Things To Do In London This Week: 10-16 December 2018

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Things to do this week is sponsored by the London Transport Museum.

All week

Get your skates on

ICE SKATING: With rinks popping up all over London, why not give ice skating a go. Choose from rooftops, palaces and museums as your backdrop, and warm up afterwards with a mulled wine or hot chocolate. Here's our guide to festive ice skating in London.

MARKETS: Still got some Christmas shopping to do? Step away from the high street and visit these Christmas markets and fairs instead. Browse unique gifts with a drink or mince pie in hand — and maybe even treat yourself too.

LIGHT FESTIVALS: London's so lit right now; pick from light and lantern festivals at London Zoo, Kew Gardens, Chiswick House, Eltham Palace and Southwark Park. Booking required for all.

CHRISTMAS IN LONDON: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the capital. Whether you're looking for things to do, places to take the kids, tips for Christmas shopping or festive food and drink, take a look at our guide to spending Christmas in London. If you're on a budget, we've found some free things to do in London at Christmas too.

BOARD GAMES: Switch off your phone and sit down with family and friends to get some Monopoly practice in before Christmas. This fascinating museum has a new area where you can play some good old-fashioned board games. Food and drink from the on-site cafe can be enjoyed while you play. Museum of Brands (Notting Hill), included in museum admission (£9/£7), 10 December-31 January

CINDERELLA: Think Taranatino meets Shameless meets Elf for this not-so-family-friendly version of Cinderella. It's set in a boozer, and our eponymous Cinders is off to a rock 'n' roll ball. Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, £22.15, book ahead, 10-15 December

Monday 10 December

MEET STORMZY: Superstar grime MC Stormzy is signing copies of his new autobiography, Rise Up, at Waterstones Piccadilly, with fans given a chance to (briefly) meet him. This one will be popular, so book early — and expect to queue. Waterstones Piccadilly, £19 (including a copy of the book), book ahead, 6pm

CHRISTMAS AT THE MOVIES: British singer Joe Stilgoe celebrates the greatest film music with a concert of classic and new soundtracks from Christmas movies. Special guests include actor and comedian Rob Brydon and saxophonist Jess Gillam. Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith), £15-£42, book ahead, 7.30pm

Tuesday 11 December

Christmas carols at the Royal Albert Hall

MERRY QUESTMAS: Watch an improvised fantasy quest come to life on stage in front of you. Suggest locations and advice to the actors on stage, and move them around. They have no idea what'll happen in the show — it's entirely up to the audience. Etcetera Theatre (Camden), from £6, book ahead, 7pm (repeated tomorrow)

MARIAH CAREY: This is not a drill... the one and only Mariah Carey — the elusive chanteuse herself — is performing live at The O2 Arena. Don't miss out on StubHub's score of the week, and the chance to see Mimi work her magic in the flesh. The O2 Arena (Greenwich Peninsula), from £54.68 on StubHub while tickets last, book ahead, 7pm (sponsor)

CHRISTMAS CAROLS: Enjoy a Christmas carol concert in the impressive setting of the Royal Albert Hall. TV presenter Ore Oduba hosts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, jazz singer Natalie Rushdie and more, all raising money for Bloodwise. Royal Albert Hall, £12.70, book ahead, 7.30pm

CHORAL SOCIETY: Battersea Choral Society has commissioned a new piece of music, and premieres it at today's Christmas concert. The Shepherds’ Tale was written by Thomas Hewitt Jones and Matt Harvey. Traditional Christmas carols are also on the programme. Holy Trinity Sloane Square, £20, book ahead, 7.30pm


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Wednesday 12 December

Hear about the history of London's sanitation

SEWERS AND TOILETS: Delve into the history of London's sanitation at this walking tour about sewers and toilets. It focuses particularly on 1801-1851, and how London dealt with outbreaks of cholera and typhoid in the period. Farringdon, £12/£9, book ahead, 11am-12.30pm

MULBERRY WALK: Visit the site of King James's mulberry garden on this mulberry-centric walk, covering 500 years of history and 10 mulberry trees, and ending at Westminster Abbey. £12/£15, book ahead, 12.30pm-1.30pm

CURATOR'S TALK: Join the curator for an in depth tour of the current exhibition, Roman Vishniac Rediscovered, a retrospective of the eponymous Russian born American photographer. His work included  photographic records of Jewish life in eastern Europe between the two world wars. Jewish Museum (Camden), £8.50/£6.50, book ahead, 2pm

JOSH GROBAN: Hot on the heels of his latest album release, multi-platinum crooner Josh Groban crosses the pond to serenade fans with his velvety vocals. Thanks to StubHub, you can snap up seriously great value tickets to see this global superstar perform live. The O2 Arena (Greenwich Peninsula), from £24.18 on StubHub while tickets last, book ahead, 7pm (sponsor)

Thursday 13 December

Step through the wardrobe into Pop Up Screens

DICKENS AFTER DARK: Explore the Dickens Museum after dark, seeing it dressed for Christmas how it would have been in the author's day. Scenes from A Christmas Carol are performed throughout the house, and the drinks are served in the candlelit bar. Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury), £18/£10, book ahead, 6pm

CITY CHRISTMAS: Take a Christmas-themed stroll through ancient streets of the City of London, finishing with a three course meal on the atmospheric dining room of the George & Vulture. £50, book ahead, 12.30pm-3.30pm

CHRISTMAS CINEMA: Pop Up Screens begins its Christmas season with a screening of Love Actually, the London-set Richard Curtis rom-com which stars... well, pretty much everyone. The temporary cinema has a Narnia theme, with plenty of fake snow. Hackney Showroom, £20, book ahead, 7.30pm

Friday 14 December

'In drear nighted December' at Keats House — hopefully minus the snow

LATE NIGHT KEATS: Keats House is open late for an evening celebrating his poem 'In drear nighted December', with live jazz, candlelit poetry, special guided tours... and, of course, a bar. Adults only. Keats House (Hampstead), £15, book ahead, 6.30pm-9pm

BISHOPSGATE BALLROOM: Get your dancing shoes on for an evening of social dancing to Latin and Ballroom music. It's open to dancers of all levels from beginners to experts. Bishopsgate Institute (Liverpool Street), £10/£8, book ahead, 7pm

MADNESS: The hiiiills are alive with the sound of... Madness. This isn't some dark reboot of the classic Julie Andrews film, but the title of the ska legends' hotly-anticipated new arena tour. Tickets to see Madness perform live — with support from Scottish rockers The Fratellis — are available from £45 on StubHub while tickets last. The 02 Arena (Greenwich Peninsula), from £45 on StubHub, book ahead, 7pm (sponsor)

WORDS IN PROGRESS: Budding writers aged 16-15 perform their work-in-progress monologues across a range of topics — why not go along and give them some support. Pleasance Theatre (Islington), £10/£6, book ahead, 8pm

LIVE MUSIC: The Smiths tribute band The Smyths recreate some of the group's best live performances from the years 1982-1987. The Half Moon (Putney), £14/£16, book ahead, 8pm

Saturday 15 December

La Traviata at Barbican Cinema

CIRCUS FESTIVAL: Take part in circus skills workshops or watch the experts at work at Greenwich Circus Festival. Trapeze, aerial hoop and balancing acts are all on the programme. Aircraft Circus Academy (Woolwich), £14/£19.50, book ahead, 15-16 December

LONDINIUM: The Roman settlement of Londinium is the origin of modern-day London. Find out more about Londinium's development, from military encampment to the new capital city, on this guided walk. St Magnus The Martyr (Monument), £12/£9, book ahead, 11am-1pm

OPERA LIVE: Watch New Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting Verdi’s tragedy, La Traviata. This production features a dazzling eighteenth-century setting that changes with the seasons. Barbican Cinema, £37, book ahead, 5.55pm

Sunday 16 December

Take a tour of the Dickens Museum

CHRISTMAS WITH DICKENS: Take a tour of the former townhouse of author Charles Dickens and his family, before the museum opens to the public. A member of staff dressed at the Dickens' housemaid shows you around — and lets you in on a few family secrets. Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury), £18/£14/£10, book ahead, 10am/10.45am/11.30am

BISHOPSGATE SWING: Lindy Hop the evening away at this night of Swing dancing. The evening starts with a lesson for beginners, followed by social dances for all experience levels. Bishopsgate Institute, £10/£8, book ahead, 6.30pm