What the Traveller editors are loving this December
Sarah Leigh Bannerman, commerce editor
The start of December marks the beginning of Christmas for me, and I almost enjoy the run-up more than the day itself. Throughout 2025, I’ve focused on escaping the city – some of my best weekends were spent in a beach house on Camber Sands and on a farm in Dorset. But now, I embrace my alter ego. London is quite literally twinkling with anticipation, and not a moment goes by without the opportunity to celebrate. At the end of November, we kicked off our festivities with an overnight stay at Raffles at The OWO, where red and gold swathed traditional marble stairways and hotel elves delivered thoughtful gifts for my two tiny offspring. Seeing the city through their eyes is magical, and suddenly the go-to cliches (embracing the throngs at Covent Garden, jumping on the Hamleys open-top bus and getting a festive hot chocolate from overpriced pop-up market stalls) feel essential. My work calendar has also been overrun with festive goings-on, and rightly so. The unveiling of the Claridge’s Christmas tree was especially lovely, and a spoiling evening at Mount Street Restaurant felt like the perfect way to catch up with one of my oldest and best friends ahead of the December rush.
This week starts with a much-needed facial with Dr Paris at the Ardour Clinic before I visit more of the front-runners on our list of the best hotels in London at Christmas. Fabulous Broadwick Soho will set the tone for an evening of jazz hands at Moulin Rouge! The Musical, then I’m off to Rosewood London to admire the courtyard display and sip champagne at Scarfes Bar. Later in the month, carols at The Ned and s’mores on Ham Yard Hotel’s wintery rooftop. It’s all outrageously glamorous, but it’s a far cry from how I’ll be spending my actual Christmas holiday.
Because ultimately, the end-of-year break is a chance to reset for longer than a minute. The countryside is where I feel most at peace, and after a few days with my family in Ascot, plus a jaunt to the illumination trail at Port Lympne in Kent, I’m plotting an escape to somewhere that feels good for the soul. Perhaps it’s a cottage in the Cotswolds where country walks can be bookended with pub fires and steaming bowls of soup? Or the New Forest, where hotels like Limewood and Chewton Glen embed wellness into their offerings, making a mind-and-body reset feel like the byproduct of a stay. Wherever it ends up being, the goal is to leave rested, full to the brim after quality time with my babies, and ready to embrace the exciting travel plans I have for 2026. On my wishlist: a city break in Tokyo, holistic rituals at Kamalaya Koh Samui, and a visit to Gleneagles in Scotland.
Chloe Laws, acting senior manager, audience development
December marks the start of the silly season, although mine extends into the New Year, thanks to an early January birthday, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Amongst all the late nights, festive sandwiches, “shall we have a Baileys?” moments, and shopping for loved ones – or all too often, accidentally myself – I’m also trying to create moments of balance. That includes lots of long swims, frosty walks, big bowls of nourishing spicy miso ramen at my favourite spot, Men, and reading before bed rather than doomscrolling. But, enough about being sensible, let’s get into what you’re all here for: fun, indulgent, festive recommendations…
My perfect festive day out involves plenty of eating and drinking around East London. I start at Hackney’s E5 Bakehouse with an oat milk flat white and a flaky pastry (their menu changes often, but if you spot the L’éclair, get it). Then I wander towards London Fields for a stroll and a browse around the weekend market, usually picking up a bunch of flowers – this time of year, I’m especially drawn to eucalyptus. I’ll pop into one of Broadway Market’s many bookshops to pick up some last-minute gifts (Artworlds is great for coffee-table statements) before heading to Elliot’s for lunch. Their new Sunday roast will have you rethinking your Christmas Day trimmings in favour of something more creative. By this point, I’m in dire need of a longer walk, so I make my way through Bethnal Green and down to Shoreditch, inevitably ending up at Oranj for their incredible dirty gherkin martini. The day ends as all Twixmas days should: in front of the TV, watching either The Holiday, Love Actually, or The Grinch.
The other central activity in December for me (aside from eating and drinking) is, of course, gift giving and shopping. Over the years, I have become slightly obsessive about my Christmas tree; my partner had to stop me putting it up in early November. But I can’t help it; I simply adore the ritual of deciding where to place each bauble and adding a few new sentimental decorations to my collection each year. OKA has beautiful ones; their Nimbus Stripe set made from mouth-blown glass is timeless, and will be going on my tree as well as being gifted. I’m partial to gifting people skincare, having spent a lot of time writing about beauty as well as battling tricky skin of my own, I am seen as somewhat of an expert by friends. For a special present, OSKIA’s award-winning Midnight Elixi is great for anyone with peri, menopausal or post-menopausal skin. I covet any products that make me sleep more deeply, like the Dreem Distillery’s Bed Balm or NEOM’s Magnesium Body Butter, and think they make thoughtful, unique stocking fillers.
Ultimately, I don’t think you can ever go wrong with getting someone a candle for Christmas: there are delicious-smelling ones for any budget, pretty much everyone is thankful to receive one, and they’re easy to personalise. For foodies in my life, I think Earl of East’s Milk Bun soy wax café candle is fun - it smells like you’ve opened a bakery in your home, and the ceramic mug it comes in can be used after the candle has burnt down.
On my Christmas list this year (*cough cough*) are the Alohas Ambar Suede Brown Leather Ankle Boots. I often struggle to find boots that meet all my criteria: well-made, comfortable, stylish, and that won’t fall apart by the end of one winter. My last pair of Alohas lasted me almost three years, of very regular wear, before needing to go to the cobblers. The Ambar pair are in my hue of the year, chocolate brown, and will go with almost any outfit.
Olivia Morelli, digital features editor
This year will be our first time hosting Christmas, so I’m really going full-throttle on festive decorations and last-minute cosy furnishings in the run-up. I’m rather obsessed with Pophams homeware at the moment – in particular the kitchen supplies, like this chic olive oil bottle and these amazing Hakeme butter dishes (although I’ve had to actively hold myself back from purchasing each and every one of the food-shaped items, like the baguette and tomato candles and the grape soap bunch). As always, trusty Zara Home is providing ample inspiration, from floral-shaped ceiling lights to this boucle accent chair.
We normally spend the month zig-zagging our way across the country to visit various family members, so in the absence of endless car journeys, we’ll be embracing as many cosy winter activities in and around London as possible. I’m hoping for lots of frosty walks in Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common with our little Scottie dog, maybe even venturing out to Surrey for longer hikes around the hills (Devil’s Punchbowl is our favourite spot for a circular walk). I always love getting a little dressed up for the evening after a day spent outdoors – I’ve currently got my sights set on a few items from Sezanne’s latest collection, particularly this cosy Suzie cardigan with its adorable bows down the front.
Otherwise, I’m planning to feast on hot chocolates and pastries (the chocolate and hazelnut babka from recently opened Parisian favourite Copains is my latest go-to); spend afternoons exploring the city’s best Christmas markets, and evenings seeing what the fuss is about at Motorino, Fitzrovia’s latest Italian hotspot. I’ll be returning to Ugly Dumpling – a new discovery for me, despite it having been on the scene for the best part of a decade, which has quickly become a trusty faithful (gluten-free dumplings ftw). Finally, I’m tackling the large pile of books on my bedside table – I’m nearly finished The Names by Florence Knapp, a debut novel following a sliding door narrative, which I absolutely adore so far, and next up I’ll try The Rest of Our Lives, a Booker Prize shortlister by Ben Markovits.
Charley Ward, commerce writer
I’ve had a hectic year jumping on flights here, there and everywhere. However, there was a moment of reckoning, after an amazing few days at Ayurvedic health retreat Soukya in India, where I realised that it’s important to find time to slow down, too. It means that cosiness and hibernation are the aim of the game for December. I’m going to do my best to cut down on the usual rotation of boozy nights out in favour of more wholesome, mindful activities. Has a week in India saved my liver from alcohol-related aggravation for good? Probably not entirely – but I do feel ready for change.
Saying that, I do have one trip this month, to Skyra Retreat in Finnish Lapland. This is a magical-looking new opening in a former schoolhouse, now decked out as an Alpine retreat with morning yoga, evening sound baths, and daily Finnish folklore sauna rituals. It looks like the inside of a snowglobe, and wellness-focused as can be – with a glimpse of the Northern lights if I’m lucky. Closer to home, I’m going to the Asaya Spa in The Chancery Rosewood in London, which one of our editors really rated when she checked in. A lot of its treatments are derived from Japanese beauty techniques I’m unfamiliar with, so I’m excited to try – some TLC from this starry new opening can only help me double down on my new zen.
This commitment to slow living has bled into what I’m wearing and buying, too. I’ve been living in this ultra-soft cashmere jumper by Madeleine Thompson, which will certainly accompany me to Lapland, and this stretchy jumpsuit from British brand AYM, which makes you look really put-together without compromising on comfort thanks to its extremely comfy cotton blend – it feels like a cheat code when I wear it. I’ll be spending the festive period in Brighton, so gearing up for the Christmas Day sea swim as is traditional with Brightonians, so I’ll need a big coat – I’ve had my eye on this one, with its on-trend detachable cape, by Nobody’s Child for ages. I used to live in Brighton years ago, and its seafront has had a regeneration since I left for Brighton and a string of sauna huts now pepper the stones – so I’ll be booking in for 20 minutes in Luna Hut, my favourite, after my swim – it’s guaranteed to warm the bones before the year’s biggest slap-up dinner.
