The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree

The Christmas tree of 2025

Information about the Christmas tree of 2025

Why does Oslo send a tree to London every year?

Since 1947, Oslo has gifted a Christmas tree to London as a symbolic thank-you for the support Britain gave Norway during World War II. Over time, the gift has come to represent the friendship between the two cities.

Who selects the tree?

Oslo’s Agency for Urban Environment chooses a suitable tree from the Oslo forest. The tree must meet specific criteria.

Tree selection criteria

• Must be a Norwegian spruce (Picea abies) growing naturally in the Oslo forest.
• Must be close to a forest road for access by crane and truck.
• Must look good from all angles.
• Must fit into a custom-made cradle for transport.

Some trees are cared for from a young age with the intention of becoming Christmas trees, with planning stretching 50–60 years ahead. In the final 5–10 years, selected trees receive extra care before being sent to London.

Transporting the tree

After felling, the tree is placed in a special cradle and driven to the port in Brevik (about 180 km from Oslo). It is watered and rinsed to remove road salt used on Norwegian winter roads.

DFDS ships the tree to Immingham, England. The tree is stored below deck to protect it from saltwater. The sea journey takes around 26 hours.

This year, electric vehicles are used for land transport in both Norway and England.

Since 2022, transport time has been reduced, which helps protect the tree’s branches.

Climate impact

The tree is transported from Oslo to Brevik using electric trucks. Some machines and vehicles now run on biodiesel. These changes reduce the tree’s carbon footprint by 80%.

The total climate impact is roughly equal to a round-trip flight for one person between Oslo and Copenhagen.

Sea transport has low environmental impact, as the ship is already in service.

The tree is decorated with energy-efficient lights in London.

After Christmas, the tree is recycled into compost, reducing waste.

Oslo continues the tradition

Oslo City Council has unanimously agreed to continue the tradition of gifting a Christmas tree to London for four more years, until 2027.

Do you want to know more about this tradition? Send an email to: kommunikasjon@oslobystyre.no