Listen up: a previous Sofar Sounds concert
(Picture: Jane Jimenez)You’ve finished the turkey, there’s nothing left to mull and you’ve completed Netflix: those mysterious lost days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve can be a strange, time-warped existence. Whatever you call it — Twixmas, the fallow, and other less savoury synonyms — from Boxing Day to December 31, it’s good to have a game plan to stave off the comedown of Christmas.
Luckily, London is serving some serious Twixmas energy in 2022. Whether you want to take in a play, have an afternoon of gaming with friends, nab that last chance to see some Christmas lights or dance like nobody’s watching, there’s something to satisfy almost anyone. Grab some tickets now before the other clever sausages beat you to it — at the very least, it’ll make sure you keep track of what day it is.
Have a riot with Dolly Parton’s take on a Christmas classic
It’s impossible to be a Scrooge when it comes to the queen of country music, Dolly Parton. Even more so now she’s written the soundtrack to this brand-new musical based on Charles Dickens’ classic tale, A Christmas Carol. Victorian-era England becomes 1930s Tennessee for this retelling, which follows the owner of a mining company town, Ebenezer Scrooge, as he is visited by three ghosts who compel him to overcome his greed and see what’s really important. Dig out your rhinestones and tassels — it’s a knee-slapper.
From £88.20, December 27—30, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, southbankcentre.co.uk
Dance with Ross From Friends
No, David Schwimmer isn’t in town — it’s actually DJ and producer Felix Clary Weatherall who’ll be spinning decks at the Brixton nightclub. This one isn’t for the faint-hearted as Felix/Ross will be playing from 9.30pm till 4am — so NYE might be a quiet one instead. It comes hot on the tail of his last album release, Tread, which has a much darker and clubbier sound than his dance and electronic trademark style. With Phonox’s anti-phone-and-camera policy for the dancefloor, it could be the chance to really dance out 2022, no holds barred.
From £5, December 30, Phonox, 418 Brixton Road, SW9 7AY, phonox.co.uk
Get a thrill at Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland is many things, but “quiet” is rarely one of them. Now is the time to go: it’s open until January 2, and after Christmas the crowds tend to be a little thinner than in the run-up to the big day. It’s a good time to go: there’s everything from the giant wheel to an ice kingdom to explore, plenty of food and drink — don’t miss the firepit bar — and if you’re with little ones, they’re all but guaranteed a good time. The ice slide, with its six lanes, is the one for a family race, too.
Entrance from £5, now until January 2, Hyde Park, W2, hydeparkwinterwonderland.com
Catch Dr. No on the big screen
Leicester Square’s famous independent cinema The Prince Charles has a string of beloved films playing this December. Give a nod to the first proper James Bond film’s 60th anniversary by going to see Dr. No. Starring Sean Connery as 007 and Ursula Andres as Honey Ryder, the plot follows Bond as he travels to Jamaica to investigate the death of an MI6 agent. Hijinks naturally ensue with a forbidden island, a space launch and Spectre all at play. Showing at 3.30pm and running for just 109 minutes means there is plenty of time for some post-viewing drinks and dinner nearby.
From £14, December 26 and 30, Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BY, princecharlescinema.com
Indulge your inner gaming-nerd
If you’ve had your fill of boardgames and turkey sandwiches with the family, Platform might just prove the perfect antidote. Mario Kart, Just Dance, Fifa23 and Overcooked are a handful of the games available to play with friends on the Nintendo Switch and Playstation 4 at this Shoreditch gaming haven. Bookings last for 90 minutes and in between games, guests can grab some slices from Dough Boys Pizza, while on the drinks front Camden Brewery sorts out the beer drinkers, no-and-low offerings quench the thirst of those looking to take a much-needed break from the booze, and cocktails are whimsically inspired by elements from the games.
From £12, December 28—30, 2b Worship Street, EC2A 1AH, experienceplatform.co.uk
Uncover a secret concert with Sofar Sounds
Sofar Sounds specialises in bringing its audience surprise acts in venues disclosed 36 hours before the event. Details, then, are few and far between but what we do know is that somewhere in Camden from 7.30pm, three diverse acts will play over three hours in an unusual setting. Sofar’s track record for featuring soon-to-be household names is impressive, with Billie Eilish, Hozier, Leon Bridges and many more artists on their roster, and they’re set up in over 400 cities around the world. This could be your chance to discover your new favourite artist before anyone else. Who doesn’t love that feeling?
£21, December 27, Camden — exact venue confirmed 36 hours pre-event, sofarsounds.com
Be in awe of John Williams
Composer John Williams’ back catalogue is enough to make anyone question if they’ve ever achieved anything in life. He’s worked on some of the most celebrated film scores in 21st century cinema history and won Oscars will doing it: from Valley of the Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Jaws and Indiana Jones’ Raiders of the Lost Ark, to E.T, Home Alone, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter and, perhaps most famously, Star Wars, Williams has scored the movies that have defined a generation of film lovers. This concert is a tribute to some of his best-known pieces.
From £48.38, December 27, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS barbican.org.uk
Get funky at 100 Wardour Street
Described as having the “energy of James Brown and the attitude of Amy Winehouse”, the Brooklyn Shakers will be playing at Soho’s 100 Wardour Street on December 29. Their repertoire spans the genres of funk, soul, ska and jazz and the collective of two frontwomen, a three-piece horn section, a guitar, bass, keyboard and drums section has played with the likes of Grace Jones, Kelis and Simply Red. On this night though, they will be entertaining guests exclusively — and with three 45-minute sets stretched across the evening, the smart move is to squeeze in dinner too.
December 29, 100 Wardour St, W1F 0TL, 100wardourst.com
Take a chance on Abba
Dancing Queen, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, The Winner Takes it All — while the music of arguably Sweden’s most famous export might be the cause of fractions between friends, lovers and families, it can’t be denied that this experience is one for the music history books. Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid come to the stage each night as holograms to give audiences 90 minutes of pure nostalgia, party vibes and — ultimately — a show to sing and dance along to. We’ll spare you a roll-call of song-themed puns but let’s just say it might be worth taking a chance on this spectacle.
From £86.95, December 27—30, Abba Arena, 1 Pudding Mill Lane, E15 2RU, abbavoyage.com
Race into an F1 Arcade
Whether you’re a full-blown car nut or a recent Drive to Survive convert, this brand new F1 experience looks to be one worth racing to. The immersive simulation experience is the chance to ”drive” Grand Prix tracks and experience what is might be like to be a racing driver — with some prizes and competitions thrown in for some healthy competition. And if you race particularly hard, there is a 40ft bar and a decent food menu to refuel.
From £13.75, open across Christmas, F1 Arcade, 1 New Change, EC4M 9AF, f1arcade.com
Be moved by Othello
Fancy some jealousy, revenge and murder with your Betwixmas? Who wouldn’t? At the National, Shakespeare’s famous tragedy takes centre stage as audiences follow the rivalry between Othello and Iago in the wake of the former’s secret marriage to Desdemona. What follows is a villainous tale of deception, deathly plotting and falsities that have deadly consequences. Giles Terera has received shining reviews for his portrayal of the fateful Othello. Bleak, but beautiful stuff.
From £20, December 26—30, National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 9PX, nationaltheatre.org.uk
Eat your body weight in cheese
For those not yet over the festive feasting, over in Spitalfields market Belgian brewers Chouffe have popped up at the Funky Cellar bistro. No surprise, Chouffe have bought plenty of beer over with them to sample (most wintery of all is the 10 per cent N’ice Chouffe), while there’ll be an array of Alpine-inspired dishes to work through: think great platters of Raclette and oozing croque sandwiches. Beers start from £5, which these days feels like a bit of a steal.
Dishes from £9, until January 3, Funky Cellar, 10a Lamb Street, E1 6EA, chouffe.com
Walk the glittering Kenwood light trail
If you didn’t manage to squeeze seeing some Christmas lights in before Christmas, fear not: the light trail at Kenwood House is still shining post the big day. Ticket holders can roam the grounds of the historic former stately home in the beautiful surrounds of Hampstead Heath, which have been strewn with glittering lights and installations that can lead them on a festive walking trail. Festive food and cocktails are also on hand to keep everyone sated. Wrap up warm.
From £22.50, December 26—30, Kenwood, Hampstead Lane, Hampstead Heath, NW3 7JP, christmasatkenwood.com
Have your last bottomless brunch of the year
See out the end of party season in style with a proper boozy brunch at crazy golf venue Swinger’s. £50 buys a street-food powered meal — from the likes of Patty & Bun and Pizza Pilgrims — a round of golf, and a choice of bottomless drinks: beer, wine and Prosecco are the obvious choices, but there will also be frozen cocktails and both mulled wine and mulled Martinis being offered. The real party-starters can even do for tequila cocktails; granted, the golf is likely to suffer afterwards.
