Student Bloggers

One of the things that my family loves to do every Christmas season is putting up our giant Christmas tree. We always build and decorate it together as a family. It is a beautiful way to get in the Christmas spirit and relax after a stressful semester. Our Christmas ornaments reflect our family, especially our love of travel. In every new place we visit, we will buy an ornament that reminds us of that trip. I believe that ornaments make the best souvenirs. Because of this, I visited four of London's biggest department stores' Christmas shops to find the best ornaments in London. London has some amazing and historic flagship department stores, and they are wonderful places to pick out an ornament that will remind you of your semester abroad. I also believe that the ornaments you choose reveal so much about you so I hope you all learn something about me based on my choices! Also, this blog has a bonus section for those of you who love to craft, so stick around for that, too! 

Harrods

Harrods was the first department store I visited in London because my mom wanted to shop there while she was in London at the beginning of the semester. Harrods was first opened in the 1820s as a general merchant's shop. Since then, it has become a bustling and luxurious department store that has a lively, charming Christmas shop. Harrods' Christmas shop is located on the bottom floor, and you must walk through this arch of bright red cranberries to reach the magic. If you are looking for ornaments that reflect classic aspects of London's culture, this Christmas shop is the place for you! They have everything from a full English breakfast to London guards to Big Ben. Since 1906, Harrods has been known for its teddy bears. If you don't have room in your suitcase for a real teddy bear, you can always get a tiny version to hang on your Christmas tree. I chose a little brown teddy bear ornament with a little velvet green bow around its neck. I bought this ornament because it will always remind me of visiting London with my parents at the start of the semester. Harrods' Christmas shop also has lots of other decorations to help you get in the spirit, like nutcrackers and Advent calendars. Some of their items would make fantastic holiday presents for family and friends. As an avid letter writer, I loved their stationery selection. Harrods is also known for its bookshop, which is hidden inside the Christmas shop. They have some beautiful editions of classic novels for all your loved ones who love reading. Harrods also opens its Christmas shop extremely early every year so if you want to beat the crowds in December, I recommend checking it out around November! 

Fortnum & Mason

Fortnum & Mason was the inspiration for this entire blog post because I saw a TikTok online talking about their ornaments, and I instantly wanted to head to their Christmas shop. Fortnum & Mason dates back to 1705, and it started as a spare room in the Mason family house. Their tea is world-renowned, and it makes a perfect gift for any tea lovers in your family! My favorite fact about Fortum & Mason's history is that in 1911, the Suffragettes were imprisoned for smashing the windows of the store as an act of protest. The store sent the women baskets of food to help them recover from their hunger strike in prison. The Christmas shop is found on the second floor, and there is so much to explore here. If you are looking for a sweet treat to help you get in the Christmas spirit, then this is the place for you. From Christmas tea to chocolate and orange biscuits to (literally) figgy pudding, Fortnum & Mason has anything you could ask for! I recommend their peppermint hot chocolate because it is a delicious way to feel festive! Would it be a Christmas shop without talking about the ornaments? It is the whole reason I came! They had a great selection of ornaments. I loved the ones themed around their afternoon tea. My favorite part of studying abroad in London has been trying different afternoon tea places, so I loved that I could get an ornament to remind me of all the fabulous tea spots I tried. While pricy, I know that it will be something that I treasure long into the future. And isn't that what ornaments are supposed to be about? 

Selfridges

If you finish your visit to Fortnum & Mason and still want some more Christmas spirit, Selfridges is just a 20-minute walk away! Selfridges is the youngest of these four department stores since it was opened in 1909. If you have not seen Selfridges itself, you have probably seen its iconic yellow bags on the arms of shopping on Oxford Street. Selfridges' Christmas shop was the most overwhelming of the ones I visited because every single surface that could hold Christmas cheer was covered. Even the shopping carts were covered in sparkly tinsel and oversized ornaments! They have lots of large Christmas trees out that highlight some of their best ornaments. They are perfect for anyone looking for some Christmas tree inspiration. Selfridges had lots of unique ornaments, including ornaments of all your favorite celebrities. From Audrey Hepburn to Queen Elizabeth I, you showcase your love for your favorite stars on your Christmas tree! I picked out an ornament that had my first initial because I will have my own Christmas tree this year and I wanted something that marked that accomplishment. Throughout the Christmas store, there are some truly hilarious ornaments (like a dachshund with a sweater or a potato chip package) that would be perfect for a White Elephant gift exchange. I think Christmas shops are always more entertaining when you visit with loved ones. I recommend visiting Selfridges with friends because it was so much fun to point out our favorite ornaments to each other (or the truly ridiculous ones)! It is a delightful way to participate in Christmas cheer, even if you are thousands of miles from home. 

Liberty Department Store

Liberty is by far my favorite Christmas shop for ornaments! Liberty was founded in 1875, and they found quick success because of their world-famous fabric. Liberty also has an iconic Tudor Revival building that sits on Regent Street. The structure was constructed from reclaimed timbers from ancient battleships. Stepping into Liberty feels like walking into a Christmas wonderland. Described as the most magical floor of Liberty, the Christmas shop spans almost the entirety of the fourth floor. There are gorgeous white Christmas lights strung from the ceiling that highlight all the details of the ornaments on display. There is so much to see in Liberty, especially when it comes to ornaments. You will find an ornament no matter what theme your Christmas tree is! Remember those fabrics that Liberty is so famous for? Well, they also have ornaments that showcase their most famous patterns! I bought a little Peter Pan book ornament because I watched the animated movie with my grandmother all the time after school. I also picked up a beautiful star ornament that features a delicate and intricate blue floral pattern. I decided on the star ornament because I wanted something that went with many of the ornaments I have at home. Here is a great tip if you are looking for unique gift ideas for your family (if they love ornaments as much as mine)! It could be fun to go to Liberty and buy everyone an ornament that makes you think of them! It will make a great gift, and it will help you share your study abroad experience with your family back in the States!

Making Your Own!

After Christmas dinner, my grandmother always brings out supplies for us to make ornaments. It has been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember. My grandmother has passed her crafty spirit down to me, so I never skip an opportunity to attend a craft workshop. I stumbled upon an ad for The Salvage Company's Kintsugi Ornament Workshop, and I instantly knew that I had to sign up! Kintsugi is a 15th-century Japanese repair technique that utilizes gold powder to highlight the beauty of imperfection. The Salvage Company takes this historic art form and helps modern crafters engage with it in a meaningful and hands-on way. The workshop itself was fantastic and so much fun! Our instructor, Cody, was so kind and attentive as she guided us through the entire process. I walked away with a little bowl and three ornaments. I cannot wait to hang on my tree at home! I recommend this class to anyone curious about Kintsugi and looking for some unique ornaments to adorn their tree at home! If you are looking for a cheaper option, I suggest checking out Sostrene Grene's ornament DIY to-go bags. Sostrene Grene is a Danish family store that was founded in 1973. The DIY bags are curated by the store. They are filled with almost everything that you need to create super cute ornaments from candy canes to stars. I bought a little bow ornament kit for my grandmother and me to make together when I get back to the States. Sostrene Grene also has so many other crafting supplies and Christmas decorations. There can be so much focus on the perfection of the holiday season and I think that homemade ornaments are a great way to remind us of what is important during the Christmas season. These ornaments I made here will always remind me of my time studying abroad so I recommend that you make one yourself!