London's best Christmas-window displays

As always, the capital's department stores pull out all the stops to create festive fenestrations that put shoppers in the holiday spirit

Second only to the John Lewis Christmas advert, nothing marks the start of the festive season in Britain – and the subsequent shopping frenzy – quite like the unveiling of Christmas windows up and down the high street. In this digital age, the pressure to create the most Instagram-worthy masterpieces has led retailers to push the boundaries of both creativity and technology, and the best of this year's displays are certainly worth a real-life visit.

Selfridges is the first department store in the world to unveil it's Christmas windows and full in-store displays - today, Thursday 20th October with Shine On! as the theme.Led by Santa, the

(Image credit: © copyright Matt Writtle 2016.)

For less whimsical, more cheeky fun, Selfridges has called on the man himself – Santa – for a humorous take on the season of festivities. Here he shows us how to celebrate in style, from his private jet to the dreaded office party, with a merry band of chicly outfitted friends in a bold and bright display that features nearly 100 disco balls.

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Fortnum and Mason has opted for a rather more serious message, and one that seems all too relevant in the current political climate. Its Together We're Merrier campaign celebrates the importance not only of family and friends but also of making peace with our foes. The series of nine windows details stories of classic arch-enemies, including the Wolf and the Sheep and the tongue-in-cheek Boy and the Brussels Sprouts. Each tale has been charmingly brought to life by illustrator Brett Ryder, whose designs have been hand-sculpted into 3D characters and then intricately painted by theatre make-up artists.