All weekend
CHRISTMAS MARKETS: From now on, there are plenty of Christmas markets and fairs going on every weekend and some weekdays too. Luckily for you, we’ve rounded them all up and organised them by London area and date.
PUB: Just want to kick back and relax with a pint and a packet of pork scratchings? Our pubs guide has information about all the best pubs in London, organised by area for your convenience. Find a boozer nearby, try a new place, or see if your local’s in there.
ICE SKATING: Slowly but surely, London’s seasonal ice rinks are waking up for the season. See what’s already open, or book ahead for the rest of the run-up to Christmas.
WAR ARCHIVE: To celebrate the opening of RAF Museum's First World War in the Air exhibition, there's a special archive viewing event which will highlight Christmas during the conflict. The Archive Team will be on hand to answer questions about the First World War or on any of the letters, memoirs, log-books and manuals that are on display. Free, prebook, 6-7 December
THREE WINE MEN: No, that's not a vino-induced typo. Wine experts Oz Clarke, Tim Atkin and Olly Smith host a festive wine tasting event at Church House in Westminster. The events aim to be unpretentious, no-nonsense and genuinely about the love of wine. £25, prebook, 6-7 December
OPEN STUDIOS: Eel Pie Island Artist Studios in Twickenham have a rare open day, giving the public a chance to access the private island, see artists at work and buy or commission work. Free, 10.30am-5.30pm, 6-7 December
TAPESTRY WEAVING: The Fashion & Textile Museum hosts a two day tapestry weaving course, led by Master Tapestry Weaver Caron Penney and aimed at those with a little experience in tapestry weaving. Ticket includes equipment and entry to the KNITWEAR Chanel to Westwood exhibition. £160, prebook, 6-7 December
UTOPIA: The fifth UK Portuguese Film Festival takes place with screenings at Barbican and ICA, including The Boy and The World, and The Devil is a Woman. See full programme. Various prices, prebook, 6-7 December
CHRISTMAS BOOK FAIR: The first Kensington Christmas Book Fair takes place at the Kensington Town Hall. More than 90 booksellers from around the UK will exhibit paper collectables from books to photographs, from posters to postcards, autographs and manuscripts. Free, 6-7 December from 10am daily
TRACK CYCLING: The UCI Track Cycling World Cup comes to London. The second round in the 2014 series will be staged at Lee Valley VeloPark, host venue to London 2012’s Great Britain cycling team medal success. The event showcases some of the best track racing on the planet, with international cycling stars vying for crucial ranking points that could take them all the way to Rio 2016. Various prices, prebook, 5-7 December
JEWISH COMEDY: The first ever UK Jewish Comedy Festival continues at JW3 in Finchley Road. Participants include David Baddiel, Ruby Wax and Arnold Brown. This weekend is the launch event and a night of futuristic comedy. Various prices, prebook, until 7 December
GET YOUR KNIT ON: Following the success of last year’s knitting project, Get Your Knit On returns to Southbank Centre welcoming all abilities to knit squares and sew them together to make blankets for older people this Christmas. The project is in partnership with Age UK Lambeth who will distribute the finished blankets to vulnerable older people as part of their Warm and Well Project. Free, just turn up, until 11 January
Saturday 6 December
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY: Small Business Saturday which is a grassroots campaign that encourages people to shop in local, small, independent businesses across the country today. Find your nearest small shop or business here.
PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR: Open City (the people behind Open House) host a tour led by acclaimed architectural photographers, taking in English Baroque architecture, green parks and the sweep of the Thames. Viewpoints will give you an understanding of the importance of Greenwich in London's history and great opportunities for panoramic photographs of London. You must bring your own camera. £35.50, prebook, 10am
POSTCARD SALE: Age UK Barnet are holding a pop-up one day Secret Postcard Sale in order to raise funds at Passobello in East Finchley. Hundreds of postcards with drawings, paintings, photographs or collages have been donated and will be sold anonymously (you don't find out who the artist is until you have bought the card), all at £20 each. Free, just turn up, 10am-5pm
CHRISTMAS FAIR: The Water Poet in Spitalfields hosts a Christmas Fair, with all proceeds going to Spitalfields Crypt Trust. Shop for gifts, enjoy live music or take part in the tombola. Truman’s Christmas Cave Ale will be on for a special price of £2 per pint (limited stock). 11am-5pm
ISLINGTON FAIR: Similarly, St Mary Islington has its annual Christmas Fair. Expect stalls selling locally-produced gifts and crafts, children's activities, a pop-up cafe, Christmas carols, merriment and good cheer. 11am-5pm
FARM FAIR:...And Surrey Docks Farm also has a Christmas Fair, with proceeds going towards the upkeep of the farm. As well as the usual stalls and live music, this one is offering donkey rides. Free, just turn up, 11am-4pm
MAGICAL CHRISTMAS: Nomad Cinema brings a family day to Belgrave Square Gardens, complete with film screenings, petting zoo, sleigh rides, carol singing and more. £15, prebook, 1pm-6.30pm
FORAGING WORKSHOP: At Queen of Hoxton's rooftop wigwam, The Foragers lead a talk on using wild ingredients to make intoxicating drinks and the fascinating facts behind the art. Learn weird and wonderful anecdotes of the hedgerow and hear some of nature’s more unusual tales such as a cocktail that can ward off snakes. £20 (including seven taster drinks), prebook, 2pm-3.30pm
ACTORS RECHOIRED: The Cinema Museum in Kennington hosts Actors Rechoired for a musical afternoon of songs from films, from Bing to Bond. A tour of the museum is available as part of the ticket price from 1pm. £15/£12, prebook, 2pm
SEWING EVENT: One of Ilford’s oldest businesses, Regent Sewing is hosting a sewing event run by Jennie Caminada using some of their huge collection of sewing machines. Free, just turn up, 3pm-5pm
NIGHT MARKET: Head to Brixton for an after-dark street food market.Dishes vary from £5-£7 offering a choice of diverse cuisines from Venezuelan to Italian and Caribbean to Modern British. Free, just turn up, 5pm-11pm
LION ARK: Documentary film Lion Ark is about animals being rescued from illegal circuses in Bolivia, and is put together from films, interviews and conversations with the people who were actively involved in the rescue. It's screened tonight at Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square, with a fundraising event and Q&A. £11/£29/£40, prebook, 6.30pm
CRICK CRACK CLUB: The performance storytelling event is at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. Storyteller Ben Haggarty and wild musician Sianed Jones tell the extraordinary story of two deities whose cursed pursuit of love spans 1,000 years. £9/£7, prebook, 7.30pm
MASKED BALL: Head to Conway Hall for a Winter Masked Ball. Partygoers can explore multiple rooms of cabaret, feast on Slavic street food and have a go at a pretzel-throwing competition, see the travelling menagerie or take part in a free waltz lesson. £25, prebook, 8pm
COMEDY: Take your pick of two Edinburgh-nominated shows as they close their Soho Theatre runs: insanity with Sam Simmons (£17.50/£15, 9pm) or self improvement with Romesh Ranganathan (£17.50/£15, 9.30pm)
Sunday 7 December
SUNDAY ROAST: Nothing says Sunday like a full roast dinner. Have a look at our choice of the best Sunday roasts in London, or check out your other food options.
GOOD VIBRATIONS: Head to Dance Works near Bond Street for a morning of yoga and DJs. The Hip Hop flow yoga class is open to all abilities and features 90's RnB smooth grooves, classic rap anthems and general good reggae vibes. £10, prebook, 1oam
BREWERY MARKET: Unit 10, a collaboration of three Southeast London artisan food businesses hosts a Christmas market on Tyrell Road in Peckham Rye offering an Italian-fusion menu. Clarkshaws Brewery will be open for tours, hot mulled and cold beers, and bottles or barrels of beer to take away for presents and parties and the market will feature local traders. Free, just turn up, 10am-4pm
ANTIQUES FAIR: The Royal Horticultural Halls near Victoria host the last Adams Antiques Fair of 2014. Dealers come from all over Europe, and this month there will be dealers specialising in antique linens, fine jewellery, silver, ceramics and paintings. £4, prebook, 10am-4.30pm
VISIT A MUSEUM: Have you ever heard of the Kirkaldy Testing Museum? If not, today you can visit it for free and find out about the activity of David Kirkaldy, whose testing and experimenting works set international standards in testing materials from which everyone’s everyday life benefits. There will be regular guided tours during the day and, if possible, the museum will run tests on Kirkaldy’s machine as well. Free, just turn up, 10am-4pm
OLD MAPS: Take a guided walk with old maps to St Pancras Old Church by way of the Duke of Bedford’s once gated estate. Find the one surviving gate-house and venture behind a 1920s cigarette factory. Along the way you'll encounter Walter Sickert, Spencer Gore, Thomas Hardy and H.G. Wells. Meeting place revealed on booking. £10/£8, prebook by emailing [email protected], 11am
PAPER CHAINS: Get Connected, a national youth helpline based in central London, is asking organisations, schools, companies and individuals to help collectively create London’s longest paperchain filled with festive messages and wants to beat the current record (325 metres, the length of the Millennium bridge). Today there's a fun day at Old Spitalfields Market to encourage people to get involved, with music performances and craft activities. Free, just turn up, 11am-4pm
AIRPORT OPEN DAY: The Croydon Airport Visitor Centre opens its doors to the public. During the day there will be free guided tours and the chance to visit the centre for free. This event repeats every first Sunday of every month. Free (donations welcome), just turn up, 11am-4pm
WORD/PLAY: Pianist Lucy Parham is joined by actors Edward Fox, Niamh Cusack and Simon Russell Beale, comedian Alistair McGowan and other piano-playing celebrities, followed by a guest appearance from Martin James Bartlett (BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014) for the Word/Play Celebrity Christmas Gala. At King's Place. £14.50, prebook, 11.30am
JAZZ JAM: The monthly jam session at Foyles on Charing Cross Road features solos from assorted members of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. The jam is also open to the floor, so if you're musically inclined, take your instrument along and get involved. Free, prebook, 12pm-3pm
BEHIND THE SCENES: The Union Chapel offers behind-the-scenes tours once a month, so take advantage of it this Sunday. Tours lasting an hour start at 12.15pm: numbers are limited, so visitors are asked to book in advance on 020 7359 4019 or email [email protected]. £5, prebook, from 12.15pm
SILENT FILMS: Guildhall musicians from the Jazz and Music Therapy courses perform new music and improvise live to Buster Keaton's Cops and other classic silent films in this annual production at Barbican Cinema. The programme of shorts will include Putting Pants on Philip starring silent film icons Laurel and Hardy and Edwin S. Porter's 1903 film The Great Train Robbery. £5-£11.50, prebook, 3pm
TEA SET: Kibo Productions present Tea Set at White Bear Theatre. Set in 1999, it follows the story of a young woman who becomes caretaker for an elderly lady, and discovers her secret, something which traumatises them both. £12/£10, prebook, 6pm
CHILDREN'S ORCHESTRA: The National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain's main and Under-13's orchestras perform at Royal Festival Hall on Southbank. £10-£28, prebook, 7pm
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