Things To Do In London This Weekend: 10-11 December 2016

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Things to do this weekend is sponsored by the Museum of London.

All weekend

Above and Below the Line by Julie Leonard is on all weekend.

ICE SKATING: Fancy gliding on the ice this weekend? Check out our list of the best ice rinks in London here.

ELF SCREENING: Don't forget your maple syrup as you travel through the seven levels of the candy cane forest this weekend. Head over to Prince Charles Cinema for Elf and join Buddy on his quest to meet his father and save Christmas. Free mulled wine and mince pie with every ticket. £11/£8.50, book ahead, Saturday 1pm/Sunday 3.45pm

TOILET TOURS: Flush your weekend down the toilet with London Loo Tours: Waterloo. Learn all about the public toilet, where Thomas Crapper fits into all of this, and have a laugh in the process. £12/£10, book ahead, Saturday 3.30pm/Sunday 1.30pm

TINY TREES: Office still lacking a Christmas tree? Boxpark in Shoreditch is currently home to a pop-up shop selling tiny Christmas trees, along with miniature baubles and decorations. We felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland tiptoeing among the arboreal miniatures. The shop also sells custard cream flavour chocolate bars; not sure what that has to do with Christmas, but it seems like a jolly good idea to us. Free entry, just turn up, until 11 December

CROSSRAIL AND ART: Crossrail's so big it's got its own artist-in-residence. Julie Leonard's exhibition at The Building Centre produces striking images seen through the eyes of the diverse Crossrail workforce. Free, just turn up, until 22 December

ROYAL OBSERVATORY CHRISTMAS: Ever wondered what the Christmas star might have been? Find out as you travel across the skies with The Sky Tonight - Christmas Stars at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Various prices, book ahead, until 23 December

NORDIC CHRISTMAS: Have a wander around and see if you can find any Gonks. They're mythical creatures from Scandinavian culture associated with Christmas and winter, but this weekend are hiding at Southbank Centre. Beware: they keep an eye on children and report back to Santa... Free, just turn up, until 15 January

Saturday 10 December

Learn the 'Jingle Bell Rock' dance from Mean Girls with Drink, Shop & Do

BIRD WATCHING: Get closer to nature and go bird watching with a warden at the Wetland Centre in Barnes. You can learn about plumage, sites, calls and the the key differences between species. £10 plus admission, book ahead, 9.30am-11am

MEAN GIRLS: Love Mean Girls? Love Christmas? Merge them and learn Janis's original Jingle Bell Rock routine at Drink, Shop & Do in King's Cross. It's gonna be so fetch. £15, book ahead, 10.30am-12.30pm

FAMILY CHRISTMAS CRAFTS: Get creative with the whole family with Christmas Family Crafts at the Cockpit Theatre near Marylebone. You can make eco-friendly snowflake mobiles, pop-up cards and create glittering gifts. £5, book ahead, 2pm-4pm

ROYAL ACADEMY LATES: Lose yourself in 19th century France, with the Royal Academy's recreation of James Ensor's Bal du Rat Mort at Burlington House. Following in the footsteps of Ensor and the Circle Coecilia artists, put on your finest threads, enjoy cocktails and supper and prepare to dance all night. £35, book ahead, 7pm-11.45pm

LOVE, ACTUALLY: Feel it in your fingers and feel it in your toes. Head over to Hackney Showroom's Narnia-style winter wonderland and watch Richard Curtis's Love Actually. There'll be a bar with hot chocolate, mulled wine and popcorn. £20, book ahead, 7.30pm

AMUSED MOOSE: Have a laugh on Saturday night with Amused Moose's evening of comedy with stand-up from the likes of Tom Taylor, Mo Gilligan, and Jenny Collier. Hosted by Alex Zane. From £12.50, book ahead, from 7.45pm

CUTTY SARK CHRISTMAS: Get that festive feeling with the Cutty Sark Christmas Concert. There will be performances from The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir, plus mince pies and mulled wine, and a chance to admire the Christmas lights on the mast. £25, book ahead, 8pm

80s Vs 90s: Make your way to central London's ultimate retro venue, Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes, for a battle of the decades. This Saturday sees the ultimate retro night of 80s and 90s tunes for those of you who really can't decide which decade is best. From £4.50, 9pm (sponsor)


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Jump aboard the Museum of London’s Great Fire river tour

This year marks 350 years since the Great Fire of London and it’s safe to say the city has changed a lot since then. Discover how London evolved after the disaster on this boat trip down the Thames with the Museum of London.

The three-hour river and fire journey will be led by the Fire! Fire! Exhibition curator, who will explain how the new city emerged out of the ashes. Starting at Westminster Pier, you’ll head to the O2 at North Greenwich and back again, passing London’s famous buildings and bridges.

This enlightening boat ride takes place on 10 December at 1.15 pm, and is sure to fire up your imagination — book tickets here.


Sunday 11 December

Make your own terrarium

MEDITATION: Channel your inner peace with Mindfulness Meditation and Relaxation at Farmopolis. Practice relaxation and meditation by the river, surrounded by stunning greenery. £2.50, book ahead, 10am-11am

CHRISTMAS CHOCOLATE CLUB: Channel your inner Willy Wonka and give your taste buds a treat at the Experimental Christmas Chocolate Club. Spend the afternoon creating and tasting chocolate truffles, chocolate clusters and hot chocolate. £45, book ahead, 11am/3pm

THE GRINCH: Channel your inner child with Pop Up Screens' winter wonderland screenings. Watch Jim Carrey wreak havoc upon Whoville in The Grinch at Hackney Showroom. There'll be a bar with hot chocolate, mulled wine and popcorn. Oh, and you'll make your way into the screening though a wardrobe. £20/£10, book ahead, noon

THE TEMPEST: Get lost at sea in the Bard's world, with Prospero, Miranda and Ariel. Head to The Cockpit Theatre for a 'cue script' adaptation of The Tempest and see the play as actors would have performed it in Shakespeare's day. £25, book ahead, 1pm, until 15 January

DIY TERRARIUM: Build your own mini eco-system with Make Good: Terrariums at Balham Bowls Club. With all plants and glassware provided, make someone's Christmas gift, or keep it to brighten up your home. Festive flair optional. £27.24, book ahead, 1pm/3pm

WREATH MASTER CLASS: Give your Christmas decorations a unique touch with a Christmas wreath master class at Greenwich's Trafalgar Tavern. Perfect for beginners, use seasonal foliage and berries to create your own festive masterpiece (hot chocolate included). £60, book ahead, 2pm-5pm

FESTIVE CYCLE RIDE: Get fit and festive with the 2016 Festive Light Ride, a cycle ride starting at the Polygon in Clapham Old Town and heading to Brixton Windmill. With all proceeds going to cycling disability charity Wheels for Wellbeing, you can keep fit, have fun and give to a good cause. Expect fireworks, music and entertainment. £3, book ahead, from 4pm

OPERA ENCORE: Join Comedia at Normansfield Theatre in this entertaining guided tour showing the evolution of opera. There will also be performances from a company of professional soloists accompanied by The Virtual Reality Orchestra. £15 (£12 concessions), book ahead, 7.30pm-10.30pm