It's hard escaping festivities this time of year, but not impossible - from festive fun to stuff that has nothing to do with Christmas, here are five of the best things to do in London, this week December 4-11. 

1 Try lunch at Sparrow Italia, Mayfair 

New, showy and dramatic, Sparrow Italia is now open for lunch - just in time for truffle season, for the truffle piggies amongst us. Go three courses of the stuff if you like  - start with grilled focaccia with truffle ricotta, truffle honey and fresh truffle,m then move onto the truffle risotto comes with an additional musty kick with 36-month aged parmesan, and finish on a serve of chocolate mousse alongside some truffle ice-cream. 

Address: 1-3 Avery Row, Mayfair W1K 4AJ

Website: sparrowitalia.com

2 Science Fiction Astronights at the Science Museum, South Kensington

Unfortunately, this one is only for families or those with access to children 7-11, because gosh it looks fun. Sleepover at the Science Museum in a night of exploring distant planets, secret organisations, new civilisations and the museum's latest exhibition, Science Fiction. It comes with workshops, shows and activities, as well as breakfast in the morning. Get in touch with the museum if you're after a SENsory Astronight instead. 

Date: December 10

Time: From 6.45pm

Tickets £70 pp

Address: The Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2DD

Website: sciencemuseum.org.uk

3 Go to a Panto or Christmas Show

Pantos are warm and fuzzy weirdness that you're never to old for. Hackney Empire always put on a good one, this year it's Mother Goose (Until Dec 31). Lyric Hammersmith are putting on Jack and the Beanstalk (until Jan 7), which is also on at the London Palladium (Dec 10-Jan 15). If pantos are just not your thing, cool. What about Dolly Parton's Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol (Dec 8- Jan 8) or Elf (until Jan 7) as an alternative? 

4 Wildlife Photographer of the Year at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington

Always a stunning and mind-blowing exhibition, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition captures the natural world in all its magnificent, wonderous and fragile glory. In addition to the snaps, the exhibition includes short videos, comments from jury members and insights from scientists about how we continue to impact the natural world. A Behind the Lens tour lets visitors deep dive into the stories that didn't make the exhibition's cut. 

Date: Until July 2, 2023

Times: 10am-5.50pm

Tickets: £17

Address: Cromwell Road, South Kensington SW7 5BD

Website: nhm.ac.uk

5 Christmas Carols at St Pauls

As a prelude to *the* Christmas Carol Service at St Pauls on Dec 23 (free, unticketed but get in early), the might cathedral plays host to two charity carol concerts - one for WaterAid and the other for the Guide Dog association. Enjoy stories, readings and carol sing-alongs and celeb spotting. If neither of those take your fancy, drop by any day of the week at 5pm (3pm on Sunday) for a moment of quiet reflection (or not) before listening to the Cathedral choir, who perform different choral works as part of each service. 

Dates: Nov 6 & 8 (WaterAid/Guide Dogs)

Times: 7pm-8pm

Tickets: From £20

Address: St. Paul's Churchyard, City EC4M 8AD

Website: stpauls.co.uk

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