Each year,a simple seasonal greeting becomes a canvas for creativity across the capital. The Mayor’s Christmas card competition, hosted by london.gov.uk, invites children and young people from London’s schools to design the official card that will be sent to civic leaders, community groups and international partners.More than a festive tradition, the contest offers a snapshot of how the city’s youngest residents see London at Christmas-its diversity, its landmarks and its shared moments of party.As entries pour in from every borough, the competition highlights both emerging artistic talent and the role of public institutions in engaging the next generation.
Inside the Mayor’s Christmas card competition What the initiative means for young Londoners
Every winter,classrooms and kitchen tables across the capital become makeshift design studios as children sketch,paint and collage their visions of a London Christmas. This citywide call for creativity does more than choose a festive illustration for City Hall: it gives young Londoners a public platform, validating their voices in a city frequently enough shaped by adults. Teachers report that pupils who are usually quiet in class become animated when discussing their ideas, from double-decker buses dusted with snow to diverse families celebrating side by side. By inviting entries from all boroughs and backgrounds,the competition also spotlights London’s cultural richness,encouraging children to see their own traditions as part of the city’s shared story.
Beyond the excitement of seeing their artwork travel across desks and inboxes, participants gain an early experience of civic life and creative industries. Schools and youth groups often use the brief to explore topics such as inclusion,climate and community,helping children understand that design can carry a message as well as a festive motif. To support this, educators and parents are increasingly treating the competition as a learning opportunity, focusing on:
- Confidence building – showcasing work outside the classroom boosts self-belief.
- Creative skills – nurturing drawing,digital art and storytelling techniques.
- Civic awareness – linking art to London’s institutions and public life.
- Belonging – reminding every child they are part of the capital’s future.
| Age group | Common themes | Key benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 5-7 | Snowy buses,shining lights | Joy in self-expression |
| 8-11 | Community,friendship | Stronger social awareness |
| 12-15 | Climate,equality,identity | Critical thinking through art |
From classroom sketch to City Hall spotlight How entries are selected and celebrated
Each December,thousands of London pupils swap textbooks for tinsel-tipped inspiration,submitting designs that reflect the city’s diversity,winter traditions and hopes for the year ahead. A panel of judges from the Mayor’s Office, education partners and guest artists reviews every entry, looking for artwork that is visually striking, inclusive and instantly recognisable as “London at Christmas”. Shortlisted designs are selected in stages, with judges considering age, originality and storytelling on the page. To help guide decisions, entries are informally grouped by focus:
- Cityscape scenes – London landmarks in festive lights
- Community moments – neighbours, carers and volunteers
- Seasonal symbols – reimagined in a distinctly London style
- Climate and kindness – greener, fairer futures for the capital
| Stage | What happens | Who’s involved |
|---|---|---|
| School round | Teachers curate top entries | Pupils & staff |
| City shortlist | Judges select finalists | Mayor’s team & partners |
| Winning design | Card is professionally printed | Designers & printers |
For the young winners, the journey doesn’t end with a printed card. Their artwork is unveiled at City Hall in a small media-friendly event where families, teachers and civic leaders gather under the Christmas lights. The design appears on the official Mayor’s Christmas card,sent to community groups,charities and international partners,and is often showcased on london.gov.uk and City Hall’s social channels. Finalists may receive framed prints, a visit to their school from City Hall representatives and, for some, the first interview of their lives about what Christmas in London means to them-turning a classroom sketch into a moment of citywide recognition.
Designing for impact Tips for teachers and parents helping children prepare winning artwork
Adults can help children move beyond a quick sketch by encouraging them to think like visual storytellers. Ask what message they want the Mayor’s Christmas card to send about London – is it kindness on a busy street, neighbours sharing food, or families of every background celebrating together? From there, guide them to choose a single, clear focal point and avoid clutter. Simple, bold shapes, strong silhouettes and limited color palettes usually reproduce best in print.Experiment with mixed media – collage, crayons, watercolours – but remind children that fine glitter and very pale colours may disappear when scanned. A brief discussion about where the Mayor’s greeting and logo might sit on the front of the card can also help them leave “breathing space” in the design.
Teachers and parents can turn the creative process into a quick newsroom-style briefing, helping children research real London scenes and seasonal traditions before they start drawing. Use prompts and mini-brainstorms to spark ideas, then support pupils in refining their strongest concept rather than starting lots of half-finished pieces. Short,focused feedback works best: highlight one thing they’re doing well and one area to improve,such as background details or contrast. The checklist below can be printed and pinned next to the art table as a quiet guide while they work:
- Story: Does the picture show a clear winter or festive moment in London?
- Emotion: Can you tell how people or animals in the picture feel?
- Colour: Are the colours bright enough to stand out when printed?
- Space: Is there room for text without covering the main image?
- Originality: Does it avoid copying well-known characters or logos?
| Element | Stronger choice | Weaker choice |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Simple skyline, clear horizon | Busy patterns, no sky |
| Colours | High contrast, solid fills | Very light, hard to see |
| Focus | One main scene or action | Many tiny, competing details |
| Theme | Real London in winter | Generic snow scene anywhere |
Ensuring access and diversity How the competition can better reach all of London’s communities
The capital’s festive imagination is not confined to a single postcode, so the competition is working to open doors in every borough. Targeted outreach through schools, youth centres and community groups is being expanded, with facts packs translated into key community languages and shared with local networks of parents and carers. To support children who may not have ready access to art materials, the Mayor’s team is partnering with libraries and after‑school clubs to host free “design sessions”, where young Londoners can experiment with colour, collage and digital tools in a welcoming setting. Special attention is being given to children in temporary accommodation, young carers and those with additional needs, ensuring the process is as inclusive as the city it reflects.
To broaden participation further, the competition is exploring new channels that feel natural to young Londoners and their families. This includes working with grassroots organisations,disability advocacy groups and faith communities to share invitations,as well as using social platforms and local radio to reach households that might not otherwise hear about it. Judging criteria now explicitly recognise entries that showcase different cultural traditions, family stories and neighbourhood landmarks, celebrating the many ways Londoners experience the festive season. The aim is for every child to feel that their voice-and their vision-has a place on the Mayor’s card.
- Free entry for all London-based children
- Translated guidance in widely spoken community languages
- Accessible design formats for neurodiverse and disabled participants
- Community-hosted workshops across multiple boroughs
| Community Partner | Focus Group | Support Offered |
|---|---|---|
| Borough Libraries | Local schoolchildren | Free art sessions |
| Youth Centres | Teens & young creatives | Digital design workshops |
| Disability Networks | Disabled young people | Accessible materials & formats |
| Community Hubs | Newly arrived families | Multilingual information |
In Summary
As this year’s Mayor’s Christmas card competition draws to a close, it once again highlights the power of young Londoners’ creativity to capture the spirit of the season. From classrooms to kitchen tables across the capital, children have translated their own experiences of community, diversity and hope into striking visual stories.
The winning design will soon travel far beyond the city’s borders, landing on desks, doormats and digital inboxes as a snapshot of London at Christmas – inclusive, imaginative and forward-looking. For the pupils who took part, the competition offers not only the thrill of seeing their work recognised, but also a reminder that their voices and ideas matter in shaping the city’s identity.
As London prepares for the festive period, the Mayor’s Christmas card stands as a small but vivid testament to the capital’s next generation: a celebration of their talent, and a seasonal message from a city defined by its young people’s vision of what Christmas – and London – can be.
