See the Oxford Street lights

Whilst your author is entirely content sitting in watching mindless telly and going for occasional walks, there are of course others looking for things to see & do. This year's Oxford Street Christmas lights remain up for a week or so yet, and consist of huge snowflakes.


They're always smashing, and this year were switched on by a girl band and someone off the radio, who were keen to stress the involvement of a commercial sponsor. Though there have been some rather unsavory goings on in the area over the last 24 hours, the lights still have the potential to bring a lift to the heart of even cynical Londoners.

For more, see http://www.londoneer.org/2011/11/oxford-street-lights-up.html

_{^Picture © Homayon Zeary used under Creative Commons^}

Take a walking tour

Whilst the rest of us are sleeping in, cooking and opening presents, London's walking tour guides seem to never rest, pounding the pavements and taking in London's history and culture as in all seasons. Your author has previously covered one group of London guides who turn out on Christmas Day, and this year City of Westminster Guides Pete Berthoud and Colin Davey will be joining them.


Pete and Colin are leading three walks today, and the first set off before dawn, leaving at 6am to walk through deserted streets, and view some London icons in a different light. The second leaves at 10.30am, aiming to work up an appetite for a big lunch, and popping into the pub afterwards. The third goes at 4pm

For more, see http://www.peterberthoud.co.uk/christmas-day-walks/, or call Pete now on 07584 319 263 to see where he'll be.

Attend the Christmas Eve carol service at St Paul's

As you've surely noticed from all the relentless music and advertising, it's nearly Christmas, and if you're in the mood for a festive evening to celebrate, your author might suggest the Christmas Eve Carol Service at St Paul's Cathedral.


The service is open to all, is free and is unticketed, and whilst it starts at 4pm, the doors usually open an hour before the service starts, if you want extra time to soak up the atmosphere in the cathedral.

For more, see http://www.stpauls.co.uk/Visits-Events/Special-Services-Events/Christmas-Eve-Carol-Service

Admire the windows of Willesden‏

It's Christmas Day in about about a week, and to celebrate the season Willesden Green shops are hosting Windows on Willesden Green transforming 25 shop windows into an advent calendar with the help of designers and architects.


This weekend promises extra festivities, with a treasure hunt, workshops, a barbershop quartet, mince pies and and a tour of Willesden with a blue badge guide.

For more, see http://willesdenwindows.com/

Celebrate Christmas at the Royal Albert Hall

Your author hasn't even thought about doing any shopping yet, and if you're also in need of a distraction, the Royal Albert Hall's Christmas festival has begun, with daily afternoon carols in the presence of the London Concert Chorus and the London Concert Orchestra.


Though it's a bit pricier than other carol concerts, it is a stunning venue, and they will probably put on a good show, though if you want something really magical, you may wish to await the Carols by Candlelight sessions at the end of next week.

For more, see http://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/christmas/default.aspx#/page/1/

Sing carols at Christ Church, Southwark

This lunchtime, the Portcullis Singers lead a carol concert at Christ Church, on Blackfriars Road in Southwark.


The replacement for a 17th Century structure destroyed in the Blitz, Christ Church was finished in 1958, making it a fairly modern addition to the area, but with a history which dates back much further, to a demand made in the will of Rev'd John Marshall, who died in 1631.

The service kicks off at 1pm. For more, see http://www.christchurchsouthwark.org.uk/newsandevents.html

_{^Picture © Stephen Craven licensed for reuse under Creative Commons^}

See the lego tree at St Pancras

It's hard to talk about the season without getting as unnecessarily festive as the Christmas songs CD on constant loop in gaudy shopping arcades, but there is something your author quite likes about the 33ft tall Christmas tree made entirely from lego currently standing at St Pancras station.


Of course it's a shameless seasonal publicity stunt, but for those of us who enjoyed playing with lego on Christmas morning, there is something that nicely hits the spot about it, especially if we never actually got to legoland.

For more, see http://londonist.com/2011/11/in-pictures-the-st-pancras-lego-christmas-tree.php

_{^Picture © Bex.Walton used under Creative Commons^}

Visit the More London Christmas Market

Today is the third and final day of the More London Christmas Market, a winter festival of stalls and shopping which includes free ice skating and refreshments, thanks to sponsorship by Tesco, a popular supermarket chain which began life as a market stall in Hackney's Well Street Market.


There are also thirty gifty stalls selling all sorts of usual Sunday-market-fare, like jewellery, books, and crafts, and gifts on sale from budding young entrepreneurs, in association with the Princes Trust, from 10am until 6pm and all within a pleasant walk from the Sunday markets of East London, making a pleasant day out.

For more, see http://www.morelondon.com/events_details.asp?ID=126

_{^Picture © morebyless used under Creative Commons^}

Go Christmas shopping in the City

Some people like shopping, and if you are one of them the day of traffic-free Christmas shopping in the City might be great for you. For others it might be hellish.


Cheapside is being pedestrianised for the day to allow people to wander unhindered from One New Change towards Royal Exchange and Leadenhall Market, and alongside ice skating, street theatre, a Christmas market and Father Christmas, there are also bands and free cycle rickshaws.

For more, see http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/CB5D3058-B496-4463-A222-1801C365D785/0/LH_cheapsidechristmas.pdf

_{^Picture © HerryLawford used under Creative Commons^}

Sing carols around the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree

At this time of year, the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree assumes a place in your author's mind - and surely in the minds of many Londoners - as the centre of London's Christmas celebrations, and the ongoing season of Christmas carols around the tree are a key part of this.


The traditional carol-singing season began this year on Tuesday 7th December, and runs until Wednesday 22nd, allowing a range of organisations to lead carols in the evenings from around 5pm to 9pm, and raise funds for voluntary or charitable organisations.

This evening you can see the Mickleham Choral Society from 5pm until 6pm, followed by the Spitalfields Crypt Trust until 7pm, then Global Action Plan until 8pm, and finally the Starry Night Singers, who close the singing at 9pm.

For more, see http://www.london.gov.uk/trafalgarsquare/events/xmas.jsp

Browse the Columbia Road Christmas Tree Market

Your author usually tries not to mention the same road twice in a week, but we are right in the middle of Christmas-tree-buying season, and so he thought readers might like to know that, this time of year, the weekly flower market in Columbia Road also gets Christmassy.


It's not a great time for flowers, so the sellers tend towards wintry plants, holly wreaths and Christmas Trees, and they sell like hotcakes. As readers might imagine, the prices are a little steeper than at your local B&Q, but Columbia Road has always been more about the experience than the value and you can pick up a tree for less than £20.

For more, and directions, see http://columbiaroad.info/map.html

Consider the Art of the Christmas Window at Fortnum & Mason

As readers may have noticed, it is now December, so your author will relent and start talking more about Christmas things. And let's start with Fortnum and Mason, who this year are celebrating the Art of the Christmas Window, with their seasonal window display.


They've teamed up with the National Gallery to produce their own three dimensional interpretations of a number of famous paintings from Western European art in their displays, including Willem Claesz. Heda's 'Still Life: Pewter and Silver Vessels and a Crab', as shown in a dodgy photo above.

The windows were revealed at 5pm on Tuesday 9th November, and have been in planning by chief designer Paul Symes and his team since April. For more information click here.

Go ice skating in Somerset House

Christmas Day may be over but most of us have the day off work, so let's make the most of it. Somerset House ice rink is a seasonal treat that can help us carry on that festive spirit during the


This year the ice rink celebrates its 10th birthday, and if you don't fancy it today, it's open all the way until 24 January 2010.

Opening hours are rather erratic, but the rink is open most evenings and there are even DJ Nights, student events and early morning Breakfast with Tiffany specials.

Daytime sessions cost £10.50, and in the evening it costs £12.50. For more, see http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/ice_rink/default.asp

_{^Picture by uriba^}

Take the Christmas Day London Walks

Whilst the rest of us are slacking off and eating our turkey dinners, there are some people whose dedication to London knows no bounds. The good folk at London Walks are prime examples.They have two walks which their dedicated guides are leading even today.


One walk goes in the morning and one in the afternoon, and both meet at the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. At 11am, you can take a walk titled Christmas Morning, 1660 - Samuel Pepys's London, and then later at 2pm a Christmas Day Charles Dickens's London Walk will undoubtedly evoke that Christmas Carol spirit which is usually reserved only for Hollywood.

Your author takes his hat off to them. He is flying out on holiday this evening but this site will to be updated, hopefully every day. For more on the walks, see here.

_{^Picture by cookipediachef^}

Celebrate Christmas Eve with St Martins in the Fields

Your author isn't a religious sort, but if you're going to attend church at any time of the year, Christmas is undoubtedly one of the best. So today, why not attend a church service, to remind yourself of the real meaning of Christmas. A little chap who was born about 2010 years ago in a stable at the North Pole and was brought gold, frankincense and myrrh by Father Christmas.


Seriously though, if you're looking for something to fulfil your religious Christmas Eve cravings, or stave off your feelings of guilt over non-attendance over the past year, then St Martins in the Fields is an excellent choice. This evening they have a Parish Carol Service at 6.30pm and Midnight Mass at 11.30pm, and you can make sure you give generously to collections for Connection at St Martins, which does sterling work for homeless people at this time of year.

For more on all upcoming services at St Martin's in the Fields, see here. For more on Connection click the link above.

_{^Picture by coaleywood^}

Find a 'Super Busker' in Covent Garden

A PR company has been in touch to promote the Christmas season of events in Covent Garden. As part of their 'Very Merry Christmas' events they are running one which sounded worthy of a mention. Along with the homelessness charity Crisis they are running Super Busks, a series of secret busking gigs in Covent Garden Market Building.


Gigs last week included the Saturdays (pictured), Athlete and the Guillemots and there are more to come next week. The programme is a secret, but they will be announcing who is on two hours before the gig starts, via their Twitter, @CoventGardenLDN and on Facebook.

If this sounds like your sort of thing, keep an eye out for announcements this week. For more details, see the Covent Garden Website.

_{^Picture of The Saturdays doing a superbusk from Flickr by Superbusking^}