Things To Do In London Today: 17 December 2012


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GIVE BLOOD: Three places to donate blood today: Cathedral Hall in Victoria, City Temple on Holborn Viaduct and the West End Donor Centre on Margaret Street, Fitzrovia. Free, just turn up, times vary

FARMS: Kentish Town City Farm celebrates its 40th birthday with an exhibition on its own history, starting today. Free, just turn up, 9am-5pm

HORSEY CHRISTMAS: The London International Horse Show starts today at Olympia and runs till 23 December. If the Olympic equestrian events tickled your fancy, here's a chance to see more dressage, jumping and other horseplay. Tickets and times vary

CUSTOMISE STUFF: The Wakeup Campaign has a new pop-up at Boxpark in Shoreditch where you can take clothes (either your own or as Xmas gifts) and get them personalised. They'll also gift wrap stuff with far more excellence than you. Free, just turn up, 11am-7pm

MUSIC: Old Spitalfields Market kicks off another round of free lunchtime gigs, with a set by Katie Wilkinson, a singer songwriter from north London. Katie has reached the knockout stages of this year’s Open mic UK competition. Free, just turn up, 1pm

MUSIC: Apparently Daniel Radcliffe is a big fan of Slow Club, and after a twee first album the folk-rock duo moved a little closer to the rock end of the spectrum for their second record. They hit Koko in Camden tonight. £14, prebook or turnup, 7pm

CAROLS: The Mayor's Carol Service takes place at Southwark Cathedral, with readings from Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Get there early to grab a spot. Free, just turn up, 7pm

CLOWNS: Wait...don't go away. Clowns aren't always scary or tiresome. Case in point, Slava's Snowshow, which begins today at the Royal Festival Hall. The mix of comedy, audience interaction and indoor blizzards seems to be a winning formula. £20-£65, prebook, 7.30pm

UKE PARTY: The Queen of Hoxton's holding a Christmas party with all the seasonal tunes played on the now-omnipresent ukulele. Free, just turn up, 7pm-midnight

CLASSIC CAROLS: Where better than the Royal Albert Hall for an orchestra-led carol concert from the Royal Choral Society. Prices vary, prebook, 7.30pm

COMEDY: Adorable sketch group Sheeps host a festive bash at the Union Chapel, with a cracking line-up of guests: Tim Key, Mark Watson, David O’Doherty, Jeremy Lion, Oyster Eyes, Jamie Demetriou, Kieran and Joe and the Horne Section Players. There will be a search for Christmas spirit. It will be found. Go, drink and be merry. £16.50, prebook, 7.30pm

Random London Fact Of The Day

Heard the one about Jim Reeves causing a riot in Camden Town? The country and western star, a hugely influential figure among the Irish Catholic population, was booked to play the Buffalo (or the Electric Ballroom, as it's now known) in June 1963. Unfortunately, nobody had bothered to tune the piano, and 'Gentleman Jim' refused to play. The management, sensing that things might turn ugly, hid the takings in a manhole behind the venue, then announced to the restless crowd that their hero wouldn't be appearing. The ensuing brawl ended with mounted police riding into the ballroom to quell the fighting. That, at least, is the legend, which may have been embellished over the years.

London Weather

A chummy dialectic betwixt Madame Sunshine and Monsieur Cloud will decide who has mastery of our skies today...unless you're under the Heathrow flight path, in which case it's jet engines all the way. BBC Weather has the goss.