St Pancras Station Unveils an 11-Metre Advent Calendar Christmas Tree

St Pancras International station has unveiled its 2026 Christmas installation: an 11-metre-tall structure inspired by traditional German Christmas pyramids, the carved wooden carousel decorations featuring multiple tiers of figurines. The piece, created in collaboration with the German National Tourist Office and Hilton Hotels, was built over more than 2,300 hours by a team of 18 craftspeople including carpenters, graphic designers, electricians and metalworkers. At the base sit 24 wooden 'curiosity windows' that together offer glimpses into Germany's 16 regions through their landmark buildings and festive customs. Three rotating tiers above the base showcase different German landmarks, and interactive panels invite visitors to test their knowledge of Deutschland. From 1 December, one window will light up each day through Christmas Eve, turning the structure into a giant advent calendar — a format invented in Germany. Daily prize draws across those 24 days offer rewards including rail travel to Germany, Hilton hotel stays across the country, and a grand prize of one million Hilton Honors points, worth around £3,000. The full installation is on display at St Pancras International now through 2 January.