Brief
London Heritage Quarter (LHQ), a business improvement district encompassing some of the capital’s busiest areas, commissioned We Are Placemaking to deliver a festive public realm activation in December 2025. The brief: bring joy, culture, and winter magic into two of London’s busiest train stations – Victoria and Charing Cross – with a bold, immersive concept that was accessible to all.
Across five days, from the 10th to 14th December, commuters and passersby were treated to The Enchanted Snow Globe: a giant inflatable installation that people could step inside for photo opportunities, supported by friendly nutcracker hosts. Alongside this interactive experience, professional ballerinas performed four 20-minute shows daily at 8am, 12.30pm, 3pm, and 5pm, delighting early travellers, lunchtime passersby, and evening commuters alike.
Having worked with LHQ previously, we were their go-to creative placemaking partner for this high-footfall, high-impact event. We Are OPS supported with Health & Safety planning and documentation to ensure seamless delivery across both Network Rail sites.
Delivery
- Creative Design & Styling of the Snow Globe and activation space
- Public Realm Installations in Victoria and Charing Cross Stations
- Stakeholder Engagement with LHQ, Network Rail, and site managers
- Supplier Sourcing & Management across performance, infrastructure, and staffing
- Health & Safety Planning in collaboration with We Are OPS
- Budget Development and cost-effective procurement
- Event Production & Management across both locations
- Social Media Engagement support through photo-ready moments and shareable content
- Curated Photo Opportunities with nutcracker hosts and ballerinas
Results
- Over 1,100 visitors stepped inside the snow globe across five days
- Daily performances drew large, engaged audiences, with many returning multiple times
- Dozens of emotional and powerful public responses, including:
- An elderly man who lost his wife said the experience made him feel “she was with him in spirit”
- A first-time ballet viewer described the experience as “joyful and inclusive”
- A visitor remarked: “I normally hate travelling by train, but this has been a real treat”
- Multiple visitors brought back friends, family, and colleagues on following days
- Positive feedback from station managers, including: “We’ve had some brilliant feedback” (Lauren, Station Manager, Victoria)
- Strong word-of-mouth and public engagement led to discussion around repeat activations
- The experience was widely described as magical, uplifting, and transformative
