It’s our first Scoop of the year. What will you be doing with the kids on the first weekend of 2013? Here are some suggestions for London family activities over the next few days:
Thu-Sun: The Christmas Arcade at Somerset House, the Strand, WC2 (Charing Cross tube)
Find festive ornaments, jewellery, design and gift sets at this pop-up mall featuring the best of British boutiques including Tatty Devine and Bonbon Balloons. 11am-7pm (Mon-Wed), 11am-8pm (Thu); 10am-7pm (Fri-Sun); FREE entry (until Jan 6)
Thu-Sun: Gingerbread House and Sweet Emporium at Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, W1 (Green Park tube)
More than 2000 individual pieces of gingerbread go into model custom model of the Dorchester, measuring 5.5” wide by 4.5” tall. Designed by the hotel’s pastry team, the front of the gingerbread house is almost identical to the frontage of the world famous hotel. In the actual hotel lobby, you’ll find a carousel and life-sized toy soldiers guarding the entrance to the pop-up Sweet Emporium, stocking traditional English sweets. Daily, FREE (until Jan 6)
Fri-Sun: Stick Man at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2 (Leicester Square tube)
Hugely acclaimed adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler’s tale returns to the West End for a limited Christmas run. Stick Man embarks on a twiggy adventure to get back to the family tree. Filled with music, puppetry and moves for ages 3+. 10.30am (Wed-Fri), 10.30am & 2pm (Sat-Sun); £10 (until Jan 8)
Fri-Sun: A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings at Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 (Sloane Square tube)
Kneehigh production company and Little Angel Theatre collaborate on a dazzling puppet spectacle, adapting the story of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s man with the desire to fly. 7pm (Tue-Fri), 2pm & 7pm (Sat-Sun); £15/£10 concs. (Jan 3-19)
Sat-Sun: Cirque du Soleil: Kooza at Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 (South Kensington tube)
Catch the brand new show featuring daring acrobatics and the art of clowning coming together in a spectacular production, based on the stories of The Innocent and his journey through an exotic world. 3pm, 3.30pm, 7.30pm & 8pm (dates vary); £52.50-£75 (Jan 5-Feb 14)
Sat: Twelfth Night Winter Warmer at Keats House, Keats Grove, NW3 (Hampstead Heath overground)
Come to Keats House for an evening of merriment and wassailing to celebrate the last days of Christmas. There will be poetry, games and singing to cheer you up for the winter season. 5-7pm, £6/£5 concs. (Jan 5)
Sun: Farewell to Christmas at Geoffrey Museum, Kingsland Rd, E2 (Hoxton overground)
Say goodbye to the merry season with traditional holly and ivy burning, Twelfth Night cake, singing, Epiphany stories and crafts. 3.30-5pm, FREE (Jan 6)
We also like
Nutcracker Ballet pop-up performance at V&A Museum (Sat); Dick Whittington goes Bollywood at Tara Arts Theatre (Sat); Ice Rink at Westfield London (until Sun) and Ice Rink at Canary Wharf (until Sun)
Ice rinks also still open at Tower of London, Natural History Museum, London Eye
Photo: Christmas Arcade via Somerset House Facebook page
Bet Christmas was fab in London town x