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All weekend
ILLUMINATED KEW: Follow an illuminated festive trail around Kew Gardens after dark. This is the first time the Royal Botanic Gardens have done this and it's sure to be popular. Alongside the trail is a Christmas village and market, which is free entry. Christmas at Kew starts this Thursday and trails are bookable Thursday to Sunday up until Christmas week ,when there are special opening hours. Adult tickets £12.50, kids £8, from 4.45-8.45pm
FREEZE: Clapham Common hosts the ski, snowboard and music festival Freeze. It starts on Wednesday evening, but at the weekend it's open from noon till late each day. Watch pro snowboarders and skiiers compete, watch snow sport movies, play in the Winter fun fair, dance to live music and DJs and Christmas jumper party. Tickets £8 per day, except on Saturday £40 (all+bkg), from 12pm
ILLUSTRATION: Led by artists, the London Illustration Fair brings together illustration, print and design artists with buyers and Christmas shoppers at Hoxton Arches from Friday to Sunday. £5 entry, each day from 12pm
ZEALOUS X: A free exhibition and programme celebrating a spectrum of creativity is at Oxo Tower Wharf's Bargehouse. Sign up for talks by industry experts on topics such as intellectual property, creative partnerships and women in creativity. Free, prebook.
SPOKEN WORD: The Last Word festival at Roundhouse features an impressive roster of spoken word talent. This weekend, see Paul Cree's debut show set (literally) in a Camden bedsit, go on a thrilling journey through a London night with Run, share John Berkavitch's Shame, experience Howl 2.0 or catch emerging talent with works in progress and the Roundhouse Poetry Collective. More here.
WORLD FILM: Do you want your movies Portuguese, Scandinavian or Romanian?
ENCHANTED WOODLAND: Syon Park lights up a trail through its beautiful gardens and aboretum for evening visits to the park in the dark – the Enchanted Woodland is open on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays only until 8 December. Tickets £7 adults, kids £3, just turn up, 5-9pm
ART: The first Offline Art Fair takes place, giving a physical space for ten galleries that run mostly online. It's aimed at young collectors and anyone interested in art, plus there are print workshops and other family friendly fun. Runs from Thursday to Sunday at The Embassy Tea Gallery, 195 – 205 Union St, SE1. RSVP for a pass to the private view. Entry free, 12-6pm
CHRISTMAS MARKETS: Find a festive market near you and pick up some presents while scoffing a mince pie.
SKATING: Seasonal skating is GO. Check out our round-up of all the pop up ice rinks here.
TURKEY ON THE THAMES: City Cruises are offering a Festive Lunch Cruise on the river on Saturday and Sunday at just £16 per person. Visit City Cruises online to book or call 020 77 400 400. For details of more seasonal sailings, check out their promotion on Londonist (sponsor).
ADVENT: St Paul's Cathedral holds two Advent processions, moving from darkness into light. Free but arrive early, 6pm
Saturday 30 November
CHANGE: Join in the conference Change: How? conference at Oval Space in Hackney where panels, talks, walks, debates, stand up comedy all address changing society for the better. All the info is here. Standard day ticket is £20, options here, from 9am-5.30pm
CHRISTMAS FAIR: Riverford Organic Farms hold a Christmas Fair at Cecil Sharp House, offering festive foodie treats to hungry Londoners. £6 (children free), prebook, 10am-4.30pm
RECORDS & BEER: The Independent Label Market and London Brewers' Market get cosy in Spitalfields for a day of music, local beer and fun. Free entry, 11am-5pm
INTERNET: CryptoFestival is a one-day conference on internet security, privacy and paranoia at Goldsmith's College, New Cross. Book your free ticket here, starts 11am
BEER: Catch the last day of Walthamstow Cricket Club's beer festival and sup some winter ales. Entry £3, 12-6pm
AL BOWLLY: To celebrate the unveiling of a blue plaque to musician and band leader Al Bowlly at Charing Cross Mansions, there's an event going on at Phoenix Arts Club to celebrate his life and work. Tickets £15, book, 1-5pm
ZUMBA: Have a fun hour of Zumba fitness at a special class which will donate all fees to the DEC Philippines appeal. Master Zumba teacher Elena is doing it for free, turn up with £5 in hand and it goes to charity. Feel good all round! Just turn up to Unity, 277A Upper Street, Islington, 2-3pm
FEMINIST FILM: On the final day of the London Feminist Film Festival, join a panel on Herstories, watch a classic film and go to the afterparty. Check website for details, from 3.30pm
LIGHT NIGHT: For one night only Canning Town will light up for a festival of light, community and energy with neon illuminations, interactive projections and glowing installations. There will be live music, games, workshops, food and drink. Free, just turn up and walk around, from 6pm
EAT & LEARN: School Dinners returns to Central Foundation Boys' School with fine dining and thought provoking entertainment. Tickets for dinner and show £50, 6.30-10.30pm
Sunday 1 December
DIGGIN' DESIGN: The Garden Museum hosts its annual Winter Fair, featuring sustainable, eco-friendly and home-grown goods from designers, artists and makers plus Christmas food, flowers and other gifts. Animals from Vauxhall City Farm will be visiting and the entry price includes access to the rest of the museum and garden. Adults £3, 10.30am-5pm
BELGRAVIA: It's Christmas Sunday in Belgravia on Elizabeth Street and Pimlico Road where stalls proffering festive handmade crafts, gifts and food will set up. There'll be balloon modellers, choirs, brass bands and lovely things to eat and drink, plus Santa and his reindeer, natch. Free, just turn up and join in, 11am-5pm
FROCKS: Want a vintage frock for all those Christmas parties? Frock Me Vintage Fair is at Chelsea Town Hall. Admission £4, 11am-5.30pm
SILENT SHAKESPEARE: London Contemporary Orchestra provide live accompaniment to the screening of seven very rare, silent Shakespeare films with two performances at St James' Theatre in aid of charity Sense. Tickets from £17.50, 2.30 and 7.30pm
CHANUKAH: Witness the lighting of the Menorah on Islington Green with live music, dreidels, doughnuts and hot cocoa plus a clown and magic show for children. Free, just turn up, 4.30-6pm
Other good stuff
- What’s on stage and art shows to see
- Live comedy in London
- Booky and spoken word events
- Free things to do in London
- What’s on in Museums and Galleries
- Eating and drinking
- Listen to our latest podcast, as recommended by The Telegraph
Catch up on all latest features, see what we like in theatre and arts and browse more things to do in London.
What have we missed? Let us know what’s going on this weekend, leave a comment or email [email protected].