Douglas & Gordon 's Ultimate Christmas and New Years Guide
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Douglas & Gordon! We hope you have a wonderful holiday.
North of the river
Brook Green Market
West London’s brand new Brook Green Market at Addison Primary School in Addison Gardens, Brook Green is a one-stop-shop for fantastically fresh produce, on-trend street food, innovative master classes and maybe even somewhere to meet some new foodie friends!The market will open on Saturday, 27th December from 10am-3pm.
Comedy Store
Don’t miss out on the jam-packed line up at the Comedy Store this weekend. Featuring the ‘Best in Stand Up’ Ola, Markus Birdman, Paul Thorne, Pete Johansson and MC Jarred Christmas, this event will take place on Saturday, 27th December. Doors will open at 7.30pm. Ticket prices start from £17.50.
Natural History Museum Ice Rink
Go ice-skating at the Natural History Museum and experience a magical winter haven in the heart of the city, on until Sunday, 4th January. Now in its 10th year, the spectacular rink is nestled in front of the iconic South Kensington Museum, beneath 80,000 twinkling fairy lights and around a 40-foot-high tree. Ticket prices start from £12.65 for adults and £8.80 for kids.
Christmas at Kensington Palace
Visit Kensington Palace and celebrate Christmas in Georgian style until the 6th January. With a wide range of activities to keep young princes and princesses happily amused, this is the perfect family setting to enjoy the spirit of Christmas.
Duke of York Square Christmas Lights
Head down to the Duke of York Square and Sloane Square for the annual display of Christmas Lights until the 6th January. Get into the festive spirit in the heart of Chelsea by admiring the spectacular displays en route to Christmas shopping and festive fare at the area's shops and restaurants.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display
Don’t miss London's spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks display at the London Eye on Wednesday, 31st December. At midnight, Big Ben's famous "bongs" will ring out, followed by the UK's largest annual fireworks display. There are no more tickets available, however you can watch it live on BBC One if you are staying indoors.
New Orleans New Year's Eve at St James Theatre
Swing Out New Year’s Eve in style this year at the St. James with delectable food, Champagne and the hottest jazz band of the moment. Enjoy an outstanding two course meal in the fabulous environment of the St. James Brasserie, and then descend to the unique charms of the St. James Studio for a New Year’s party with the Smitty’s Big Four. Doors will open at 7pm. Ticket prices start from £75.
New Year’s Eve Stand Up Show at the Comedy Store
Celebrate the arrival of 2015 at the Comedy Store with a special New Year's Eve Stand Up Comedy Show featuring MC Stephen Grant, Prince Abdi, Jarred Christmas, Romesh Ranganathan, Pete Johansson, The Noise Next Door plus special guests. The party continues after the show with a fantastic DJ club night. Doors will open at 8pm. Ticket prices start from £59.
Queen + Adam Lambert at Westminster Central Hall
Queen + Adam Lambert will perform an exclusive concert on New Year’s Eve from Central Hall Westminster’s Great Hall, close to the iconic landmark of Big Ben, which will be broadcast live on BBC One. Doors will open at 9pm. Ticket prices start from £109.50.
Propaganda’s Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve Blow Out!
Celebrate and immerse yourself in the ultimate party experience at ‘Propaganda's Great Gatsby New Year's Eve Blow Out’ at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on Wednesday, 31st December. Expect unforgettable production, extravagance, unrestrained partying, and one hell of a legendary night. Featuring an exclusive DJ set by Propaganda creator DJ Dan. Doors will open at 10pm. Ticket prices are £11.25.
Farmer’s Market
Don’t miss the Hammersmith Farmers Market at Lyric Square on New Year’s Day, 1st January - find a range of organic delights. The market will open at 11am and close at 3pm.
New Year’s Day Best In Stand Up at the Comedy Store
Experience energetic humour and surreal improvisations as Canadian stand-up Phil Nichol presents his brand of mischievous rantings, featuring Josh Howie, Jarred Christmas and MC Sean Meo. Live at the Comedy Store on New Year’s Day, 1st January. Doors will open at 7.30pm. Ticket prices start from £10.
Wild Food Market
The wild food market takes place at the Addison Primary School on Saturday, 3rd January 2015. This market will host the best farmers, growers and street food traders London has to offer. The traders will be selling a variety of organic, sustainable produce, sourced as locally as possible and will have a range of street food cuisines represented from across the world. Doors will open at 10am and close at 3pm.
Horst: Photographer of Style
Horst P. Horst (1906–1999) was one of the leading photographers of the 20th century. In his illustrious career, Horst traversed the worlds of art, fashion, theatre and high society and was one of Vogue’s star photographers. Presenting his most iconic fashion images, this definitive retrospective exhibition also explores Horst’s less well-known work alongside his creative process, influences and legacy as a master photographer. Doors will open at 10am. Ticket prices start from £8. This exhibition will run until 4th January 2015 at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Disobedient Objects
Visit the Victoria and Albert Museum to explore the powerful role that objects play in grassroots movements for social change, demonstrating how political activism drives a wealth of design ingenuity. Disobedient Objects showcases collective creativity that defies standard definitions of art and design. The exhibition focuses on the period from the late 1970s to the present; a time that has brought a new cycle of global social struggles and new technologies. An extensive range of objects from all over the world are on display, from Chilean folk art textiles that document political violence, to a graffiti-writing robot and giant inflatable cobblestones thrown at demonstrations. This display will run until 1st February 2015.
St John’s Church
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Visit the St John’s market on North End Road in Fulham. Browse through beautiful handmade crafts, gifts, new and old handbags, dress jewellery and much more - held weekly every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8am until 2pm.
Partridges Food Market
With 70 diverse stalls selling everything from cakes to speciality breads, and cheese to pies, this gourmet food market sees small producers, farmers and start-up businesses sharing their passion and expertise with the public. The market takes place every Saturday from 10am until 4pm at Duke of York Square. It is a great place to buy lunch with international stalls selling sushi, Caribbean dishes, Moroccan cuisine and empanadas from Argentina. Stalls include The Ethiopian Coffee Company, Fatman Chilli, Comptoir Gourmand - the French Patisserie and The Pancake Man.
Wedding Dresses 1775-2014
Trace the eternal fashion of the wedding dress and discover the most romantic, glamorous and iconic dresses from the last 200 years. This magical exhibition highlights exceptional craftsmanship and brings together couture and designer-made wedding garments from key fashion designers including Charles James, Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang. Join in and share the stories behind the outfits, celebrating the most comprehensive, nostalgic and evocative collection of wedding dresses and bridal fashions ever. This display runs until 15th March 2015 at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
South of the river
Antarctica
The Little Bulb Theatre share their brand of playful theatre with London’s family audiences - see “Antarctica” showing at the Battersea Arts Centre until Sunday, 4th January 2015. A trio of performers with songs and puppets conjure an expedition to the South Pole in search of a fantastical creature. Show times vary. Ticket prices are £14.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Join in on a festive adventure into an enchanted fairytale forest and meet all your favourite characters along the way. Showing at the Richmond Theatre until Sunday, 11th January 2015. Show times vary. Ticket prices start from £10.
Theatre 503
A festive treat for those who like their Christmas pantos with a twist, visit Theatre 503 for ‘Cinderella and the Beanstalk’ showing until Saturday, 10th January 2015.Doors will open at 7pm. Ticket prices are £15.
Venn Street Market
The Venn Street Market will be closed on Saturday, 27th December but reopens on Saturday, 3rd January 2015. Located on the A3 just off the South Circular, stop by for some locally sourced fresh seasonal fruit and veg; fresh Dorset fish from day boats; organic and free range meat, milk, eggs and poultry; artisan breads; award-winning cheeses; charcuterie; gluten free, vegan and vegetarian sweets and savouries; and pastries, cakes, tarts and brownies. Gates will open at 10am and close at 4pm.
Peter Pan
Take the kids out to see ‘Peter Pan’, showing until Saturday, 14th February 2015 at the Polka Theatre. Enjoy the classic story where magic soars to the sky, as Peter Pan and Tinker Bell whisk Wendy and her brothers off to Neverland. Ticket prices start from £14.
The Jam Movement
A great tribute to the song writing, live sound and energy of The Jam, live at the Half Moon on Saturday, 27th December 2014. The Jam Movement are three experienced musicians and long term fans of The Jam whose love and respect for the material drives their energetic and authentic performances. Doors will open at 8pm. Ticket prices are £10.
Lunchtime Jazz
Join Dick Laurie & the Elastic Band for lunchtime mainstream jazz live at Half Moon on Sunday, 28th December. Doors will open at 1pm.
The Sunday Swap Gift Party
Wouldn’t it be great to swap your doubled-up DVD or your 2-sizes-too-big T-shirt for something you REALLY want? Take your gift swaps and exchange them at Po Na Na on Sunday, 28th December. Register your gift upon arrival, and write what you’d prefer and they will match you up with another swapper! Doors will open at 10pm.
Feed Your Soul Special
Don’t miss the ‘Feed Your Soul’ end of year show at the Bedford on Sunday, 28th December. A night not to be missed, featuring some exceptional artists, it's going to be jam packed with entertainment and lots of performances. Doors will open at 12am. Ticket prices are £12.
The Ultimate Beatles
Not just any Beatles tribute band, but the Ultimate Beatles experience at the Half Moon on Sunday, 28th December 2014. From classic period costumes to authentic instruments, you can relive the swinging sixties in style and step back in time with a Beatles tribute band that looks as good as it sounds. Doors will open at 8pm. Ticket prices are £10.
New Year’s Arctic Blast
This New Year’s Eve, Battersea Arts Centre transforms into an Arctic wonderland to bid a unique farewell to 2014, complete with a toasty log cabin and our very own Ice Queen. Embrace your inner adventurer and explore our labyrinth of rooms for pop up performances, one-on-one experiences and plenty of icy surprises. Or just dance the night away to infectious live music and eclectic DJ sets from special guests. Doors will open at 7pm. Ticket prices are £30.
New Year’s Eve Party
Join City Funk Orchestra, Noel Mccalla and Louise Clare Marshall as they party into the New Year at the Half Moon on Wednesday, 31st December 2014. Doors will open at 7pm. Ticket prices are £25.
Bedford Bar Party & Banana Cabaret New Year’s Eve Special
Banana Cabaret at the Bedford on Wednesday, 31st December will round out a momentous 30th anniversary year with an all-star line-up featuring Paul Sinha, John Moloney, Angela Barnes, John Fothergill and Adam Bloom. In addition, you can join the NYE party, where you will get a complimentary first drink on arrival and complimentary canapés, followed by the countdown at midnight. Doors will open at 8pm. Ticket prices start from £15.
Comedy Carnival New Year’s Eve
Celebrate New Year's Eve 2014-2015 with Comedy Carnival at The Grand on Wednesday, 31st December. See London's most talented comedians - this year we have Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Phil Nichol, Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Pete Johansson, award-winning comedienne Felicity Ward and Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow star Imran Yusuf. After the show, see 2015 arrive in style as The Grand’s DJs play club classics and commercial dance all night with a live Big Ben link-up, midnight balloon drop and party cannons! Doors will open at 8pm. Ticket prices start from £26.75.
Midnight in Marrakech
Spend your New Years Eve in the Medina at Po Na Na on Wednesday, 31st December. With a huge party to mark a very special time of year – enjoy fruity cocktails in the lantern light, with sweet treats and waitress service in our Bedouin Tent VIP booths or visit Zanzibar and discover our magic carpet booth! Doors will open at 10pm.
Carwash New Year’s Eve
Carwash is the place to be this New Year's Eve to party like it's 1979 at The Grand on Wednesday, 31st December. Featuring a scorching soundtrack of solid gold disco hits and hands-in-the-air pop anthems, shaken and stirred with generous servings of hip hop, dance and soul for a new generation of devastating divas and super fly guys. The dress code is ‘Funk Up’! Doors will open at 10pm. Ticket prices start from £15.
New Year’s Day Brunch
Enjoy New Year’s Day brunch at the Half Moon on Thursday, 1st January 2015 where they will be serving the best Bloody Marys in Putney! Doors will open at 12pm.
World of Stories and Music
Get inspired with a FREE Saturday morning story session from some of the most dynamic spoken word artists and storytellers in the UK. The ‘World of Stories and Music’ is showing at the Polka Theatre on Saturday, 3rd January 2015. Show starts at 10.30am.
The Mods
Don’t miss the Mod rockers performing live at the Half Moon on Saturday, 3th January 2015. You can expect classics from the 60s and early 70s that encapsulate the true essence of Mod music and its evolution. Doors will open at 8pm. Ticket prices start from £10.
Lunchtime Jazz
Join Dick Laurie & the Elastic Band for lunchtime mainstream jazz live at Half Moon on Sunday, 4th January 2015. Doors will open at 1pm.
Joe Jammer’s All-Star Chicago Blues Revue
Joe Jammer, the Jam Master from Blue Monday at Buddy Guy's Original Checkerboard Lounge on the South Side of Chicago, brings you a Blues Revue not to be missed at the Half Moon on Sunday, 4th January 2015. Doors will open at 8pm. Ticket prices start from £8.
If there are any events you think we should know about, don’t hesitate to let us know.