Festive Fun in London

What happens when you’re sick of carols, concerts and shopping?

London demonstrates her diverse, myriad personality this Christmas. Across the capital there’s something for everyone - children and adults alike. There are festive events taking place in a variety of venues, from the small and intimate, to the grand and impressive.

Below are some selected highlights happening over the festive period. Most of them are Christmas-related, a few aren't - but above all they give you a taster of London’s bewitching medley of entertainment...

Great Christmas Pudding Race

Covent Garden Piazza, Covent Garden, WC2E
9th December 2006

Covent Garden Piazza swells with spectators as about 150 contestants don fancy dress and race around a course strewn with flour-filled balloons, foam jets and other obstacles - all while trying to balance a Christmas pudding on a flimsy plate! The race has been going on every year since 1980 and it raises money for Cancer Research.

As usual, Covent Garden is full of its regular bevy of street entertainers who will be putting on some diverting shows before and after the main event.

The perfect way to break up a day of Christmas shopping in Covent Garden’s collection of stylish stores.

Great Christmas Pudding Race 2006 - Information | Hotels near Covent Garden Piazza

Peter Pan Cup Swimming Race

Serpentine, Hyde Park, SW1X
Christmas Day, 25th December 2006

The Peter Pan Cup has taken place every Christmas Day since 1864. It acquired its name because the author JM Barrie was a patron of the race. While most of us are still tucked up in bed or tearing into a bulging stocking, members of the Serpentine Swimming Club are competing in their annual race across the icy waters of Hyde Park's enormous lake...

Competitors are a courageous bunch, indulging in some swaggering bravado as they feign indifference to the freezing water. Significant crowds gather to witness the spectacle and it's a great way to get outside on Christmas morning, before settling in for the day's feasting. Away from the banks of the Serpentine, it's an ideal chance to see the rest of Hyde Park without the habitual crowds.

More info: Peter Pan Cup Swimming Race Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube | Hotels near Hyde Park

Duckie - The Class Club

Barbican Center, EC2Y
16th December 2006 - 7th January 2007

The Royal Vauxhall Tavern's multi award-winning variety night is heading into the Barbican again with their saucy Christmas show. Pick your social class - upper, middle, or working - get dressed up, and settle down for a slap-up Christmas feed. There'll be turkey and Lambrusco for the chavs, organic vegetarian produce and New World wines for the bourgeois, and recently-shot wildlife with champagne for the poshos.

All this is accompanied by uniquely degrading audience participation theatre from the Duckie, whose performers will be wandering from table to table, alternately entertaining and embarrassing their guests.

A perfect antidote to conventional Christmas fare.

More info: Duckie - The Class Club Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube | Hotels near The Barbican

Messiah

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, SW7
15th December 2006

It's not really Christmas in London without a performance of Handel's 'Messiah'. It should be a spectacular show this year with the choral masterpiece being performed by 500 voices from three top choirs, along with soloists and the superb Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Royal Albert Hall is a spectacular venue, a cathedral to the power of music with one of the country's finest organs, and it is the perfect place for Handel's soaring redemptive hymn.

Performers:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Goldsmiths Choral Union
Highgate Choral Society
English Concert Chorus
Sophie Daneman - Soprano
Catherine Wyn-Rogers - Alto
Benjamin Hulett - Tenor
Andrew Foster-Williams - Bass
Bryan Wright - Conductor

More info: Messiah Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube | Hotels near Hotels near Messiah

The Pogues

The Brixton Academy, 211 Stockwell Road, SW9
17th - 18th December 2006

Despite looking a touch haggard these days, having lost most of his teeth along the way, Pogues' front man Shane McGowan can still cut it live but he never relied that much on an angelic voice anyway, did he? The full original band will be there to whip the crowd into a festive jig.

As with all bands reformed years later, they can be guaranteed to rattle off a greatest hits set. There will be none of the "we're only playing the songs from our new record" nonsense you get from some young upstarts! So expect 'Sally MacLennane', 'Dirty Old Town' and 'A Pair of Brown Eyes'.

Of course, it being Christmas and all, you'll hope to hear the epic, tortured bars of 'Fairytale of New York'. Nearly 20 years later, it seems even more unjust that the Pet Shop Boys pipped them to Christmas Number One.

More info: The Pogues Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube | Hotels near Brixton Academy

Chas 'n' Dave's Christmas Beano

Shepherd's Bush Empire, Shepherd's Bush Green, W12
14th December 2006

It's time for another festive knees up round the ole Joanna with these two Cockney geezers. Back in Shepherd's Bush for a bit of a ding dong (that's rhyming slang incidentally), their Christmas gigs are great fun.

Back in the day Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock (their real names) won the globe over with their brazenly Cockney songs in a time when many British bands copied American accents and ways. They still tour hard these days playing live gigs across the country, accounting for their immense popularity with both older fans and new Chas 'n' Dave enthusiasts.

Down at the Empire they will be raucously playing to a room full of rowdy loyalists. Brilliantly comic, their lyrics are pure gold and it's all a bit of a spectacle as they stamp their way across the stage bashing out their most popular songs on the piano and banjo. It's real feel-good stuff and totally infectious to listen to. I can't imagine a better Christmas jaunt....rabbit rabbit rabbit yep yep rabbit yep rabbit rabbit.......

More info: Chas 'n' Dave's Christmas Beano Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube | Hotels near Shepherd's Bush Empire

The Crystal Grotto

Painshill Park, KT11
2nd December 2006 - 24th December 2006

Set in the magnificent surroundings of Painshill Park kiddies can visit one of the most enchanting Christmas grottoes in town. Painshill itself is one of the 18th century's great landscape parks. With its frost-covered labyrinth of walking trails, scattered woodland and rolling green glades it looks like something out of CS Lewis's Narnia.

The genuine crystal grotto is a unique place to visit Father Christmas. Built in the 18th century, this brick structure is a cavernous hollow of mystery. Your little Santa seekers can tramp along a winding winter trail, delicately illuminated by lamps, to Grotto Island and the magical Wishing Tent. An elf, all the way from the North Pole, will guide excitable tots into the dark tunnel of the fully restored Grotto. Twinkling with crystals and hidden flickering lights, children will happen upon the man of the moment sitting in the main chamber.

It's a really festive family occasion. Staged in this magical setting, the Christmas Grotto captures the merry spirit of Christmas.

All children booked to visit Father Christmas will receive a present and a festive activity in the Wishing Tent, if, of course, they have been good.

Pre-booking is essential.

More info: The Crystal Grotto Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube | Hotels near Painshill Park

Peter Pan on Ice

Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, SE19
9th November 2006 - 3rd December 2006

These shows on ice are always fantastic spectacles to take children to, especially in the run up to Christmas. Youngsters get mesmerised by the sparkling ice and the amazing stunts and performances.

Peter Pan is a wonderful story to bring to the ice. With so much flying and zipping about, the versatility of the ice and skating itself makes for a very visually effective channel through which to tell this time-honoured tale.

You can catch some truly magical skaters skit across and perform amazing jumps and moves in front of you on the rink. The special effects are surprisingly hi-tech and they really do bring this enchanting tale to life with as much reality as possible.

The costume department deserves plenty of recognition too. Their efforts are fantastic. Despite the costumes having to be designed for skaters, they are still colourful, intricate and very true to the story.

Packed full of adventure, Peter Pan is a classic children's story. It seems to capture the imagination of youngsters in whatever form. However, bringing the magic to ice is such a wonderful idea and is sure to make Wendy and Peter Pan's escapades all the more enjoyable. A lovely festive outing for all the family.

A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

More info: Peter Pan on Ice Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube | Hotels near Crystal Palace

Christmas at Kew 2006

Royal Botanic Gardens, TW9
9th December 2006 - 1st January 2007

Kew Gardens will, once again, be celebrating Christmas in style. The green glades and pretty trees of Kew will be ablaze with sparkling lights and decorations. At the weekends the magical sound of bells will ring out across the gardens and festive folk will gather below their exquisite Christmas tree.

Father Christmas will be returning to his little dell nestled amid the woodland. Kiddies will have the opportunity to meet the man himself and his reindeer. There will also be a beautiful Victorian carousel for kiddies to ride on.

For those looking for a pantomime with a difference, the Climbers and Creepers 'planto' is a festive show with a botanical twist. A number of insects and plants will be brought to life in this energetic 20-minute piece of theatre. It's full of infectious fun and the kiddies will absolutely love it.

Adults will really enjoy the Free Festive Late Night Openings. These nights are a really unique opportunity to see the garden in a kaleidoscope of colour. On both evenings there will also be a chance to stretch your larynx and sing-along in the beautiful carol concerts. After this you can spend the evening wandering through the tranquil gardens and tucking into roast chestnuts and mulled wine. Don't forget to pick-up some last minute Christmas goodies from their lovely range of traditional gifts.

Father Christmas:
9th, 10th and 16th - 23rd December 2006 12:00-15:30

Reindeer:
18th - 23rd December 2006 10:00-15:30

Climbers and Creepers 'Planto':
9th, 10th and 16th - 23rd December 2006

Festive Late Night Openings:
15th and 16th December 16:00-21:00

More info: Christmas at Kew 2006 Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube | Hotels near Kew Gardens

Polar Express 3D

BFI London IMAX, SE1
4th November 2006 - 6th January 2007

A massive success at the IMAX for the past two years - as the first-ever full length feature shown in the groundbreaking 3-D format - the Polar Express calls once again to delight children in the run-up to Christmas. As we found out last year it's an eye-popping experience, so if the kids haven't seen it (or long to see it again), hop on and enjoy the ride.

A disbelieving young lad has compiled a dossier detailing why he thinks Santa doesn't exist, but as this Doubting Thomas drifts off to sleep on Christmas Eve what should pull up outside his window? A sleigh replete with jingle bells, presents and a plump bearded fellow in red pyjamas? No, in fact, it's a flying steam train! Anyway, the eponymous Polar Express then whisks our male lead off to the North Pole to meet the man himself and learn about the true spirit of Christmas. Fortunately the cheese isn't laid on too thick, so the tale remains heart-warming rather than sickly.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis - whose last dabble in animation created the wonderful 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit', and with a cast headed by Tom Hanks this story book adaptation is a slick production. Filmed using 'motion capture' - the technique that brought Gollum to life in 'Lord of the Rings' - this visual spectacular is perfectly suited to IMAX enhancement.

More info: Polar Express 3D Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube | Hotels near BFI London IMAX