Covent Garden Christmas in 2015 turned a practical shopping trip into an evening beneath mistletoe chandeliers. For Vlogmas Day 16, I headed to the Apple Store before closing, then stayed to explore the market decorations, the LEGO Santa Express and the illuminated piazza. A burger and fries from Five Guys kept me going.
This film was published on 16 December 2015. It records that evening’s shops, decorations and personal experiences.
An Apple Store errand becomes a Christmas walk
The trip began with a familiar problem for a daily vlogger: too much footage and not enough storage. I was heading to the Covent Garden Apple Store for an external hard drive, hoping to arrive before it shut. On the way, I spotted an unusual sight — a Lamborghini carrying two bicycles on a roof rack.
I made it in time and found the hard-drive section. With the practical job done, I could put the computer housekeeping aside for a while. Choosing Covent Garden meant there was a festive walk waiting right outside the shop.
Covent Garden Christmas lights after the stalls close
By the time I came out, the market stalls had folded up for the evening. Bars and restaurants were still open, along with some shops, but the quieter aisles gave a clearer view of the decorations overhead. It was that moment between the shopping day ending and the evening getting started.
The theme was Meet Me Under the Mistletoe. Large illuminated mistletoe chandeliers hung beneath the market roof, surrounded by garlands and lights. Looking up from the cobbles, and across the lower courtyard, gave different views of the display. Outside, the tall Christmas tree brought another pool of light to the piazza.
The LEGO Santa Express
The LEGO Christmas display was another reason to pause. In 2015 it took the form of the Santa Express, with an engine and carriages carrying presents and a Christmas tree. Lights outlined the train behind a low white fence, making its details stand out against the dark piazza.
It gave the walk a playful contrast: giant mistletoe above the historic market, then a Christmas train built from LEGO outside. The film follows both at walking pace, with time to look at the decorations rather than hurry straight home.
A Five Guys burger break
I had not eaten, so the next stop was Five Guys. A team member joined me for a smile on camera while I was filming, setting a friendly tone for the food break. I ordered a hamburger with tomatoes, onions, mustard and ketchup, plus fries.
In the vlog I compared my experiences of Five Guys and Shake Shack, and explained my preference for the Five Guys fries. These were my impressions at the time. For this evening, the burger did exactly what I needed: a quick meal before continuing the walk.
Back around the piazza and St Paul’s Church
After eating, I returned to the market and passed the entrance to Punch & Judy. I talked about its balcony overlooking the courtyard and the performers who draw a crowd outside St Paul’s Church. There was no performance to join in that moment, just a final look around before signing off.
What started as a dash for computer storage had become a little tour of Covent Garden at Christmas: quiet market aisles, bright decorations, a LEGO train and a burger along the way.
