Things to do
CHRISTMAS IN LONDON: With a week to go until the big day, embrace the festivities with our guide to spending Christmas in London. Find Christmas markets for your last-minute shopping, seasonal ice rinks, festive exhibitions and more.
MARKET LATE: Get your Christmas shopping done accompanied by live music and a glass of mulled wine. Greenwich Market stays open late, with all the usual traders selling their wares, plus performances by jazz band Tunnel Chops, and plenty of food and drink stalls to keep you satiated. Greenwich Market, free entry, just turn up, 10am-8pm
MUSIC HALL TOURS: Learn about the history of Wilton's Music Hall on a guided tour of the building. The event covers the building's history, from the 17th century through to today, including some of the stand-out events from its past, and performers who have worked there. Wilton's (Limehouse), £8, book ahead, 11am
FREE CONCERT: The students of Trinity Laban College offer free lunchtime concerts in the Great Hall of Queen's House. Today Clara Gatti and Maria McNamee perform on the harp. Turn up from 11am to see the pre-concert rehearsals. Queen's House (Greenwich), free, just turn up, 1pm
HANDEL'S MESSIAH: The Royal Albert Hall hosts its annual performance of Handel’s sacred oratorio Messiah. The Philharmonia Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and several guest vocalists team up to perform the piece, which has been a regular feature of the Hall's programme since it was built in 1871. Royal Albert Hall, £18/£77.50, book ahead, 2.30pm/7.30pm
STAR WARS:Popcorn at the ready — there's a Star Wars triple bill in east London. Relive Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, before being one of the first to see Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker when it's released at midnight. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), £20, book ahead, 6pm
WREATH MAKING: Boë Gin collaborates with florist That Flower Shop for a boozy Christmas wreath-making experience, ‘gin-spired’ by the botanicals in their gin. Enjoy bottomless Boë Gin cocktails as you learn the art of wreath making, and take home your festive creation at the end of the night. That Flower Shop (Hoxton), £60, book ahead, 6pm-9pm
CHRISTMAS CAROLS: West End performer Stuart Beech — also known as The Singing Pilot — performs a repertoire of Christmas carols at a central London restaurant. Tuck into a glass of wine and charcuterie and cheese board as he serenades you. Haymarket Wine House, £10-£15, book ahead, 6.30pm-8.30pm
CLITERATURE: The newly-opened Vagina Museum hosts punnily-named book club Cliterature, focusing on feminist works. This month's book is Maya Angelou's debut memoir, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, which covers her childhood with her grandmother in the American south in the 1930s. The Vagina Museum (Camden Market), £3, book ahead, 7.30pm-9pm
SNOWY STARRY NIGHT: Pop-Up Painting wants you to add a winter twist to your own version of Van Gogh's Starry Night. Put paint to canvas with a glass of prosecco in hand, and an expert artist nearby to offer you any guidance you need. Urban Meadow (Notting Hill), £35.99, book ahead, 7.30pm-10pm
POLITICAL PODCAST: Matt Forde hosts a Christmas special of his Political Party Podcast, with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and with house band MP4, the UK’s only cross-party rock band, as special guests. It should be fun for everyone, regardless of political allegiance. Bloomsbury Theatre, £24.50, book ahead, 8pm
DAD: Northern Irish comedian Dave Elliott's show DAD focuses on his year as a father, the battles he's faced during that year, and the lessons he's learned. Age 16+. Leicester Square Theatre, £10, book ahead, 8.30pm
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
Time once again to play 'Name that tube station from a judiciously cropped screengrab off Google Street View'. If you think you can identify the station, send a tweet to @HeckTube for your chance to win a piece of furry Blu-tack I just found down the side of my desk.
Good cause of the day
The annual Royal Brompton Carols by Candlelight event takes place tonight, raising money towards purchasing vital Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) units for Royal Brompton Hospital. Zoë Wanamaker is the special guest, performing a reading. Find out more and book tickets.
What we're reading
- Is east London ready for the MSG Sphere?
- Here's why Tate Britain is looking a bit ghostly.
- London firefighters to throw parties for lonely pensioners this Christmas.
