The ianVisits guide to December's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Tuesday 1st December
Join leading landscape and garden designer and Chelsea Gold medallist, Marcus Barnett in a talk that coincides with the 300th anniversary of the birth of Capability Brown.
6:30pm to 8pm
South Kensington
A special screening of Piccadilly, a stylish evocation of Jazz Age London, ranging from the opulent West End nightclubs to seedy Limehouse.
Starts at 6:30pm
£6.00
Animal Showoff is an anarchic night in celebration of the natural world. Expect science, jokes, music, stories and laughter.
6:30pm to 9:30pm
Join authors and experts to explore 140 years’ worth of public fascination with Scotland Yard's private 'black museum'.
Starts at 7pm
A talk about Roger Casement, who was a campaigner for human rights in the early 20th century.
7pm to 9pm
More London events on Tuesday 1st December
Wednesday 2nd December
Uncover the natural history behind each ingredient and meet kings and paupers.
12:30pm to 1pm
Free
A talk about how our galaxy formed by the assembly of diverse fragments of star-forming clouds.
Starts at 1pm
Barbican
A talk about 19th-century memorial traditions and show how they are more relevant to modern day practices than we might think.
6pm to 8pm
This event marks the official launch of the LSE Business Review blog bringing together a panel of prominent economists to discuss productivity, the UK’s economic future and the road ahead.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
A panel discussion with Ken Livingstone, Linda Bellos (and others), about the impact and legacy of the GLC
Starts at 6:30pm
Whitechapel
A chance to draw in an unusual and historic Victorian testing and experimenting workshop in a grade two listed building in Southwark.
7pm to 9pm
Take a look at where Christmas really comes from. See if you get candies.... or coal and a thrashing!
Starts at 7:30pm
Greenwich
More London events on Wednesday 2nd December
Thursday 3rd December
Tour of the City of London's historic Guildhall, followed by attending the Common Council.
Starts at 10:45am
This illustrated talk from Dr Natalia Sidlina, Curator of Cosmonauts, shows the rich and varied ways Russians’ have imagined space travel.
Starts at 2pm
Enjoy Christmas Past by candlelight, listen to festive music, learn about seasonal traditions.
5pm to 8pm
Bethnal Green
Kicking off celebrations to mark British astronaut Tim Peake's launch into space, this evening is a showcase of work done at Imperial College.
5pm to 7:30pm
This talk summarises the main steps of the unprecedented journey: the transition of public transport in Budapest.
5pm to 6pm
South Kensington
How we respond to the current refugee and migration challenge will shape how we are viewed when the history of our time is written.
6pm to 7:30pm
Holborn
Amaze your friends, and colleagues and generate terrific impact profiles by learning how to advise Parliament on your area of expertise.
6pm to 7:30pm
More London events on Thursday 3rd December
Friday 4th December
The BBC broadcaster and historian, Nina Ramirez provides a fascinating insight into the passions and politics of Anglo-Saxon England by looking at the lives of its saints.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
South Kensington
£2518105.00
Viol consort Fretwork and vocal ensemble Red Byrd bring 16th century London to life through a series of intricate works fusing bawdy songs and sounds of the hubbub of the city’s streets with refined music for viols.
7:30pm to 9pm
Whitechapel
More London events on Friday 4th December
Saturday 5th December
A display of working classic Meccano models large and small
10:30am to 5pm
Barkingside
An insight into the world of Victorian pantomime, music hall, theatre and performance.
Starts at 11am
Kensington
A Christmas Market at the architecturally stunning St Pauls Church(St Stephens Road) in Bow.
11am to 1am
Bow
Monthly open day at one of London's more unusual, and delightful museums.
2pm to 5pm
More London events on Saturday 5th December
Sunday 6th December
This walk follows the footsteps of Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger on their final leg of their journey through London to reach Fagin’s lair.
11am to 12:30pm
Clerkenwell
A collection of Fairground Organs on display and performing for the audience.
11am to 5pm
Amersham
A practical workshop with the site beekeeper to make candles from beeswax.
Starts at 2pm
Tottenham
The guided tour of the Albert Memorial gives you exclusive access inside the memorial railings,
Starts at 2pm
South Kensington
More London events on Sunday 6th December
Monday 7th December
This lecture will trace the trajectory of events that followed the “Ukrainian Crisis” and unpack the six central myths that were reproduced in policy and academic commentary
1:30pm to 3pm
Holborn
In a new era of devolution characterised by asymmetrical transfers of power across the four home nations; what is the future for Britain’s social union?
6pm to 7pm
Is human-level AI a realistic possibility? And if it is achieved in the near future, what will the consequences be for humanity?
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
More London events on Monday 7th December
Tuesday 8th December
This lecture will look at its effects, but also its potential.
1:15pm to 1:55pm
This lecture, with live musical illustrations, shows how the rustic English carol was preserved in the villages of the West Country
Starts at 6pm
Holborn
£107.00
Michael Palin's illustrated talk covers several of his visits to India.
6:30pm to 8pm
South Kensington
This talk will briefly trace the links between historical forms of slavery and its modern manifestations,
7pm to 9pm
A chance to see the iconic sci-fi movie on a big screen.
Starts at 8:40pm
More London events on Tuesday 8th December
Wednesday 9th December
A free heritage routemaster bus service along Route 159 to mark the 10th anniversary of its last routemaster in service.
All Day
Discover and taste food enjoyed over the last 500 years, with live demonstrations, cheese and wine tastings and expert speakers.
Starts at 6pm
This lecture, delivered in period costume, including live experimental demonstrations of candles, perhaps with explosions, explores why Faraday's lectures remain as relevant today as in the 19th century.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Learn the secrets of the London Underground, strange tales from the tube and the cultural history of the boss of buses: the Routemaster!
7pm to 10:30pm
Islington
More London events on Wednesday 9th December
Thursday 10th December
A public conversation with David Lan to reflect back on the writing of his book Guns and Rain.
5pm to 6:30pm
Holborn
The Royal Society may be one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious scientific bodies, but what has it done in the last 50 years?
6:30pm to 7:30pm
More London events on Thursday 10th December
Friday 11th December
£11.00
A live demonstration of recording onto X-Ray plates using vintage analogue record-cutting lathes.
Starts at 7pm
Clerkenwell
More London events on Friday 11th December
Saturday 12th December
£10.00
These tours have been created to mark the 100th anniversary of the ‘Johnston’ typeface, designed by Edward Johnston in 1916.
tba
Free
Look out for large numbers of people dressed up as Santa and generally behaving as though they are on a pub crawl,
All Day
To mark the 10th anniversary of the last Routemaster bus in normal service, a fleet of them will ride along the last bus route that was in service.
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A note that the UK's newest steam train, the 60163 Tornado will be chugging around South London.
Starts at 12:20pm
A guided tour around the markets, indoor and outdoor.
Starts at 12:30pm
Stockwell
More London events on Saturday 12th December
Sunday 13th December
Annual race in pantomime horse costumes around Greenwich using pubs as landmarks.
Starts at 12pm
Greenwich
Visit the haunts of ghosts and other paranormal activities on this guided walk with local writer John Constable, author of Secret Bankside Walks In The Outlaw Borough.
Starts at 1:45pm
Southwark
£10.00
An author, performer, illustrator and director of Jackanory discuss its enduring popularity and reveal some of the behind-the-scenes magic and mayhem.
Starts at 3:30pm
£15.00
An candlelit guided tour followed by an evening of carols with Mulled cider and mince pies included.
7:30pm to 9:30pm
Bexleyheath
More London events on Sunday 13th December
Monday 14th December
Hear and interrogate architect, resident and campaigner perspectives on how co-housing works.
Starts at 6:30pm
More London events on Monday 14th December
Tuesday 15th December
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Tuesday 15th December
Wednesday 16th December
The diplomat and historian Ian Roberts discusses the Tsar known as The Liberator: his family life, his reforms, and his relationship with the UK.
Starts at 6:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 16th December
Thursday 17th December
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Thursday 17th December
Friday 18th December
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Friday 18th December
Saturday 19th December
A note that a steam train will run along the Goblin and London Overground lines in North London.
All Day
In this hour-long tour of the Royal Institution, find out how the Lectures shape; sneak into the rehearsals, take a peek in our workshop and see how the demonstrations come to life.
2pm to 3pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Saturday 19th December
Sunday 20th December
A guided walk around the West End's best Christmas Lights led by two Westminster Guides in aid of the Children's Magical Taxi Tour charity.
4:30pm to 6:15pm
Marylebone High St
More London events on Sunday 20th December
Monday 21st December
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 21st December
Tuesday 22nd December
£4.00
Visit the Geffrye's restored 18th-century almshouse, which has been taken back to its original condition.
11am to 3pm
Bethnal Green
More London events on Tuesday 22nd December
Wednesday 23rd December
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Wednesday 23rd December
Thursday 24th December
The famous annual clearance auction by Harts at Smithfield - cash only.
10:30am to 12pm
Barbican
You’ll see over 15 locations from the show, both new and old, with a particular focus on the classic series.
Starts at 11am
More London events on Thursday 24th December
Friday 25th December
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Friday 25th December
Saturday 26th December
Annual tug-of-war between the patrons of The Nags Head and The White Hart.
10:30am to 8pm
More London events on Saturday 26th December
Sunday 27th December
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Sunday 27th December
Monday 28th December
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 28th December
Tuesday 29th December
A fleet of vintage fire engines will parade through London following the sounding of an air-raid siren.
10am to 7pm
Hardly used for 15 years, a chance to see inside on of the great buildings of 1930s modernism.
2pm to 3pm
Hornsey
More London events on Tuesday 29th December
Wednesday 30th December
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Wednesday 30th December
Thursday 31st December
You’ll see over 15 locations from the show, both new and old, with a particular focus on the classic series.
Starts at 11am
