Selfridges reveals spectacular Christmas windows as Santa travels the world in tuk-tuks and more

Christmas has arrived early at Selfridges, where Santa is swapping his traditional sleigh ride for tuk-tuks, Parisian rooftops and a festive tour of some of the world's most famous cities.

The luxury department store has unveiled its Christmas window displays, transforming its shops in London, Manchester and Birmingham into a celebration of festive traditions from around the globe.

This year's theme, Christmas And The City, takes inspiration from 11 international destinations, with elaborate scenes designed to capture how different cities celebrate the festive season.

At the flagship Oxford Street store in London, visitors can follow Father Christmas on a rather unconventional journey, taking in everything from Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro to Tokyo and New York.

Along the way, Santa stops for an aperitivo in Milan, explores the rooftops of Paris and even takes a ride in one of Bangkok's famous tuk-tuks.

Other destinations brought to life in the windows include Lagos, Hong Kong, Copenhagen and London itself.

The displays are intended to celebrate the sights, sounds and excitement of Christmas in some of the world's busiest cities, offering shoppers a little festive escapism without the expense of an airline ticket.

And Selfridges is hoping its displays will provide another reason to visit Oxford Street, which is set to undergo pedestrianisation changes from October 26.

Selfridges chief executive André Maeder said: "Christmas And The City has been imagined by our teams to create special memories to share and to make everyone feel welcome.

"Selfridges has always moved with the energy of our cities, and this Christmas, at the heart of London, Manchester and Birmingham, we’re celebrating cities real and imagined from around the world."

New York comes to London, complete with a subway carriage

The Christmas transformation doesn't stop at the shop windows.

Inside Selfridges' London store, a new New York-inspired Downtown Café has opened, offering shoppers a taste of Manhattan without leaving the West End.

The setting features illuminated skyscrapers, festive decorations and even a replica subway carriage where customers can sit down for a meal.

The menu takes its inspiration from American diner favourites, including hot dogs, pastrami club sandwiches and lox bagels.

Those with a sweet tooth can choose from warm cookies with ice cream, New York cheesecake and the classic Coke float.

For visitors looking for something a little more glamorous, the store's Paris-themed Cloakroom Bar is hosting festive cabaret performances in the evenings.

The Christmas windows are among the best-known seasonal attractions on London's shopping streets, with thousands of visitors traditionally heading to Oxford Street to admire the elaborate displays.

And with this year's theme taking shoppers from the streets of Bangkok to the rooftops of Paris, Selfridges is offering a Christmas trip around the world without anyone having to pack a suitcase.