Today, St. Pancras International officially unveiled its much-loved and highly-anticipated Christmas Tree, in partnership with Hatchards, the UK’s oldest bookshop and one of the station’s many iconic retailers.
Wendy Spinks, Commercial Director at St. Pancras and HS1 Ltd:
“This year’s St. Pancras International Christmas Tree is an ode to the wealth of literature that transports us to exciting and novel worlds. From real-life travel experiences to the fantastical lands of our imagination, we hope that festive visitors feel the magic and are inspired to pick up or gift their loved ones the most timeless gift of all, Books.”
Lighting up the station and bringing an abundance of festive cheer to London, the 2023 Christmas Tree is inspired by the magical ability of both books and train travel to transport people to exciting new places.
Standing at 12 metres tall, the Christmas tree features a winding staircase, wrapping around 270 shelves with an impressive array of more than 3,800 books, which have been hand-painted and inscribed with titles of Christmas Classics such as Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” and many more.
Within the tree, there are eight cubby holes where children and adults alike can sit and fully immerse themselves in the magic of Christmas, both metaphorically and physically. In each booth, there are speakers which allow customers to select a five minute excerpt from an audiobook or reading provided exclusively by Penguin Books, featuring authors including Charles Dickens, Beatrix Potter, Zadie Smith, Robin Stevens, Gabrielle Zevin, Alice Winn, Rick Riordan, Michael Morpurgo, Richard Osman and Tom Fletcher.
With each booth having two options, guests will be able to choose from sixteen different audios. These cubby holes are a great free attraction for the whole family or the perfect place to take five and relax while travelling through St. Pancras.
Luke Taylor, Retail Director at Hatchards:
“Whether we are young or old, books offer an escape from the hurly burly bustle of the modern world that no other medium can compete with; and there are few better ways to enjoy a good read than whistling through the countryside on a train! We are delighted to be partnering with St. Pancras International to bring this joy to the many station visitors, allowing people to escape, relax and enjoy literature for a few moments with the station tree. What a start to the festive season! “
The Tree is the centrepiece of the St. Pancras International festive offering, which also includes the Christmas Grotto, located on The Grand Terrace of St. Pancras from the 17th of November. During their visit, children can meet Santa, enjoy activities with Elves, listen to stories and even take their parents for a trip to Hamleys and Hatchards where they can receive 20% off with their grotto ticket.
