Things To Do Today In London: Wednesday 11 December 2019

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Enjoy Christmas carols at Lambeth Palace

Things to do

SOUND OF MUSICALS: Banish all thoughts of Julie Andrews as The Sound Of Musicals begins a short run. The show is a blend of musical theatre karaoke, vaudeville, variety, sing-along, and dressing up, starring Olivier award-winning drag star Le Gateau Chocolat and alternative drag artist Jonny Woo. Roundhouse (Camden), £15, book ahead, 11-14 December

MUSIC HALL TOUR: Take a guided tour of Wilton's Music Hall — a venue that consists of five terraced houses and a performance space. The event covers the building's history, from the 17th century through to today, including some of the stand-out events that have happened and performers who have worked there. Wilton's, (Limehouse), £8, book ahead, 11am

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS: The V&A Museum hosts a free lunchtime lecture about Christmas traditions that date from the Victorian era. Christmas cards, crackers and trees were all thought up in the mid-19th century. Rebecca Mitchell, editor of Fashioning the Victorians, also covers festive dresses and decorations. V&A Museum (South Kensington), free, just turn up, 1pm-1.45pm

Spend your lunch break learning about Victorian Christmas traditions

TEA DANCE: Everyone's welcome at Southbank Centre's free social tea dance, whether you're an experienced dancer or a complete beginner. Expect a festive twist this month, and there's no need to bring a partner. The DJ plays salsa, swing, ballroom and jive tracks to guide you around the dancefloor. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 1.30pm

CURATOR TALK: The curator of the current Charlotte Salomon: Life? or Theatre? exhibition gives a talk about putting the display together. It's about German-Jewish artist Charlotte Salomon, and this talk is a chance to delve a little deeper into some of the themes of the exhibition. Jewish Museum (Camden), £6.50-£8.50, book ahead, 2pm-2.45pm

CHRISTMAS PARTY: There's a free Christmas party, and everyone's welcome. It's a family-friendly event with art, crafts, dance performances, music and festive food and drink. Elephant & Castle Community Hub, free, just turn up, 3pm-6pm

The Jewish Museum hosts a curator's talk

WAR ON THE NHS: Watch filmmaker and journalist John Pilger's latest film The Dirty War On The NHS. It's a tribute to the health service, but also a warning against dismantling it, and tonight's screening is followed by a Q&A with Pilger himself. Bertha DocHouse (Bloomsbury), £12.50/£10, book ahead, 6.30pm

D-DAY HISTORY: Leading military historian Dr Peter Caddick-Adams offers a new perspective on the Allied invasion of France in June 1944. For his talk, he draws on a decade of archival research and thousands of interviews to discuss  the experiences of every major military force involved in the operation including paratroopers, sailors and aircrew, resistance fighters in France, and even the German Wehrmacht. National Army Museum (Chelsea), £8, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm

CAROL CONCERTS: There are plenty of places to enjoy a spot of festive music tonight:

  • Solving Kids' Cancer's fundraising concert features the London Oratory School Chamber Choir and readings by special guests, and is followed by mince pies and mulled wine. St Mary's Church (Marylebone), £20/£5, book ahead, 6.30pm-8.30pm
  • The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Choir performs a selection of traditional and modern Christmas songs at Lambeth Palace. Hear festive readings, join in with some of the carols, and enjoy mulled wine and a mince pie in the Guard Room. Lambeth Palace, £30-£38, book ahead, 6.30pm-9.30pm
  • The London Choral Sinfonia begins with a selection of familiar carols, ending the concert with Britten's Christmas cantata, Saint Nicolas. There's a pre-concert recital at 6.30pm too. St John's Smith Square, £10-£35, book ahead, 7.30pm
  • Childline's Merry Little Christmas Concert features celebrity readings, musical performances and sing along carols, raising money for Childline's work supporting vulnerable young people. Holy Trinity (Chelsea), £40/£10, book ahead, 7.30pm
  • Everyone's welcome at IDMC Gospel Choir's concert, with carols supported by a brass band quintet. It raises money for charity Feed The Minds, which supports people living in poverty around the world. Wesley's Chapel (Old Street), £12-£14, book ahead, 7.30pm-9pm
Get your dancing shoes on at Southbank Centre

DRAG BINGO: It's bingo... but not as your nan knows it. Drag Bingo promises "a night of balls, wigs and satanic invocation", all hosted by some of London's top drag stars. Full house! Queen of Hoxton, from £1, book ahead, 7pm

TRANS POWER: Hear from author and campaigner Juno Roche as she launches her new book, Trans Power. In it, she highlights the diversity of trans identities and experiences, following intimate conversations she had with influential figures in the trans community. Housmans (King's Cross), £5/£3/£1, book ahead, 7pm-8pm

Tube ponderings with Barry Heck

Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.

Time once again to play a game of 'Guess the Tube Station From This Screengrabbed Image Off Google Street View From One of the Exits' (or GTTSFTSIOGSVFOOTE). Clue: it's not Chalfont & Latimer.

Follow Barry on Twitter @HeckTube.

Good cause of the day

Hackney Winter Night Shelter is looking for volunteers to help out on overnight or morning shifts over the coming months. Overnight shifts are shared among several volunteers, taking turns to be awake. Morning shifts involve clearing up from the night and serving breakfast to guests, and many people manage to do a morning shift before heading off to work. Find out more and sign up.

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