All weekend
- New Windows on Willesden Green present workshops, tours, a treasure hunt, poetry, food, drink and festive shopping on Saturday and Sunday where 25 shopfronts have been transformed into an advent calendar.
- Once Upon A Wintertime is a two-day festival at Hackney Downs Studios promising arts, shopping, music plus a roller disco, a medieval street scene and an 80ft banqueting table and family friendly things (tickets £15/day - under 12s free).
- Are you sitting comfortably? Then let's go to the Festival of Fairytales at the Bargehouse, SE1 (£5 a show if you buy online).
- Spitalfields Winter Music Festival continues.
- London doco feature film Dreams of a Life is released - go and see it.
- Bangface and Soulwax have their respective Christmas gigs this weekend.
- If you haven't seen it yet, drop by the London Souls exhibition at St Pancras Crypt (free).
- Screw shopping, go skating.
- Office Party Show has its final hurrah this Saturday. You should go. We did. We had a blast.
Friday:
- There's a Winter Wonderland at the National Gallery... have a conversation about this painting with a glass of wine from 6.30-8pm (£18/15)
- Duckie Christmas Party Late at Barbican
- Register for the Mouth Taped Shut party at the Coronet in Elephant (free).
Saturday:
- Christmas market for Shelter From The Storm on Islington Green.
- Seek out winter warmers at Stour Space Designers' Market E3 between noon-6pm (free entry).
- The Vintage Kilo Sale's at York Hall, Bethnal Green from 11am-4pm (£1 entry).
- Revel in Rich Mix's Alternative Christmas from midday till late with shopping, a walk, cheap seasonal films, workshops, music and a community meal (free entry, pay for some activities).
- Join the Jingle Bells walk with CoolTan Arts meeting at Tate Modern at midday and strolling through Southwark to the Maudsley, chatting about winter festivals along the way (free but donation appreciated).
- Take an LGBT tour of the British Museum at 2pm (free).
- Watch the Strictly Come Dancing final in 3D live from the Blackpool Tower Ballroom at the Apollo, Piccadilly from 6.45pm (£7, 3D glasses £1).
- Brian Harvey is live at Concrete, Shoreditch from 9pm (£8).
- Visit the Brunel Museum and go to a gig by Ayanna Witter-Johnson in the Engine Room (£10).
Sunday:
- Swing (or spectate) at the cheery Dalston Christmas Dance in Gillett Square between 1-6pm (free).
- Be at the launch of Brixton People's Kitchen on Myatt's Fields Park between 1-4pm.
- The Secret Emporium Christmas Market pops-up at Village Underground from 11am-10pm (free entry).
Other good stuff:
- Free London
- Books and spoken word
- Sci/tech/nerd stuff
- Theatre, dance, opera, classical music and exhibitions
- Things to do for a fiver or less
- Museums and Galleries
- Cabaret, parties and alt-performance
- Stand up and sketch comedy
- Gigs to go to
Have you made plans for New Year's Eve yet?
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