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All weekend
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WINTER WONDERLAND: The epic festive funfair continues in Hyde Park until Sunday, with rollercoasters and fairground rides, theatre and circus shows, an ice kingdom, food and drink stalls, an ice rink and plenty more. Be aware that you still need to book your entry in advance this year. Until 5 January
ICE SKATING: Christmas skating rinks stick around until the new year, meaning this week you can take to the ice outside palaces, skyscrapers, and all manner of other impressive backdrops. These are London's best ice rinks for Christmas 2024 — Sunday is the last day for a few of them.
PANTOS: If you didn't manage to catch a pantomime before Christmas, fear not. Several continue until this weekend (oh yes they do), including Aladdin at Lyric Hammersmith, Dick Whittington at Greenwich Theatre, and Pinocchio at Stratford East. Have a gander at our guide to panto in London, and get booking.
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PENGUIN PARADE: Last chance to visit the Penguin Parade, a free trail of a dozen penguin sculptures, each 1.6m tall and individually decorated. They're dotted around the Fleet Street area, with a map to help you find them. Alternatively, wander around the area and see how many you stumble across. FREE, until 5 January
BIRDS: BRILLIANT AND BIZARRE: The Natural History Museum's current exhibition gives us a closer look at the only surviving dinosaurs. Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre delves into the world of birds, looking at how different species have evolved to survive, and how the way we live is affecting them. Until 5 January
ELTON JOHN'S PHOTOGRAPHS: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection are on display at the V&A Museum until Sunday. Subjects include fashion, celebrity, reportage and the male body. Until 5 January
Saturday 4 January
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TALES FROM THE RIVER: Join a guided walk starting at St Paul's Cathedral, focusing on the River Thames. Across two hours, hear tales of the river, including what was once the busiest shipping port in the world, and visit sites including an 1,100-year-old dock and the site of the first public lavatory. 11am-1pm
CROYDONOPOLIS: Londonist editor Will Noble is at the Small Hall of East Croydon United Reformed Church to talk about his book, Croydonopolis: A Journey to the Greatest City That Never Was, and tracking Croydon's history from a palatial stomping ground for the Archbishops of Canterbury to a daring experiment in futuristic architecture. 2.30pm
BALLOON GIRL: Try your hand at creating your own winter version of Banksy's Balloon Girl, at PopUp Painting at the London Art Bar in Holborn. All art supplies needed are included in your ticket, and drinks are available to buy at the bar. 3.30pm-6pm
YOUTH ORCHESTRA: See the new generation of musicians performing live, as The National Youth Orchestra performs Ravel's Boléro, Anna Thorvaldsdottir's Catamorphosis, and Nielsen's Symphony No 4, at Barbican. Free tickets are available for teenagers. 7pm
A BAND CALLED MALICE: The Half Moon in Putney hosts The Jam tribute act, A Band Called Malice. Expect to hear well-known songs by Paul Weller and co, plus B-sides and rarely-performed tracks. 8pm
BARNDANCE: The London Barndance Company pops up at Cecil Sharp House in Camden for an American-style barndance. Adam Hughes and Bearded Dragons perform high-energy music as a caller walks everyone through the steps. If your new year's resolution is to try something different in 2025, here's an early chance. 8pm-11pm
ICE DISCO: The Alexandra Palace rink holds one of its final ice discos of the festive season. Strap on some skates and take to ice alongside a Christmas tree and beneath twinkling lights. Age 14+. 9pm-10.30pm
Sunday 5 January
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FLEA MARKET:The Giant London Flea Market is London's largest indoor flea market, hosted at Here East in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The market provides a platform for vintage and unique items, catering to all tastes and interests. 10am-5pm
TWELFTH NIGHT: London's annual Twelfth Night celebrations mix ancient customs with modern festivities, making for a bizarre and eclectic event. Head to the riverside near Shakespeare's Globe to witness wassailing, The Holly Man (or Green Man) being paraded across the river, dramatic performances, and a chance to be crowned King or Queen for the day by finding a bean or a pea in a cake. Like we said, an odd (but fascinating) one. FREE (donations encouraged), 12pm
NEW MATERIAL COMEDY: Hot off a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, comedian Ollie Horn tries out new material at the Top Secret Comedy Club in Covent Garden. It's a chance to help him tweak his set before the show heads elsewhere. 3pm
R&B GOSPEL CHOIR: London Community Gospel Choir takes over the Jazz Cafe in Camden for an evening of soul, and hip-hop songs by D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, and John Legend — recreated by a full gospel choir. 5pm
IMMIGRANT COMEDY SHOW: "Come hear immigrants complain about the British. We know you've heard it the other way around" is how the Immigrant Comedy Show bills itself. Head to Camden Comedy Club for a show spotlighting international comedians. Line-up TBC at time of writing, although Radu Isac from Romania is already on the docket. 7pm
QUIZ OF THE YEAR: The Quiz of the Year at Woolwich Works tests you on the most memorable events of 2024. Take part in a picture round, a music round, and a mystery voices challenge, with a £50 grand prize and a bottle of wine to be won. Entry is £2.50 per person, with no limit on team size— although teams with more than seven people face penalties. 7pm
LAUGH FACTORY: Christopher Savage hosts Black Comedy UK presents Laugh Factory, a comedy show featuring a diverse lineup of comedians specialising in observational humour, satire, and sharp social commentary. Kat B, Victor Daniels, Funmbi Omotayo and A Dot are on the line-up at Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green. 7.30pm-11pm
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