Things to Do in London in December 2016

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Woah, London got COLD! Rudolph and co are limbering up for their one busy night of the year, but this month isn’t ALL about Christmas… So here are the very best things to do in London in December!

This month’s top picks include festive frolics, sing-a-long film screenings, markets, festivals, family fun, grown-up fun & much more…

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Dead Certs!

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La Soirée | Christmas in Leicester Square | Until 8 January | 9pm | £15-£74.50

“The perfect miracle cure for victims of the horror that has been 2016!” To Do List (i.e. US!)

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BIANCO | Southbank Centre | From 1 December | Times Vary | £30-£39.50

A mesmerising art circus spectacular pops up in a UFO shaped tent on the South Bank.

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Duckie is 21 | Electric Brixton | 3 December | 9pm | £15

Cult queer clubbin’ legends celebrate their 21 years of ripping up the rule book.

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My Big Fat Weirdos Christmas Wedding: An Alternative Comedy Pantomime | Leicester Square Theatre | 7-9 December | 9:30pm | £12

The mighty troupe of comedy’s finest weirdos brings a shambolic tale in aid of Great Ormond Street.

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Brigitte Aphrodite’s Merry Kissmass | Southbank Centre | 10 December | 10pm | £12

DBrigitte Aphrodite’s energy is infectious. Join her and a gang of her friends for a Christmas shindig with music, punk poetry and comic turns.

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Cabaret & Comedy

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Sofie Hagen: Shimmer Shatter | Soho Theatre | 5-17 December | 9pm | £10-£16

We loved interviewing the Danish stand up here. See her thoughtful and hilarious new show at Soho.

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Figs in Wigs Christmas Cabaret | Greenwich Dance | 10 December | 8pm | £12

Alternative cabaret 5some Figs in Wigs curate an oddball Christmas party at Greenwich Dance.

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Simon Warner’s Viva Hypnosis | Leicester Square Theatre | 19-20 December | 9:30pm | £15-£17.50

Comedy hypnosis has never been this erm…bonkers good. Leave your skepticism at the door and embrace your inner gullible self.

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Festivals

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Portobello Winter Festival | Portobello Road | 2-4 December

The infamous Westway flyover is about to be regenerated. See it in it’s current grey glory for this community market and festival.

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Cider & Balls | Oslo | 5-11 December

Two of our favourite things (alcoholic apple juice and Ikea staple MEATBALLZ) combine for a mini fest at Hackney Central’s mecca OSLO. TRY THE BALLS!

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Forest Fringe in London | Somerset House | 9-11 December

Performance pioneers Forest Fringe are taking a break from running their Edinburgh Fringe haunt so this is your only chance to see FF’s unique way of curating the most out there neo-performance.

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Film & Music

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Underwire ’16: The Internet Was Made For Women | Hackney Picturehouse | 1 December | 9pm | £12.50

Meet successful female film makers who have created their own successful web series and skipped the traditional distribution methods.

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Utopia | Multiple Venues | Until 8 December

The 7th UK Portuguese Film Festival is packed full of celluloid gems including the fascinating social history of The Portuguese XX Century documentary series.

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Sing-a-long Muppet Christmas Carol | Camden People’s Theatre | 11-12 December | 7:30pm | £12

Sh!t Theatre duo present the best Christmas film in true sing-a-long stylee!

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Buika | Eventim Apollo | 13 December | 7:30pm | £17.75-£41.25

Buika is a jazz legend who deserves wider recognition. See her definitive style of songwriting at this winter concert.

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Christmas Markets

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The Poundshop presents The Garage Sale | The ICA | 1-3 December

Get your grubby hands on some awesome design objets and practical bits and bobs at this sample sale.

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Crafty Fox Christmas Fayre | Museum of London Docklands | 8 December | 4pm

Meet the makers this festive season in the spectacular setting of the Museum of London Docklands. Crafty Fox are curators supreme so expect some great stuff!

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Pexmas | Warwick Gardens, Peckham | 10-11 December | 11am-6pm

Peckham does Christmas.

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Theatre & Shows

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Post | Ovalhouse | Until 3 December | 7:30pm | £13

What even is national identity anyway? See Xavier De Sousa’s show to get closer to the questions behind being a migrant in 2016.

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SEXBOX | Hackney Showroom | Until 3 December | 8pm | £12

A dance theatre sexual explosion at the warehouse style theatre in Hackney Downs. Don’t climax too soon.

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LIVE 4 | Camden People’s Theatre | 5 December | 7:30pm | Pay What You Can

See future experimental theatre talent in a night curated by Barrel Organ.

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Bonus Balls

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The London Illustration Fair | Bargehouse | 1-4 December | £6-8

Doodles aplenty in the beautiful riverside Bargehouse.

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GIRLI x WUT?CLUB | BUMP Southbank Centre | 7 December | 7-9pm & 9-11pm | £9-£12

Get your skates on (literally!) and dance to next gen social commentator GIRLI’s trax in cahoots with Wut Club? in South Bank’s new pop up roller rink.

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The Situation Room: Prejudice & Perception | Somerset House | 8 December | 7:30pm | £3-£5

‘A gathering of creative and academic minds for an evening of conversation, performance, comedy, installation and live music, all woven together by the theme of Prejudice & Perception.’

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Adventures in Moominland | Southbank Centre | From 16 December | £13.50-£16.50

Meet the offbeat hippoesque creatures The Moomins in this interactive exhibition adventure for all ages.

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Le Gateau Chocolat Presents Duckie | Southbank Centre | 16-24 December | 11am & 3pm | £14

Le Gateau Chocolat revamps the ‘Ugly Duckling’ story for the selfie era. We can’t wait to see LGC’s first show for kids & kidults like us.

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Did we forget anything for our top things to do in London in December? Leave a comment below with your thoughts…

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Main photo credit: Martin Hesketh[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Rupert Dannreuther

I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.

www.omglondon.com