Things To Do In London: Tuesday 23 December 2014

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The FB Pocket Orchestra perform at Southbank Centre

Listings

CHRISTMAS IS COMING: And we have a bumper page of all the festive goings on in London. We’ll be updating it right up until the big day, so keep checking back.

EXHIBITIONS: Fancy a bit of culture? Exhibitions currently on in London include Wildlife Photographer of the Year (★★★★★), Drawn by Light (★★★☆☆), Guy Bourdin (★★★☆☆) and Elvis Presley (★★★☆☆). Take a look at our Museums page for more ideas.

ICE SKATING: London is practically iced over if this bumper crop of seasonal ice rinks is anything to go by. We recommend booking ahead this close to Christmas, especially during the school holidays.

POCKET ORCHESTRA: The FB Pocket Orchestra performs a contemporary slant on popular acoustic music from the late 19th and early 20th centuries at Southbank Centre. Free, just turn up, 1pm

DICKENSIAN CHRISTMAS: The Charles Dickens Museum near Russell Square lets guests explore the historic interior by candlelight, as it would have been in Dickens's day. £20, prebook, timed entry from 6.40pm

COMEDY: Tom Sandham and Ben McFarland present the Thinking Drinker’s Guide to the Legends of Liquor at Soho Theatre: tales of Humphrey Bogart, Alexander the Great, Dorothy Parker and other historical fans of a bender. £15/£12.50, prebook, 7.30pm

ALTERNATIVE PANTO: Martha and Eve, a comedy music duo known as Donna and Kebab in a previous incarnation, bring their alternative Christmas panto to Rich Mix in Shoreditch. £14/£12, prebook, 7.30pm

HIP HOP QUIZ: The Book Club in Shoreditch is the venue for Spin Doctor's end of year Hip Hop Pub Quiz. Questions cover MCs, DJs, producers, albums and more, all from the hip hop genre. £1/£2 per player, prebook, 7.30pm

BLOOD: Today’s opportunities to donate blood are at East Wintergarden in Canary Wharf, Lewisham Shopping Area, Bromley Central Library and the usual donor centres. See site for terms and conditions. Scared of donating blood? Watch our video.

Find more London events in our Free & Cheap events listings.Want to see your event in these last-minute listings? Email us at hello@londonist.com at least 48 hours before the event, and we will consider it for inclusion. Note: due to high volumes of email, we can’t always reply.


Good Cause of the Day

Artist JMW Turner designed and built a country villa for use by himself and his father. Completed in 1813, Sandycombe Lodge near the Thames between Richmond and Twickenham was Turner’s retreat to escape the hectic London art world. Having been added to English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk Register, a campaign has been launched to raise £2m to restore the building. Find out how you can donate here.

From The Archive

Last year, we gave you all an early Christmas present in the form of our Secrets of the Hammersmith and City line video. Geoff uncovers secret entrances, a station without a ticket office, and the oldest corridor on the whole of the Underground.