The UK’s most iconic Christmas event, Spirit of Christmas Fair, opens its doors for the 2025 edition on November 3 and runs until November 9 at Olympia London. Beautifully presented and with experiences as well as shopping, it is hugely popular and signifies the start of the Christmas season. Now in its 24th year, the event hosts over 600 exhibitors and welcomes over 50,000 enthusiastic shoppers over the seven-day, Kensington-based fair.
Filled with carefully-curated, independent designer makers at all price points, the Fair is full of present ideas, beauty and wellness, men’s and women’s fashion, homeware, Christmas decorations, jewellery, accessories and children’s clothes as well as the finest products from award winning artisan food and drink producers.
Returning visitors will be enthused by the influx of exciting new exhibitors, which keeps the Fair fresh, as well as the return of popular brands such as White Coco, Ankole and Harry Rocks with new product lines. Amongst the 600 exhibitors are unusual brands to be found such as Dragon’s Den featured company, Beevive as well as The Print Rescuer, Walkies the Board Game and Diddly Squat Farm.
New for this year is ‘Spirit Rising Stars’ showcasing brand new small businesses. It will include around 30 new businesses who have been trading for less than five years and be located on the gallery level alongside the always popular artisan producers. Food and drink stands on the gallery level have increased for 2025 in response to visitor feedback and include the likes of Fatso chocolate, Pimentae Margarita Cocktails, Hawstone, Exmoor Caviar, Crazy Bastard Sauce and The Gin Bothy.
Fair Director, Mary Claire Boyd says, ‘Spirit Rising Stars is an exciting addition for our visitors, giving them an original shopping experience with access to new brands. Such is the variety of stock amongst our 600 plus exhibitors that we are confident that there is no one you can’t buy a Christmas present for here. This is also our visitors’ chance to beat the December Christmas chaos, avoid the last minute panic and actually be able to enjoy Christmas’.
This is an event for social shoppers and serious shoppers, intent on discovering upmarket, original brands but even the most committed consumers need refuelling. Restaurant bookings during the week often sell out and this year’s chef is Great British Menu winner, Kate Austen who will be designing a bespoke menu to be served all day. There will also be the ever-popular cream teas available and three Louis Roederer champagne bars.
As well as pausing to eat, visitors love the annual talks and interactive workshops which include for this year: Louis Roederer Champagne tasting, personal Christmas styling, Reverend Hubert cocktail masterclass, tablescaping, Lavenders Blue floral demonstrations and Clodagh McKenna cooking demonstrations.
There is always a big emphasis on ethical trading and sustainability and this year sees the inaugural sustainability prize awarded to an exhibitor. Clarion Event’s sustainability team will judge the exhibitor submissions, checking all claims to ensure authenticity.
Opening times are 10am – 6pm every day except Sunday when the fair closes at 5pm and late night on Thursday when it closes at 9pm
Ticket includes entry to Luxury Travel Fair:
Condé Nast Traveller presents the Luxury Travel Fair which takes place alongside the Spirit of Christmas Fair from 6-9th November 2025. Visitors can meet face-to-face with specialists and leading tour operators from over 80 unmissable travel brands. The show also features complimentary live talks from leading travel experts and personalities.
