FOCUS Favourites December 2019
Cinnamon and apples are in the air as we ramp up to the holiday season! So many events are happening this winter that it can be overwhelming to sift through all the options, so read below for our favourite seasonal events and shows this December, and be sure to stay tuned for some of the UK's best Christmas markets!
Good Cause: Freedom at Christmas 1 December
Treat your ears to this collaboration between IJM UK and West End has Faith for a Christmas-themed musical show. Vocalists who have appeared in shows such as Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera and Mary Poppins will show off their impressive range, and all proceeds from ticket sales will be directed toward IJM UK’s mission to end child slavery. Come out this December for a festive time and an invaluable cause.
2 December
Admire this intriguing photographic exhibition that encompasses both literary and art history spheres. This work celebrates the literary work of Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, and it does so by recreating people from his life and characters from his work in photography. In addition, this photography is captured in Rembrandt’s visual style by award-winning photographer Pablo Khaled, merging two artistic masters from two different mediums in another separate medium. If that hurt your head, come see it for yourself at The Nehru Centre on 2 December!
Festival: Festive Fayre 6-8 December
Fill your belly with Christmas delights at this scrumptious food festival situated on the grounds of the historic Hampton Court Palace. 130 producers and organisations have been selected to offer their mouth-watering wares to unsuspecting passers-by, so come prepared to eat your heart out while enjoying your gorgeous surroundings. Even better, chefs and experts will demonstrate their skills in front of live audiences for free, giving you a prime opportunity to pick up some tips for that Christmas dinner lurking a few weeks away. Entry to the palace is included in the ticket price, so feel free to live out your royal dreams as you explore the beautiful home of Tudor legend King Henry VIII in between bites.
Music: Christmas Carols in Trafalgar Square 9-24 December
Against the backdrop of the Norweigan Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, over 40 carol groups will sing to raise money for their charities and organisations. This stageless show will allow you to see the carolers eye-to-eye and join your voices in intimate renditions of some Christmas classics. Stay a while to listen to your favourite festive songs, and consider dropping a fiver in support of a cause close to your heart.
Theatre: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 9 November-2 February
Step through these theatre doors as though they were your wardrobe, and relive the adventures of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy in this wintry tale of fauns, a lion and a witch. Yet another excellent adaptation of C. S. Lewis’s famous series The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will make its return this holiday season after its box office-breaking 2017 debut. This time at Bridge Theatre, director Sally Cookson, designer Rae Smith and writer in the room Adam Peck will be reunited for this performance fit for all ages.
Dance: The Nutcracker 11 December-5 January
First debuted in 1892 in St Petersburg, this graceful Christmas tradition is here to stay, and the London Coliseum will host the English National Ballet this winter for a stunning four weeks of dance and music. Watch Clara and her retinue adventure through fantastical scenes and battle the evil mouse king in time to Tchaikovsky’s famous scores, and watch in awe as ballerinas perform amazing feats of strength and dexterity while always maintaining their graceful poise. Be sure to book early as tickets have sold out the last three years, and come ready for a night to remember.
Children: Boogie Monsters Christmas Family Gig 15 December
Watch you kids dance their hearts out--and join in if you dare--at the Boogie Monsters’ Christmas event this December. At Woolwich you can rock out to Christmas hits, action songs and nursery rhymes with the little ones as a live band plays hit after hit your children will be sure to enjoy. Excitement for the holiday season will soon be rushing through your veins in the face of confetti snow cannons, bubble blasts, disco lights and more that await those lucky enough to stop by. Purchase tickets online to ensure your spot, or take a chance and purchase on the door.
Sport: Olympia, the London International Horse Show 16-22 December
Whether you are a horse show pro or a novice wanting to know more, the Olympia Horse Show is the place for you. Olympia is the only UK Show to host all three Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) World Cup Qualifiers in Dressage, Show Jumping and Driving. Each performance in the Olympia Horse Show includes a competition along with a variety of impressive displays from around the world. A week of events ranging from classes to high-stakes competitions will be available to the public this December at a range of prices, so buy tickets online to see the best of the world’s equestrian ability.
Not to be Missed: Circus 1903 19 December-5 January
This December, Southbank Centre will host a series of wintery events, the culmination of which will be the Circus 1903. Filled with stunning acts of danger and glam, huge puppet elephants created by puppeteers from War Horse and the intriguingly named Brazilian Wheel of Death, the circus will return its attendees to the golden age of circus performance for a night to remember. Acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, trapeze and high-wire performers and more will astound and amaze visitors of all ages this December through their feats of unimaginable dexterity and control. Buy tickets online so you don’t miss out!
Purchase Ahead: UEFA 2020 Tickets 1 December
If you missed the first round of UEFA European Football Championship ticket sales this June, tickets to the Euros will be sold for a second round this winter. Starting November 30, one million more tickets will be sold to supporters of the remaining teams after the finals draw, a fantastic opportunity for dedicated fans to cheer on their favourite teams. Additionally, ‘Follow my team’ tickets will be sold from December 2019. “This ticket allows fans to attend a knockout stage match of their favourite team independently of the location of the match.” Keep your eyes open for these opportunities to see your football heroes in person!
Day Trip: York
If you’re in need of a celebratory day trip to keep you going this Christmas season, York’s Christmas Festival is the place for you! Held on Museum Street 14 November-22 December, the festival will offer shopping, mulled wine and other munchies, not to mention the beautiful Christmas light displays. Besides York’s year-round attractions such as York's Chocolate Story, Roman bath house, Jorvik Viking Centre and more, York is well known for its amazing Christmas celebrations of food, markets and events. Voted the UK's Most Festive City in 2017, York has much to offer when it comes to the holiday season.
Glasgow: We Will Rock You
9-28 December
Twenty-four of Queen’s greatest hits, including “Killer Queen”, “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Will Rock You”, will be played in an astounding show at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal. This show has been a huge success and is a fitting ode to Queen’s legacy of raging rock and endless energy. Come ready for almost three hours of music at this fantastic piece of musical theatre, and purchase tickets online to reserve your spot.
Glasgow: IRN-BRU Carnival 100th Anniversary 20 December-12 January
Europe’s largest indoor funfair is back this December for its 100th anniversary! The rides will range from child-friendly to thrillingly terrifying, and the huge variety of games and stalls will be sure to bring out your inner child for a night of fun and laughter. The inflatable play area is not to be missed if you are bringing under-twelves, and feel sure that there will be enough games to ensure they don’t get bored. From darts and basketball to trampolines and climbing walls, this carnival has you covered. Vouchers for events and rides are included in the ticket price, though some stalls only take cash. Check online for details.
Cambridge: The Snowman with Live Orchestra
30 December
The Snowman with the Picture House Orchestra will be held at the Ely Cathedral this December. This Christmas classic will be screened and accompanied by musicians drawn from the UK’s top orchestras to enthrall its lucky audience. Almost 200 performances of The Snowman staged by Carrot Productions have been shown across the UK, and young audience members will even get a chance to hear each instrument separately at the beginning of the performance to learn a bit about how an orchestra is assembled. Cap the month of December with a nostalgic look back on Christmases past, and listen to the melodious talent of the UK’s best orchestra musicians.