With 13 weeks to go, the festive season officially began at John Lewis on September 23, as its Christmas shop opened across the country.
The department store group describes it as “the ultimate one-stop destination for everything needed to make the season feel magical, from festive trees, lights, and tableware to nostalgic decorations, thoughtful gifts, and wrapping”.
The retailer reports that shoppers are already preparing for the festive rush, with searches for Christmas gift tags up 50%, tableware up 25% and stockings up 50%. Wrapping paper is also topping shoppers’ lists, with the Gruffalo emerging as a sought-after design.
Cydney Ball, Head of Christmas at John Lewis, said: “After months of planning, creating and bringing our vision to life, it’s incredibly exciting to finally open the doors to our Christmas shop and share it with our customers.
“Christmas at John Lewis is about so much more than finding the perfect gift or ornament for the tree. It’s about the anticipation, the nostalgia and those little moments that make the season feel magical. We can’t wait for our customers to step inside and start their Christmas story with us.”
With many Millennial and Gen Z shoppers increasingly stepping away from digital screens in favour of a more analogue lifestyle, John Lewis is embracing nostalgia, with vinyl record sales up 98% and 17 new vinyl lines launching ahead of Christmas. Nostalgic tech is also thriving, with sales of the retro Native Union Pop Phone up 186% last week alone.
Retro decorations include a 70s disco mouse, miniature arcade game, cassette tape and classic sketch toy, while families planning screen-free time can enjoy the exclusive The Traitors game.
Reflecting the kidult trend, classic characters such as Miffy and Snoopy feature within the Christmas shop, alongside a collection of loveable yetis, each with a unique personality and a distinctly British spin. The yetis are available as exclusive furry baubles that double up as collectable bag charms, transitioning from festive tree decorations into year-round accessories.
The ever-popular Santa’s tea party has returned to selected stores. Following demand last Christmas, John Lewis is offering 28% more tickets, with Santa and his elves hosting storytime alongside hot chocolate, festive treats and a special gift from Danish toy brand Plus-Plus. Some 65% of tickets have already been sold to My John Lewis customers ahead of general sale on September 28.
Selected stores will also offer festive experiences from brands including Hotel Chocolat and Biscuiteers, while new for 2026, customers buying cashmere can access on-the-spot personalisation.
Seasonal masterclasses are also back for My John Lewis members, with workshops including candle making, wreath making and creating your own bag charm. Stores will also host festive talks, from winter capsule wardrobes and tree styling to setting the perfect Christmas table.
