All weekend
CHRISTMAS AT KEW: Last chance to visit Christmas at Kew, a light trail winding through Kew Gardens via twinkling light tunnels, illuminations choreographed to music and large-scale glow-ups on the famous glasshouses. It's one of our favourite annual events in London, and well worth seeing if you can get a ticket. Until 4 January
LIGHTS EXPRESS: Also pulling into the station for the last time is the Epping Ongar Lights Express, a steam train covered in fairy lights which whisks you into the Essex countryside, with illuminated lineside displays to be admired from the train windows. Until 4 January
GINGERBREAD CITY 2025: Gingerbread? Lovely. Model towns? Cute. A combination of the two? Absolutely charming (and delicious-smelling) festive fun. Gingerbread City is exactly that — a scale city made from gingerbread and other sweet treats, designed and built by architects and engineers. This year's build can be seen in King's Cross. Until 4 January 2026
ICE SKATING: Take a last twirl, as several of London's seasonal ice rinks, including at Battersea Power Station, Leicester Square, Hyde Park and Queen's House Greenwich, close for the season at the end of this weekend. Fear not though, a few continue into next week — and one keeps going right up until February half term! Full details and dates here.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Most of the West End's Christmas lights should be on until at least this weekend (and it does tend to be slightly less busy this side of Christmas). View them on this free self-guided walking tour, or hop on a TfL bus and head up to the top deck to get a closer look.
PIRATES: Avast! The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich is all about Pirates, in an exhibition covering both fictional and real pirates. Long-John Silver, Jack Sparrow and Captain Pugwash feature on the pop-culture side of the exhibition, while the Global Pirates section delves into issues such as the bombardment of Algiers. Until 4 January
MARCHING ORDERS: Take the kids along to Chelsea's National Army Museum for a family-friendly gallery tour, focusing on some of the paintings on display in the collection. Each tour lasts around 30 minutes, is suitable for ages five+, and tells the stories of some of the artworks which you might otherwise overlook. FREE, 3-4 January
THE NUTCRACKER: Clara's toys emerge from the toy box as The Nutcracker comes to town, this time at Artsdepot in Finchley. The Let's All Dance Ballet company offers a very family-friendly performance, transporting you to the magical Land of Sweets to meet the Mouse King, Snow Queen and the Sugar Plum Fairy. 3-4 January
SEA SHANTY SINGERS: If you find yourself aboard the Cutty Sark this weekend, it's the monthly sea shanty weekend, so you can expect to be serenaded with traditional maritime songs. Performances are included in your ticket, and you can see The HogEye Men on Saturday, and Swinging The Lead on Sunday. 3-4 January
Saturday 3 January
BACKSTAGE TOUR: The first Saturday of the month means Hampton Hill Theatre Open Morning — a chance to glimpse backstage at this community venue, learn how it operates — and perhaps even volunteer to get involved in the future. FREE, 10am-12pm
FLEET STREET PUBS: This sounds like our kind of Saturday afternoon! Spend a couple of hours on a guided walk exploring the pubs of Fleet Street. Hunt down some of London's legendary pubs and finest pub buildings, and hear stories of great writers, disgraced courtiers and misleading pub names. Naturally, a pub interval stop is built into the route. 2pm-4.30pm
DULWICH HAMLET: Head to Champion Hill to cheer on south London team Dulwich Hamlet in a match against Brighton-based Whitehawk FC. Kids aged 12 and under go free. 3pm
NEVERLAND AT KENWOOD: Today's the final day of dazzling light trail Neverland at Kenwood, which has a Peter Pan theme and transforms it into glowing installations, including a giant skull, pirate ships — and even illuminated versions of London landmarks. 4.30pm-7pm
BLUES FESTIVAL: If we're being honest, we didn't realise either the Animals or Geno Washington were still kicking about, but both appear at 229 near Great Portland Street, to kick off 2026's January Blues Festival, itself running for much of this month. 7pm
WORLD DARTS FINAL: Tickets to watch the World Darts Championship live at Alexandra Palace sell out way in advance. But tonight, Big Penny Social in Walthamstow screens the all-important final — the biggest event in the darts calendar. It's shown on a massive screen, with '180' cards to wave provided, plus prizes for best group in fancy dress and a DJ. 8pm-1am
AMELIA HAMILTON: Soho Theatre Dean Street gets 2026 off to a strong start with Amelia Hamilton: Forget Me Not. The ISH Comedy Award Best Newcomer and BBC-featured performer presents her debut hour of stand-up that blends live rap, musical backing and sharp observational jokes. Expect tracks and punchlines about intrusive thoughts, rap battles and campaigning for women in STEM. 8.45pm
Sunday 4 January
ROMAN LONDON: A Roman Wall, Roman baths, a military fort and the Temple of Mithras are just some of the sites you'll learn about on the Roman London guided walk through the City. Meet your guide in St Paul's Churchyard and spend two hours acquainting yourself with old Londinium. 11am-1pm
TWELFTH NIGHT: Barmy bacchanal descends on the South Bank, as part of Twelfth Night celebrations featuring the Holly Man and many of his eccentric friends. For an afternoon of bizarre mini-plays, storytelling and cider flinging, this can't be beat. We've written all about it here. FREE, From 12pm
NATIONAL GALLERY: 2014 film National Gallery is screened at Bertha DocHouse in Bloomsbury, as part of its Frederick Wiseman season. The film goes behind the scenes at the National Gallery, following restorers, curators and visitors. 2pm
COMEDY: A panoply of top tier comedy awaits at the Bill Murray today, with a WIP from Celya AB, a virtuoso performance from comedian-violinist Tasmin Sarkany and a recording with Bella Hull (who you might've seen on HIGNFY recently). 4pm, 5.30pm and 8pm
QUIZ OF THE YEAR: By today, 2025 probably seems like a distant memory. But if you reckon you've still got a handle on some of the details, make your way to Woolwich Works for the Quiz of the Year. Gather a team and go head-to-head with others on subjects including music, a picture round and mystery voices. 7pm
NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA: 160 teenage musicians of the National Youth Orchestra, conducted by Alexandre Bloch, give a concert at Barbican Hall. Works performed include Claude Debussy's Ibéria, and Karim Al-Zand's City Scenes. 7pm
RITUAL ERROR: "Shameless post-hardcore" group Ritual Error storm New River Studios in north London tonight, alongside "dark and jagged" post-punkers Low Harness. Sure to blast away the midwinter gloom. 7pm-11pm
COMEDY STORE PLAYERS: As always on a Sunday, the Comedy Store Players (Neil Mullarkey, Josie Lawrence, Richard Vranch, Lee Simpson and Ruth Bratt) put on an improv show. They take suggestions for characters, stories and locations and whip them up into a hilarious show. Just the giggle you need ahead of the most Mondayest Monday morning of the year. 7.30pm
PUB QUIZ: Another quiz for you — this one inviting you to put your general knowledge to the test at a laid-back affair at the Wheatsheaf in Tooting. 8pm
