Things to do
BARRICADE BOYS: Male vocal group The Barricade Boys perform a festive melee of show tunes, and pop rock songs in their London residency. Check out the website for details of special guests on certain performances. The Other Palace, £20-£25, book ahead, 10-28 December
FASCINATING AIDA: All-female cabaret trio Dillie Keane, Adele Anderson and Liza Pulman return to Southbank Centre for a four-week festive run of Fascinating Aida. Expect topical, cheeky and hilarious songs. Southbank Centre, £22-£35, book ahead, 10 December-5 January
MEET SANTA: Father Christmas makes many appearances in London this Christmas, but its rare that you can see him for free. However, he appears at Broadgate this lunchtime for free, to meet kids on their school holidays, workers on their lunch break, and anyone else who has a Christmas wish they want to share. Broadgate (Liverpool Street), free, just turn up, 12pm-3pm
CAROL CONCERTS: Several carol concerts take place around London this evening:
- Canary Wharf's Carols & Candles Service hosts choirs comprised of workers at companies based in the area, with money raised going to prevent knife crime and support young people who are at risk of joining gangs. East Wintergarden, £2, book ahead, 6pm-7pm
- Aphasia Re-Connect's concert raises money to support people recovering from strokes. The event is followed by mulled wine and mince pies. Christ Church (Blackfriars), free, just turn up, 6.30pm
- This year is the first time that WaterAid has held a fundraising Christmas concert. Some Voices Choir perform, and famous faces including comedian Shappi Khorsandi offer readings. St Mary Aldermary (Bank), £25-£35, book ahead, 6.30pm-8.30pm
- Southwark Cathedral hosts atmospheric candlelit carol concert in aid of Feed The Minds. The programme includes performances from the Quorum Chamber Choir, and sing alongs to well-known festive tunes. Southwark Cathedral, from £12, book ahead, 7.30pm-9pm
- The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral Oxford make a special London appearance to perform 'some of the most beautiful Christmas music ever written'. Take that, Noddy Holder. St John's Smith Square (Westminster), £10-£25, book ahead, 7.30pm
- And finally (for today, anyway), the Royal Choral Society commandeers the Royal Albert Hall as it has been doing for over 100 years, with the 150-strong choir performing old and new Christmas carols. Royal Albert Hall, £18-£72, book ahead, 7.30pm
WILDLIFE CRIME: ZSL London Zoo hosts an evening focusing on the use of surveillance technology and social science to prevent wildlife crime. Find out about advances in the fields of surveillance and vessel tracking in recent years, which are helping conservationists tackle issues such as poaching. ZSL London Zoo (Regent's Park), free, just turn up, 6pm-7.45pm
COMEDY BENEFIT: Dara Ó Briain, David O’Doherty, Joe Wilkinson, Abandoman, Dave Johns, and Jarlath Regan are among the performers at tonight's Aisling Comedy Benefit. The annual event tales place in the beautiful Union Chapel, and raises money to support vulnerable Irish people in London. Union Chapel (Islington), £25, book ahead, 6.30pm
SOLANGE KNOWLES: Attend a screening of the director’s cut of Solange Knowles’ film, When I Get Home. It's an extended version of the performance art film, which Knowles created to accompany her album of the same name, and has strong nods to her Texan roots. Southbank Centre, free, book ahead, 7pm/7.50pm/8.40pm
KATE RUSBY: Folk singer-songwriter Kate Rusby performs festive Yorkshire songs and carols from her new Christmas album, alongside seasonal favourites that everyone will recognise. Southbank Centre, £35, book ahead, 7.30pm
COMEDY: Spend a light-hearted Tuesday night at the Pleasance, where comedian Mark Watson tries out some new jokes. He's not giving much more than that away, so you'll have to go along to see what it's all about. Pleasance Theatre (Islington), £5, book ahead, 7.45pm
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
Did you ever think that some of our stations are badly named? I mean, Marylebone isn't really in Marylebone, and who's ever noticed the actual Liverpool Street the station is named after? Well, we've put together an alternative map and animation with a few alternative suggestions. Find out how to catch the tube from Hugh Grant to That Monk Pub, or perhaps take the short ride between Silver Vaults and Gold Bars.
Follow Barry on Twitter @HeckTube.
Good cause of the day
There's still time to sign up to the Crisis Icebreaker at Brockwell Lido on Saturday. Take part solo or part of a team, and brave the chilly waters to raise money for the homelessness charity. Find out more and sign up.
What we're reading
- It's time to give the London Overground different line names.
- A slice of South America in north London.
- Major disruption at King's Cross station in January and February.
- 300 seconds on London Bridge.
