A Regency Christmas at Burlington Arcade

Crystal chandeliers, jewel-toned drapery and the pleasures of a beautifully chosen gift: Mayfair welcomes the festive season in nineteenth-century style.

Metropolis Collection Globe Trotter
In Regency London, the social calendar was an art form. An evening gathering was an occasion for fine dress, sparkling conversation and the pleasure of being seen. This Christmas, Burlington Arcade takes its cue from that spirited world, unveiling Regency Rout — a festive installation that draws on the elegance, theatricality and conviviality of the era in which the Arcade was founded.

Opened in 1819, the celebrated Mayfair passage is no stranger to ceremony. For the season, its historic arches are framed by hand-illustrated drapery in ivory, gold, emerald and ruby, recalling the richly appointed interiors of fashionable drawing rooms. Crystal chandeliers glimmer overhead, while a champagne-gold carpet traces a path beneath them. The effect is both intimate and grand: an invitation to exchange the pace of the city for a more considered kind of Christmas shopping.

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The art of the occasion

Regency Rout is more than a decorative flourish. It evokes a time when jewellery, gloves, hats and other exquisite accessories were expressions of identity as much as possessions. That sensibility lives on in the Arcade’s houses, where craftsmanship and personal style remain inseparable.

Metropolis Collection Globe Trotter
Metropolis Collection Globe Trotter
Metropolis Collection Globe Trotter
Metropolis Collection Globe Trotter

For those seeking a jewel with a story, contemporary creations by Stephen Webster, Ananya Fine Jewellery and Azza Fahmy sit alongside the vintage discoveries of Susannah Lovis, Michael Rose and George & Co. Watch collectors may find their next heirloom among pieces by OMEGA, Rolex and Patek Philippe; elsewhere, the art of dressing is represented by Borsalino hats, Sermoneta gloves and footwear from Crockett & Jones, Baudoin & Lange and Manolo Blahnik

Metropolis Collection Globe Trotter
Metropolis Collection Globe Trotter
Metropolis Collection Globe Trotter

Cashmere from Johnstons of Elgin and Begg x Co, luggage by Globe-Trotter, leather goods and beautifully crafted accessories offer further possibilities. At Gladwell & Patterson’s new four-floor home at House 50, a work of art presents perhaps the most personal gift of all.

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Small wonders, lasting pleasures

The enchantment extends to the shop windows. At Strathberry, a miniature railway winds through a festive landscape, carrying gifts towards Christmas. The scene rewards those who stop to look — a fitting reminder that some of the season’s greatest pleasures are found in the details.

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There is time, too, for indulgence. Birley Bakery’s festive shop brings chocolate and seasonal baking to House 51, while Le Café by Nicolas Rouzaud, Noxy Bros and Ladurée offer reasons to linger a little longer. Throughout the Arcade, the familiar presence of the Beadles provides a reassuring link to its two centuries of tradition.
Metropolis Collection Globe Trotter
Metropolis Collection Globe Trotter
Metropolis Collection Globe Trotter

In an age when the festive season can pass in a blur, Regency Rout proposes a more graceful ritual: to wander, to discover and to choose with care. The installation is on view from 5 November 2026 until 10 January 2027.

Metropolis Collection Globe Trotter
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