1.
December 1 Lights, action: the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree Light Up is at 6pm and will be the focus of carols, pavement art and people pretending to be Yoda for the festive period. Free. But go early.
2.
December 2 Unzip your wallet to sponsor one of the 20 brave souls taking part in the Evelina Zip – zip-wiring across Thames to raise money for children’s hospital Evelina London. They’re zipping from St Thomas’s Hospital across to the Houses of Parliament: all day, best view from Westminster Bridge or Albert Embankment.
3.
December 1-3 Vroom vroom room: the pop-up ICA Garage Sale opens tonight on The Mall (6pm-10pm, with DJ) and continues Friday and Saturday 11am-6pm: pick up sassy stocking fillers and cool kit from 60 designers curated by The Poundshop. Day membership required, £1 per person.
4.
December 1-May 21 Not that sort of stuffing: take a break from Christmassy stuff with Making Nature: How We See Animals, the new exhibition at the endlessly-inventive Wellcome Collection, which includes taxidermy, writing, film, photography and installations. Free.
5.
December 3-4 Naughty but nicicles: the last Frost Fair on the Thames was in 1814, so the Museum of London is staging their own version with events, workshops and fun for families. 10am to 6pm, all ages, free.