London’s Christmas lights and windows

November 10, 2009

London’s Christmas lights and windows

London was all a-glitter tonight with Carnaby revealing a super-retro Christmas lights display, but first up was Liberty and its brilliant Christmas windows.

It was a bit of a creature-feature with a giant birdy in one window (complete with a raft of bird boxes) and Mr and Mrs Foxy (and baby Foxy) sitting down to Christmas dinner in another, but I particularly love the Coronation/Rule Brittania set-up, which features the most incredible collection of royal memorabilia.

The next window transported us to a rather nostalgic suburban scene with the Quality Street scattered under the sofa, fruitcake piled up on the occasional table, and kitsch toys under the tree. Aaaah…so cosy.

The British heritage obsession combined with all the witty foxy-hunting-lodge references is of course a nod to Luella Bartley, who has stepped in to ‘guest-edit’ Liberty’s Christmas collection this year.

It’s celebrated in Luella’s Christmas Grotto (on the Carnaby Street side of the store), and it’s really difficult not to love all of her special picks, from the badger egg cups and goldfish hankies to the Shepherd’s diaries and Liberty-print hair bows. All of the Rubbish finger puppets are there, too. You can look at Luella's picks online here. Such a genius idea.

And then just outside Luella’s Grotto awaits Carnaby Street and its kitsch-tastic super-sized pink deers and lights…

It's beginning to look a lot like a (very retro) Christmas…

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Posted at 10:20 pm in Christmas 2009, Christmas decorations, Christmas in London, London shop windows, Shopping in London, Shopping in W1 | Permalink

Tweet tweet! I love reading all your comments - thanks so much for stopping by.

http://profile.typepad.com/skirmishofwit skirmishofwit

Oh, what a lovely post. The windows and lights look so beautiful! I have just done a Christmas post myself – it’s obviously in the air!
http://profile.typepad.com/skirmishofwit skirmishofwit

Oh, what a lovely post. The windows and lights look so beautiful! I have just done a Christmas post myself – it’s obviously in the air!
http://www.mrstrefusis.blogspot.com Mrs Trefusis

Such a gorgeous post – I’ll look at the street with new eyes tomorrow
http://autumnia.com Karen

I love the windows! I can’t wait to check them out in person!
http://www.countrycottagechic2.blogspot.com Jayne

Oh it’s wonderful! Thanks for sharing these photos….makes me want to go to London again…
Jayne
http://spitzenklasse.blogspot.com Mette

I want to go back to London – just moved home to Copenhagen a couple of weeks ago and it´s been cold and rainy ever since.
Thanks for sharing.
/Mette
http://www.sarah-janedownthelane.blogspot.com sarah -jane down the lane

Oh thank you thank you wee Birdy!
I so needed this post and it is wonderful. I have been blathering on to OH about getting up to the Smoke to see the Liberty windows and you have delivered big time!
I am of course all the more determined to see them myself now!
Brilliant, Sarah x
http://www.deliciousindustries.blogspot.com Delicious Industries

I love a bit of retro kitsch-ness, I can’t wait to see the Liberty display it looks fantastic – a nod to true British eccentricity!
http://www.dans-lair-du-temps.fr cassandra

thancks for this photos… lovely!
http://zafraniversum.blogspot.com/ Eva from zafrán

Well, this kind of decoration is somewhat…interesting for somebody living in Switzerland. You certainly won’t find anything like this around here. I’ll be staying in London from Dec 29th until Jan 4th. Do you think I’ll have a chance to see all this then or will everything be redecorated shortly after Christmas?
http://patchworkharmony.blogspot.com Patchwork Harmony

looks amazing! I will have to pop down there and have a look! Liberty is my fave shop in the whole of London. x
by the way, i just thought, you might like some of my Christmas items, I got some really cute bird decorations!
http://www.patchworkharmony.co.uk
Caroline x
http://basilexposition.wordpress.com Fionnuala

Tra la! I will be in London from tomorrow evening and plan to walk my feet off around town on Friday. I will get to see these things in person _very soon_!
http://www.weebirdy.com Top Bird @ Wee Birdy

Hey Eva – I’m pretty sure these windows and decorations will still be up until Dec 29 or New Year’s. Best to go there on your first day! xx
http://www.southwestweddings.blogspot.com bridebug

Great pics Really pleased I have a trip to Liberty planned (Bridal dress weekend) so I can see it for myself.
http://www.carolineno.com/ Caroline, No

Oooh, lovely. I need a west end day, and soon!
http://www.cheapaffiliate.com affiliate

I am of course all the more determined to see them myself now