Brief
. Each year, the Howard de Walden Estate, located in the prestigious heart of Marylebone, hosts its annual Christmas celebration, an event designed to bring the community together while showcasing the village’s outstanding shopping and dining scene.
For the eighth consecutive year, We Are Placemaking proudly delivered the Merry Marylebone Christmas event. Building on last year’s strengthened partnership, we once again worked under the direction of the Howard de Walden Estate team to produce and manage a festive experience that continues to grow in scale, detail, and ambition.
The 2025 event remained free and open to all, offering an expanded programme of entertainment and activities. Visitors enjoyed seasonal food stalls, winter bars, live music, funfair rides, wreath making and candle painting workshops, and a beautifully curated Santa’s grotto. All traders were once again sourced exclusively from within the Marylebone Village footprint, reinforcing the event’s commitment to celebrating and supporting the local community. The village was transformed into a warm and welcoming festive destination, drawing residents and visitors alike.
A major highlight of this year’s celebrations was the Christmas Light Switch-On, led by celebrity guest Jamie Laing, who delighted the crowd as he officially illuminated the village and marked the start of the festive season.
Images taken by Nyla Sammons.
What we did
In partnership with our sister agency, We Are Ops, we worked closely with the Howard de Walden Estate team to produce, manage, and safely deliver the installation, live operation, and de-rig of the 2025 Merry Marylebone Christmas event. We liaised with Westminster City Council to secure timely approvals across all applications and maintained strong relationships with longstanding suppliers – an essential part of delivering a seamless and trusted event experience.
We once again supported the much-loved Merry Marylebone Christmas Light Switch-On, ensuring all technical and operational elements were coordinated smoothly in the lead-up to Jamie Laing’s appearance.
The Howard de Walden Estate’s events team provided a curated list of preferred suppliers, including popular Marylebone food and beverage partners such as The Ginger Pig, Fischer’s, and The Italians, alongside retailers including Oh My Cream! ensuring a diverse and high-quality offering for attendees.
“It was great working with Ally and Rob and the wider team from We Group to help deliver the Marylebone Village Christmas lights event. The team provided support across planning, production, health and safety and more, ensuring the whole process was smooth and under control. A big thanks to everyone for their efforts on making it such a great event!”
– Sarita Knight, Howard de Walden Estate
Deliverables
Event Production and Management – Managed the event budget, updated the master schedule, and oversaw delivery.
Logistics Management – Developed a revised logistical plan covering installation and de-rig, coordinating multiple suppliers and contractors.
Health and Safety Management – Advised the client on best practice and ensured full compliance with health and safety requirements.
Supplier Management and Auditing – Contracted, coordinated, and audited all existing suppliers throughout the event lifecycle.
Stakeholder Engagement – Liaised with a wide range of local stakeholders to support smooth and inclusive event delivery.
Live Event Management – Provided onsite management alongside the client team throughout the live event.
It was great working with Ally and Rob and the wider team from We Group to help deliver the Marylebone Village Christmas lights event. The team provided support across planning, production, health and safety and more, ensuring the whole process was smooth and under control. A big thanks to everyone for their efforts on making it such a great event!"
