Where to buy Christmas trees in East London
There’s no better way to signal the start of the holiday season than choosing your Christmas tree. We bring you the best places to bag a festive fir in the East End.
What would Christmas be without a beautiful Christmas tree? Cheaper, for a start, but the smell of fresh spruce, pine and fir is hard to resist once the festive season is in full swing.
With energy costs biting it might be tempting to skimp on the decorations, but there are still cost-saving ways to keep those fairy lights shining. Take a leaf (or a pine needle) out of the Council’s book whose festive light displays use energy efficient LED bulbs and turn off automatically at midnight, saving 40% of the energy used.
So if you’re stuck for a place to get a Christmas tree in East London, look no further.
Denningtons
BEST FOR: A NO WASTE CHRISTMAS

Denningtons is a family-run florist that has been selling on Roman Road since the 1950s. Stocking potted trees up to five feet tall, this is a much more environmentally friendly way to celebrate Christmas, and a good option if you don’t have space for anything too lofty. In keeping with their floral roots, the folks at Denningtons also sell a variety of Christmas wreaths, bouquets, gift boxes, and table arrangements during the festive season. Denningtons is open Monday-Saturday from 9am to 5pm.
461 Roman Road, London E3 5LX
Hackney Wickmas
BEST FOR: CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Pre-order your Christmas tree online for collection at the Hackney Wickmas pop up, open in Hackney Bridge from 26 November. Hackney Wickmas features food sellers, drinks, independent shops and a festive Thursday night market which is definitely worth a trip. With firs of all sizes (that all come with a free stand), LED lights and handmade Christmas baubles, it’s easy to get carried away on its website. But do not fear! If it’s too much to carry you can borrow a trolley and wheel your tree home, or pop it in an uber like some of last year’s customers.
East Bay Lane, London, E15 2SJ
Pines and Needles
BEST FOR: SKY-HIGH SPRUCES

Pop-up Christmas shop Pines and Needles sell a range of trees, including Normann Fir, Norway Spruce and Frazer Fir, in all shapes and sizes – usually up to 12ft – so you can choose one that fits your home the best. They also offer a delivery service and sell accessories so you can make your tree look as fancy as you wish. The more glitz the better, don’t you think? The Victoria Park shop and the Shoreditch High Street pop-up both open on 18 November and run until 24 December. Ideal for those of you who tend to leave the Christmas preparations until the eleventh hour.
Royal East Gate, Victoria Park, Grove Road, London E9 7HJ
St Leonard C Of E Church, Shoreditch High St, E1 6JN
SimplyFresh
BEST FOR: TREATS UNDER THE TREE

SimplyFresh has been selling on Roman Road since 2002. In December the shop’s selection of fruits, vegetables, and homemade olive oil is joined by Christmas trees. The owners are active in the community and members of the Globe Town Steering Committee, a coalition of local groups and businesses dedicated to making the high street stronger. You can get your tree and support the community in one fell swoop. The shop is open 7am to 11pm every day of the week, so you can drop by at your convenience.
201-203 Roman Road, London E2 0QY
Herbert’s Fruit and Salad
BEST FOR: VALUE FOR MONEY

Herbert’s is a family-run business that has been selling fresh fruit and veg on Roman Road since 1974. Herbert sells a fine array of Christmas trees in December. If you needed an excuse to get down to Globe Town Market on Saturday you’ll get few better. And if the seasonal scent of pine isn’t enough, you can also sign up for regular fruit baskets. The Herbert’s stall runs in Globe Town Market Square from Tuesday to Saturday, 8am to 12pm. They will be selling them from Saturday 3 December.
Herbert’s, Market Square, Roman Road, London E2 0RN
Whole Fresh
BEST FOR: BAGGING A TREE AFTER WORK

Whole Fresh, known for its vibrant shop front displays of colourful fruit and veg pouring out of rustic wooden buckets, also has a selection of pint-sized Christmas trees, perfect for decorating the office or a shop window. Whole Fresh has two branches in the heart of the Roman, one for all your booze and groceries, and the other brimming with fresh fruit and veg. Trees are already available to buy from the latter, which is open daily from 7am – 10pm.
407 Roman Road, London E3 5QS
Columbia Road Flower Market
BEST FOR: A FESTIVE OUTING

Picking up a fir from Columbia Road Flower Market is a Christmas outing in itself. The market usually runs on Sundays from 8am to around 3pm, with an excellent Christmas tree selection during the festive season. While you’re there, it’s hard not to be enticed by Columbia Road’s selection of independent shops which are prime spots for stocking stuffers and unique gifts. If the prospect of weekend bustle fills you dread, Columbia Road is hosting four Christmas Wednesdays starting on 30 November, where shops and restaurants stay open for late night shopping and carollers take to the streets.
Columbia Road, London E2 7RG
St Barnabas Church
BEST FOR: SUPPORTING LOCAL

You may have noticed that the friendly face of Ron, who used to sell Christmas trees outside of Jenny’s Food and Wine on the Roman, picked up shop last year and moved just outside of St Barnabas Church on Grove Road. A good bet for all those who like to get their Christmas prep done early, Ron will be back in his spot outside the church selling trees from 21 November. So, enjoy a winter’s walk through Mile End Park and finish at Ron’s stall where you can bag yourself a goodun’.
Grove Road, London E3 5TG
Stepney City Farm
BEST FOR: SUPPORTING GOOD CAUSES

This three-acre working farm in the heart of Tower Hamlets gives us city folk a chance to connect with nature and meet the animals we so rarely come across living in East London. The farm is partnering with Ambition Aspire Achieve for the fifth year running to provide ethically sourced Christmas trees for collection from the farm. You can order a tree up to 22 November and trees will be ready for collection on Sunday 27 November. All profits support Ambition Aspire Achieve’s work with disadvantaged children, and £5 will be donated to Stepney City Farm for every order made via the Farm. Stepney Green, London E1 3DG.
Barge East
BEST FOR: A SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS

You might not have known that Hackney Wick’s most popular floating restaurant also stocks a selection of real Christmas trees as part of its festive ‘Wick Wonderland.’ With a variety of sustainable trees as tall as 7ft to choose from, swing by Barge East Gardens or order ahead online to pick up your fir between 12pm-8pm on weekdays and 11am-6pm on weekends.
White Post Lane, E9 5EN
If you found this piece useful you may be interested in this year’s Christmas events in the East End.