All weekend
CHRISTMAS IN LONDON: If you're staying in London for the festive period, read our guide to spending Christmas in the capital. Whether you're a lifelong Londoner or visiting tourist, you'll find plenty of festive things to do, including light festivals, Christmas lights, places to eat and drink, and what's open on Christmas Day.
ICE RINKS: Finished your Christmas shopping? Celebrate with a twirl and a glide on one of London's many ice rinks. Stunning settings include the Somerset House courtyard, the Tower of London moat, and an Oxford Street rooftop. Most have cafes and bars next to the ice where you can warm up with hot drinks and festive snacks afterwards. Booking recommended for all rinks this weekend.
CHRISTMAS PUB CRAWL: Far be it from us to encourage reckless or excessive drinking... but, if you were thinking of going on a pub crawl this weekend, might we suggest this one. It's geographically questionable, but it does involve a pub for every part of the song, the 12 Days of Christmas. If you do it properly, the hangover should be gone by new year...
CHRISTMAS AT LONDON ZOO: This lovely light festival winds through London Zoo after the residents are in bed, with animal-shaped lanterns, Instagram-worthy tunnels, a Christmas tree made of sledges, and a perfectly-choreographed light show in the famous former penguin pool — now a listed building. London Zoo (Regent's Park), adult £16.50/child £10.50, book ahead, until 1 January
MIMI'S DRAGON: Sick of Santa? Take the kids along to this family-friendly theatre show about a fearsome mountain dragon. Songs and puppets tell the story of Mimi, who finds a baby dragon sleeping in her woodshed and has to climb to the castle to return it to its mother. The Village Hall (Battersea Power Station), £12, book ahead, 22-31 December
WINTER WASSAIL: Whether you've been wassailing all your life, or you're not really sure what it involves, head to Shakespeare's Globe for a slightly more modern twist on the traditional festivities involving hot mulled cider. Instead of going door-to-door sharing out the Christmassy drink, enjoy it while you watch a family-friendly show of stories, dancing and music. Shakespeare's Globe, £5-£35, book ahead, 22-23 December
CHRISTMAS CARDS: If you're visiting the excellent Museum of London Docklands this weekend, children are invited to make their own Christmas cards inspired by the museum's winter celebrations. Museum of London Docklands, free, just turn up, 22-23 December
BIG CHARITY RAFFLE: Fancy winning a slap-up dinner at Hawksmoor? What about a day trip to Kew Gardens, or a whole crate of gin? These are just a few of the 40+ prizes up for grabs in London's Big Charity Raffle, in support of The One Foundation's sustainable clean water and sanitation projects. Best of all, you don't even have to leave the comfort of your sofa to enter — just click here. Winners announced at 5pm on Christmas Eve (sponsor).
Saturday 22 December
PAINT JAM: Paint Jam London runs a special event for children and their families. Inspired by Cubism, paint your own canvas as you listen to live DJs — all materials are included, but you're advised to wear old clothes. Battersea Power Station, £20, book ahead, 11am-12pm
SNOW BALL: Southbank Centre throws a huge, free winter party for all ages, involving craft activities, DJs, a penguin parade catwalk (not real penguins, we should add), West End performances, singing and dancing workshops, and live music. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 12pm-7pm
BAILEYS TREAT BAR: Here's a Christmas treat just for the adults; the Baileys Treat Bar serves all manner of hot and cold boozy drinks. Sip on a Baileys-spiked latte or hot chocolate to warm you up, relax with a cocktail, or, our favourite, drink Baileys straight from a chocolate reindeer, then nibble on the reindeer afterwards. Today's the final day of the pop-up. Shorts Gardens (Seven Dials), free entry (drinks from about £6), just turn up, 12pm-10pm
FROST FAIRS: Children can learn a bit of quirky London history in this interactive storytelling session, which covers the frost fairs that used to happen when the Thames froze over. Museum of London Docklands (Canary Wharf), free, just turn up, 1pm/2pm/3pm
JINGLE BELL CHRISTMAS: Festive female trio The Jingle Belles headline Barbican's latest Christmas concert, along with performances by the London Concert Orchestra and singers Kerry Ellis and Tim Howar. It's a programme of Christmas classics including Last Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock and The Twelve Days Of Christmas. Barbican, £26.50-£46.50, book ahead, 2.30pm/7.30pm
DICKENS WALK: Visit parts of London familiar to Charles Dickens, and see some of the buildings and streets that inspired his work on this guided walk, which is interspersed with readings from his novels. Meet at St George The Martyr (Borough), £12/£9, book ahead, 2.30pm-4.30pm
HOME ALONE: Classic Christmas film Home Alone — about an 8-year-old accidentally left at home when his family go on holiday — is screened, with the score performed live by the Cinematic Sinfonia and Crouch End Festival Chorus. Royal Albert Hall, £19-£60, book ahead, 2.30pm-7pm
CHRISTMAS CONCERT: Enfield Community Singers perform some Christmas songs in Forty Hall's beautiful Long Gallery, including Silent Night, Ding Dong Merrily On High, Jingle Bells, Winter Wonderland and more. Forty Hall (Enfield), £10, book ahead, 3pm-4.20pm
NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS: This Christmas show — aimed at ages 4+ — sees Cellophony Cello Quartet and presenter James Thorpe-Woods tell the story of Santa's elves taking on the responsibility of delivering this year’s Christmas presents when Santa himself oversleeps. Kings Place (King's Cross), £11.50, book ahead, 3pm
ENCHANTED ELTHAM: It's the final weekend of this charming light trail through the grounds of south London's art deco mansion, Eltham Palace. Visit the grounds after dark for twinkling tunnels, a talking tree, and fountains dancing in the moat. Finish your evening with hot food and drink, or a ride at the fairground. Eltham Palace, adult £12/child £7.50, book ahead, from 4.30pm, 20-22 December
FESTIVE COMEDY: It's your last chance to see comedian Shazia Mirza's work-in-progress show at Battersea Arts Centre. The focus is survival — particularly when faced with crocodiles, cranks, solitary confinement and alpha males. Battersea Arts Centre, £12.50/£10, book ahead, 8pm
BELAIR: Band Belair is the entertainment at 100 Wardour Street tonight, bringing some nineties and noughties nostalgia in the form of R&B, hip hop and rap. Think Mary J Blige, Dr Dre and co. 100 Wardour Street, £15-£20, book for dinner reservations, 8.30pm
Sunday 23 December
A CHRISTMAS CAROL: 175 years after it as first published, hear a complete and unabridged reading of A Christmas Carol, as it was first written by Charles Dickens in 1843. Dickens actor Dominic Gerrard performs the reading — split into segments — in the author's former home. Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury), £60, book ahead, 11am
CONSERVATORY: Escape the festive madness in the City of London's tropical conservatory, and wander among 2000 species of plant and tree. Keep an eye out for the terrapins. Barbican Centre, free, just turn up, 12pm-5pm
CAROL SINGALONG: If you're not all carolled out yet, sing along to festive favourites in the spectacular surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall, accompanied by the Royal Choral Society, National Youth Choir of Great Britain, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and — for added fanfare — Her Majesty’s Coldstream Guards. Royal Albert Hall, £19-£60, book ahead, 2pm/7.30pm (repeated on Monday)
BOOZY BOROUGH: It's not short of a pub or two these days, and Borough had a bit of a boozy past too. Learn about the area's drinking history and hear stories of London's largest brewery and a very dangerous umbrella on this guided walk. Meet at The Shard, £12/£9, book ahead, 2.30pm-4.30pm
CUBAN BROTHERS: A splash of Havana lands in north London with this performance by the Cuban Brothers, a band hailing from Cuba's capital who blend soulful music with riotous comedy. Jazz Cafe (Camden), £15-£25, book ahead, 7pm-11pm
