With the festive season underway, check out our picks of the best things to do in London this weekend.
FESTIVE LIGHTS
Connected by Light at Canary Wharf is a curated collection of nine new light installations bringing some festive cheer to Canary Wharf. Download the Connected by Light map from canarywharf.com and create your own journey. Runs from dusk till 10pm daily from 2 Dec-27 Feb 2021.
WINTER SCREENINGS
Enjoy a winter and Christmas themed immersive cinema experience at Backyard Cinema from 3 December. The converted TV studio in Wandsworth also boasts incredible drinking and dining spaces with street food from Honest Burgers and Backyard Cinema’s own artisan pizza, cocktails, craft beer and more. Seasonal classics include Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually, The Muppet Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life. Perfect for film lovers.
BOROUGH CHRISTMAS MARKET
Famed for the quality, diversity and sustainability of its seasonal produce, Borough Market is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking to have your mood lifted and your stomach filled. Traders offer produce of the quality needed to make any celebration special from heritage turkeys, fresh seasonal vegetables, the very best British cheeses, as well as a huge selection from France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland. You will also find fresh fish and smoked fish; hams, pies, pâtés and terrines; wine, beer, cider and spirits; bread, cakes, sweets and chocolates.
christmas.boroughmarket.org.uk
MIRACLE ON KINGDOM STREET
Pergola Paddington’s seasonal transformation will offer up a winter wonderland forest with 200 real Christmas trees, as well as warming tipples, and an Alpine pop-up restaurant serving raclette, cheese fondue and Christmas burgers. Set across two floors, the upper deck will take the shape of a winter forest against backdrop of snow-covered hills, while the lower level will become a Bavarian-style hall with cosy Moët & Chandon winter lodges. A line-up of special winter events – including Christmas gospel choir singalongs, winter brunches, Christmas movie screenings and wreath-making classes is soon to be announced. Open daily 12pm-10pm.
QUEEN”S HOUSE ICE RINK
The ice rink at the Queen’s House in Greenwich is set against the backdrop of a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site. Skate in front of the ‘House of Delight’, built especially for James I’s Queen, while soaking up the beauty of Greenwich Park and the spectacular views across the river to Canary Wharf. Open 11am-8pm (last skate 7pm) on off-peak days and 10am-9pm (last skate 8pm) on peak days (peak dates are 12 Dec-3 Jan inclusive; super peak day is on 24 Dec). Skate hire is from £7.25 for kids and £14.50 for adults (u25s/student, £9).
TIFFANY X HARRODS LUXURY POPUP
The Tiffany x Harrods Luxury Gifts Pop-up is an exclusive edit of luxury gifting experiences featuring beautiful jewellery, homewares and even pet accessories from the iconic brand, as well as complimentary one-of-a-kind masterclasses and experiences.
CHRISTMAS AT KEW GARDENS
Kew Gardens are magical all year round, but at Christmas they are extra special, thanks to the hugely popular annual after-dark trail. Now in its 8th year, the trail will embark on a new route, leading you for the first time through the beautifully illuminated Rose Garden. Light installations include a glittering tunnel of bells, giant illuminated seed heads and a dazzling treetop waterfall, where beams of light interplay in a breath-taking aerial dance. Street food vendors and festive drinks available. Adults from £17.50, ages 16-24 from £9, ages 4-15 from £5.50.
CABARET BRUNCH IN SOHO
West End star Cassidy Janson is to host brand new cabaret brunch, All That Jazz! at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s in Soho. Each week, Cassidy invites a special West End star to join her for a musical theatre celebration. Tickets from £55pp including a two-course brunch and two cocktails. Saturdays from 11am-2pm.
FIZZ AND FLOW YOGA
Get bendy with bubbles – Pop Up Yoga Club has partnered with a new venue on King’s Road, Chelsea Funhouse – for a series of prosecco and yoga sessions. The Fizz and Flow class will offer 60-minutes of Vinyasa flow paired with a glass of bubbly and disco beats in Chelsea Black, the venue’s uber-cool bar. The stretchy Sunday morning classes will take place on 6 & 20 December and 17 & 31 January, kicking off at 10.45am. Classes are £35, including a glass of bubbly, brunch and a hot drink. Upgrade to two hours of bottomless prosecco with your food for an additional £25pp. Suitable for all levels.
SPITALFIELDS MUSIC FESTIVAL (AT HOME)
Recorded as live using state-of-the-art filming techniques, Spitalfields Music Festival at Home will put women composers front and centre with world premieres, singer-songwriters and early choral music sitting side by side on 5 December. The 2020 Festival will continue to bring artists, audiences and communities together, during these unprecedented circumstances, to celebrate the extensive range and transformative power of classical music. 3pm-10pm. Tickets £15.
