Things To Do This Week In London: 9-15 December 2024
Three words: evening of cheese.
Things to do this week is sponsored by The Big Meet.
All week
CAROL CONCERTS: We're now in peak Christmas, which means carol concerts galore. Churches and other venues all over town hold services this week (and right up until Christmas). Some are candlelit, which is rather atmospheric, some have celebrity guests, which is rather exciting, and many are for charity, which is good for warm fuzzy feelings. Browse the full list and get booking.
ICE SKATING: All of London's seasonal ice rinks are now open for business. Take to the ice in magnificent venues such as Somerset House, Hampton Court Palace or Battersea Power Station. Many have food and drink options, or viewing areas for members of the family who don't fancy slipping and sliding. Here's our full guide to ice skating in London this Christmas.
LIGHT TRAILS: Few things warm the winter cockles like a light festival. Strolling along enchantingly illuminated trails through gardens and forests after dark, wrapped up in your winter woollies, hot chocolate (or mulled wine) in hand, is a top-notch way to spend a winter evening. Here's our pick of light and illumination festivals in London right now — including some which are free, and two which are new for 2024.
FESTIVE THEATRE: Fancy a trip to the theatre? There's loads to choose from at this time of year — and we've got the lowdown on each to help you choose. Pick from pantomimes (both traditional family affairs, and those which are strictly for adults), family-friendly festive shows, musical performances to get your feet tapping, and the best of the rest spanning theatre, dance and comedy.
CHRISTMAS ON THE CHEAP: Feeling the financial weight of Christmas? It can be an expensive time of year, which is why we've pulled together a guide to free festive things to do in London, so you can enjoy the magic of the season without having to part with a penny.
CHRISTMAS TREE FARMS: Not got your Christmas tree up yet? Why not pick your own — and even dig it up yourself? Plenty of Christmas tree farms near London let you do just that, and some of them have other festive events and activities going on too.
DODGE CHRISTMAS ALTOGETHER: All of the above a bit too festive for you? Christmas is EVERYWHERE at this time of year, but that doesn't mean it's for everyone. Whether you need a temporary break, don't celebrate Christmas, or just aren't in the mood this year, we've put together a guide to non-Christmassy things to do this month.
BAR OF THE WEEK: From the people who brought London Sixes — a series of bars where you play semi-virtual cricket indoors — comes Moonshot in Shepherd's Bush, where you do something similar but with baseball bats. If you've not yet pinned down your Xmas work social (tick tock!), this could be the place. There are hot dogs and New York style pizza, too.
THEATRE OF THE WEEK: A brand new theatre has landed in London: the 100-seat Playhouse East in Haggerston is the baby of James Alexandrou and Avital Lvova (you may recognise the former as Martin Fowler from EastEnders). Shows have already begun, but the first play — the one-act Casserole — airs from Thursday.
Monday 9 December
MISTLETOE AND WINE: Wine bar Humble Grape offers a series of Mistletoe and Wine festive-themed tasting events at its branches in Liverpool Street, Battersea and Islington. Over two hours, sample seven winter wines under expert guidance. 9-11 December
CHARITY COMEDY: See comedians Desiree Burch, Sophie Duker, Laura Smyth, Bronté Barbé and Alice Ellen Wright live in action at The Other Palace, which hosts Clean Break's Big Night Out. The event raises money for Clean Break, an organisation which aims to transform women’s lives through theatre workshops and holistic support. 7pm
WESTMINSTER BY GASLIGHT: It's an atmospheric time of the year to go wandering around Westminster, as lit by gaslight. London Walks' weekly tour takes you from Westminster Abbey, to 18th century backstreets, to a place where Marilyn Monroe spent the night. 7pm-9pm
HUNGARIAN RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Cadogan Hall hosts The Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra who perform a classical repertoire featuring special guest Jeneba Kanneh-Mason playing Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto. The concert also includes Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz No. 1 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, ‘Eroica’, conducted by Riccardo Frizza. 7.30pm
A CHRISTMAS CAROL: It’s Christmas Eve, and miserly misanthrope Ebenezer Scrooge is about to have a ghostly night he’ll never forget. The award-winning Dyad Productions, known for festive shows since 2015, presents a solo performance of Dickens’ classic fantasy tale by Andrew Margerison. Takes place at Artsdepot. It's one of many performances of A Christmas Carol in London this festive season. 7.30pm
Tuesday 10 December
SISTERS OF SHESUS: London twin sisters, Sister Pauline Hollywood and Sister Mary Berry aka The Sisters of Shesus, bring their festive production Christmas at Mum's to Soho Theatre Upstairs. Expect karaoke, prawn rings, and seasonal bangers at the alternative festive show. 10-21 December
THE CHIMES: Experience Charles Dickens's lesser-known festive tale The Chimes through a solo performance by James Swanton. The story follows Trotty Veck, a beleaguered messenger who embarks on a mystical journey with the church bells as his guide. Takes place at the Charles Dickens Museum, and full admission to the museum is included with the performance ticket. 4pm (and other dates throughout December)
WOMEN AT THE PIANO: Today's free Gresham College lecture focuses on the history of images depicting women at the piano. Professor Marina Frolova-Walker delves into the "femme au piano" genre in 19th and early 20th-century French painting, with examples by Renoir, Van Gogh and Matisse, looking at why the topic suddenly became so popular, and what it represented. Watch in person at Barnard's Inn Hall, or online. FREE, 6pm
POINTBLANK DJS: Students from pointblank Music School take to the decks at Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes in Dalston, spinning house, techno, hip hop and drum & bass. FREE, 6pm-11pm
TWIST AGAIN: Join Dr Jess Wade for the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Prize Lecture at Imperial College London, where she discusses the role of functional materials in modern technologies. Mobile phone displays, solar cells, quantum computers and brain sensors all use synthetic chemical materials. Watch in person, or online via livestream. FREE, 6.30pm-7.30pm
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Wednesday 11 December
MUSICALS MAYHEM: Musical phenomenon Le Gateau Chocolat is back at Soho Theatre for the festive season, in an all new showtune spectacular, Musicals Mayhem. Think of him as a one-man musical jukebox, cramming all of the musicals you know and love into one hour of high kicks, high drag and high glamour. 11 December-11 January
CHARLOTTE JOHNSON-WAHL: The work of late artist Charlotte Johnson-Wahl (also the mother of former prime minister Boris Johnson) goes on display at Bethlem Museum of the Mind in Beckenham. Specifically, the exhibition showcases the art that she produced while she was a patient at the Maudsley Hospital in 1974, depicting hospital life, her illness and her treatment. FREE, 11 December-29 March
CHRISTMAS CANDLELIT LATE: Twickenham's Strawberry Hill House stays open late for a candlelit Christmas evening. Explore the Gothic castle lit as Horace Walpole intended, decorated with Christmas ornaments. Drinks and mince pies are available. 5.30pm-7.30pm
EVENING OF CHEESE: What a beautiful phrase that is. Borough Market's cheesemongers unite for a cheese-themed shopping evening where you can taste various cheeses and get expert advice on putting together your own cheeseboard in time for the festive season. Products from Britain, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands are all represented. 6pm-9pm
THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY: From Africa to Asia, Europe to the Americas, billions of people voted in an election in 2024. Explore the ramifications of this political upheaval with researchers from the London School of Economics. This free talk is part of LSE’s public events programme – all are welcome to join, either in person or online. 6.30pm-8pm (sponsor)
THE SIDESHOW: Regular cinema event The Kennington Bioscope presents a festive screening of 1928 silent film The Sideshow with live piano accompaniment, projecting from a 35mm restored print. Head to the Cinema Museum for a night of silent film, accompanied by pianist Cyrus Gabrisch and John Sweeney. 7.30pm
Thursday 12 December
CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY: Dig out your most festive knitwear for Save The Children's Christmas Jumper Day 2024 — though other days can be chosen if this one doesn't work for you. The idea is that you get your whole workplace/school involved, with everyone donning a Christmas sweater, and making a donation to Save the Children. 12 December
REVEL PUCK'S WINTER FESTIVAL: Revel Puck’s Winter Festival takes over Walthamstow’s Fellowship Square, offering live circus entertainment for adults and children. Step into a festive Spiegeltent, home to a winter bar and local east London street food vendors, and watch one of two circus shows: THE RUCKUS is a celebratory production for everyone led by a cast of female performers, while The Ugly Duckling: A Circus Story is a reimagining of the classic coming-of-age tale with an acrobatic twist for families. 12 December-5 January
VERSAILLES: December's always a quiet month for new exhibitions, but one place bucking that trend is the Science Museum, which unveils Versailles: Science and Splendour. Find out how the famous French palace became a major site of scientific thinking in the 17th and 18th centuries, from mapping the moon to pioneer Madame du Coudray, who trained thousands of midwives across rural France. 12 December-21 April
RELICS OF OLD LONDON: The London Archives in Clerkenwell offers a talk about the Society for Photographing Relics of Old London, and its striking collection. Between 1875 and 1899, the organisation created an architectural record of buildings, comprising 120 images of buildings under the threat of demolition in a rapidly changing city. 12.30pm
CAROLS AND ICES: London has plenty of carol concerts at this time of year, but London Canal Museum can probably claim the most unusual venue, with Camden Town Community Choir performing inside its historic ice well, which is specially illuminated for the occasion. There's also the chance to take a short boat trip on the canal at night, plus free mince pies, ice cream-making demos and other entertainment. 6pm-9pm
WINTER LIGHTS TOUR: Seen the free Winter Lights illumination trail at Southbank Centre yet? This evening, take a guided tour, getting an insight into the artists who created the glowing pieces, and what inspired them. 6pm
FESTIVE MUSICAL BINGO: Drag star Alfie Ordinary hosts an evening of musical bingo with a festive twist at Artsdepot. Listen out for Christmas hits, 80s ballads, 90s dance tracks, girlbands, boybands, rock classics, X-Factor winners (and losers) and more, with plenty of singing and dancing thrown in. 7.30pm
Friday 13 December
CANDLELIGHT CLUB: Secret speakeasy event The Candlelight Club is back at a south London ballroom for a 1920s-themed Christmas party, proving that a little thing like Prohibition needn't ruin the festivities. Don your best flapper outfit and dance the night away to live jazz music and DJs, with burlesque, tarot reading and other entertainment thrown in. 13 and 14 December
CHRISTMAS AT THE MUSEUM: The Florence Nightingale Museum in Lambeth stays open late for an evening of Christmas festivities, spanning card-making, choir performances, drinks and mince pies, as well as a chance to view the museum's usual exhibitions and displays about the trailblazing nurse. 6pm-8pm
YULE ROCK: Carol concerts not quite your thing? How about a Christmas rock concert instead — one where the audience sings along. Join in with numbers by Wizzard, Wham! and the like at Conway Hall, accompanied by a live band, with drinks and mince pies available to buy, and a silent auction and raffle with prizes to be won. 7pm-10.30pm
CHRISTMAS CAROL HISTORY: You can't move without hearing Christmas carols at the moment, but how much do you know about the stories behind them? Southwark Cathedral hosts conductor and lecturer Andrew Gant to reveal the history of Christmas carols, including some surprising facts. Organist James Gough plays snippets of the tunes being discussed. FREE, 7.15pm-8.30pm
TRICITY VOGUE: Cabaret star Tricity Vogue and her All Girl Swing Band pop up at Artsdepot, for a lively evening blending modern and vintage music. Pop songs are played alongside songs from the twenties, interspersed with festive favourites. 7.30pm
WOLF HALL LIVE: Seen the new Wolf Hall series yet? Rough Trade East celebrates the release of the soundtrack to Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light, with a live performance of music from the series, conducted by composer Debbie Wiseman and performed by The Locrian Ensemble. Wiseman also takes part in a Q&A session, talking about her experience working on the series. 8pm
RESISTANCE COMEDY: No fewer than nine comedy acts grace the Dugdale Arts Centre in Enfield, for tonight's Resistance Comedy Christmas Special. Among those vying to make you go 'ho ho ho' are Farham Solo, Junior Booker and Arielle Souma. 8pm
Saturday 14 December
FESTIVE GLOW LANTERNS: Take the family along to the Foundling Museum for a festive workshop where you can make your own glow lanterns. Artist Laura X Carlé shows you how to create a twinkly Christmas lantern, which you can then show off in a procession through the museum galleries (and take home, of course). Aimed at 5-12 year olds. 11am
AFRICAN REMEMBRANCE: London Museum Docklands offers a free talk about African Remembrance Day, which marked its 30th anniversary this summer. Speakers Onyekachi Wambu and Esther Xosei discuss how ARD came about, and why it took so long for victims of slavery to be acknowledged and remembered in this way in the UK. FREE, 2pm
COWBOY BRUNCH: Don your stetson, ready for a rootin'-tootin' hoe-down/chow-down at Fable in the City. The Ride A Cowboy Brunch features country DJs, line dancing... and glitter fried chicken. From 12pm
THE SNOW QUEEN: Storytelling duo Vanessa and George of London Dreamtime offer a free, family-friendly retelling of seasonal fairytale the Snow Queen, at St John the Baptist in Shepherd's Bush. Dress warmly, and bring a blanket (and fairy lights, if you like) to settle down and watch. FREE (donations encouraged if you can afford it), 2pm-4pm
RAT PACK AT CHRISTMAS: Always a popular one, annual show The Rat Pack at Christmas is back at Cadogan Hall. The Definitive Rat Pack cover festive classics, including White Christmas, Baby It’s Cold Outside, and Let It Snow, as well as other well-known songs. It always sells out, so get tickets while you can. 2.30pm/7.30pm
FESTIVE THROWBACK FEST: Have a retro Christmas at Boxpark Wembley, where the Festive Throwback Party offers performances by Lemar, Blazin' Squad and others from the early 2000s. Age 18+. 4pm-11pm
SANTACON LONDON: Hundreds of Santas descend on London for Santacon, which sees members of the public "dress up in Santa suits, run around, give gifts, sing songs, have strangers sit on our laps and decide who is naughty or nice". Festive chaos in the best possible way — and a bit of a mad one if you stumble across it unexpectedly. 14 December
Sunday 15 December
TRACING THE TUDORS: Join Footprints of London guide Mark Rowland to follow in the footsteps of the Tudors in central London. Meet at Blackfriars and track down the real-life locations linked to the events of Wolf Hall and other turbulent periods in Tudor history. 11am-1pm
BRIXTON WALK: "Black & White Resistance in Brixton: Windrush, Squats, Uprising and Gay Lib" is the wide-ranging set of themes for Laura Agustin's guided walk around Brixton today. Laura traces the area's post-war history, which encompasses many stories of activism, protest and multiculturalism, enlivened by thriving street art and food scenes. 12pm
SHERLOCK HOLMES: Hammersmith's Riverside Studios teams up with the BFI and the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Granada’s Sherlock Holmes TV series, which starred Jeremy Brett. Take a deep-dive into two episodes, The Solitary Cyclist and The Devil's Foot, including a screening of the latter, followed by a Q&A session. 1.30pm
FAMILY RAVE: One of the legendary Big Fish Little Fish family raves takes over Fire & Lightbox in Vauxhall, offering a dancefloor for all generations of the family to dance to electronic and rave music together. Craft tables, bubbles, balloons and glitter are provided to keep younger ravers happy, and there's a Jingle Bell Ball theme, so festive dress is optional but encouraged. 2pm-4pm
CINDERELLA: Barbican Cinema screens the Royal Ballet and Opera's current production of Cinderella. It's an Encore screening, meaning it was filmed at a performance earlier this week, but it's a fantastic opportunity to see the family-friendly ballet production of Cinderella, which is currently on at the Royal Opera House. 2pm
ROCK XMAS: Youth Anthems hosts a loud Xmas party at the Fighting Cocks in Kingston, with Irish party punks The Lagan, pop and rock cover band The Four Rehearsals, and 'history loving punk rockers' WeGrowBeards. Kids are welcome. 2pm-5pm
SILENT SUNDAYS: From one Cinderella to another: This month's Silent Sundays at Brentford's Musical Museum is a screening of a silent film version of the fairytale, with live musical accompaniment on the museum's Mighty Wurlitzer organ by Silent Film Artist-in-Residence, Donald MacKenzie. 2.30pm-5pm
ROGER MOORE: The Chiswick Cinema screens From Roger Moore With Love — a documentary about the late Bond actor — followed by a Q&A with its director, Jack Cocker. 3.30pm