22 Nov 2023 Londonist
 
 
By Londonist · Nov 22, 2023 at 12:54

All weekend

A drag queen posing in a blue sparkly dress.
The Otherist hosts a West End drag brunch

SNOWMAN ART TRAIL: 12 decorated recreations of The Snowman appear in the area around Fleet Street, for the capital's latest free sculpture trail. The 1.6m-tall, individually painted sculptures are inspired by the 12 Days Of Christmas, and designed by various artists. The models are a tribute to both the animated festive film, and the original picture book by Raymond Briggs. FREE, 21 November-5 January

BUBBLE PLANET: If a 'whimsical world of bubbles' is on your bucket list, then Bubble Planet, opening in Wembley, is ideal. The immersive experience consists of 10 colourful rooms, each with a different theme, but bubbles remain the central focus throughout. From 24 November

FORTY HALL CHRISTMAS FAYRE: Forty Hall in Enfield hosts a three-day Christmas fayre — both inside the period rooms and out in the courtyard — showcasing local businesses. Mulled wine and mince pies are available to guzzle while you browse. 24-26 November

A pastel illuminated room containing a pool full of 'bubbles'
It's the first weekend of Bubble Planet.

EAT & DRINK FESTIVAL: Head to Olympia London for the Eat & Drink Festival Christmas special. 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. 22-26 November

WIMBLEDON LIGHT TRAIL: Cannizaro Park in Wimbledon hosts a festive light trail, which takes 45 minutes to an hour to wander through. There are food and drink stalls along the way, along with fire pits for toasting marshmallows, as well as a Santa's grotto on selected dates. 23 November-17 December

ICE SKATING: The majority of London's winter ice skating rinks are now open for business. They'll only get busier as we get closer to Christmas, so book your slot now.

PANTOMIME: It's panto season (oh yes it is, etc...), with renditions of Snow White, Cinderella, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk and Dick Whittington open in time for this weekend, and plenty more due to follow soon. See our guide to pantomime in London this Christmas.

Saturday 25 November

A woman trying on a pair of glasses in a mirror at a flea market
The Big South London Flea returns to Peckham on Sunday.

MARBLING WORKSHOP: Take the kids to Leighton House near Holland Park for a paper marbling workshop, inspired by Maha Ahmed’s current exhibition Where Worlds Meet. Learn about how paper is made, before making your own to take home. Suitable for children aged 5-11 and their families. 11am-12.30pm

AUDIO DESCRIBED TOUR: The Design Museum offers an audio described tour of current exhibition, REBEL: 30 Years of British Fashion, specifically for blind and visually impaired visitors. Artist and museum educator Andrew Mashigo leads the tour, highlighting some of the best new designers to emerge in London in the past three decades. 11am-1pm

BAUBLE PAINTING: Swing by Dulwich Picture Gallery to take part in a workshop where you'll hand paint your own Christmas bauble. The event, for adults, teaches you the basics of brush lettering so that you can personalise your decoration for a loved one (or yourself!). Your ticket includes entry to the gallery and the current Rubens & Women exhibition. 1pm-3pm

SPANISH QUEER LITERATURE: As part of the Festival of Queer Literature in Spanish, Foyles on Charing Cross Road hosts Carlos Barea, Alberto Rodríguez and Gonzalo Izquierdo to discuss the life and influence of queer icon José Pérez Ocaña. Ocaña: The Eternal Brilliance of the Sun of Cantillana is a new series of essays looking at why he is still so admired 40 years after his death. Note that the event takes place in Spanish, with English interpretation. 4pm

ICE HOCKEY: Watch north London ice hockey team Haringey Huskies take on Streatham Blackhawks in today's game at the Alexandra Palace ice rink. New to the sport, or need a refresher? Read our guide to ice hockey in London. 5pm

CROWN AND CORONATION: A reminder that light show Crown and Coronation takes place for the final time at the Tower of London tonight. See images and video clips of monarchs, coronation ceremonies and the Crown Jewels projected onto the White Tower in the ticketed event. 5pm-8pm

A display of products including handbags and hampers
Get your Christmas shopping done at the Winter Yard Sale on Sunday.

EXPLODING CINEMA: Taking place regularly at Kennington's Cinema Museum, Exploding Cinema is a showcase of new independent short films — they can be made by anyone and cover any topic, as long as they're under 20 minutes in length. 7pm

VULVA VOCE: The newly reopened Vagina Museum in Bethnal Green hosts all-woman string quartet Vulva Voce, for a concert celebrating music composed by women and underrepresented voices from across the centuries. 7.30pm-9.30pm

MYSTERY FILM CLUB: The regular film club takes place at Newington Green Meeting House — the catch being that licensing rules prevent organisers from announcing which film will be shown. Join the club to find out ahead of time, or turn up and be surprised — it's free, so you've nothing to lose. FREE, 7.30pm-8.30pm

APOCALYPTIC: As part of London International Animation Festival, Barbican Cinema screens a series of short films under the theme 'Apocalyptic', delving into both our darkest fears and our greatest hopes. The films are followed by a discussion with the artists who created them. 8.45pm

SPACE CADET: Stand-up comedian Varun Thakur finishes the current run of his new show, Space Cadet, at Soho Theatre. Expect an hour of stories, impersonations and observations, about topics including being married, wanting kids, his love for Mumbai and why he thinks marijuana should be legalised. 8.45pm

Sunday 26 November

People rummaging through racks of clothing
Have a browse at the Glass Onion fashion pop-up

GUIDED HOUSE TOUR: The monthly guided tour of Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham takes place today, giving you a chance to get a closer look at the Gothic mansion's interiors, and hear stories of its history and residents. 10am

BUSHY PARK RACE: Limber up for a festive run around Bushy Park. Choose either the 5k or 10k distance around the flat and traffic-free course, and collect a medal at the end. There's a prize for the best dressed run, so think festive when putting together your race outfit. 10am

WINTER YARD SALE: Hoxton's Museum of the Home hosts a Winter Yard Sale, offering you a chance to buy homewares, and products created by local artists and makers. The event supports the museum's Campaign for Change: Food Equality, and also includes an online fundraising auction with hotels stays, supper club tickets and other experiences up for grabs. 10am-5pm

VINTAGE POP UP: Vintage store Glass Onion pitches up at Big Penny Social in Walthamstow for a one-day pop-up shopping event. There are 40+ rails to browse, with prices starting at £10 per item, and free entry after the first hour. 11am-5pm

SOUTH LONDON FLEA: Yet another chance for you to sniff out a bargain and part ways with your cash today, the Big South London Flea returns to Peckham, with a selection of 70 curated traders selling homewares, furniture, and other collectibles. 11am-5pm

ART SUNDAYS: Keep the family entertained for free at Dulwich Picture Gallery's Art Sundays. Experiment with colour and make different artworks inspired by the current Rubens & Women exhibition, with activities aimed at 7-12 year olds. FREE, sessions 1pm-3.45pm

WEST END DRAG BRUNCH: The Otherist near Liverpool Street hosts a West End drag brunch, with drag queens from the West End stage singing, lip-syncing and death-dropping live as you tuck into a two-course brunch — with the option to add on 90 minutes of bottomless cocktails. 1pm-4pm

Colourful crafts materials including buttons and thread laid out on a bright pink background
Momtaz Begum-Hossain offers a mindful crafting session.

STIR UP SUNDAY: This is the last Sunday before Advent begins, a day traditionally known as Stir Up Sunday, when people gather to prepare their Christmas puddings. London Review Cake Shop marks the occasion with a Christmas cake decorating masterclass for adults. Your Christmas cake is provided, and across the course of the afternoon you'll learn how to decorate it using fondant, paper cut-outs and hand painting. 1pm

CRAFTING FOR ADULTS: Colour therapist and Londonist contributor Momtaz Begum-Hossain hosts a session of mindful crafts for adults. Take a break from the stresses of life and enjoy the pleasure of creating something with your own hands. Projects vary each session and could include anything from painting and collage to mindful sewing and embroidery. Takes place at Well Bean Co Café in Royal Docks. Age 16+. 4pm-6pm

ADHD LOVE LIVE: Husband and wife team Rich and Rox — authors of Dirty Laundry — are at Bloomsbury Theatre for an ADHD-friendly evening of comedy and conversation to raise awareness of ADHD and challenge the stigma surrounding it. 5.30pm

HALCYON QUARTET: For today's Sunday Concert, the Halcyon Quartet make their Conway Hall debut, offering a rare opportunity to hear the third quartet by Polish composer Grażyna Bacewicz, as well as pieces by Haydn and Schubert. 6.30pm

COLLYWOBBLERS COMEDY: Tony Law, Vix Leyton, Trevor Crooke, Danny Field, Robert Gilbert and Mags are all on the line-up at tonight's Collywobblers Comedy at The Railway in Streatham, with Sion James hosting. 7.30pm

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