County Hall, SE1. Open daily 10am-6pm, £8.50/£5. Information: 020 7967 8000
Stage
The Nutcracker
Choreographer Matthew Bourne turns his attention to Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece and has created a weird and wonderful mix of dark orphanages and camp panto antics.
This energetic and imaginative show is a combination of percussion, movement and visual comedy. It takes the clutter and junk of life and transforms it into an irresistible theatrical event. A limited number of tickets are available from the box office an hour before each show. Promises to be a hot ticket.
Vaudeville Theatre, The Strand, WC2. Times vary, tickets £15-£37.50. Information: 0870 890 0511.
The Wind in the Willows
Poet Laureate Andrew Motion narrates Kenneth Grahame’s woodland fable. This ambitious staging incorporates song, dance, music, verse and puppetry and will appeal to new and old fans alike.
Royal Opera House, WC2. From 10-22 December, tickets £6.50-£18.50. Information: 020 7304 4000.
The Tweenies Live
The colourful gang of Bella, Milo, Fizz and Jake take their educational fun and games to a live arena.
Ice skating at Somerset House has become the must-do winter activity in the capital. Its popularity means that you have to book to get on the ice, which has been expanded to cope with demand. Nonskaters can keep warm in the cafe.
Somerset House, The Strand. Open 10am-10pm (check holiday opening times), until 26 January. Tickets £9.50/£6 including skate hire. Information: 020 7845 4670.
Broadgate Ice
It isn’t as large or spectacular as Somerset House, but there is another festive rink over by Liverpool Street. You don’t have to pre-book but if you have to queue there is a food court and bar nearby.
England’s longest dry ski slope in Wycombe has plenty of room to perfect your parallel turns. Snowboarders and ski-bobbers are also catered for and there are instructors on hand for those looking to improve. Away from the slope there is a log cabin for some aprËs-ski food and drink.
Wycombe Summit, Abbey Barn Lane, Wycombe. Open every day, 10am-10pm. Tickets: day passes £11-£25. Information: 01494 474 711.
Spitalfields Market
Retro furniture, fashion, bric-a-brac, vinyl gems and organic food all add to the charm of this market and — if it all gets too much — there are plenty of cafès.
Leicester Square’s annual funfair has both traditional carousels and modern rides, to keep most age groups amused.
Leicester Square, W1. Open until 30 December, noon-11pm (midnight Fri and Sat, 11.30pm Sun).
Kicking off the New Year
Sport
Premiership football
Christmas could prove a crucial period for Arsenal as they endeavour to keep their title. They have two big home ties against title rivals Liverpool (29 December, kick off 4pm) and Chelsea (New Year’s Day, ko 3pm).
Information: 020 7704 4040.
Charlton are at the wrong end of the table and go to White Hart Lane on Boxing Day (ko noon) to face Spurs before West Brom` (28 December, ko 3pm) and West Ham (New Year’s Day, ko 3pm) come to visit.
Information: 020 8333 4010.
Chelsea entertain Southampton on Boxing Day (ko noon) followed by the big clash with champions Arsenal at Highbury (New Year’s Day, ko 3pm).
Information: 09068 121 011.
Fulham head east on Boxing Day to face West Ham (ko 3pm) before going toe-to-toe with Manchester City at their temporary home at QPR (28 December, ko 3pm) and West Brom (New Year’s Day, ko 3pm).
Information: 0870 442 1234.
Glenn Hoddle’s Spurs can look forward to the visit of struggling Charlton on Boxing Day (ko noon).
Information: 08700 112 222.
West Ham meet Fulham at Upton Park on Boxing Day (ko 3pm), after which they head to Charlton (New Year’s Day, ko 3pm).
Information: 020 8548 2700.
Division One
It might not have the glamour of the Premiership, but at least you can get a ticket in the lower divisions.
Wimbledon v Watford Boxing Day, ko 3pm.
Information: 020 7413 3388.
C Palace v Preston. 28 December, ko 3pm. C Palace v Coventry New Year’s Day, ko 3pm.
Information: 020 8771 8841.
Watford v Leicester 28 December, ko 3pm. Watford v Portsmouth New Year’s Day, ko 5.35pm.
Information: 01923 496 010.
Division Two
QPR v Wycombe Boxing Day, ko 3pm.
Information: 020 8740 0503.
Luton v Cardiff Boxing Day, ko noon.
Information: 01582 416976.
Brentford v Colchester New Year’s Day, ko 3pm.
Information: 020 8847 2511.
Rugby Union
English rugby is riding high after some great performances. Catch some of England’s stars in action for their clubs over the holiday.
Wasps v Leicester Tigers 27 December, ko 3pm.
Information: 01494 769 471.
London Irish v Newcastle Falcons 29 December, ko 3pm.
London Irish 0118 968 1000.
Saracens v Leeds Tykes 29 December, ko 3pm.
Information: 01923 475 222.
Ice Hockey
The capital’s only professional ice hockey team, the London Knights, are in action over Christmas. On Boxing Day they welcome Bracknell Bees to the London Arena.
