For our festive adventure, Christmas at Kew is already in the calendar — a sparkling trail of lights, hot chocolate in hand, and me fully embracing being the big kid I am (or perhaps simply clinging to the last moments of childhood wonder in my daughters). I’ll also be treating the family to a magical afternoon tea at Claridge’s, complete with views of this year’s Burberry Christmas tree. There is truly nothing quite like Claridge’s at Christmas time. BUY Each year, I replenish my supply of The White Company’s Winter candle, the scent that instantly transforms the house into a festive haven. I style it alongside Anthropologie’s beautiful dinnerware; the Bistro range in particular adds just the right touch of sparkle to the Christmas table. WEAR Nothing beats a chic coat this time of year and I am wearing my recent houndstooth purchase on repeat at Nobody’s Child. Reversible, snug and gives me the illusion of having two coats. TREAT MYSELF TO I’m a devoted fan of HydraFacials — a winter necessity when the cold weather leaves skin dull and dehydrated. I always see instant, glowing results at Dr Rita Rakus’ Knightsbridge clinic, making it my go-to ritual for keeping my skin lifted, hydrated and ready for the festive season. EAT No calorie counting for me this month; just unapologetic slices of panettone and cosy Christmas films. I’m leaning all the way into festive decadence with a chocolate-and-cherry-laced loaf worthy of an Italian winter escape.
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