Each year, as the city’s skyline begins to glimmer with festive lights, The Ritz London unveils a transformation like no other.

For over a century, this legendary Piccadilly landmark has been synonymous with elegance, tradition, and refined celebration. Yet behind its breathtaking façade and gilded grandeur lies a story of extraordinary craftsmanship, year-round planning, and a team united by a single purpose: to create a Christmas at The Ritz that is truly exceptional.

From the moment guests step through the revolving doors, the hotel is bathed in a warm glow, the scent of pine and cinnamon in the air, the sound of soft carols echoing down The Long Gallery, and, at its heart, a 24-foot Ritz Christmas tree that stands as the very symbol of festive enchantment. Yet every garland, menu and candlelight moment is the result of careful planning that begins not in November, but almost as soon as the previous Christmas draws to a close.

Year-Round Planning: From the Creative Brief to the Opening Day

The Twelve-Month Countdown

At The Ritz, Christmas transcends a mere season; it embodies a year-long journey of creativity and dedication. Planning commences in January, just weeks after the last toast on New Year’s Eve, when the hotel’s team gathers to reflect on guest feedback, celebrate what delighted visitors the most, and pinpoint opportunities for enhancing the overall experience.

Every department and supplier, from culinary and floristry to design, guest services, and marketing, plays an essential role, contributing unique perspectives to a harmonious vision. The aim is straightforward yet ambitious: to honour the timeless legacy of The Ritz while ensuring that the magic remains vibrant and enchanting.

By the time spring arrives, menus are already in the works, crafted well in advance of Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. The culinary team begins collaborating with trusted British producers, securing the season’s finest ingredients to ensure a menu that dazzles and delights. Meanwhile, florists and designers dive into mood boards, exploring colours, textures, and motifs that will shape the year’s visual identity, setting the stage for an unforgettable celebration.

The Ritz’s commitment to excellence ensures that every detail is carefully planned, making each holiday season not just an event but an extraordinary experience that guests will remember for years to come. It is this dedication to innovation and tradition that positions The Ritz as a premier destination for festive celebrations, where each moment is crafted with love and expertise.

The Vision Behind the Season

Every Christmas at The Ritz is a carefully curated experience that begins with a creative brief, an essential guiding concept that sets the tone for the season. Each year, we draw inspiration from various sources, whether it’s the charm of a nostalgic Edwardian motif, a colour palette inspired by historic interiors, or a delicate nod to a contemporary cultural moment.

Our goal is to preserve The Ritz’s unique identity while incorporating new elements that subtly surprise and delight our returning guests. This tradition creates a festive atmosphere that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.

Behind Closed Doors

As spring approaches, the culinary team at The Ritz, led by Executive Chef John Williams MBE and Head Chef Deepak Mallya, begins the delightful process of sample tastings in The Ritz kitchen. Paul Thomas Flowers takes this opportunity to experiment with innovative arrangements. Prototype decorations are crafted, fastidiously reviewed, refined, and sometimes completely reimagined before receiving final approval. The hotel’s General Manager and Leadership Team are closely involved in every decision, overseeing everything from the placement of each garland to the seamless flow of the guest experience.

By late summer, the dedicated artisans, suppliers, and partners of The Ritz are fully briefed on the upcoming seasonal transformations. As October rolls around, the intricate logistical choreography begins in earnest. Deliveries of vibrant baubles, luxurious ribbons, and fresh blossoms start to arrive, each item carefully timed for the grand transformation that unfolds behind closed doors in mid-November.

Designing Spectacle: The Lobby Tree, Opulent Florals and Decorative Craftsmanship

The Grand Christmas Tree

No festive experience in London is complete without witnessing the Ritz Christmas tree, a 24-foot masterpiece that rises beneath the hotel’s glittering chandeliers. Each year, the tree is sourced from a local UK estate renowned for its sustainability and perfectly symmetrical firs.

The installation is an event in itself, taking place overnight on Friday evening and lasting more than seven hours, as decorators and florists work in quiet secrecy to bring the design to life before dawn. Guests waking up the next morning are greeted with the spectacle: a towering vision of gold, ivory and green, radiating old-world glamour. The Ritz Christmas lights glimmer throughout the hotel.

The Ritz Christmas tree goes up either the second or third Friday in November. In 2025, it will go up on 15th November, as tradition dictates. For many loyal guests, that date marks the unofficial start of Christmas in London, the moment when The Ritz unveils its festive heart to the world.

The Florists and Artisans

The floral artistry of Paul Thomas Flowers has become inseparable from the identity of Christmas at The Ritz. For over a decade, Paul and his team have been entrusted with creating the hotel’s festive floral narrative. Each arrangement, whether adorning The Long Gallery, The Palm Court or the two Michelin-starred Ritz Restaurant, is handmade, with hundreds of hours devoted to placement, proportion and palette.

Every ornament is handcrafted, every ribbon tied with care, and every bauble arranged perfectly.

Every Detail Considered

At The Ritz, design transcends mere visual appeal; it engages the senses on multiple levels. The carefully curated lighting enhances the exquisite gold leaf accents throughout the interiors, casting a warm glow that envelops guests. The thoughtfully selected music complements the rhythm of the guest experience, starting gently in the mornings with a tranquil ambience and gradually building to a lively crescendo in the evenings, perfectly aligning with moments of festive dining and joy.

This celebration of aesthetics extends far beyond the hotel lobby, permeating every corner of the hotel. From The Ritz Restaurant and The Palm Court to The Rivoli Bar and the elegant private suites, each space embodies a cohesive design language that weaves a vibrant tapestry of seasonal beauty.

A Taste of Tradition: Chefs, Festive Menus and the
Michelin-Starred Christmas Table

Reimagining Classic British Dishes

The heart of Christmas at The Ritz beats most vividly in its kitchen. Under the direction of Executive Chef John Williams MBE, the Two Michelin Star restaurant crafts an array of world-class dining experiences that celebrate British heritage with refined artistry.

Guests can indulge in a four-course Christmas Eve Gala Dinner, the Festive Live at The Ritz experience with live entertainment, a six-course Christmas Day Lunch, or a four-course Christmas Day Dinner. Boxing Day offers further indulgence, with both lunch and luxury Christmas dinner menus served in lavish style. To welcome the New Year, guests may choose between the six-course New Year’s Eve Dinner in the Michelin-starred restaurant or the four-course dinner in the elegant Palm Court.

Each menu pays tribute to the beloved flavours of an English Christmas, skilfully reimagined through the artistry of haute cuisine. Every dish offers a harmonious blend of balance, texture, and seasonal ingredients, inviting diners to experience the best Christmas dinner in London in a festive, fresh, and innovative spirit.

Our Excellent Ingredients

Sourcing lies at the heart of The Ritz’s culinary philosophy. The chefs collaborate exclusively with local producers who share their commitment to quality and sustainability, creating Michelin-starred cuisine.

These relationships are nurtured year-round, allowing the culinary team to secure the finest seasonal produce at its peak. “Luxury,” says Chef Williams, “is not about excess; it’s about precision. It’s about taking the best of what nature offers and preparing it with integrity.”

Dining as Theatre

Dining at The Ritz transcends mere pleasure; it’s an exquisite performance. Every aspect, from the graceful choreography of the service to the elegant presentation of each course, embodies a commitment to excellence that has stood the test of time. The discreet pour of Champagne and the synchronised clearing of plates create a seamless experience for guests, with every detail precisely crafted.

On Christmas Day, this commitment reaches new heights as the kitchen and service teams operate with almost orchestral precision. Each dish departs the kitchen at the perfect temperature, and every guest receives attentive service with an air of calm elegance. The result is a dining experience that feels effortlessly smooth and refined. However, behind this facade of ease lies an unwavering dedication, tireless rehearsal, and a genuine passion for hospitality that make every moment memorable.

Service as Stagecraft: The Teams, Rituals and Impeccable Guest Experience

The Art of Anticipation

If design and cuisine provide the visual and sensory splendour of The Ritz, it is the people who provide its soul. Every member of staff, from the doormen and concierge to the maître d’s and sommeliers, is trained in the art of anticipation, to foresee a guest’s need before it is spoken.

This philosophy of “invisible service” defines the essence of Ritz hospitality. It is about grace without grandeur, warmth without familiarity, and attention without intrusion.

The Human Touch

Many of the hotel’s team members have been part of the Ritz family for decades, witnessing generations of guests return year after year for the same Christmas rituals. Their continuity ensures that every stay feels personal, the familiar smile at check-in, the remembered table by the window, and the exact Champagne a guest prefers with their Christmas pudding.  Our world-class butler service is ready and waiting.

These seemingly small gestures elevate The Ritz beyond a luxury hotel into something altogether more human, a place where celebration becomes connection.

Why Calm and Consistency is Key

Behind the festive calm lies a remarkable feat of coordination. From the moment the first guest arrives on Christmas Eve, hundreds of staff move in perfect synchrony to deliver an experience defined by poise. The calm that guests feel, the unhurried pacing of dinner, and the gentle rhythm of service are precisely engineered through briefings and an unspoken understanding among the team.

Heritage Meets Innovation: How The Ritz Keeps Timeless Luxury Fresh

Respecting Rituals, Embracing Change

The Ritz’s magic lies in its ability to remain timeless while gently evolving. Its Edwardian architecture, mirrored halls and Louis XVI décor preserve the grandeur of a bygone age, yet the guest experience continues to evolve through subtle innovation.

Collaborations and New Inspirations

Each year, The Ritz works with artisans and suppliers who share its pursuit of excellence. Seasonal cocktails in The Rivoli Bar reinterpret vintage recipes with a modern twist. Think a reimagined Ritz Royale infused with winter citrus and spiced vermouth, that redefine Christmas Afternoon Tea for a new generation.

The Next Generation of Ritz Guests

Christmas at The Ritz continues to enchant both established patrons and first-time visitors. Families who once celebrated here as children now return with their own, a testament to the enduring emotional connection the hotel inspires. At the same time, younger audiences are discovering The Ritz as a place where nostalgia and novelty coexist, where the rituals of Afternoon Tea meet the sophistication of modern luxury.

A Legacy of Luxury: Why Christmas at The Ritz Remains a Celebration Like No Other

The Emotional Resonance of Tradition

There is a certain magic that defies explanation, the sense of being part of something larger than oneself. At The Ritz, Christmas evokes precisely that feeling: a blend of the history of the Ritz hotel, artistry and human warmth that touches every guest who walks through its doors.

It is not simply the grandeur or the cuisine, but the continuity, the knowledge that every detail, from the gleam of the silverware to the smile of the doorman, has been refined over a century of tradition.

A Living Legacy

The Ritz’s team considers itself a steward of a living legacy. Each Christmas is a reaffirmation of the hotel’s founding principles, to serve with elegance, grace and integrity. The knowledge passed from one generation of Ritz professionals to the next ensures that the legacy and history of The Ritz endures.

The Enduring Magic

From the grand unveiling of the Ritz Christmas tree to the final toast of the New Year, The Ritz embodies the spirit of Christmas luxury. Every sensory detail, the shimmer of gold, the sparkle of crystal, the melody of laughter, speaks of a world where time slows, and every moment feels extraordinary.

For those fortunate enough to experience it, Christmas at The Ritz is not merely a celebration, it is a tradition, a performance and a promise. A reminder that, in a world that changes constantly, there are still places where beauty, care and craftsmanship reign supreme.