A Christmas masterpiece delights visitors and reading fans at London’s St Pancras railway station. The festive tree was built in collaboration with Hatchards, the oldest bookstore in the British capital.
The book tree features a whimsical design – a spiral staircase and 270 shelves decorated with over 3,800 hand-painted books, including timeless classics such as Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Within this majestic tree are eight cozy nooks where visitors can immerse themselves in the magic of Christmas, figuratively and literally. Each booth is equipped with speakers that allow visitors to select a five-minute excerpt from an audiobook provided by Penguin Books.
The listener can choose from a selection of sixteen different audio tracks featuring authors such as Charles Dickens, Beatrix Potter, Zadie Smith and more.
“This year’s Christmas tree at St. Pancras is an ode to the richness of literature that transports us to new, exciting worlds. From real journeys to the fantastical lands of our imaginations, we hope visitors will feel the magic and be inspired to pick up or give their loved ones the most timeless gift of all – the book,” commented Commercial Director Wendy Spinks.
“Whether we are young or old, books offer an escape from the hectic bustle of the modern world that no other medium can compete with. We are delighted to be partnering with St Pancras International to bring this joy to the many visitors to the station, allowing people to escape, relax and enjoy a few minutes of literature with the Station Tree. What a start to the festive season!” said Luke Taylor from Hatchards.
St Pancras International has a long-established association with literature, from the patronage of Sir John Betjeman (poet and railway enthusiast), who saved the station from demolition in the 1960s, to the station’s close proximity to the British Library, which preserve valuable manuscripts.
