With the festive period just around the corner, we’ve compiled some of the most creative Christmas tree decoration designs offered by museum and heritage attractions for inspiration.
If a tradition takes three years to establish, 2024 marks the start of Advisor’s annual look at the festive tree decorations on offer at the country’s attractions.
As museums and heritage organisations look to seize on the opportunity to raise income from the seasonal products, the most inspired of those on offer are collected here.
Past editions from 2022 and 2023 remain available for comparison, offering a visual journey of evolving museum decoration approaches. This year’s list includes picks from the Museums + Heritage team.
London Museum
Representing what might be this year’s most contentious rebrand, this handmade and fair trade pigeon decoration is on sale by the London Museum following its ‘pigeon and splat’ logo, revealed in July.
London Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum offers a knitted Elizabeth line decoration, hand-made in Peru by The Hope Jewellery Project, for fans of the most recent tube line to open in the capital.
M+H Pick: National Trust for Scotland
Tracy Winchester, Sales Manager, Museums + Heritage: “Living in Glasgow means we have the most incredible scenery on our doorstep, and the National Trust for Scotland has loads of amazing walks we can do with our dog, Boycie. So it has to be the iconic Highland Cow decoration for me…”
The Design Museum
No doubt inspired by the museum’s Barbie exhibition, this mouth-blown glass ornament brings a “kitsch, contemporary twist” in a “Barbie-indebted” pink tree decoration.
M+H Pick: Bristol Museums
James McNeill, Business Support Manager at Museums + Heritage: “I found this colourful 3D hot air balloon decoration in Bristol Museum and Art Gallery’s shop, it’s nice to find something that’s not made of plastic AND is going to be rare for anyone else to have as its exclusive to this museum – they seem a good place to find decent decorations with a local twist.”
Ashmolean Museum
Exclusive to the Ashmolean Museum – not least as it represents the face of the building! – is its wooden tree decoration, created with precision laser cutting and featuring the building’s blue door.
M+H Pick: Compton Verney
Anna Preedy, Director at M+H: “I’m pushing the definition of ‘very local’ by selecting my favourite decoration from Compton Verney, but it’s a place I love – and it’s not far from Worcester, where I am based. As for the Christmas pig tree decoration, what’s not to love?! It’s ridiculously cute!”
M+H Pick: Natural History Museum
Becky Baxter-Winney, Sales & Media Sales & Marketing Consultant for Museums + Heritage: “Growing up in the countryside, we didn’t have a lot of access to many Museums. The Natural History Museum was my annual treat for many years, not least because from the age of 4 I was Dinosaur bonkers. I still try to make a once-a-year pilgrimage which never fails to impress.”
National Railway Museum
This Flying Scotsman crochet decoration, created exclusively for the National Railway Museum, has been handmade by women living in the shanty towns of Lima, Peru as part of the Hope Jewellery Project (which also created London Transport Museum’s earlier pick). The well known locomotive has inspired a range of gifts at the museum, which also offers a Flying Scotsman VR Experience.
M+H Pick: The National Library of Wales
Chelsea Brown, Marketing and Social Media Manager at Museums + Heritage: “I’ve loved museums and books for as long as I can remember, so growing up in Wales, The National Library of Wales holds a special place in my heart. Their collection of Nadolig Llawen decorations are adorable and a lovely gift this Christmas.”
Royal Museums Greenwich
Exclusively produced for Royal Museums Greenwich by St Nicolas, its decorations this year include a nod to the celebrated sailing ship and visitor attraction Cutty Sark. Its decorations are created by a small Christian charity in Thailand that helps disadvantaged rural women find work in their community.
The Tank Museum
The Tank Museum’s commercial offer has long been a leader in the sector – indeed the museum won Shop of the Year at the 2021 Museums + Heritage Awards (entries now open for 2024!). This year’s bauble from the museum keeps it simple, and features some of the museum’s favourite tanks on a white background with gold stars.
V&A
Created exclusively for the V&A, this taxi decoration is traditionally mouth-blown in glass, and is “bedazzled by hand with reclaimed glitter”, says the museum’s shop, to “add a kitsch touch” to a Christmas tree.
Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft
The East Sussex museum offers a pack of tree decorations which, in the spirit of its focus on arts and crafts, sees sustainably sourced, FSC-certified wood pieces screen printed by hand, inspired by vintage glass baubles.
Is your shop award worthy?
The Museums + Heritage Awards 2025 are now open for entries. The Shop of the Year Award will look not only at profit but the entire retail operation during the period of eligibility.
