Things To Do This Week In London: 25 November-1 December 2024

Thanksgiving celebrations, gingerbread exhibitions and Christmas markets and fairs.

Things to do this week is sponsored by Half Six Fix.

All week

SCOTTISH BOOK FESTIVAL: Scots in London host the St Andrew's Book Festival, taking place at various central London venues. It's a chance to hear from Scottish writers and celebrities, including Sir Alexander McCall Smith, Sir Ian Rankin, Judy Murray and Lorraine Kelly. 25 November-1 December

V&A CHRISTMAS TREE: The V&A once again offers a unique take on a Christmas tree, unveiling a festive installation by artist and designer Anna Lomax. All Lit Up! takes the form of one of the columns in the museum's Dome, redesigned to resemble a tree, and illuminated with various animations throughout each day. FREE, 25 November-5 January

PENGUIN PARADE: Been down to Fleet Street recently? The area has been invaded by a colony of flippered statues. The Penguin Parade is a free art trail consisting of a dozen colourful sculptures dotted around the area, each one individually designed by a different artist. FREE, until January

PERCY JACKSON: Everyone’s favourite demigod comes to the stage in The Lightning Thief – The Percy Jackson Musical. Open now at The Other Palace, the show adapts Rick Riordan’s best-selling tale of a boy who must come to terms with his new powers, when thrown into the world of Greek mythology. It’s adapted for stage by Joe Tracz, writer of Be More Chill, with a rock score by Rob Rokicki. 22 November 2024 - 2 March 2025 (sponsor)

ICE SKATING: Take to the ice, with seasonal rinks popping up all over the capital. Somerset House, Battersea Power Station and Hampton Court Palace are among the rather special venues where you can practice your twirls this year.

LONDON DAY BY DAY: If you regularly find yourself at a loose end in London, bookmark our guides to things to do each day of the week. We've compiled events which take place regularly including tours, comedy shows, pub quizzes, dancing lessons, markets, and weekly food and drink offers. Even if you don't need it this week, save it now — future you will be grateful.

BLACK CAB GROTTO: Book ahead for Gett's Black Cab Grotto next Saturday, a one-day, limited availability experience where your family can meet Santa in the back of an iconic London black cab. Ride around London with the big man himself, taking in the sights and Christmas lights for a memorable festive experience. Money raised goes to the Childhood Trust’s Christmas Tree Appeal, supporting London's most vulnerable children this Christmas. Book your tickets now. (sponsor)

Monday 25 November

CHRISTOPHER WREN: Guildhall Library hosts a talk about the life and work of Christopher Wren, by City Guide and Lecturer Jill Finch. Hear the story of how Wren became Professor at Gresham College, a founder of the Royal Society and architect of St Paul’s Cathedral, via online livestream. FREE, 2pm-3pm

IN WITH THE OLD: Jon Neale and Timur Tatlioglu, partners at property consultancy Montagu Evans, are at Temple Bar to talk about London offices in the 21st century. In recent years, demand for purpose-built office space has changed, but they argue that the office still has a future — it just might look different from what we're used to. 6.25pm

TESSA HADLEY: Author Tessa Hadley makes an appearance at Waterstones Hampstead, discussing hew new book, The Party, with novelist and screenwriter Deborah Moggach. The novel is a coming-of-age story set in post-war Bristol. 6.30pm

RELAXED HEW LOCKE: For neurodivergent individuals, people with disabilities, and anyone with sensory needs, the British Museum offers a relaxed evening opening of its current exhibition, Hew Locke: what have we here?. The show focuses on Britain's historical interactions with Africa, India and the Caribbean, and challenges narratives of British imperialism through objects from the British Museum collection. 6.30pm-8pm

POST-COMEDY: Verdurin in Hoxton hosts the launch of new book Post-Comedy by Alfie Brown. He uses pop culture examples to delve into how comedy flares up debates about censorship, cancellation, progressivism, and even fascism, and you can ask your own questions at the Q&A part of the evening. 7pm

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Tuesday 26 November

FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL: The French Film Festival returns to Ciné Lumière, showcasing French and Francophone cinema through over 60 screenings, UK premieres, and Q&As with guests including Mathieu Amalric, Abderahmane Sissako, Yolande Zauberman and the Larrieu brothers. Highlights include Boris Lojkine’s Souleymane’s Story, about the refugee experience, which won the Jury Prize and Best Actor Prize at Cannes this year. 26 November-9 December

THE PRODUCERS: The first major London revival of Mel Brooks' musical The Producers opens at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Andy Nyman, Marc Antolin, Joanna Woodward and Harry Morrison star in the show based on the film of the same name, about a theatre team who decide to put on the world's worst show. 26 November-1 March

CHARTERHOUSE CHRISTMAS FAIR: The beautiful Charterhouse in Clerkenwell hosts its Christmas fair today, so is likely to be less busy than other Christmas markets which run at weekends. Seasonal refreshments, accessories, crafts, clothes and homewares are available. 10am-8pm

WESTMINSTER MOSAICS: Peter Howell, former Chairman of the Victorian Society, gives an online talk about the interior of Westminster Cathedral. JF Bentley, the cathedral's architect, intended that the interior should be covered in marble revetment and mosaics — hear about some of those mosaics, designed by JR Clayton, Robert Anning Bell and George Jack. 7pm-8.30pm

MARINE ECOSYSTEMS: Overfishing, pollution, and climate change all threaten the health and sustainability of our oceans. Hear from a panel of geographers and experts about these pressing issues and innovative and practical solutions for marine ecosystem preservation, at the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington. 7pm-8.30pm

CHARITY DINNER: Italian restaurant Gloria in Shoreditch hosts a "dinner for the 'unaccompanied children'", a charity meal raising money to support child victims of war or humanitarian crises. Award-winning pizza chefs Diego Vitagliano and Francesco Martucci take over the kitchen for the event. 7.30pm

AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD: Tribute band The Australian Pink Floyd rock out at the Royal Albert Hall, covering the band's best known hits, accompanied by a light and laser show, video animations and other special effects. 7.30pm

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Wednesday 27 November

EAT & DRINK FESTIVAL: Head to Olympia London for the Eat & Drink Festival Christmas special from today. Pick up tips on preparing your festive feasts, with special demos from celebrity chefs; discover beers, wines and spirits to pair with your meal; and go home armed with goodies from the artisan food market. It's part of the larger Ideal Home Show at Christmas, on at the same venue at the same time. 27 November- 1 December

LONDON'S INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE: The Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society takes over the Cinema Museum in Kennington for an evening of historical films from the John Huntley Archive featuring London’s industrial heritage. Watch films from the early 20th century through to the 1960s on subjects such as railways, canals and other transport, industry, utilities and much more, all shot in London. 4pm

DICKENSIAN CHRISTMAS TOUR: The Charles Dickens Museum — reliably one of the most festively decorated spots in London each year — goes extra festive for a Dickensian Christmas tour.Visit the house after hours and meet Dickens' close friend John Forster, who will take you through Dickens’s historic London home and with tales of Christmases past. 5pm/6pm/7pm

COMEDY CLUB: Food hall Market Halls on Oxford Street hosts a comedy club, with a range of TV comedians (line-up TBC) performing live. You've got a selection of nine restaurants to choose from, plus beer on tap, to keep you fed and watered throughout the show. 7pm-10pm

AN ELECTRIC CHURCH: Celebrate the birthday of late musician Jimi Hendrix at a special concert at St Pancras Old Church. An Electric Church, organised by the Handel & Hendrix Museum, includes performances by Spanish rock guitar duo Zurito and session musician Seye Adelekan. 7.30pm

Thursday 28 November

THANKSGIVING: Thanksgiving falls on the last Thursday in November, which happens to be today, with plenty of London restaurants serving up traditional feasts for American expats, and anyone else who fancies getting in on the action. Here's our pick of where to celebrate Thanksgiving in London this year. 28 November

MAYFAIR CHRISTMAS MARKET: Italian-Asian restaurant Novikov closes Mayfair Place (close to Green Park station) to traffic for its three-day Christmas market. Gift stalls are present (if you'll excuse the pun), but as you might expect from a restaurant, there's a heavy focus on food — think speciality stalls offering parmesan wheels, oysters and caviar, as well as a champagne bar. Entertainment takes the form of DJs, roaming carol singers, and an appearance from Santa on Saturday afternoon. 28-30 November

ELECTRIC DREAMS: Discover how artists used machines and algorithms to create mesmerising art between the 1950s and the early 1990s in new exhibition Electric Dreams at Tate Modern. View works by early innovators of optical, kinetic, programmed and digital art, who paved the way for the immersive sensory installations and automatically generated works that are so popular today. 28 November-1 June

CATHEDRAL TOUR: Join a guide for an hour-long tour of Southwark Cathedral, covering elements of the building's 900-year history, including why a former bishop is buried here, and why Southwark Cathedral is strongly associated with Winchester. 2.30pm-3.30pm

LATE NIGHT SHOPPING: The independent shops and businesses in the OXO Tower stay open for late night shopping, inviting the public in for an evening of Christmas shopping. Browse jewellery, ceramics, neon lighting, leather goods and more, while supporting local businesses and makers. 5pm-8pm

CHRISTMAS LATES: Handel & Hendrix stays open for a Christmas late, a chance to see the house — which both George Frideric Handel and Jimi Hendrix lived in — decorated for the festive season. The historic rooms are adorned with decorations inspired by music, and mulled cider is available as you get stuck into Christmas crafts and activities. 6pm-8pm

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Friday 29 November

FULHAM PALACE CHRISTMAS FAIR: Do your Christmas shopping in the grounds and rooms of Fulham Palace. There's a special adults-only preview evening tonight, before the Christmas fair opens to everyone tomorrow. Browse small business stalls selling gifts and food items, tuck into festive refreshments including mince pies and mulled wine, enjoy performances by local choirs in the courtyard, and keep the kids occupied with crafts and a Christmas trail. 29-30 November

HANSEL AND GRETEL: After a successful run last winter as a festive family show, Hansel and Gretel returns to Shakespeare's Globe. It's a retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairytale featuring music and magic, for ages 5+. 29 November-5 January

CHURCHILL IN CARTOONS: The Imperial War Museum marks 150 years since the birth of Winston Churchill with free exhibition Churchill in Cartoons: Satirising a Statesman. View satirical cartoons from Churchill's time in the public eye and find out how they influenced perceptions of him, and continue to shape our perception today. FREE, 29 November-23 February

POLARI PRIZE: The winners of this year’s Polari Prize are announced in a ceremony at the British Library, hosted by founder Paul Burston, with previous winners Julia Armfield and Jon Ransom and special musical guests David McAlmont and ‘Hifi Sean’ Dickson. The UK’s only book awards for LGBTQ+ writing, it consists of three different prizes: for first book, for the book of the year (excluding debuts), and for a Children’s/YA title. The ceremony is a chance to see the winners announced in person. 7pm-8.30pm

SHARK TRUST: Wildlife expert Steve Backshall, photojournalist Simon Rogerson, underwater photographer Kirsty Andrews and Ali Hood of the Shark Trust gather at the Royal Geographical Society for an event celebrating sharks. Hear stories about the often-misunderstood creatures, while raising money for the Shark Trust. 7pm-10pm

SWAN LAKE: The London Philharmonic Orchestra performs Tchaikovsky’s score for Swan Lake at Royal Festival Hall. In addition to the famously festive ballet, Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme and Weber's Oberon Overture feature in the concert. 7.30pm

Saturday 30 November

FORTY HALL CHRISTMAS FAYRE: Forty Hall in Enfield hosts a two-day Christmas fayre — both inside the period rooms and out in the courtyard — showcasing local businesses. Mulled wine, mince pies and other seasonal treats are available to guzzle after you've browsed. 30 November-1 December

CRAFTY FOX CHRISTMAS MARKET: We're fans of Crafty Fox markets, which give local artists and craftspeople a place to sell their wares all yearround. It has special Christmas Markets running from today at the British Library (and next weekend in King's Cross), with a mixture of jewellery, ceramics, homewares, beauty products, textiles and cards. We've never left empty-handed. FREE entry, 30 November-1 December

THE GINGERBREAD CITY: Buildings and landscapes constructed from biscuits go on display at annual exhibition The Gingerbread City, opening at a new home in Chelsea this year. Get down to The Gaumont to see cityscapes constructed by teams of architects and engineers, on this year's 'Recycled City' theme. 30 November-29 December

GINGERBREAD GREENWICH: Elsewhere in biscuity news, Woolwich Works unveils Gingerbread Greenwich, a recreation of the south-east London area by local schoolchildren. This one's free to visit, showcasing gingerbread buildings and candy-lined streets. FREE, 30 November-6 January

CHRISTMAS BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH: Enjoy bottomless pizza, prosecco, mulled wine, and beer for 90 minutes at the Christmas bottomless brunch at Archer Street in Notting Hill. Entertainment takes the form of professional singers performing festive hits. 2pm-5pm

Sunday 1 December

TUDOR CHRISTMAS TRAIL: Step on board the Golden Hinde and take part in the family-friendly Twelve Days of Tudor Christmas trail. Follow a self-guided route around the replica ship learning about the history of festive traditions including carolling and mince pies as you go. 1 December-5 January

FLOWER MARKET: The December edition of Chiswick Flower Market specialises in festive wreaths, flowers and gifts. Local nurseries, florists and growers make up 40 different stalls, with a visit from Father Christmas promised, along with mulled wine, carols and music. 9am-3.30pm

THE GARDEN MUSEUM: The Beautiful & Useful Craft Fair at the Garden Museum in Lambeth has an emphasis on supporting British designer-makers, with a carefully curated selection of small businesses selling their products. Mechanical toys, hand-carved bowls and porcelain mugs are the specialities of some of the producers already signed up. 10am-4pm

CHRISTMAS JEWELLERY MARKET: Over 100 established and emerging international jewellery artists and designers pitch up at Big Penny Social in Walthamstow for the Christmas edition of the Independent Jewellers' Market. Folk charms, chunky block rings, custom nameplate necklaces, pearl bracelets, bold bangles, and sculpted porcelain brooches are among the items available, across a range of budgets. 11am-5pm

CHILDREN'S COMEDY: Comedy Club 4 Kids is at Artsdepot in Finchley, offering a giggle-inducing show with the gags and the content tweaked for a younger audience (age 6+). The Christmas special is a chance to introduce children to the style of a regular comedy club. 12pm/2.30pm

GINGERBREAD AND CAROLS: Bloomsbury's Foundling Museum has a very special Christmas family event lined up today. Enjoy an afternoon (2-4pm) of Christmas shopping, gingerbread decorating and seasonal piano tunes (and, of course, a chance to look around the wonderful museum itself). Then return in the evening for a carol concert featuring the Borough Welsh Choir, complete with mince pies. 2pm-4pm, then 5.30pm (sponsor)

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