Things To Do Today In London: Monday 18 December 2017

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Things to do today is sponsored by The Postal Museum.

Get creative at Flesh and Bones Life Drawing Glamorous Christmas Special.

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Things to do

FATHER CHRISTMAS IN RESIDENCE: Follow Father Christmas' little helpers into his North Pole abode, complete with roaring fire, Victorian Christmas tree and, of course, the man of the moment himself, with a sack of gifts to give away and stories to tell. 141 Ebury Street (Belgravia), £5 per child, free for adults (all proceeds to Beanstalk Charity), book online, 3.30pm-6.30pm, until 20 December

FLOATING MARKET: It's your last chance to hop aboard the Village Floating Hall to pick up stocking fillers and warm your cockles around the wood burner. Stick around for the cabaret Christmas special from Rah Rah Comedy at 7pm. Granary Square, £8, just turn up, 5pm-10pm

MAINTAINING OPTIMISM: It's been a tough year, to say the least, but instead of being a moaning myrtle, head to the ethical pop-up; Birdsong Festive Feminist Concept Store to hear a panellist of activists and half-glass-full types speak about how they keep upbeat and optimistic. 11 Pearson Street, free, just turn up, 6.30pm-8.30pm

DRAWING CLASS: There's not a boring bowl of fruit in sight at this life drawing flesh and bones themed Christmas special. You'll be sketching two professional dancers dolled up in vintage costumes. Hackney Picturehouse, £15, book ahead, 7pm-9pm

XMAS VARIETY NIGHT: This kooky cabaret night has been going since 1994 and still manages to pull the crowds and lay on the laughs. Lenny Beige and his troupe of new and established acts will have you chuckling into Tuesday. Tropicana Club London, £20, book ahead, 7pm-11pm


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Struggling to find a truly original Christmas present? Try a slice of hidden underground history.

Tickets to Mail Rail at The Postal Museum are the perfect gift that can be enjoyed by the whole family. You'll be giving a unique gift:

  • A 20 minute ride through a stalactite-filled network of tunnels. These were previously used by Royal Mail to shuttle millions of letters and parcels from one end of London to the other. The ride is narrated by a former Mail Rail engineer, who worked in the tunnels for 40 years, and incorporates an impressive audio visual display that is projected onto the walls of the former Mail Rail platforms.
  • Access to a Mail Rail exhibition in a former engineering depot, deep below Mount Pleasant Sorting Office in Clerkenwell.
  • Access to The Postal Museum across the street, which reveals five centuries of Britain’s social history, and tells the story of the earliest social network: the post.

That's got to be better than another pair of socks or bottle of bubble bath.

Tickets cost £16 each, including a £1.50 gift aid donation. The Postal Museum and Mail Rail, Phoenix Place, WC1X 0DA. Open every day, 10am-5pm, except 24-26 December 2017.


Lenny Beige's Regency Rooms Xmas Show takes place at Club Tropicana this year.

FEMME CHRISTMAS PARTY: Wear your jazziest Christmas jumper (to be in with a chance of winning a prize) and get down to this femme-powered party for funky DJs and Christmas karaoke, in aid of Housing for Women. Windmill Brixton, £4, just turn up, 7pm-midnight

FAMOUS FIRST WORDS: Got a poem, song or comedy sketch up your sleeve? Bring it to this relaxed open mic night, which repeats every Monday. The Gunners (Highbury), free, just turn up, 7.30pm-10pm

HAMMER & TONGUE: Lend your ears to the work of two fantastic British Nigerian female poets; Theresa Lola, winner of the 2017 Hammer and Tongue National Slam and Dylema, described by Buzzfeed as 'one of the most prolific poets of her time.' Plus a few festive poems thrown into the mix from hosts Richard Purnell, Sam Berkson and Sam Siva. The Book Club, £5/£7 on the door, 7.30pm-10.30pm

GHOST STORIES: Prepare to be spooked as Questor actors read Christmas ghost stories from some of the greatest writers of the genre. Suitable for 12+. Questors (Ealing), £5, just turn up, 7.45pm

NICK HELM'S F**K-FEST: Expect plenty of swears, angry rants and hopefully a few jokes at Nick Helm's F**k-Fest, with special guests. All profits go to Shelter so you'll be laughing for a good cause. Pleasance Theatre, £15, book ahead, 8pm

Good cause of the day: Celebrate Christmas with Carols at Temple Church

Pull up a pew and settle in for readings from Sherlock Actor Rupert Graves, plus carol singing that'll surely have you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. And there's even more reason to be cheerful, as this concert is in aid of two access to justice charities, the Bar Pro Bono Unit and LawWorks. £11.21-£48.38, book ahead, 5.30pm-7pm