Unmissable Things To Do in London in December 2022
Ding dong merrily on high! Yes, that’s right, the festive season is well and truly upon us – and we’re here to pick out the Unmissable Things To Do in London (and beyond) this December!
Whether you’re full of the festive spirit, or trying to pretend that Christmas doesn’t exist, hopefully there’s something to keep you entertained this month…
Scroogelicious | Theatre Peckham | 1-23 December | From £5
A Christmas Carol, Peckham style – stuffed with must-see young talent.
HÄUS OF DONS | Soho Theatre | 2 December | From £13
Daisy Doris May’s uber camp and hilarious offspring Häns Off hosts this absolute riot of a night out.
Paradise Now! | Bush Theatre | From 2 December | From £12
A feisty satire on ambition: a young woman drawn to the world of selling essential oils rises to the top, but at what cost.
The Bitten Peach | Pleasance London | 2 & 3 December | £25
A winter treat from the UK’s Queer Asian Cabaret Collective, promising drag, circus, burlesque and stereotype-smashing empowerment.
Stanley Arts Christmas Market | Stanley Hall | 2 December | FREE
Support local traders at this charming Christmas market in Norwood Junction.
SET Social | SET Peckham | 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17 December | Membership Required (Anyone can be a member)
SET Social is an arts & social club for SET members, friends of SET, those involved or interested in the arts, as well as the local community.
Drift(in)between | ICA | 3 December | £15
Artist-led research project Here, a nut falls twice presents a newly commissioned sculptural sound installation for the ICA Theatre. A chance to spend the night at the ICA in the name of art!
Lucy & Friends | The Yard | 3-17 December | From £15
‘Post popular prodigy Lucy McCormick presents her most ambitious medium-concept catastrophic show yet.’ Expect the unexpected as well as the usual blood, guts and pop belters.
Club Kali Meets Duckie | Eagle London | 3 December | £10
A World AIDS Day Fundraiser for AIDS Memory UK with Sadiq Ali, Emiko Ishii + Ozgen Ozgec with DJ Ritu + Readers Wifes + Hostess Azara.
Holy Sh*t | Riverside Studios | 6-17 December | £20
‘A new dark comedy play from Brick Fox Theatre Company, Holy Sh*t digs up questions surrounding fate, mortality and what happened to Ryan Reynolds in that film where he was buried alive.’ If your Christmas festivities aren’t complete without some dark humour and old bones, look no further!
Lesbian Space Crime | Soho Theatre | 6-22 December | From £13
A musical comedy about intergalactic queer dirtbags. One giant leap for lesbian-kind.
Workout! Poetry, Press Ups and Anti-Depressants | Royal Festival Hall | 7 December | £5
A revealing look at exercise and anxiety by Lewis Buxton.
Jungle Kitty | Somerset House | 7 December | From £15
Celebrate music from African, West Indian & the Latino communities. Jungle Kitty brings you everything from Afrobeats & Afroswing, to Dancehall, Reggaeton, Kuduro, Baille Funk, UK Funky & Garage, as well as Hip Hop and RnB with a little dash of House.
FOC IT UP! Comedy Club | Shoreditch Town Hall | 7 December | £15
The best comedy night in town platforms femmes of colour in a riot of stand up and improv chat – all hosted by the legendary Texan Kemah Bob.
Jonny Feathers The Rock and Roll Pigeon | Riverside Studios | 7 & 8 January | £14
A pigeon-based rock n roll show for little rebels.
Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol | Queen Elizabeth Hall | From 8 December | From £18.50
A Tennessee twist on the Scrooge story, set in a mining town. Dolly Parton wont appear live, but the songs should be a treat.
Thatcher-Rite | Camden People’s Theatre | 8-10 December | £12
A tea party with Margaret Thatcher. If the question “Has Mrs. Thatcher truly left us?” doesn’t send you running for the hills, this could be an interesting antidote to the more traditional yuletide offerings elsewhere.
The Lounge | Royal Festival Hall | 8-30 December | FREE
London’s biggest sitting room in the Southbank Centre is open, and is one of the few free spaces you can read, work or meet in central London.
USB X M.I.C, ISAIAH SHOTICAURY, DJ NAMMY WAMS | Avalon Cafe | 9 December | £5
London’s underground music scene is celebrated with this pioneering series.
Live at the Works with Simon Amstell | Woolwich Works | 10 December | From £21.50
Woolwich Works’ greenhouse-style Fireworks Factory space is brought to life with Simon Amstell and an array of stellar guests – including the unmissable Thanyia Moore and Leo Reich.
DIY Christmas Art Market | Rich Mix | 7 December | £1
Good design makes your life better. Shop until you drop at this trendy market near Brick Lane.
The LOL Word with Fern Brady | Soho Theatre | 12 December | From £12
Queer women, trans and non-binary people are up front in this boundary-breaking comedy compilation.
Jordan Gray: Is It A Bird? | Soho Theatre | 13-23 December | From £19
The UK’s revolutionary comedy icon is back in the heart of Soho for a limited time only. Do not miss.
THE GREAT BIG CABARET FUCKABOUT | BGWMC | 14 December | From £10
Alexis Dubus hosts this night of fun at the gorgeous Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club.
ShezAr’s Winter Soul Session | Royal Festival Hall | 15 December | FREE
An electrifying soul session with Hackney’s finest.
The Winner Takes It All | Rich Mix | 15 December | £12
‘Expect high comedy, wild drama, punked pop, divine deception and all things bloody beautiful, as this popular troupe summon the ancient gods and monsters of Greece, Ireland, India, Japan, Iceland and more – mashing-up myth to ask what it is that we really, really want…’
The Wing Scuffle Spectacular | Beckenham Place Park | From 15 December | £17
‘A winning and inspiring circus show that combines its fair share of spectacle with tons of heart and buckets of joy.’ The show moves to the beautiful Beckenham Place Park for Christmas this year. Read our review.
Just Vibez Caribbean Winter Carnival | Royal Festival Hall | 16 December | FREE
‘Calypso, parang and Just Vibez DJs – a festive blend of music, dance and performance that could only be the Just Vibez Caribbean Winter Carnival.’
Not F**kin’ Sorry | Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall | 17 December | £10
A chance to see the incredible work of Not Your F**kin Dog with their ‘shameless, sexy punk-crip cabaret’.
Consignia: In tents | Museum of Comedy | 17 December | £10.50
Description: ‘3 friends go camping in the woods.’ We assume there may be laughs.
ASTROLOGY BINGO with Figs in Wigs and Friends! | BGWMC | 20 & 21 December | £18
Star signs and bingo, YES PLEASE!
Christmas Wednesdays | Columbia Road | 21 December (also 7 & 14) | FREE
London’s prettiest street market turns up the cute for this night of shopping. Bag those last-minute gifts, and sup a mulled wine or six.
Christmas Movie Nights | Rivoli Ballroom | 22 & 23 December | £10
Live your gold and red fantasy at Lewisham’s hidden gem ballroom, and see films that bring you festive joy (Die Hard IS a Christmas film!)
That Girls Drag Story Telling | The Honor Oak | 24 December | £5
Kids need drag to break them out of the ‘narrow box’ school confines them to. Don’t be afraid take your kids for fun timez guaranteed.
Christmas Day Ice Skating | JW3 Ice Rink | 25 December | £13
Walk or Uber to Finchley Road for the only open ice rink on the 25th.
Did we forget something? We almost certainly did – please let us know in the comments below!
Occasionally the To Do List team are forced to work together.
Rupert likes: free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
Stuart likes: nice pubs, film marathons, not doing real marathons, bad comedy, plays/musicals with shorter second halves, and the Oxford comma.
