All weekend
BOOK MIMEFEST: London International Mime Festival opens on Wednesday — read our preview — start looking through the huge programme and book your tickets now.
PING PONG: Table tennis nearly jumped the shark in 2013. Everyone was doing it, in pop up bars, in offices, on top of the O2, with zombies .. but this is serious. The World Championship of Ping Pong brings 64 of the world's best players to Alexandra Palace for two days of intense wiff waffing, and you can be there to watch it. Tickets £10+bkg for an afternoon (12pm), £15+bkg for an evening (6pm), £20 full day, concessions available, 11.30am-9.30pm
BOATS: Fancy yourself afloat? Just love boats? The London Boat Show is the place to indulge your Captain fantasy with thousands of boats and boating accessories at Excel until 12 January. Standard adult day ticket £16 advance, £20 on the door but deals available and it's cheaper in the week, open 10am-7pm
FOOTBALL: The London Football Guide has rounded up all the local football action taking place on Saturday and Sunday, highlights including Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup third round and Barnet at home to Alfreton Town in a top five clash in the Conference Premier. Click through to this article and scroll down to this weekend's fixture map.
ON STAGE: Still plenty of festive theatre shows to see. Plus, have you booked ahead for what's on stage in January?
SKATING: Impress your friends with Arabesques and hockey stops at one of London's ice-skating venues. Check out our round-up of all the pop up ice rinks here.
THE WALL: Last chance to visit Bethlehem Unwrapped and The Wall at St James's Piccadilly.
LAST CHANCE: Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland closes on Sunday. Free entry, just turn up, 10am-10pm
Saturday 4 January
DEPTFORD: Discover Deptford on District 45 - a Footprints of London walking tour with Sean Patterson. Tickets £10, prebook, 10.30am-1.30pm
KNIT: Get your new year knit on and join the busy fingers at Southbank Centre knitting blankets for vulnerable older people. Knit in company in the Knitting Lounge on Level 4 Greenside of the Royal Festival Hall. Free, just turn up, 12pm
CREATIVITY: Take a taster course in linoprinting, monoprinting, drawing and watercolour painting at The Conservatoire in Blackheath. Free, just turn up, 12-5pm
OCCUPY TOUR: Let Occupy London show you the City of London, tell you about the history of money and the Square Mile's role in the financial crisis. Free, book, 2-4pm
FRENCH DANCE: The Grand Midwinter Folk Ball is back at Chats Palace, Homerton with fantastic live music, dancing, ball gowns, fairy lights and mulled cider. Join the free French folk dance at 8pm in preparation for the ball (pictured) where two top French bands will be playing. Tickets £10+bkg advance, £12 on the door, 7.30pm-midnight
GREMLINS: Watch Gremlins 1 and 2 back-to-back at Prince Charles Cinema. Tickets £13.50/£11, prebook, 8.45pm
Sunday 5 January
STROLL: Join the London Strollers on a 5-mile walk around Classic Greenwich and Blackheath, part of the Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks, which ends today. Free, just turn up, 10.30am
BARBICAN: Another chance to explore Barbican Conservatory and its tropical delights in the heart of the city. Free, just turn up, 11am-5.30pm
WASSAIL: Sing to the good health of the trees in East Greenwich Pleasaunce Memorial Orchard. There'll be music, games, stories, children's crafts and the Holly Man, topped off with the wassailing procession. Free, just turn up, 12-3pm
VIENNESE MUSIC: London Salon Ensemble play Viennese favourites in the Clore Ballroom at Royal Festival Hall. Free, just turn up, 12.30pm
TWELFTH NIGHT: Things get folky on Bankside with the 2014 Twelfth Night celebrations including the Holly Man, King Bean and Queen Pea, a massive wassail, Mummers Play dancing, drinking and more. Free, just turn up, from 2.30pm
FAREWELL TO CHRISTMAS: In Hoxton, watch the holly and the ivy burn at the Geffrye Museum's annual Farewell to Christmas gathering in the garden. Sing carols and sip mulled wine as it gets dark. Free, just turn up, 3.30-5pm
MUSIC: National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain challenges the protocols of classical music in their Winter Concert at Barbican. First up, some heart-wrenching Mahler, followed by new composition The Rules. Tickets £10-£28, prebook, 7.30pm
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
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].
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