Things to do in the week before Christmas.

Unfortunately, our students have been caught up in the snow-related travel chaos, and instead of getting to go home, they have an unexpected extra few days in London. It's far from ideal, but now that everyone's got somewhere to stay, and a new flight home booked, attention turns to making the best of the unstructured time in London.

Free things going on this week

If you were wishing for more time to delve into the British Museum, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Natural History Museum, or Wellcome Collection - this would be a great time to visit London's many free museums and art galleries.

For a specifically Christmas twist, the Geffrye Museum's annual Christmas Past exhibition is a must - a glimpse of how Christmas has been celebrated in ordinary family homes in England from 1600 to the present day.

You could take a guided tour of the nativities in the National Gallery on Wednesday, 1–2pm, meet at the Sainsbury Wing Information Desk, or a 'The Ghost of Christmas Past' tour at the National Portrait Gallery on Thursday evening (19:30-20:00. Meet in Main Hall)

The V&A is always a treasure trove, but their 'So Noble a Confection: Producing and Consuming Chocolate, 1600 - 2000' exhibition seems particularly suitable for the season

Carol singing - we've already talked about the daily carols in Trafalgar Square, but if you'd like more of an opportunity to join in, why not attend St Martin in the Fields' Community Carols at 6.30 on Tuesday?

"The Christmas story told in carols and readings, through the voices of those who live and work around Trafalgar Square. Doors open 5.30pm. All are welcome. No tickets required but come early to be certain of a seat."

For a more alternative Christmas activity, try Cryptmas, an installation in the crypt under St Pancras Church, 11-7 until the 22nd.

Not-free things going on in London this week

Looking for a Christmas concert?

Westminster Cathedral's Christmas Celebration concerts are on the 21st and 22nd, and there are still ticket available.

Alternatives? concertfinder.org suggests:

Monday 20th
Who: Passamezzo
Where: St Johns Wood Church, London 7.30 p.m.
What: "To Shorten Winter's Sadness": 16th and 17th Century music, words and song for Christmas and Winter' - includes music by Byrd, Gibbons, Weelkes, Hume, Peerson and East and readings from Shakespeare, Stow, Herrick and Evelyn.
Ticket/Info: Tickets £10 (£8 concessions) from 07980 516054

Tuesday 21st.
Who: London Forest Choir
Where: St Mary's Church, Walthamstow Village, London E.17 7.30 p.m.
What: Christmas Concert
Ticket/Info: £10, concessions £8, students £5 - available from ticket secretary on 0208 531 4837
on the website: www.londonforestchoir.org or on the door.

Ballet is a traditional festive treat:

Both the Royal Ballet's traditional Cinderella and Matthew Bourne's version set in London during the Second World War may be sold out, but the Royal Opera House still has a handful of cheap seats for two seasonal ballet spectaculars - Les Patineurs / Tales of Beatrix Potter in the main theatre, and the festive Fairies in their smaller venue. They also have day tickets and standbys, which give you a chance of getting in to an otherwise sold-out performance. (For Matthew Bourne's Cinderella, Sadlers Wells do limited standby tickets from 1 hour before each show.)

Looking for something else out of a fairy tale? Kensington Palace's Enchanted Palace really is enchanting - save £1 on the ticket price by booking online.

20th December - Bloomsbury Voices: HOLLY, IVY AND DIRTY LITTLE CREEPERS. at the Poetry Cafe in Covent GardenWith Stephanie Gerra, Wendy Shutler and guest poet Tim Murdoch. Songs by Steve Dagleish, Ben Richardson and Ivor Game. £6/4

21st December - Poetry Unplugged at the poetry Cafe in Covent Garden - London's premier open mic night. Come and sign up between 6 and 7pm to be in the line up, 7.30 - 10pm to join the audience. Hosted by Niall O'Sullivan. £4/3


All the usual advice about last minute theatre ticket deals still stands, but, of course, the ultimate in Christmas theatre in the UK is the traditional pantomime. There's Jack and the Beanstalk at the Hackney Empire, the London story of Dick Whittington at the Lyric, or if you can't decide, there's 'Potted Panto' cramming seven classic pantos into a single evening at the Vaudeville Theatre.

- Miss Alice