With December now in full swing, the capital plays host to a vast array of Christmas events, reports LondonTown.com
(TRAVPR.COM) UK - December 5th, 2013 - With December now upon us the London events calendar is mainly made up of seasonal activities. From Christmas markets and fairs to novelty runs and races, this weekend has it all.
London's festive take on the egg and spoon race, the Great Christmas Pudding Race returns for another year on Saturday. The event sees Coven Garden Piazza swell with spectators as around 150 contestants in teams of six put on their finest festive attire and race around the course strewn with flour-filled balloons, foam jets and other obstacles while also trying to balance a Christmas pudding on a flimsy plate. Meanwhile, Battersea Park will be taken over by Father Christmas impersonators for London's Santa Run. Raising money for Home-Start, who help children get the best possible start in life, the event sees participants sport a Santa costume and tackle a five kilometre run – rewarded with mulled wine and Christmas cake at the finish line.
Over at the Parliament Hill Lido, brave swimmers will be wearing far less clothing for the annual OSS December Dip. The first swim of the season organised by the Outdoor Swimming Society, it sees brave souls attempt to swim at least two widths of the lido, with the most intrepid aiming for four or six.
There's an abundance of Christmas markets in London this weekend, including the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park's Vintage Christmas and Real Ale Festival. Celebrating Christmas in vintage style, the park welcomes a Victorian funfair, complete with a ferris wheel, chair-o-lanes and a helter skelter, plus a roller disco housed inside a Victorian dodgem track.
While the Real Ale festival provides the chance to sample a variety of beers and ales, spiced cider and mulled wine, and festive food and snacks. The team behind global affairs magazine Monocle host their Christmas market in the courtyard outside their Marylebone HQ, where visitors will be able to buy high quality goods, enjoy warming treats and even meet Father Christmas and his antlered helpers.
Away from the seasonal activities, the Live For Myself, Answer to Nobody exhibition is now open in Soho. Presented by Mach Schau and The Vinyl Factory, the exhibition showcases never-before-seen photos of anti-hero Steve McQueen, taken by documentary photographer and close friend Barry Feinstein. Snapped between 1960 and 1968, the photos document McQueen's early racing career through to the filming of iconic movie Bullitt, as well as some images of his downtime.
For LondonTown.com's complete pick of events for this weekend in London, subscribe to the Something for the Weekend mailer.
-end-
About LondonTown.com
LondonTown.com is the number one Internet site for London. With over 18 years of experience assisting visitors to the capital, they pride themselves on their customer service and editorial independence – no banner advertising or paid for content is allowed. The LondonTown.com team assist in finding cheap London hotels, sightseeing tours, ticket information and events. Trusted and with a loyal following, LondonTown.com is a very reliable source of recommendations and advice on what to do in London. http://www.LondonTown.com
###
