Some of the best and most beautifully Christmas trees can be found on display in London, as well as some of the best places to purchase your own.

Christmas trees are a tradition in many homes around the world and in most large cities you get the chance to see some of the most beautiful trees on display as well as have the ability to pick one that is equally beautiful for your own home. The city of London is no exception to this rule, as you will see as you read on.

Trafalgar Square Christmas tree

Trafalgar Square is home to pigeons and a large monolith that reaches high into the British sky with a stature of Admiral Horatio Nelson at the top. It is also the winter home of a large Norwegian spruce that measures over 20 meters high and is somewhere between 50 and 60 years old. Grown in the forests surrounding Oslo, Norway, the tree is sent to the citizens of England as a gift from the people of Norway.

This tradition started 61 years ago in 1947 as a ‘thank you’ gift from the Norwegians for the help the British gave them during World War II. The tree is carefully selected months before Christmas and the tree is aptly nicknamed ‘the Queen of the forest’ until it is felled sometime in November during an elaborate ceremony that include the Lord Mayor of Westminster, the British ambassador to Norway, and the Mayor of Oslo. It is then sent to London where it is erected in Trafalgar Square and decorated with vertical string lights and in the Norwegian manner. On December 6 of each year, the lights on the tree are lit by the Lord Mayor of Westminster and the Mayor of Oslo with the Westminster Salvation Army band and the Choir of St. Martin-in-the-Fields providing entertainment. The tree is taken down before the Twelfth Night of Christmas and recycled.

The tree and the square become the focus of many traditional styled Christmas activities, especially the carol singing that takes place each year. This year, from December 8 to December 19, 2008, there will be a large variety of caroling groups located around the tree entertaining visitors to the square, passersby, and raising money for charitable and voluntary organizations.

Find a Christmas tree of your own

We are sure you will be awed by the beautiful tree in Trafalgar Square and will want to get one for your own home. There are many Christmas tree stands in London, but these two stick out as being two of the best in the city.

The Christmas Tree Farm in Chesham is a member of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association and their farm offers everyone more than just trees, such as lights, decorations, and animated figures. They are a family-run business that has been selling their trees for 21 years and they do not fell their trees until the last week of November, first week of December. They offer traditional and non-drop trees that are un-netted until you purchase it. They will wrap them and prepare them for your tree stand as well as help you load it into your vehicle.

Pines And Needles is a unique Christmas tree seller in that they will actually come set up and decorate your tree for you. Popular with both business and residential customers alike, they sell non-drop, traditional, and rooted trees great for replanting. They offer their customers a 100% refund or replacement if their customers are not happy with the tree they purchased. The staff will deliver, install, and decorate the tree to your specifications, and then at the end of the holiday season, they will undress, remove, and recycle the tree for you. If you go with the complete trimming package, you pay one price for the service and you keep the decorations for next year.

Posted by admin on December 7th, 2008
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