What To Do Over The Christmas Break

Italo started as an Italian deli in Vauxhall in 2008, but these days it’s a buzzing café by day and a pop-up hotspot by night, hosting fashion launches and chef takeovers. This December, two chefs (both called George) with a shared love of Basque cooking – one of them ex-Brat – are taking over Italo with Gorka (a Basque nickname for George). Running weeknights from Tuesday to Friday, 6pm to 11pm, until the end of the year, the menu’s full of heavy hitters like pigeon with grapes and pumpkin sauce, poached mushrooms with confit yolk, olive oil chocolate mousse with boozy cherries and a morteau sausage bread and butter pudding with raclette.

13 Bonnington Square, Vauxhall, SW8 1TE; until 20th December 

Visit ITALODELI.CO.UK

On a cold Christmas Eve, bitter and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge receives an unexpected visit from the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley. Shackled in chains as punishment for his lifetime of greed, Marley warns Scrooge that it's not too late to change his ways – if he's willing to confront three more ghostly visitors. Matthew Warchus’s heart-warming, critically acclaimed production of Charles Dickens' timeless tale returns to The Old Vic. Adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, His Dark Materials) and starring John Simm (Life on Mars, Grace) as Scrooge, this festive classic is a must-see.

103 The Cut, Waterloo, SE1 8NB; until 4th January 

Visit OLDVICTHEATRE.COM

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is putting on a big show for Christmas this year. Sink into cosy seating, pick a book from the shelves and enjoy a menu of indulgent German treats inspired by the hotel's sister property in Munich. Highlights include stollen, pretzels and flammkuchen, paired with Krug champagne and Munich’s NOAM beer. Plus, every Saturday before Christmas, children can join the pastry chefs for a gingerbread decorating session.

66 Knightsbridge, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA

Visit MANDARINORIENTAL.COM

Last week, golden-boy chef Jackson Boxer took to Instagram to announce the closure of his critically acclaimed restaurant Orasay after five successful years. But it’s not all bad news – on 7th January, he’s opening a new spot, Dove, in the very same location. The menu reads like a collection of greatest hits: deep-fried taleggio with Wiltshire truffle lasagne; lemon and ricotta dumplings with lobster cream and lime leaf; roast chicken with fennel and blood orange; and to finish, fior di latte soft serve. For anyone who hasn’t made it to Orasay yet, you have until New Year’s Eve before it closes its doors for good.

31 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, W11 2EU

Visit ORASAY.LONDON

Gagosian’s Grosvenor Hill gallery is hosting Japanese Art History à la Takashi Murakami, a showcase of fresh works from the legendary artist. Blending traditional Japanese painting with sci-fi, anime and the global art market, Murakami’s world is a riot of recurring motifs and ever-evolving characters. His latest pieces reimagine historical Japanese artworks, weaving in his icons, like Mr. DOB, to explore Japan’s rich past and its aesthetic shift following the end of the Edo period in 1868. 

20 Grosvenor Hill, Mayfair, W1K 3QB; until 8th March

Visit GAGOSIAN.COM

You can do better than Jools' Annual Hootenanny this year. One Hundred Shoreditch has teamed up with Phonica Records for a massive NYE bash. Up on its Rooftop, with great views of the London skyline, guests can ring in 2025 with a stellar line-up of DJs, including Make A Dance, Ariane V, Nick Williams and Luther Vine. Expect an eclectic mix of party classics, house and disco re-edits, and deep tracks from the Phonica vaults. Tickets are £129, and include access to unlimited house wine, prosecco, beer and premium spirits.

100 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, E1 6JQ 

Visit ONEHUNDREDSHOREDITCH.COM

The Rivoli is a stunning 1950s ballroom that remains untouched and brimming with character – from the shimmering vaulted ceiling to the chandeliers. This month, the hidden gem has been transformed into a pop-up festive cinema. While Home Alone is already sold out, there are plenty of other classics to enjoy, including Gremlins, Love Actually and the ultimate anti-Christmas Christmas film, Die Hard.

Rivoli Ballroom, 350 Brockley Road, Crofton Park, SE4 2BY; various dates

Visit DESIGNMYNIGHT.COM

If you’re planning to go out this New Year’s Eve, 12th Knot’s bash might just be worth that Uber surcharge. Expect drinks, dancing and great views of the Thames and city skyline, all soundtracked by Shy One (NTS Radio, Balamii) and Jamz Supernova (BBC 1Xtra). The bar’s expert mixologists will be on hand too. A general entry ticket (£90) gets you a welcome Grey Goose cocktail, while the open bar ticket (£225) includes unlimited spirits, beer, wine and bubbly.

20 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PD

Visit DESIGNMYNIGHT.COM

On Saturday 21st December William Drabble’s restaurant Francatelli at Althoff St. James's Hotel & Club will host a special festive evening. From 6pm, guests can enjoy carol singing with complimentary mulled wine and mince pies, before sitting down to a selection of festive dishes. The menu has been inspired by grand banquets once prepared for royalty – so expect combinations like stilton soufflé, roasted quail with cep risotto and glazed ham with maderia, and foie gras sauce. Dessert could be chocolate mousse, gigs baked with honey and lime or a selection of cheeses. 

Visit STJAMESHOTELANDCLUB.COM

One of London’s most beloved carol services returns to the atmospheric Union Chapel in Highbury this year. Thousands of candles will illuminate the Grade-II listed venue as the Union Chapel Voices choir fills the space with classic carols, backed by the church’s powerful organ. There’ll also be plenty of chances to join in with festive favourites. It’s free to attend, but arriving early is a smart move if you want a good seat.

Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, N1 2UN; Sunday 22nd December

Visit UNIONCHAPEL.ORG.UK
 

Skip the slopes and head to Chucs this festive season. Its restaurants in Belgravia, Mayfair and Kensington have been transformed into cosy Alpine hideaways. In partnership with Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, Dr. Vranjes and classic British cheesemonger Paxton & Whitfield, expect gooey cheese fondue made with premium cheeses, rich tartiflette with Alsace bacon and reblochon, and indulgent pistachio tiramisu. 

Various locations

Visit CHUCSRESTAURANTS.COM

Luke Jerram’s arty, science-y exhibitions are well worth a visit. He’s already suspended the Moon (Museum of the Moon) and the Earth (Gaia) within the gothic-baroque splendour of the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College. Now, he’s set to complete his celestial trilogy with Mars. This awe-inspiring seven-metre model of the red planet, crafted using ultra-detailed NASA imagery, captures every crater, valley and mountain at a scale of 1:1 million. The exhibition is accompanied by a cosmic soundtrack featuring audio from Nasa’s Mars missions – composed by Bafta and Ivor Novello award-winner Dan Jones.

College Way, Greenwich, SE10 9NN; until 28th January

Visit ORINC.ORG

If one Alpine pop-up isn’t enough, head to The Berkeley Rooftop for Feast Off Piste. Brought to life by the team behind Feast On Cloud 9 at The Grove Hotel, it offers sweeping views of the London skyline and private ski-lift gondolas decked out with blankets and soft lighting. The menu is a modern take on alpine classics: think molten raclette, truffle-topped tartiflette, mulled wine, and milk chocolate fondue with edible candles. To finish, toast your own gingerbread s’mores right at the table. Tickets are £75.

The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL; until 1st January 

Visit THE-BERKELEY.CO.UK

This December, Renais – the sustainable gin brand founded by Alex and Emma Watson – has taken over the Marconi Lounge at ME London. Putting a modern twist on gin, Renais’s curated cocktails showcase its unique flavour, from the Emma Spritz to the rich Chocolat Noir Negroni. Meanwhile, floral artist Hamish Powell, whose work has been featured in Vogue and ELLE Decoration, has created the hotel’s ‘Frosted Florals’ display. Powell’s elegant designs, paired with ME London’s exclusive pine tree scent, have transformed the lobby, atrium and bar into a winter wonderland.

The Strand, WC2R 1HA

Visit MELIA.COM

After a successful stint at Fenwick, pre-loved fashion hub Charity Super.Mkt is back in London with not one, but two pop-ups – at Livat Hammersmith and Spitalfields Market. Co-founded by Maria Chenoweth and Wayne Hemingway, the multi-charity store brings together curated gems from the British Heart Foundation, Shelter, Traid, Havens Hospice and more. Expect to browse everything from unique wardrobe staples to potential designer steals.

King Street, Hammersmith, W6 9HW; Old Spitalfields Market, 5 Horner Square, E1 6EW; until January 

Visit CHARITYSUPERMKT.COM

If you can tear yourself away from the Christmas telly, the British Museum promises a good day out. It’s not all ancient artefacts and historical oddities – it also houses the UK's largest and most complete collection of Picasso prints, and now they’re being dusted off for a major exhibition. Picasso: Printmaker showcases around 100 pieces, spanning the entirety of his career. From his early 20th-century proto-Cubist prints to the emotionally charged etchings of the 1930s, the exhibition reveals both his artistic evolution and the complex world he inhabited. Each print offers a fresh perspective on his creative journey and his often turbulent relationships with the women in his life.

British Museum, Great Russell Street, Holborn, WC1E 7JW; until 30th March

Visit BRITISHMUSEUM.ORG

From the big hair to the shoulder pads, the 80s were a wild ride of bold, adventurous fashion – and Leigh Bowery was its ultimate icon. Now, the Fashion & Textile Museum’s latest exhibition brings that era to life with outfits worn by stars like Boy George, Pam Hogg and Bowery himself at his infamous nightclub Taboo (where the dress code was ‘dress as if your life depends on it or don’t bother’). The showcase also features custom-made pieces from private collections and rare designs from fashion legends like John Galliano, John Flett, Stephen Linard and Dean Bright, alongside photography, film and artworks. Tickets are £12.65.

83 Bermondsey Street, London Bridge, SE1 3XF; until 9th March

Visit FASHIONTEXTILEMUSEUM.ORG

Get ahead of the crowd with the soft launch of Don’t Tell Dad, a new bakery and restaurant landing in Queen’s Park, before its official January opening. There are some culinary heavyweights behind the business: Coco di Mama co-founder Daniel Land, head chef Luke Frankie (formerly of Noble Rot, Forza Wine and Spring), and head baker Keren Stenberg (ex-Layla). Expect bold plates and standout pastries, with early highlights including truffle and cheddar beignets, crab tart with watercress and crab mayo, and pork chop with charred corn and girolles.

10-14 Lonsdale Road, Queen’s Park, NW6 6RD; 20th-22nd, 27th-29th December

Visit DONTTELLDAD.CO.UK

Everyman opened a new cinema in Stratford this week – so there’s finally an elevated screening experience out East. As with all the brand’s sites, every screen has uber-comfy seats for two, in-seat menus so you can order dishes, snacks and drinks to your table and a buzzy bar for drinks before or after films. Plus, if you’re stuck for last-minute Christmas presents, Everyman's annual membership (which includes six complimentary cinema tickets, access to early screening events, discounted food and more) makes a great gift.

Visit EVERYMANCINEMA.COM