As the festive season dawns, London comes alive with a host of activities for all to enjoy. Rafayel recommends some must-sees this December and January 2011!
Hanukkah
Dates: 1 December 2010 to 8 December 2010
Venue: Various venues
Celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah in London this year.
Hanukkah in London
Hanukkah, the festival of lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that dates back almost 2,500 years.
Held from the 25th night of the Jewish month of Kislev (sundown on 1 December in 2010), Hanukkah is marked by lighting a candle in the menorah (a special candelabra) for each night of the festival.
Hanukkah in Trafalgar Square
Last year, London's Deputy Mayor lit a giant menorah in Trafalgar Square.
The lighting ceremony was accompanied by traditional donuts and potato latkes, gelt (chocolate coins) and a live performance by Yiddish singer Shlomo Gertner.
This year's celebrations on Trafalgar Square will take place in the early evening on 6 December.
For more details, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/7185240
For more December events, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/search?WT.z_srchSrc=editorial&from.day=01&from.month-year=12-2010&to.day=31&to.month-year=12-2010
Christmas in London
London is a great city to celebrate the festive season; there's so much going on!
You can go ice-skating, enjoy a traditional pantomime, take part in a carol concert, check out London's fantastic shops... and don't forget to eat, drink and be merry too!
Christmas Shopping
Christmas shopping and gift ideas in London
Christmas Entertainment
London's pantos, dance, family and alternative events
Christmas afternoon tea
Seasonal menus, Christmas Day dining and drinks
Seasonal menus, Christmas Day dining and drinks
For more December events, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/search?WT.z_srchSrc=editorial&from.day=01&from.month-year=12-2010&to.day=31&to.month-year=12-2010
JLS Live at The O2
Dates: | 9 December 2010 to 16 January 2011 |
Venue: |
Get ready girls, JLS are bringing their sexy selves to The O2 in December!
Book JLS Tickets
Buying music tickets with Visit London is easy, just click on the green Book Now button, to ensure you get JLS tickets.
JLS in London
Enjoy an early Christmas present as boyband JLS visit The O2 for their first arena tour in December and January.
Last year was an incredible year for the X Factor runners-up, whose debut singles, Beat Again and Everybody in Love, went straight to No 1.
Their self-titled album is the fastest selling debut album since the Arctic Monkeys in 2006. JLS have also received two MOBO awards.
JLS Live
JLS (or Jack the Lad Swing, in full) are no strangers to The O2: they played both nights of the Jingle Bell Ball in 2009.
Don't miss your chance to see Marvin, Ashton, JB and Oritsé live in London.
For more info, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/5948901
The British Military Tournament 2010 in London
Dates: | 4 December 2010 to 5 December 2010 |
Venue: |
See guns flaring, horses charging and soldiers marching in the British Military Tournament at London's Earls Court this December.
The British Military Tournament in London
Earls Court will play host to the first-ever British Military Tournament in December.
During two two-hour performances each day, 500 soldiers and 150 horses take part in cavalry charges, field-gun runs and team challenges.
The tattoo recounts the history of the British Army from the English Civil War to the present-day, with performances by soldiers in the original military uniform of each period.
Celebrity Contributions at London's British Military Tournament
Celebrities Joanna Lumley, Stephen Fry and Judi Dench each make valuable contributions to the family show.
Run by the ABF The Soldier's Charity, The British Military Tournament incorporates the best acts of the much-loved Royal Tournament that ended in 1999. A great occasion for all the family!
For more details, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/8137902
Lady Gaga at The O2
Dates: | 16 December 2010 to 17 December 2010 |
Venue: |
Crazy outfits, heaps of make-up and perfect pop – Lady Gaga is coming back to The O2!
Lady Gaga Live in London
Don't miss Lady Gaga at the The O2. She played several triumphant dates at the venue in February and May this year and is bringing her amazing Monster Ball tour back for more.
Hear all your favourite Lady Gaga hits, including Just Dance, Paparazzi, and Poker Face.
Plus, see her trademark skimpy outfits and outrageous performance style live.
The Monster Ball Tour at The O2
The Monster Ball Tour celebrates the release of her revamped album, The Fame Monster.
The Fame Monster features her four million-selling album The Fame in its entirety plus eight brand new songs, including the singles Bad Romance and Telephone
Lady Gaga Tickets
Lady Gaga has sold out The O2 several times before so make sure you buy your Lady Gaga tickets now. Book tickets with Visit London using the green book button.
For more details, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/8067883
New Year's Eve in London
Dates: | 31 December 2010 to 1 January 2011 |
Venue: | |
Celebrate New Year's Eve in London. It's one of London's biggest party nights, with a host of festivities, fireworks and fun! On New Year's Eve, London comes alive with celebrations, fireworks and parties in every corner of the capital. Be here at midnight to help see in the New Year with a bang!
Fireworks and Festivities on New Year's Eve
Prepare to be dazzled by spectacular fireworks along the river Thames, or one of the other London fireworks displays on New Year's Eve.
And for those who like to party, New Year's Eve in London offers you some of the best clubs, pubs, dining, private celebrations and sophisticated functions in the world.
And the fun doesn't stop with New Year's Eve, there's a host of exciting events in London on New Year's Day too.
Planning your New Year's Eve in London
The Mayor's office advises New Year's Eve revellers to plan ahead. Many venues, such as pubs, bars and clubs, are likely to be ticketed with advance booking.
Space in viewing areas along the Thames to watch the fireworks will be limited, but the display will be broadcast live on television.
Check the Mayor's website www.london.gov.uk/newyearseve closer to the time for more information about attending the fireworks, including viewing maps.
Public transport will be the best way to get about, with all-night and free travel on offer. Check www.tfl.gov.uk for details.
For more January events, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/search?WT.z_srchSrc=editorial&from.day=01&from.month-year=12-2010&to.day=31&to.month-year=12-2010
New Year's Day Parade 2011 - 25th Anniversary Year
Dates: | 1 January 2011 |
Venue: |
London's annual New Year's Day Parade crowns the capital's festive season – make sure you're there to see it!
This year marks the New Year's Day Parade's 25th anniversary and there will be a silver theme throughout.
25 Years of The New Year's Day Parade in London
The New Year's Day Parade in London features more than 10,000 performers representing 20 London boroughs and countries from across the globe.
Dancers, acrobats, cheerleaders, musicians and performers assemble in the heart of the city for a "celebration of nations".
Young people from the US, Japan and Europe come together with those from London for three hours of pomp and frivolity.
London's New Year's Day Parade Route
This year's parade route starts at The Ritz hotel and ends in Parliament Square.
The parade starts at 12 noon and proceeds along Piccadilly to Piccadilly Circus, then takes in Lower Regent Street, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and ends at Parliament Square in front of Big Ben.
More than half a million people are expected to cram into London's most famous streets to see the parade weave its way along the 2.2-mile (3.5km) route.
Watching the Parade in London
The theme of the 2011 New Year's Day Parade is silver to mark the parade's 25th anniversary year.
London New Year's Day Parade founder and executive director Bob Bone believes that the event has truly come of age.
For more details, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/10673593
Canary Wharf Ice Rink
Dates: | 13 November 2010 to 21 February 2011 |
Venue: |
Canary Wharf ice rink brings a magical sparkle to London's Canada Square Park for winter.
There's festive music and refreshments, plus a fantastic free skating programme for local school children.
Ice Skating at Canary Wharf
This winter, you can skate alongside Canary Wharf's world-famous towers at Canada Square Park's annual ice rink.
Canada Square Park has been transformed for the occasion with sparkling lights and music and drinks to get you in the festive spirit.
If you need a helping hand on the ice, simply book yourself in a group skating lesson. There's also a special viewing gallery attached to the Rinkside Bar so non-skaters can watch their friends and family glide (or stumble!) around the ice rink.
For more details, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/8810150
For more January events, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/search?WT.z_srchSrc=editorial&from.day=01&from.month-year=12-2010&to.day=31&to.month-year=12-2010
La Soirée
Dates: | 12 October 2010 to 27 February 2011 |
Times: | 12 Oct 2010 - 27 Feb 2011 Tue - Thu 8:00 PM; Fri, Sat 7:00 PM, 9:45 PM; Sun 5:00 PM |
Venue: |
Don't miss the fabulous La Soiree in London this Christmas season - held at exciting pop-up venue, the Magic Mirrors Big Top tent on Southbank.
La Soiree is a brand new show starring loads of your favourite cabaret, burlesque, circus and sideshow artists from the award-winning La Clique!
La Soirée in the Southbank Magic Mirrors Big Top Tent
The awe-inspiring artists of La Clique are back with a brand new show, La Soiree, which will run for a limited Christmas season in the specially erected Southbank Magic Mirrors Big Top tent.
La Soiree artists include
- Scandinavian contortionist Captain Frodo
- "Bath Boy" David O'Mer
- Tumbling duo The English Gents
- Cabaret chanteuse Miss Behave
Netball: England v New Zealand
Dates: | 19 January 2011 |
Venue: |
Watch England take on New Zealand as international netball returns to The O2 in London.
International Netball at The O2
Following last year's sell-out game against Australia, England take on world No 2 New Zealand at The O2 this January.
The game is part of a three-game series and vital to both teams in the run-up to the World Netball Championships in Singapore in 2011.
This is a chance to see international netball at its fastest and most skilful.
For more details, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/9386539Pioneering Painters: The Glasgow Boys 1880-1900
Dates: | 30 October 2010 to 23 January 2011 |
Times: | 30 Oct 2010 - 23 Jan 2011 Mon - Thu, Sat, Sun 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Fri 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Closed Boxing Day, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve |
Venue: |
See more than 80 paintings by the Glasgow Boys at London's Royal Academy of Arts.
Pioneering Painters at the Royal Academy
The Glasgow Boys were a loose-knit group of painters who caused a stir in the late 19th-century art world with their experimental and ambitious work.
Pioneering Painters is the first Glasgow Boys exhibition in London for more than 40 years.
The Glasgow Boys Exhibition
The Royal Academy show features more than 80 oil paintings, watercolours and pastels, mainly of Scottish rural life.
Among the artists included in the exhibition are:
- James Guthrie
- John Lavery
- Arthur Melville
- Joseph Crawhall
- Edward Arthur Walton
- George Henry
- Edward Atkinson Hornel
For more details, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/8697167
For more January events, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/search?WT.z_srchSrc=editorial&from.day=01&from.month-year=12-2010&to.day=31&to.month-year=12-2010
For more January events, go to: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/search?WT.z_srchSrc=editorial&from.day=01&from.month-year=12-2010&to.day=31&to.month-year=12-2010
