The What, Where, When: 4 December
WHAT: Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty. This year's Matthew Bourne ballet production at Sadler's Wells is a haunting production of Sleeping Beauty. The ballet will be performed to Tchaikovsky to complete a trio of masterworks including Nutcracker and Swan Lake.
WHERE: Sadler's Wells, Rosebery Avenue, London. EC1R 4TN. www.sadlerswells.com
WHEN: 1 December – 24 January
WHAT: Penguin Festival. Edinburgh Zoo will be launching their Penguin Festival by illuminating the colony of 120 penguin sculptures on the main lawn and lighting up the historic Mansion House.
WHERE: Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Rd, Edinburgh EH12 6TS www.edinburghzoo.org.uk
WHEN: 4 December – 6 January
WHAT: Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival. The enchanting weekend of traditional Victorian Christmas festivities includes street entertainment, song, dance, classic readings and appearances from some of Dickens' most beloved and infamous characters.
WHERE: Medway, Rochester. ME1 1LX www.visitmedway.org/events/rochester-dickensian-christmas-festival
WHEN: 5 December – 6 December
WHAT: Visions of Africa Exhibition. Renowned photojournalist and explorer Levison Wood and wildlife sculptor Rosamond Lloyd have teamed up to create an exhibition of new works in aid of the conservation charity 'Tusk Trust'.
WHERE: La Galleria, 30 Royal Opera Arcade, Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 4UY www.lagalleria.org
WHEN: 6 December – 12 December
WHAT: A Christmas Carol. The Charles Dickens classic is coming to the West End stage this Christmas under the direction of Olivier Award-winning director Phelim McDermott and starring Oscar-winning actor Jim Broadbent.
WHERE: The Noel Coward Theatre, St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4AU www.noelcowardtheatre.co.uk
WHEN: 4 December – 30 January
WHAT: Christmas Craft & Food Fair. The eleventh annual Christmas Craft and Food Fair boasts over 100 stalls selling festive foods, crafts, decorations and gifts. It even has a magical Grotto for children to meet Father Christmas and a deer park.
WHERE: Sledmere House, Driffield, East Yorkshire. YO25 3XG www.sledmerehouse.com
WHEN: 4 December – 6 December
WHAT: The Two Pigeons Ballet. The Royal Ballet is presenting this much loved ballet by Frederick Ashton based on a fable about love and lost innocence.
WHERE: The Royal Opera House, London WC2E 9DD www.roh.org.uk
WHEN: 4 December – 5 December
WHAT: The London Illustration Fair. London's only illustration-dedicated fair returns with artist-led stands and workshops, showcasing the most exciting illustrators.
WHERE: Bargehouse, South Bank www.oxotower.co.uk/venue/bargehouse
WHEN: 4 December – 6 December
WHAT: Cinderella. This winter, Christopher Hampson's magical adaptation of Cinderella will make its European premiere.
WHERE: Festival Theatre, 13-29 Nicholson St, Edinburgh EH8 9FT www.edtheatres.com/festival
WHEN: 5 December
WHAT: Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagliacci Opera. Antonia Pappano, music director of the Royal Opera and award winning Italian director Damiano Michieletto join forces for a fantastic pairing of the two operas at The Royal Opera House
WHERE: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. WC2E 9DD www.roh.org.uk
WHEN: 3 December – 1 January
WHAT: BathVA Christmas Market. There will be 60 high quality traders specialising in vintage, retro, midcentury modern, antiques, furniture, jewellery, vinyl, children's toys, upcycled, decorative homewares, kitchenalia, silverware, prints, fine art, ceramics, upholstery, curiosities, garden ephemera, cameras, books, paintings, sculpture, clocks, gifts, +arts & crafts, designers, makers, arists, foodies & lots more!
WHERE: Green Park Station in the heart of Bath. 8am-4pm www.vintageandantiques.co.uk
WHEN: 6 December
WHAT: Cath Kidston's Modern Vintage Santa tour. Cath Kidston takes its floral clad Santa to the people to ensure shoppers don't miss out on the annual photograph with Father Christmas.
WHERE: on tour around the UK until 13 December.
WHEN: For dates and locations visit www.cathkidston.com/santaselfie
WHERE: Sadler's Wells, Rosebery Avenue, London. EC1R 4TN. www.sadlerswells.com
WHEN: 1 December – 24 January
WHAT: Penguin Festival. Edinburgh Zoo will be launching their Penguin Festival by illuminating the colony of 120 penguin sculptures on the main lawn and lighting up the historic Mansion House.
WHERE: Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Rd, Edinburgh EH12 6TS www.edinburghzoo.org.uk
WHEN: 4 December – 6 January
WHAT: Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival. The enchanting weekend of traditional Victorian Christmas festivities includes street entertainment, song, dance, classic readings and appearances from some of Dickens' most beloved and infamous characters.
WHERE: Medway, Rochester. ME1 1LX www.visitmedway.org/events/rochester-dickensian-christmas-festival
WHEN: 5 December – 6 December
WHAT: Visions of Africa Exhibition. Renowned photojournalist and explorer Levison Wood and wildlife sculptor Rosamond Lloyd have teamed up to create an exhibition of new works in aid of the conservation charity 'Tusk Trust'.
WHERE: La Galleria, 30 Royal Opera Arcade, Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 4UY www.lagalleria.org
WHEN: 6 December – 12 December
WHAT: A Christmas Carol. The Charles Dickens classic is coming to the West End stage this Christmas under the direction of Olivier Award-winning director Phelim McDermott and starring Oscar-winning actor Jim Broadbent.
WHERE: The Noel Coward Theatre, St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4AU www.noelcowardtheatre.co.uk
WHEN: 4 December – 30 January
WHAT: Christmas Craft & Food Fair. The eleventh annual Christmas Craft and Food Fair boasts over 100 stalls selling festive foods, crafts, decorations and gifts. It even has a magical Grotto for children to meet Father Christmas and a deer park.
WHERE: Sledmere House, Driffield, East Yorkshire. YO25 3XG www.sledmerehouse.com
WHEN: 4 December – 6 December
WHAT: The Two Pigeons Ballet. The Royal Ballet is presenting this much loved ballet by Frederick Ashton based on a fable about love and lost innocence.
WHERE: The Royal Opera House, London WC2E 9DD www.roh.org.uk
WHEN: 4 December – 5 December
WHAT: The London Illustration Fair. London's only illustration-dedicated fair returns with artist-led stands and workshops, showcasing the most exciting illustrators.
WHERE: Bargehouse, South Bank www.oxotower.co.uk/venue/bargehouse
WHEN: 4 December – 6 December
WHAT: Cinderella. This winter, Christopher Hampson's magical adaptation of Cinderella will make its European premiere.
WHERE: Festival Theatre, 13-29 Nicholson St, Edinburgh EH8 9FT www.edtheatres.com/festival
WHEN: 5 December
WHAT: Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagliacci Opera. Antonia Pappano, music director of the Royal Opera and award winning Italian director Damiano Michieletto join forces for a fantastic pairing of the two operas at The Royal Opera House
WHERE: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. WC2E 9DD www.roh.org.uk
WHEN: 3 December – 1 January
WHAT: BathVA Christmas Market. There will be 60 high quality traders specialising in vintage, retro, midcentury modern, antiques, furniture, jewellery, vinyl, children's toys, upcycled, decorative homewares, kitchenalia, silverware, prints, fine art, ceramics, upholstery, curiosities, garden ephemera, cameras, books, paintings, sculpture, clocks, gifts, +arts & crafts, designers, makers, arists, foodies & lots more!
WHERE: Green Park Station in the heart of Bath. 8am-4pm www.vintageandantiques.co.uk
WHEN: 6 December
WHAT: Cath Kidston's Modern Vintage Santa tour. Cath Kidston takes its floral clad Santa to the people to ensure shoppers don't miss out on the annual photograph with Father Christmas.
WHERE: on tour around the UK until 13 December.
WHEN: For dates and locations visit www.cathkidston.com/santaselfie