LANDMARK is bringing a piece of Central’s history back for Christmas. From 20 November, its atrium becomes a playful version of the Gloucester Hotel, which opened in 1932. An overhead train runs through the display as visitors explore the hotel salons. Children can even slide down the hotel’s laundry chute.
The Gloucester Hotel slide, train and clock tower
The clock is worth a closer look. Gloucester House, which once stood on the site of today’s LANDMARK, had an Art Deco clock tower. London design studio CLOSER has given the Christmas version a musical role.
Lights move in time with mechanical figures playing their instruments, while the elevated train travels above visitors’ heads. The programme also includes live choirs and charity activities supporting Caritas Hong Kong.
If you’d like to see what this corner of Central looked like before the shopping centre, there’s a stop nearby on the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s City in Time walk.
Use the app at the marker near World-Wide House to see an illustrated view of the old Pedder Street neighbourhood. It makes a short detour before visiting the Christmas version of the hotel.
Opening dates and late evenings at LANDMARK
Christmas at The Gloucester Hotel occupies the ground floor of LANDMARK ATRIUM and runs through Sunday, 3 January. The regular hours are 10.30am to 7.30pm. If you’re planning to visit after dinner, there are five evenings when the installation stays open until 9pm. Those are 24, 25, 26, 27 and 31 December.
For a family outing to Central, the dates also overlap with the airport-themed display at ifc mall, which opens on the same Friday. The ifc installation ends on New Year’s Day. That leaves the weekend of 2–3 January for a final look at the train and clock tower at LANDMARK.
After exploring the Gloucester Hotel, you can plan your next stop with our guide to Hong Kong’s Christmas displays, or find more places to meet Santa if the children have a wish list to share.
Image Credit: Hong Kong Land | Landmark