St. Pancras 2023 Christmas Tree

St. Pancras International's 2023 festive display in partnership with Hatchards

Experience the magic of the season like never before with our 2023 Christmas display in collaboration with Hatchards. This 12 metre tall masterpiece is not just a festive centrepiece; it's a literary wonderland inspired by the enchanting realms created by authors. 

The tree features a whimsical design with a winding staircase and 270 shelves adorned with over 3,800 hand-painted books, including timeless classics like Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe."

Within this majestic tree are eight cosy nooks where visitors, young and old, can immerse themselves in the magic of Christmas, figuratively and literally. Each booth is equipped with speakers that allow you to select a five-minute excerpt from an audiobook, exclusively provided by Penguin Books. You can choose from a selection of sixteen different audios, featuring authors like Charles Dickens, Beatrix Potter, Zadie Smith, and more. It's the perfect free attraction for families or a relaxing stop on your journey through St. Pancras.

Wendy Spinks, Commercial Director at St. Pancras and HS1 Ltd, said: ”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.”

Celebrating Literature and St. Pancras International

This extraordinary festive display not only celebrates literature but also encourages a break from screens and a deeper connection with the joy of reading. In a world where BookTok and social media trends have sparked a 25% increase in young people's reading habits, St. Pancras and Hatchards hope to inspire a return to the transformative power of books.

St. Pancras International is not only home to the revered Hatchards, which has hosted events and book-signings from Richard Osmand, Nick Hornby and Ian McEwan in recent times.  It has a long-established relationship to literature, from its patronage of Sir John Betjeman (Poet Laureate and railway enthusiast), who saved the station from demolition in the 1960s, to the station's close proximity to The British Library, which houses treasured manuscripts from around the world.

Discover the magic of literature and the spirit of the season at St. Pancras International's Christmas Tree. It's more than a decoration; it's an immersive reading adventure that transports you to captivating new worlds.

Luke Taylor, Retail Director at Hatchards said: " 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!"

*2023 What Kids Are Reading Report