5 for a winter wonderland

There's no ignoring it - Christmas is a-coming. This week

THE DOME The Millennium Dome will be turned into a Winter Wonderland for Christmas.

As well as the 12 rides of Christmas, including a big wheel and an inverted rollercoaster that reaches speeds of up to 55mph, there will be cartoons and films shown on a giant screen and what is billed as the UK's largest temporary ice rink. Santa will be in his workshop and for dedicated present hunters, there will be a German market where you can shop and sip mulled wine.
Millennium Dome, SE10 (020-8533 8293). Sat 6-Tue 30 Dec, 11am-10pm (early closing Wed 24 Dec, closed Thur 25 Dec), Wed 31 Dec, 7pm-3am, £10, child/over-60s free. Funfair: unlimited rides £10, child £4. Ice rink: 30 min, £6, child £4.

CAROL SINGING See the Advent candle flicker and sing your first carol at this atmospheric evening service at one of London's most historic churches.

St Martin-In-The-Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2. Sun 30 Nov, 6.30pm, free. Visit www.stmartin-inthefields.org.

KEW GARDENS See a host of winter berries, take a Christmas Tree walk or visit after dark for the free late-night openings and see the Broad Walk and the pond lit up by 30,000 lights.

Other attractions include a Victorian carousel and music at weekends. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey (020-8332 5655). Sat 29 Nov-Sun 4 Jan, 9.30am-4.15pm, £7.50, concs £5.50, under-17s free. Visit www.kew.org.

SNOW SKILLS Brush up on your ski, skating or snowboard skills at Bracknell's winter sports centre.

Alternatively, book a session of broomball (like ice hockey, but played in trainers) or snowbobbing (bounce down the slope on a small sledge). It costs from £2.50 for 30 minutes' snowbobbing and £9.45 for an hour of broomball.

A group of 20 can book the rink for £40 a head and enjoy an evening of ice karting - fast and more thrilling than gokarting. John Nike Leisuresport Complex, John Nike Way, Bracknell, Berks (01344 789 002). Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm.

TREE DRESSING Wrap up warm and join in the ancient seasonal ritual of tree dressing - children will love it. Sat 29 Nov sees the event organised by Wildlife For All take place at the Deer Hide near Blackheath Gate in Greenwich Park.

Greenwich Park, SE10 (020-7935 7430). Sat 29 Nov, 10am-noon. Also Kensington Gardens, Queen's Temple, W8 (020-7935 7430), Sat 6 Dec, 10am-noon free.