It’s Friday and Christmas is in the air! We hope you get your festive shopping done in time to have a little fun this weekend.

North of the river

The Enemy & The Twang

Fresh from their performances at London’s “British Summer Time” in Hyde Park, The Enemy and The Twang will be performing live at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire tonight, 19th December. Doors will open at 7pm. Ticket prices are £22.50.

Brian Cox and Robin Ince's Christmas Compendium of Reason

Brian Cox and Robin Ince of Radio 4's Infinite Monkey Cage are going to curate another great night live at the Eventim Apollo tonight, 19th December. See science, music, comedy and wonder including charm quarks, strange quarks and confusion, and expect very special guests. Doors will open at 6pm. Ticket prices from £17.50.

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 somewhere to meet some new foodie friends!The market is open every Saturday from 10am-3pm.

The London International Horse Show

Visit the world’s best equestrian Christmas party at Olympia Grand this weekend. With FEI World Cup competitions in dressage, show jumping and driving, you are guaranteed to witness top class sport which will keep you on the edge of your seat at Olympia, The London International Horse Show. Doors will open at 10am. Ticket prices start from £16.

Chris Rea

Following his 46 date sell-out UK and European tour in 2012, one of the UK's foremost singer songwriters, Chris Rea, is set to return to the stage with 11 UK performances. The tour is in support of his new album which will be wrapping up at the Eventim Apollo on Saturday, 20th December. Doors will open at 6.30pm. Ticket prices are £43.25.

Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock – Bridge the Gap Tour

Don’t miss Michael Schenker, Western Sand and State Villains as they take the stage at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on Saturday, 20th December. Doors will open at 7pm. Ticket prices are £28.12.

Royal Institute of Oil Painters

The Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) Annual Exhibition is a showcase for many of the finest practitioners of the art of oil painting today. The ROl is the only society dedicated to this robust and versatile medium. It also gives a taste of things to come in the form of work shown by up-and-coming artists and celebrating and recognising fresh talent emerging through the Winsor & Newton Young Artist Awards. The display will run until Saturday, 20th December at the Mall Galleries.Doors will open at 10am.

Comedy Store

Don’t miss out on the jam-packed line up at the Comedy Store this weekend. Featuring the ‘Best in Stand Up’ Gordon Southern, Jo Caulfield, Nathan Caton, Tom Stade, and MC Tom Wrigglesworth, this event will take place from 19th  – 20th December. Doors will open at 6pm. Ticket prices start from £14.

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.

Po Na Na

Don’t miss a jam packed weekend at Po Na Na with the ‘Frankincense’ Christmas party starting the holidays off in style, then end the weekend with a bang at ‘The Christmas Jumper’ party. These are two events not to be missed.

Bolshoi Live: The Nutcracker

Based on E. T. A. Hoffmann's story, The Nutcracker is one of the greatest classics in the world. With iconic music by Tchaikovsky, and enchanting sets and costumes, this beautiful tale explores the universal themes of love, power and evil. It will be showing at Odeon Wimbledon from Sunday, 21st December. Show times vary.

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.

Wimbledon’s Christmas Market

Enjoy a taste of Christmas at Wimbledon’s Christmas Market this weekend. Festive music and lights will welcome Christmas to The Piazza. Wrap up warm and enjoy over twenty stalls selling unique Christmas gifts and treats. Clothing, books, accessories, hot food, scrummy cakes and festive treats will fill your stockings and your tummy. Market will open at 11am.

Venn Street Market 

Visit the Venn Street Market on the A3 just off the South Circular 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. Open every Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Polka Theatre

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.

Christmas Exhibition

Visit the Oil & Water Gallery to see a large collection of varied works by some of London’s favourite artists plus new and unusual talent, showing until Sunday, 21st December. Doors will open at 10.30am.

Abbeville Road Artisans’ Market

Visit the Abbeville Road Artisans’ Market this weekend - held every Sunday, from 10am to 2pm inside the Bonneville Primary School playground, Bonneville Gardens, SW4 9LB (off Abbeville Road). You can find some of the finest fresh produce London has to offer; from brilliant seasonal veg to cuts of meat and exquisite cakes and pastries.

Out to Christmas Lunch with Ducks Deluxe

Join the Ducks as they come out of retirement for an afternoon Christmas shindig at Half Moon on Sunday, 21st December. The Ducks Deluxe were one of the first pub rock bands, known for playing basic American-style blues and boogie. Doors will open at 1.30pm. Ticket prices start from £10.

Hank Wangford & the Lost Cowboys

Don’t miss Hank Wangford and the Lost Cowboys as they take the stage at the Half Moon on Sunday, 21st December. Doors will open at 8pm. Ticket prices start from £10.

If there are any events you think we should know about, don’t hesitate to let us know.