Archive: The Christmas tree in St Paul's Cathedral, London, which was brought from the royal estates at Windsor on December 19, 1950 in London, England. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) Modern Day: St Paul's Cathedral prepares for Christmas on December 9, 2014 in London, England. Christmas is an annual religious feast day originally set on December 25 to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and is a cultural festival and public holiday celebrated by billions of people around the world. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)





Archive: Turkeys are auctioned at Smithfield market for Christmas trade on December 21, 1968 in London, England. (Photo by Miller/Keystone/Getty Images) Modern Day: People walk by Smithfield Market on December 9, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)





Archive: The statue of Lord Beaconsfield in front of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Parliament Square, London, 24th December 1938. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Modern Day: Traffic drives round Parliament Square on December 12, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)





Archive: Christmas decorations consisting mainly of snow crystal stars made of aluminium to give the effect of a snowstorm are displayed on Regent Street on November 30, 1955 London, England. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) Modern Day: Christmas shoppers walk along Regent Street on December 16, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)





Archive: Christmas turkeys, hanging outside a poulterers in Watling Street on December 1923 in London, England. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) Modern Day: Shoppers walk along Watling Street on November 23, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)





Archive: Stable companions appear in 'Song of the Drum' at Drury Lane Theatre at Endell Street on December 30, 1933 in London, England. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) Modern Day: Text on the pavement marks where to load on Endell Street near Covent Garden on November 23, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)





Archive: Two policemen regard London's 64ft Christmas tree, a gift from Norway, illuminated in Trafalgar Square, in front of the National Gallery on December 1, 1948 in London, England. (Photo by Warburton/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) Modern Day: Visitors walk through Trafalgar Square on November 23, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)





Archive: Selfridges Department Store on Oxford Street is lit up by Christmas decorations on December 6, 1935 in London, England. (Photo by David Savill/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) Modern Day: Selfridges department store is lit up for the Festive season on November 23, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Chris J. Ratcliffe/Getty Images)





Archive: Father Christmas arriving at the Arding and Hobbs store on November 2, 1926 in Clapham Junction, London. (Photo by H. F. Davis/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) Modern Day: Shoppers walk past shops in Clapham Junction on November 24, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Chris J. Ratcliffe/Getty Images)





Archive: A group of people dressed as Santa Claus wait for the bus on December 1960, London, England. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) Modern Day: Passengers wait for busses in Holborn on November 24, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Chris J. Ratcliffe/Getty Images)





Archive: Students of King's College sing Christmas carols outside the Old Curiosity Shop, as immortalised by Charles Dickens on Portsmouth Street on December 12, 1956 in London, Engalnd. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) Modern Day: A general view of The Old Curiosity shop on November 24, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Chris J. Ratcliffe/Getty Images)





Archive: Sandbags protect a shop window at Selfridges during the first Christmas of World War II on December 16, 1939 in London, England. (Photo by Hudson/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Modern Day: A man walks past a Selfridges department store Christmas window display on December 11, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)