There's a particular kind of magic that only happens in London in December. The lights switch on, the air turns crisp, and suddenly the whole city feels like it's been dipped in glitter. It's this feeling that Victoria has tried to capture in our newest collection, A London Christmas Tale.
Step Into the Storybook
Picture a beautifully illustrated snowy city, alive with festive wonder. Twinkling streets dusted in snow. Bustling shoppers hurrying beneath glowing lights. Skaters gliding across the ice with laughter. The air humming with excitement and cheer.
Every detail in this collection has been crafted to capture the magic of the season, from cosy moments and cheerful gatherings to the iconic landmarks that shine warmly against the night sky. There's something new to discover at every turn, inviting you to get lost in the charm of snowy London, again and again.
This enchanting collection brings all the warmth and magic of a London Christmas into your home, a perfect celebration of the season's sparkle and story.
Where the Story Began
Every design we create starts somewhere real, and this one began with a memory.
Every year, Victoria's mum and dad would take her and her brother on the train up to London, just to look at the lights: Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby Street, always wondering what theme the decorations would follow that year, and what the shop windows would have in store. They'd eat roasted chestnuts from a paper bag, watch the ice skaters spin past, and wander with no particular plan, peering into the displays at Harrods and Liberty, just looking at the beauty and grandeur of them. They didn’t shop, it was simply about being there, enjoying a tradition that had become part of the fabric of the season itself.
There was the enormous tree in Covent Garden, towering above everyone (even the street performers on unicycles) and the carol singers and music that filled the air. There was a hum of something wonderful happening all around you. And the smells: Victoria remembers her parents enjoying a glass of mulled wine, and her brother loving the sugary nuts that smelled so sweet and felt so warm to hold.
Those memories never faded and now, as a parent herself, Victoria makes the very same trip with her own daughter and husband. They get the train from Kingston to London, and head into the crowds and under the lights, passing down that same sense of wonder she felt as a child. One especially magical trip combined a visit to London with a matinee of Frozen in the West End. When they came out of the theatre, snow was falling, and for a moment they thought it was all part of the theatrics of the show, before realising it was real: a blanket of snow settling gently over the city, her daughters eyes wide with wonder.
A London Christmas Tale is that memory, illustrated: chestnuts and carol singers, glowing shopfronts and glittering trees, snow falling softly over a city dressed up for the season and the way it makes you feel. Victoria has turned those memories into a collection you can bring home and make part of your own story.
The Making of the Design
“The idea started life as an extension to the Quintessentially London range, and the thinking, at first, was that it might be a fairly simple one to design. That thought didn't last long, however!”
Once the skyline was in place, Victoria realised the design needed smaller buildings and a scene in the foreground. She added the ice rink, trees and market stalls, and a whole scene began to unfold, with individual people going about their day. It soon became clear this was going to be something else entirely.
Every building and every figure was coloured individually, layer upon layer, building up the scene piece by piece.
“It's, without question, the most labour-intensive design we've ever created, and the hours that went into it were huge. You can see this in every single detail, and the story that takes shape the more closely you look.”
The longer you explore, the more the design gives back. There are people rushing about with armfuls of presents and suitcases, travelling home for Christmas. A street performer. People packed onto a London bus. Families enjoying the carousel. And someone else carrying a giant teddy bear home from Hamleys, strapped to their back.
On the market stalls, shoppers are still browsing for last-minute gifts. Look closely at the stall in the centre and you'll spot Victoria herself, selling her own stockings and treasures. She's not the only one in there, either! When we needed images of someone walking into a shop, or standing in various positions, members of the team stepped in and posed for reference. Tucked into the scene is a moment taken straight from real life: Victoria's husband pulling their daughter along on a sledge, based on a photo from one of their own trips.
“Building up these small stories, this quiet dialogue running through the whole design, is what made it such a joy to create.”
It turned a single illustration into a whole world of little narratives, waiting to be discovered.
Discover the Collection
Step into the storybook this Christmas. Let the snowy streets, twinkling lights, and quiet festive magic of London find their way into your home, and perhaps, into a tradition of your own. Shop the collection