BE MERRY HERE: LEADENHALL MARKET

Nothing signals the approach of Christmas like the glow of seasonal street lights. Make your way to Leadenhall Market on Friday evening at 6pm to witness a switch-on by the Lord Mayor of London. Choirs and other live entertainment will kick-start Christmas in the historic market, which is hosting a festive music programme, a virtual Advent Calendar and craft workshops in the run-up to the big day.

Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 1LT

Visit LeadenhallMarket.co.uk
 

CELEBRATE punk HERE: THE MUSEUM OF LONDON

On Friday, the Museum of London will open a display celebrating The Clash’s ground-breaking London Calling –an anthem for London, Londoners and music lovers globally, from an album that rejuvenated the local music scene. The free exhibition (open 10am to 6pm each day) displays more than 100 items from the band’s archive, including the bass Paul Simonon is smashing on the cover and Joe Strummer’s personal typewriter. Admission is free.

150 London Wall, Barbican, EC2Y 5HN

Visit MuseumOfLondon.org.uk

BUY SOME GREAT booze HERE: THE WINE GANG

The Wine Gang rides into town this Saturday and has lined up over 300 wines for guests to sample at its winter wine festival. Pick up a tasting brochure to plan your route and sign up to a masterclass (book in advance as they are popular). Highlights include An Introduction to English Wine, which will see wine legend Steven Spurrier lead an exploration of the achievements and potential of English terroir and winemaking. There will also be exhibitors from big-hitting wine regions like Bordeaux and Champagne, as well as emerging regions that could just be the next big thing.

HAC London, City Road, London EC1Y 2BQ, 12:00-7:00PM

Visit TheWineGang.com
 

ADVENTURE CALLS HERE: SECRET CINEMA PRESENTS STRANGER THINGS

Take a trip to Hawkins, Indiana as Secret Cinema returns to a classified London location with an immersive take on Stranger Things. Gather your friends, pack your backpack, grab your walkie-talkies and travel back to the 80s to experience your favourite moments from the Netflix blockbuster. Touting a liveable, breathable world ripped straight from the show, the night brings you a mix of cocktails, American-inspired food and some seriously good tunes. Dressing for the occasion is essential, but don’t worry: you’ll be given plenty of notice ahead of the event as well as exclusive access to a secret web experience preparing you for the evening. Matinées are also available and will be tailored to younger 15+ audiences. Tickets have already sold out for November but the production is running until February. Book now to avoid missing out altogether. 

Visit Tickets.SecretCinema.org

BOOK A DATE HERE: SKATE AT SOMERSET HOUSE

Whether you’ve mastered the triple axle or still stumble around like Bambi, at least you can do it in style at Somerset House. Skate opens this weekend and a partnership with Fortnum & Mason means you can expect some seriously chocolate-y winter warmers alongside the usual mulled wine and mince pies. New for 2019 is the Baileys Treat Bar, which promises to be as decadent as it sounds. If you’re in a pair, check out the two-person packages on offer, which include a champagne and chocolate fondue for £34 or a wine and cheese fondue for £38.

Strand, Covent Garden, WC2R 1LA

Visit SomersetHouse.org.uk
 

EAT SOMETHING UNUSUAL HERE: SUSSEX RESTAURANT

The Gladwin brothers bring Sussex to central London at their new restaurant. Menus move away from the sharing plates synonymous with their other places (Notting Hill’s The Shed, Chelsea’s Rabbit and Battersea’s Nutbourne) but retain their passion for all things rural, merging home-grown heritage dishes with modern cooking techniques. Expect tasty concoctions like wild yeast volcano bread with smoked whipped butter, potato nests, pickled onions and monkfish carpaccio.

63-64 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 3JW

Visit Sussex-Restaurant.com

learn something here: Medicine at Science Museum

It took a long time to get to what we call ‘modern medicine’. This month, a new permanent exhibition opens at the Science Museum to narrate the 500-year history of healthcare. Architectural firm WilkinsonEyre has transformed the museum’s Wellcome Galleries into a home for Henry Wellcome’s vast medical collection, featuring over 3,000 objects as well as art by international contemporary artists. The galleries will reveal moving personal stories and provide a rich historical context for our experience of medicine and health today.

 
64 Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2DD

Visit ScienceMuseum.org.uk
 

TASTE THE EAST HERE: BONG BONGS MANILA KANTEEN

November brings the opening of Bong Bong Manila Kanteen, the first permanent restaurant from Filipino street-food aficionados and My Million Pound Menu winners Sinead Campbell and Lee Johnson (aka BBQ Dreamz). Expect dishes such as Lechon Kawali, the star anise and vinegar-marinated deep-fried pork belly that made their street food a hit; as well as the all-new La Paz Batchoi, a noodle broth with pork and liver affectionately known as ‘Filipino Phô’; and Adobo chicken, poached in a traditional stew, before being crumbed, deep fried and served with banana ketchup. Cocktails showcase small-batch Filipino spirits.

460 Hackney Rd, Bethnal Green, E2 9EG

Visit BongBongs.co.uk

DINE IN A LANDROVER HERE: MAC & WILD

Scottish restaurateurs Mac & Wild have teamed up with Highland Park Whisky to bring a wild private dining experience to London this month. The Land Rover Private Dining Gun Bus will be parked up outside Mac & Wild in Devonshire Square. Once used to ferry hunters and beaters around Scotland’s largest sporting estates, it now celebrates Highland adventures as the perfect feasting space for you and ten friends. Book now for the St Andrew’s Day Special on Saturday 30th November and eat west coast scallops, venison tartare, Macduff aged ribeye steak – all washed down with a dram or two of whisky. 

9A Devonshire Square, EC2M 4YN

Visit MacAndWild.com