Things To Do This Week In London: 1-7 January 2024

All week

THE SNOWMAN: This is the final week of the free Walking With The Snowman art trail. Track down 12 incarnations of Raymond Briggs' festive character around the Fleet Street area, each one decorated by a different artist and representing one of the Twelve Days of Christmas. FREE, until 5 January

SH!TFACED SHAKESPEARE: There were many versions of A Christmas Carol on the London stage this Christmas, and you can still catch one of the... less serious productions, until the end of this week. A Pissedmas Carol by the Sh!tfaced Shakespeare team features one of the cast getting increasingly merry on stage as the show goes on, while the production of Dickens' famous tale continues around them at Leicester Square Theatre. Until 6 January

GINGERBREAD CITY: Having been open since early December, it's time for The Gingerbread City to close, before it all goes a bit stale. You've got this week to visit the mini metropolis made from biscuits, and decorated with icing, sweets and the like. Find it at Westfield White City. Until 7 January

CHRISTMAS AT KEW: At time of writing, there are still a few tickets available to light trail Christmas at Kew this week. Don't be fooled by the name — it's not completely festive, but it is a wonderfully staged light show, spectacularly choreographed to music, and well worth seeing if you can. Until 7 January

WINTER LIGHT: Also ending this week are two of London's free light trails. The Luminaze in Wembley Park (free, until 2 January) is an illuminated neon light maze which you can walk through, with a specially curated soundscape, all centring around the 4-foot tall centrepiece, The Hourglass. Over at Southbank Centre, Winter Light (free, until 7 January) is a trail of glowing art installations, dotted around the outside of the building and surrounding area.

REVEL PUCK CIRCUS: East London-based performance company Revel Puck Circus has its current production, The Wing Scuffle Spectacular, inside a big top in Victoria Park, Finchley. Acrobatics combine with physical comedy for a show that also encompasses a giant wheel and a swinging chainsaw. Until 7 January

DRINK OF THE WEEK: Hankering for a tipple, but sworn off the booze for January (or longer)? Brighton's Alcohol-free bar Torstig (that's Danish for 'thirsty') pops up in Hoxton from Friday, serving up sophisticated slurps — such as the negroni-esque Tumbol and old fashioned-inspired Orso — guaranteed not to give you a hangover. 5-20 January

Monday 1 January - New Year's Day

NEW YEAR'S DAY IDEAS: Today's a bank holiday, so if you're lucky enough to have the day off work (and even luckier to be hangover-free) have a peruse of our guide to things to do in London on New Year's Day to make the most of it.

NEW YEAR'S DAY PARADE: The main event in the capital today is the London New Year's Day Parade, an all-singing- all-dancing procession which winds its way down from Piccadilly to Westminster, and is free to watch. Samba dancers, American high school bands, giant inflatable balloons, Chinese dragon dancers and vintage cars are just some components of the procession. Blag yourself a spot along the route to watch for free — but be aware that it goes on for 3+ hours. Pack snacks. FREE, from 12pm

WINTER WONDERLAND: Today's the last day of this year's Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, offering you a final chance to ride the fairground, take to the ice, ride the ice slide, or catch the circus. Today is classed as off-peak, meaning entry to the site is free (extra charge for attractions) but you still need to book in advance. 10am-9.30pm

NYD CEILIDH: More into doing the dancing yourself than watching others at the parade (above)? The Ceilidh Liberation Front are at Southbank Centre for a New Year's Day Ceilidh, a family-friendly event which requires no prior experience. Simply turn up, pick up the steps and get dancing. FREE, 1pm

NEW YEAR'S DAY PROMS: Barbican's usual New Year's Day Proms is a celebration of classical music, including works by Mendelssohn, Elgar, Verdi, Puccini and others, performed by the London Concert Orchestra. 3pm

COMEDY STORE PLAYERS: If you've made it to 7.30pm on New Year's Day after last night's antics, you deserve a laugh. Head to The Comedy Store in Leicester Square for an improv show by the resident Comedy Store Players. They ask the audience for suggestions, and improvise a show based on the answers. 7.30pm

Tuesday 2 January

BOUNCE HOUSE: For four days this week, the Bounce House takes over Big Penny Social in Walthamstow, offering somewhere for children and their families to let off steam on a huge inflatable obstacle course. There are sessions just for children aged 3 and under each morning, and a relaxed session for those with special sensory needs on Wednesday. 2-5 January

FOLK NIGHT: The magnificently-named Matchstick Piehouse in Deptford hosts its free folk night tonight — it's an open roundtable sesh, where instrumentalists are invited to jam with English, Irish, Swedish, French, and traditional folk music, and everyone else can simply enjoy the beer, music and pies by candlelight. Lovely stuff. FREE, 6.30pm-10.45pm

COMEDY KNOCKOUT: On the first Tuesday of each month, Bethnal Green's Backyard Comedy Club hosts new concept show, Comedy Knockout, pitting 12 comedians against each other for a chance to win a weekend performing slot at the same venue. It's decided by audience votes, with Jash Watmore, Louisa Corr, Timoteo Kiss Freitas, and Conor Lehane among this month's line-up. 7pm-10pm

Wednesday 3 January

POLITE PROVOCATION: Comedian Anirban Dasgupta performs his show, Polite Provocation, at Soho Theatre across six nights, starting tonight. Expect personal stories and sardonic cynicism as he talks about life in India, three generations of his family going back to British India, and the state of the world his new daughter has been born into. 3-9 January

COVENT GARDEN PUBS: Footprints of London guide Richard Watkins offers a walking tour which traces history through the pubs of Covent Garden. Hear stories of the pubs themselves, their names, and the famous people who used to drink in them, including a literary sleuth, a highwayman and a king's mistress. 2.30pm-4.30pm

BRAZILIANCE: Regular Latin music night Braziliance takes place at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho, with the GAB Trio headlining a night of subtle Latin grooves, plus Brazilian Bossanova and Samba. 6pm

AMY WINEHOUSE - FRANK: Camden's Jazz Cafe celebrates the life and work of local singer Amy Winehouse, with a special event marking the 20th anniversary of her studio album Frank. Hear songs including Stronger Than Me, October Song and Mr Magic, live on the stage where Winehouse herself had performed. 7.30pm

STRING QUARTET: The Carducci String Quartet — winners of a Royal Philharmonic Society Award — take to the stage at Wigmore Hall in Fitzrovia for a performance of works by Haydn, Shostakovich and Beethhoven. £5 tickets are available for under-35s, with free tickets for under-25s. 7.30pm

Thursday 4 January

COMEDY WIP: Joseph Parsons performs his current work-in-progress show, Rebirth, at Angel Comedy Club at the Bill Murray in Islington. It's his story of giving his life, and body, a big overhaul following an operation. 6.30pm-7.30pm

NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA: The drama and colour of music by Dani Howard, Debussy and Strauss is brought to life in this performance by the National Youth Orchestra. Watch it in person at Barbican Concert Hall or via livestream online. 7pm

SOUL SKATE: Every Thursday night, Roller Nation in Bruce Grove hosts Soul Skate, a roller skating night with a soundtrack of soul and funk classics. Age 18+. Looking to get more involved in roller skating, perhaps as a new hobby for the new year? Have a read of our guide of where and how to go roller skating in London. 7pm-11pm

STEWART LEE: Comedian Stewart Lee recommences the current run of his show, Basic Lee, following the Christmas break. He's in solo, stand up mode, just one man and one mic on stage. 7pm

Friday 5 January

BOTTOMLESS FONDUE: Is there a more beautiful combination of words than 'bottomless cheese fondue'? Every Friday and Saturday in January, Neverland Fulham offers it Alpine-style. A melted mix of a Gryère and Vacherin Fribourgeois cheeses is served at your table, along with bread and pickled cornichons for dipping. Bottomless serving is for 90 minutes, with the option to add a bottomless prosecco package too. 6pm-10pm

SHOOT FROM THE HIP: Improv comedy troupe Shoot From The Hip are at 2Northdown in King's Cross for an evening of chaotic games, epic scenes, and ever-so-slightly unhinged comedy performances. Age 18+. 7pm

OPEN MIC: Every Friday night, Boxpark Croydon hosts Rick's Open Mic — get down there for 7.15pm to sign up for a slot to perform, and a chance to win £200. The audience votes to decide the winner. 7.15pm-10.30pm

KEVIN MCCLOUD: Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud is at Barbican hosting his first UK live show, Home Truths. Hear stories from throughout his career, including parts of the TV show which are never shown on screen, and pick up tips on combining good design with environmental responsibility. 7.30pm

EVE WRESTLING: EVE, a punk-rock, women’s wrestling and cabaret night out, comes to Big Penny Social. EVE Wrestling: Multiverse Rumble combines immersive, theatrical, comedic, live action and wrestling elements with cabaret, burlesque and more. Age 18+. 8pm-11pm

Saturday 6 January

BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH: 90 minutes of bottomless drinks (cocktails, mocktails or prosecco), a main meal dish from one of the on-site traders, and four hours of entertainment are all included in your ticket for the Boxpark Bottomless Brunch at the Shoreditch venue. 12pm-4pm

JOURNALING WORKSHOP: Fancy getting into journaling this year? Poplar Union offers a creative journaling workshop, where you'll learn to use leaflets, old postcards, paper packaging and the like to journal using a collageing method. 1pm-3pm

SCALA!!!: Bertha DocHouse in Bloomsbury hosts a screening of Scala!!!, including a Q&A with directors Jane Giles and Ali Catterall. The newly-released documentary is about the legendary Scala cinema in King's Cross, known for pushing boundaries in the post-punk Thatcher years, and features interviews with almost 50 people. 3.30pm

GREAT JAMAICAN SONGBOOK: Cleveland Watkiss' Great Jamaican Songbook comes to Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, using sounds from mento to ska and reggae to jungle to tell poignant stories about Jamaican culture. Award-winning jazz singer Watkiss pays tribute to the likes of TuffGong, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, and King Tubby. 5.30pm/8.30pm

LABYRINTH MOVIE NIGHT: 8 January would have been the late, great David Bowie's birthday, an occasion being marked with a Labyrinth movie night and Bowie disco at the Clapham Grand. Watch the 1986 film on a 25ft screen, along with a dance-off, fancy dress competition, Star Man makeovers, and themed cocktails. 6.30pm-11pm

Sunday 7 January

TWELFTH NIGHT: London's annual Twelfth Night celebrations mix ancient customs with modern festivities, making for a bizarre and eclectic event. Head to the riverside near Shakespeare's Globe to witness wassailing, The Holly Man (or Green Man) being paraded across the river, dramatic performances, and a chance to be crowned King or Queen for the day by finding a bean or a pea in a cake. Like we said, an odd (but fascinating) one. FREE, 7 January

CROYDON AIRPORT: Approximately once a month, the visitor centre at historic Croydon Airport opens to the public, giving you access to the micro-museum located in what was Britain’s first integrated airport terminal and control tower. Swot up on the history of the airport before you go. 10am-2pm

BLACK LIVES MATTER: Tomiwa Owolade, author of This is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter is at Conway Hall to discuss the ideas presented in the book, including the argument that too much of the conversation around race in Britain today comes from an American point of view, which doesn't reflect the experiences of Black British people. 3pm

POTTERVISION: Harry Potter parody comedy show Pottervision returns to the Bill Murray with a brand new production, focusing on the second book/film, The Chamber of Secrets. The first half of the show celebrates the film's ridiculousness, before a podcast is recorded live in the second half. Age 18+. 4pm-6pm

UNBUILT LONDON: Footprints of London guide Rob Smith offers a virtual tour of Unbuilt London. From the comfort of your own home, find out about some of the great building schemes planned for London which never got off the ground, including a monorail, giant pyramids and impractical skyscrapers. 8pm-9pm

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