If there's one store in Cheltenham that's guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit, it's John Lewis. With the popular department store being transformed for Christmas, it's a treasure trove of sparkling decorations, twinkling fairy lights and beautifully wrapped gifts, with festive experiences to book, expert talks to listen to and much more.
SoGlos rounds up some of the best reasons to visit John Lewis this season...
Meet Tweedy the clown before pantomime season kicks off
Tweedy will be creating mayhem with his own special brand of mischief in store on Saturday 26 October 2024 from 2pm to 3pm. Meet Gloucestershire's favourite clown ahead of his pantomime run in Aladdin at the Everyman Theatre.
Visit the spectacular Christmas department
A visit to a store's Christmas department is such a magical way to kick start the festive season. John Lewis's newly opened Christmas shop sits on the first floor and is an enchanting one-stop boutique for everything you might need for the festive season.
This year's new range of creative tree baubles includes Battenberg cake and fried breakfasts, too! And in case Santa misses anything off those most-wanted lists, the toy department in the store has been specially extended for Christmas, with a huge selection of brands stocked, such as Lego, Play-doh, Tonies and Squishmallows, to name just a few.
Have a tea party with Father Christmas himself
Sit down for a scrumptious tea party with the big man himself, as Father Christmas drops into the store for a festive spread and story time at The Place to Eat. On Sunday 15, Monday 16 and 17 December 2024, Santa will be heading up the top table for an afternoon of story-telling, sweet treats, hot cocoa and a special gift for each child.
Tickets cost £19.25 per child and include a hot drink and a slice of cake, and £6.60 per adult — both prices include a booking fee.
Attend an exclusive fashion or beauty masterclass
A regular highlight throughout the John Lewis events calendar, the popular masterclasses are back for the festive season, with winter fashion ideas, skin care advice for the colder months and more! See the website for when each special event launches.
Learn how to dress your tree and lay a festive table
Join the store's interior design experts as they offer insider tips and tricks on how to dress your tree to magical effect and lay a beautiful festive table for the big day, with all the new seasonal collections on display for inspiration.
Enjoy live music throughout December
To make Christmas shopping extra merry and bright, live music will be performed in store throughout the season, with everything from Jazz quartets to festive choirs providing the cheer in December.
Get expert advice from partners across all departments
John Lewis partners undergo extensive training to become experts in their fields, whether that's nursery, home design, tech, beauty or personal styling.
Speak to a partner in-store for expert advice and to find out what services are on offer all-year-round.
Access late-night shopping and extended returns dates
Enjoy extended opening hours to get all those last-minute purchases done and dusted, with the store staying open until 7pm and 8pm on selected days from Friday 29 November until Monday 23 December 2024. Handily, the store is also open until 5pm on Christmas Eve, for any final-day panic purchases! For full details on opening hours, see the John Lewis website.
John Lewis's already stalwart returns policy is also extended, with any item bought up until Tuesday 24th December 2024 allowed to be returned until Thursday 23 January 2025, whether it’s unwanted or unsuitable. Gift receipts are available for all purchases, too.
And to celebrate its first Thursday late-night opening until 7pm on Thursday 5 December 2024, shoppers making a purchase between 6pm and 7pm on the night will receive a free goody bag! Please note that goody bags are available while stocks last.
Pick up your Amazon parcels while you click and collect
The handy John Lewis click and collect service allows customers to buy online and pick up in-store for free, with purchases over £30.
Free parking is also available for 30 minutes in the attached car park — just get your ticket validated at the collection desk. You can even pick up all your Amazon purchases from the click and collect desk at the same time!
Become a My John Lewis member and enjoy freebies, money off and exclusive early access
Become a My John Lewis member and enjoy all the benefits of one of the best loyalty schemes on the high street, with exclusive rewards, bespoke offers and promotions and invitations to in-store events and competitions all available to members. Simply download the John Lewis app or sign up via the website to manage your membership and access your monthly rewards.
Members can also bring five beauty empties or
five items of clothing into the store and benefit from the beauty cycle and
fashion cycle sustainability schemes. More details on both of these schemes are available on the website.
For more details on all the events and experiences listed here, visit https://experiences.johnlewis.com/location/john-lewis-partners-cheltenham or follow johnlewis_cheltenham on Instagram.
