Victorian Cookery Workshop

This workshop sets out to disprove the notion that Victorian food was all stodgy and bland – it was a time of great change with industrialisation’s onset changing food production and consumption.

In these two workshops you’ll learn how to make some well-known dishes from the era, including a too-nice Dickensian punch.

It’s ideal if you fancy showing off this festive season and want your Christmas party to have a truly traditional flavour to add to your mince pies and mulled wine.

Dec 15 & 16, 12pm-4pm, £28 
Barbican, Museum of London, EC2Y 5HN  
Tube | St Paul’s  
museumoflondon.org.uk 

Carols By Candlelight

There could be no better venue for a spot of Christmas carols to get you in the festive mood than the Union Chapel, a retooled church in north London.

You can sit down in the pews to enjoy the tunes, and there will be live music and mulled wine in the bar afterwards, with collections made for the margins Homelessness Project.

Dec 16, 6pm N1 2UN, free  
Tube | Highbury & islington  
unionchapel.org.uk

Jerry Sadowitz

Are you a right Scrooge bemoaning all-things Christmas already?

Foul-mouthed and provocative Scot comic Sadowitz, who’s happy to offend at the drop of a hat promises to slag of the iPhone and prove Jimmy Savile’s innocence with crayons in Return Of The Bawbag. Confrontational.

Various dates Dec 11-Jan 5, 7.30pm, £19.50  
Leicester Square Theatre, WC2H 7BX  
Tube | Leicester Square  
leicestersquaretheatre.com

Secret Emporium Xmas Market

An east London warehouse will become the centre of must-have festive fashion as 44 top British designers will be vying for your attention.

Along with the art and clothing, there will be music, carols, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts on offer, too, with a raffle in aid of homeless charity Shelter.  

Dec 15 & 16, 10.30am-8pm Factory 7, free 
Hearn Street, EC2A 3LS  
Station | Shoreditch High Street 
secretemporium.com

Bitch! Dyke! Faghag! Whore!

Originally created as a riposte to art censorship, this pigeon-hole defying show – part nightclub, part comedy, part theatre – celebrates its 20th anniversary with these performances.

Former Andy Warhol darling Penny recreates the club scene inside the theatre as the show pushes the boundaries of performance.

It even contains an impromptu audience dance break amidst Penny’s monologues.

Dec 15-23 (excluding Dec 17), 7.30pm, £10+
The Albany, SE8 4AG  
Station | Deptford  
thealbany.org.uk 

Save The  Children Gig

Lauren Laverne (above) hosts the charity’s Christmas Tree Sessions night of comedy and music, in which everyone is encouraged to wear a loud festive jumper.

Spiritualized, Band of Skulls, Summer Camp, Stuart Maconie and Lee Nelson are amongst the line up with a duet by special guests Guy Garvey and Myleene Klass.

Dec 14, 6.30pm-11pm N1 2XD, £40   
Tube | Highbury & Islington  
savethechildren.org.uk 

Camden Lock Night Market

The famous north London market combines shopping with music and has just two evening openings left before Christmas.

This Thursday sees The Duck Pond artisan market in the hall, with punk, rock and metal covers by Belle Fleurs, and a farmers’ market the following Thursday (Dec 20) with music by Bellephonics.

Dec 13 & 20, 5pm-10pm, free
NW1 8AF
Tube | Camden Town 
camdenlockmarket.com

Photos: Timothy Greenfield Sanders, Getty, YouTube