A Huge Wicked Christmas Tree Has Landed At St Pancras

Every winter, London is overwhelmed with glittering Christmas lights, magnificent festive windows, and towering trees. The latter is where artists and brands really get creative, rustling up partnerships and collaborations to create the best, brightest, tallest and quirkiest Christmas trees across the city. In recent years, we’ve seen jewellery trees fit for royalty, avant garde neon ‘trees’ and even a library tree. Last year, said library tree popped up in St Pancras station in partnership with Hatchards and Penguin and ‘inspired by the magical ability of both books and train travel to transport people to exciting new places’. This year, the Grade I listed station is delving further into magic, whimsy and imagination with its Wicked Christmas tree, created in partnership with Universal Pictures’ new movie.

St Pancras International’s Wicked Christmas tree. (© Sam Lane Photography)

St Pancras Unveils Wicked Christmas Tree

Looming a whopping 11 metres high, it took a band of 20 expert craftspeople more than 4,000 hours to create St Pancras station’s 2024 Christmas tree. Complete with hand-painted details mirroring the action of the upcoming film (in cinemas 22 November), the festive green tree reflects the beauty of the Emerald City which sits at the centre of Wicked, a musical delving into the untold story of the witches of Oz which first debuted in 2003.

‘The St. Pancras International Christmas Tree has become a fixture in London’s festive calendar, and we understand the importance of bringing something spectacular and unique to the station for visitors to enjoy,’ shares Wendy Spinks, chief commercial officer at St. Pancras International. ‘This year, the opportunity to partner with Universal Pictures on their only Wicked Christmas tree in the UK was an easy choice, and we look forward to welcoming guests from across the country, as well as our international travellers, to experience it.’

Wicked will arrive in UK cinemas on 22 November. (Universal Pictures)

As the release of the first ever film adaptation of the globally successful musical fast approaches more than two decades later, St Pancras has teamed up with Universal Studios to create a beacon of striking green and opulent gold, highlighting the splendour of the film and the almighty brightness of the Emerald City. More than 100 towers house tiny windows which, when lit (by more than 200 lights), reveal characters from the iconic film. At the base of the tree, guests can discover Ozian booths featuring photo opps, soundtracked by music from the film. And right in the centre, a hidden hand-crafted diorama of the land of Oz awaits, featuring more than 1,000 miniature flowers and an illuminated yellow brick road linking Shiz University, The Emerald City, the castle Kiamo Ko and The Governor’s Mansion.

Nearby, a Wicked x Lush pop-up shop will also open, offering  themed bath bombs, soaps, and toiletries inspired by the film’s characters, and just 250 exclusive mini soap replicas of the Wicked Christmas tree.

‘We are delighted to partner with St. Pancras International to bring the world of Wicked to life through this enchanting Christmas tree,’ says Erika Lewington, marketing director at Universal Pictures. ‘The central London station’s spectacular architecture provided the perfect Ozmopolitan backdrop for this cinematic moment. We hope the wickedly dazzling experience enriches peoples’ journeys and brings a touch of magic to one of London’s most iconic destinations.’

How To See It

The St Pancras Wicked Christmas tree is now on display at St Pancras International station (Euston Rd., London N1C 4QP). It’s free to visit, and so big you can’t miss it – just head to the main concourse.