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Cults in Shipping Containers and Tilda Swinton Narrated Interactive, Mixed Reality ADHD Documentaries I’ve accidentally joined a murderous cult and Tilda Swinton has climbed inside my head for a powerful exploration of ADHD, and it’s not even midday. I’m at the launch of BFI London Film Festival’s Expanded, this year’s bulging programme of immersive art and extended reality, celebrating the moving image in its many forms. I’m strapped into my VR headset and controllers to start with the extraordinary Impulse: Playing with Reality. With soothing narration from Swinton, this mixed reality, interactive documentary captures what it means to be neurodivergent in a radical new way, which stays with me for long afterwards. Swinton sets the tone by giving me challenges, hoovering up a wall of kaleidoscopic shapes and using them to process tasks and information at increasing speeds, with assorted distractions, allowing me to feel the chaos and anxiety sometimes experienced with ADHD. An extraordinary, interactive documentary follows, using the real voices of people with ADHD telling their powerful stories, while animations of their experiences explode around me. I watch buildings erupt from the ground and characters teeter on the tops, contemplating suicide. Then I find myself on the top of buildings which get higher, the closer to the edge I move, while Tilda says: “Vertigo isn’t a fear of heights, it’s the fear that we might jump.” Powerful quotes from each, moving story are sucked up with my controller and I place them on floors and walls around me. This intimate and fully immersive way of absorbing these stories is incredibly moving, and at the end, there is a room filled with slides and facts about ADHD, to decompress in. Things get even more intense in the festival’s ARCADE installation, a shipping container, housing a particularly dark, choose your own adventure experience. We’re led inside, to rows of vintage arcade machines, and warned that we will be in complete darkness for 25 minutes. Headsets are donned, coins appear for us to pop in the slots and pitch blackness envelops us, while eerie voices whisper and shout so convincingly, I instinctively put my hand out to feel if somebody is behind. We’re invited to become avatars, which are conscious of our/their actions, answering questions using a button which change the path of our journey - do I head to a war-torn world, seek peace or join a cult? There's a vulnerability in the darkness, coupled with the dark audio and sensory effects - like the wet of blood splattering our faces - which adds to the cloying and intentionally unsettling experience. It’s an original and compelling installation, and there’s palpable relief when the game ends and the lights come back up. These are our highlights, but Expanded has a gaggle of events and experiences, including a free gaming lounge and free, virtual dance and AI simulation, merging ethereal dancers and transhumance species, in the BFI IMAX foyer. LFF Expanded is presented across multiple central London venues, including Bargehouse at Oxo Tower Wharf, BFI IMAX, BFI Southbank, Royal Festival Hall and Outernet London. Ticket prices vary. 11-27 October Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

UK Premiere of Whimsically Grotesque Master's World Heads to Design Museum We whispered Beetlejuice three times, and the UK premiere of The World of Tim Burton has been announced at London's Design Museum. Fittingly, the alchemist of whimsical goth horror’s exhibition launches just before Halloween, on 25 October , riding the crest of the hype-tsunami around the freshly released Beetlejuice 2 movie. Visitors will be invited into his world, to explore the darkly unique aesthetic behind some of the most celebrated films of the last four decades, mastering the comically grotesque and the endearingly misfit. The show will showcase his work beyond the silver-screen, as an illustrator, painter, photographer and author, as well as key collaborations with designers. Drawing from Burton’s personal archive and representing his creative output from childhood to the present day, this collection of drawings, paintings, photographs, sketchbooks, moving-image works, sculptural installations, set and costume design focuses on the recurrent visual themes and motifs found in Burton’s art and film worlds. This will be the final stop in a decade-long world tour for this exhibition and will be its only ever showing in the UK. The World of Tim Burton , Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High St, W8 6AG. 25 October 25 2024 - 21 April 2025. Tickets from £19.69 pp, Kid’s £9.85 Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter

Witches, Goblins, Falcons and Spellbinding Beauty in New Interactive Adventure Beautiful Leeds Castle is steeped in history and legend and is exactly the sort of enchanted place you’d expect to find otherworldly creatures. That’s exactly what we discover on its new Haunted Halloween Quest , an interactive journey through its stunning, 550-acre estate to rescue Rocky the Stone Monster and break the curse of the castle’s crumbling walls. It’s a perfect autumn day, as we crunch through golden leaves across the immaculate, sun dappled grounds, past swans, water features, blooming magnolia, the grand castle, mazes and trees, while the children excitedly tick off six magical coloured stones on their quest sheets. Along the way, we meet a host of colourful characters, who give clues and interact with the audience, from Ember the Witch, Bramble the Tree Goblin, Diablo the Cursed Castle Hound, Talon the Hawkman, Kit the Castle Keeper and finally, Rocky the Stone Monster. There is also surprise seasonal entertainment along the way, including a brilliant chainsaw wood carver, transforming logs into pumpkins and owls, and the Cast of Hawks Halloween falconry displays. Finally, through the maze we discover the final gem and the sprawling Knights’ Stronghold Playground, where the grand finale takes place. All of the characters gather to place the gems we’ve discovered into the walls to lift the curse. The children sing along with the characters, enthusiastically help with the spells, shout instructions and delight in helping their magical new friends. Afterwards, we’re free to explore the extraordinary, medieval-themed playground, complete with giant castles full of zip wires, climbing walls, wobbly bridges, cargo nets, slides, plus an underworld grotto, adventure golf, giant outdoor beach, obstacle course and every park feature you can imagine. There’s a cafe in the play area for pizzas and sandwiches, or the gorgeous, oak-beamed Castle View Restaurant for something more special. On the way out, we stop at its vintage ice cream shop for treats, before exploring Leeds Castle and its fabulous 900-year history of strong and visionary women, which my daughter loves. We immerse ourselves in its Medieval and Tudor stories, including the fascinating tale of Joan of Navarre, who was imprisoned at the castle by King Henry V, who falsely accused her of being a witch. And we relive the glamour of Lady Bailie’s time at the castle, holding lavish parties for everybody from Charlie Chaplin to Errol Flynn and filling the grounds with llamas, zebras, exotic birds and even a swimming pool with wave machine. Tired little legs from a busy day exploring the sprawling grounds are an excellent excuse to jump aboard Elsie the Castle Train, a charming green land train which can take guests back from the castle to the main entrance. The spirit of Lady Bailie’s passion for entertaining lives on in the castle walls, which our children are thrilled they have stopped from crumbling. Leeds Castle , Penfold Hill, Kent ME17 1RG. Tickets for Halloween event & annual pass: Adult £31.50, Child £22.50 (Age 3-16); Family £79 (2 + 2). Must be booked in advance Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram? Follow us on Insta

Fancy celebrating America with a gluttonous nosh-up and maybe a dash of bourbon? Hey, let's forget all that 'other stuff' that's happening across the pond right now - America is the home of large portions, smoked meat, Bourbon whiskey and rock 'n' roll, and for THAT, we'll always be grateful. So whether you're an American in London or just fancy sending your thanks via a plate of grub, check our the best Thanksgiving Dinners in London this year. ______________ The Stafford St James's If you're ever in doubt as to The Stafford's position on those across the pond, just know that they've got a bar called American Bar ( pictured above ), which is one of the longest surviving US bars in London. It launched in the Thirties, when the craze for American-style cocktails first hit these shores and even served as a club for GIs during World War II. So if you're after an upmarket - but entirely authentic - experience, this is the spot for you. It's filled with memorabilia that has been donated over close to a century by American guests, so you'll have plenty to look at while you wait for your table next door in the Game Bird restaurant. And what of the grub? Well, you won't be surprised to learn that it's not burgers or chicken wings on offer at this 5-star establishment. This year, the three-course menu starts with Butternut squash velouté, sour cream and chive rye bread crouton. This is followed by Traditional Roast Turkey with garlic mash, sage and onion stuffing, green bean casserole and roasted pumpkin. For a sweet conclusion, the menu finishes with a Chocolate Pecan Pie with mocha ice cream . Price £70pp - available for lunch and dinner on Thursday 28th November   The Stafford, 16-18 St James's Place, London SW1A 1NJ , Book Now   CUT at 45 Park Lane Park Lane CUT is a luxury steakhouse that's every bit as upmarket as you'd expect from a Park Lane venue by Wolfgang Puck. It's famed for offering some of the finest cuts of beef in London (hence the name). But Exectuive Chef Elliott Grover won't just be turfing out steaks on Thanksgiving, giving guests the option of a traditional turkey, albeit a Norfolk Bronze variety brought down from East Anglia for the occasion. The three-course menu starts with a choice of starters including a Bigeye Tuna Tartare , Dorset Crab & Lobster ‘Louis’ Cocktail , Prime Beef Steak Tartare. This is followed by mains, with a choice of Norfolk Bronze Turkey with the traditional sides of cornbread stuffing, cranberry compote  and pigs in blanket , or a Grilled Cornish Dover Sole  or an Australian Wagyu Beef , served with classic Thanksgiving sides for the table, including sweet potatoes with torched marshmallows , Roasted brussels sprouts with bacon and chestnuts  and Green bean casserole topped with breadcrumbs . If you've any room left after all that, there's an array of American Pies including a Key Lime, Pumpkin  and Pecan . Price £195pp - available for lunch and dinner on Thursday 28th November. CUT at 45 Park Lane, London W1K 1PN, Book Now PROMENADE at Dorchester Park Lane Across the road from CUT, The Promenade at The Dorchester is offering an equally belly-busting menu, with four-courses and live entertainment inside one of London's poshest hotels.   The menu, designed by Culinary Director Martyn Nail , starts with a selection of canapés on arrival before a choice of starters, including a Crab cake with sea herbs , a Grilled shrimp salad , or a Guinea hen salad . An intermediate course follows with a choice of either Clam chowder or J erusalem artichoke velouté before mains including a Cambridge Bronze Turkey with all the trimmings, a Roasted seabass , a JD Bonded Bourbon braised ribs or a Butternut squash & smoked Applewood Wellington . The feast ends with a selection of desserts including a Caramel pie , a Pumpkin pie, or a Blueberry cheesecake . If you're up for spending a little extra for a Thanksgiving feast (it only happens once a year, after all), Park Lane is looking like a fine destination for all you Americans out there. Price £150pp / £75 per child (up to 12 years old) - available for lunch and dinner on Thursday 28th November. The Dorchester, 53 Park Ln, London W1K 1QA, Book Now NYnLON Blackfriars NYnLON wears its influences on its sleeve ( NY 'n' LONdon, geddit? ), so there's no surprise that it's catering to its American fanbase this Thanksgiving. Led by Head Chef Giuseppe Federico , the team has meticulously crafted a Thanksgiving Dinner Menu, exclusively available on the 28th and 29th of November. Keeping things traditional, guests can choose from a main of classic Turkey Crown , or Gruyere and Pumpkin Pie , alongside a selection of side dishes to share, including Truffle mac & cheese, Confit garlic and sweet potato mash, Root vegetables and Brussels sprouts with sage-infused brown butter and Charred tenderstem broccoli with chili and confit shallots . And it's not a proper Thanksgiving dinner without dessert, so throw a homemade Apple pie, served with warm custard and ice cream into the mix . Price £99 for two people, Book Now Available November 28th and 29th NYnLON, 19 New Bridge St, London EC4V 6DB THE K BAR Kensington OK, so Thanksgiving is usually about the food, but when your country is responsible for bringing Bourbon into this world, maybe it's time we ALL gave thanks to you. The K Bar in The Kensington Hotel is spending all of November celebrating Brown water and it'd be remiss of us not to let you know. Sink into a leather wingback chair and order one of three, limited edition Buffalo Trace cocktails, each priced at £17. Sipping on the good stuff in a leather chair, surrounded by wood panelling? Hell yeah, you just turned into Don Draper. 'Noyaux' is the perfect Autumn tipple, with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Chestnuts and Bitters. ' Louisville ' will transport you to the deep South with Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon, Bacon, Maple and Bitters and ' Fortunella' is made up of Sazerac Rye, Camparo, Mancino Chinato and Kumquat. K Bar and Townhouse, The Kensington Hotel, 109-113 Queen's Gate, London SW7 5LP , Book Now Bloomsbury Club Bar Bloomsbury Also heading down the booze-route is Bloomsbury Club Bar, which has teamed up with Dutch Barn Vodka - curiously, a British brand made with British Apples and owned by the very-much British Ricky Gervais. Still, he's had a Hollywood makeover of late, so we'll allow it. The cosy art deco bar in the bowels of The Bloomsbury Hotel has made a name for itself as a destination for music lovers and on Wedneday 27th November, they'll be handing over the stage to some good ol' American blues musicians to help you see in Thanksgiving in style. To lend an extra flavour of the Deep South, they'll also hand over a complimentary slice of apple pie with your vodka cocktails and when the clock strikes midnight it'll feel like you're kicking back in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Wednesday 27th November, Reserve your table now Bloomsbury Club Bar, The Bloomsbury Hotel, 16-22 Great Russell St, London WC1B 3NN THE FRIENDS™ EXPERIENCE: THE ONE IN LONDON Excel Centre Ah, Friends. That magical sitcom that made us all think we could get jobs as waitresses, chefs, musicians, actors, copywriters and paleontologists and afford a New York loft apartment with our friends. Such wonderful, naive times. Well, this winter The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in London will allow you a little glimpse into that world and with tickets available for just £20, even we can afford it on our pitiful, London wages. They're giving their New York-themed sets a festive twist, inviting fans to celebrate the festive season “Holiday Armadillo” style. Relive unforgettable holiday moments from the show, including Monica’s Christmas tree and Ross’s Holiday Armadillo costume. Additionally, visitors can indulge in a Thanksgiving and holiday-themed menu, which offers Thanksgiving and festive treats at FRIENDS™ Station, making it a perfect place to celebrate the festive season. Could that be any more American? Tickets £20, Buy Now The Friends Experience: The London One, Immerse LDN, ExCeL Waterfront, E16 1XL BODEAN'S Various Locations It wouldn't be an American roundup without the finest purveyors of Stateside grub, Bodean's BBQ. The smokehouse launched way back in 2002 when Andre Blais saw a big ol' hog-shaped gap in the market and started firing up his Kansas barbecue for the good people of London. Having grown from one location to numerous spots across the capital, it's now the go-to place for everything Americana, from late-night Superbowl parties to Thanksgiving celebrations. Their menu for this year depends on location, so pick your destination wisely and enter with an empty belly, because Bodean's doesn't do small portions. The Tower Hill and Soho locations will be offering a full-blown three courser (£45pp), kicking off with a choice between Ranch Salad, Sweet Potato Soup or Pistachio Salsa Mac ‘n’ Cheese Balls with Diablo Mayo. From there, you'll be deep into the meat, with a sharing platter consisting of Smoked Turkey Drumsticks, Glazed Ham, Smoked Turkey Breast, Creamed Mashed Potato, Corn Bread Stuffing with Bacon and Sage , plus Carrots and Parsnips roasted with honey & fresh thyme and Pan Fried Greens. Still got room for more? Yeah, course you have - you're American and you know how to do Thanksgiving! Have a Key Lime Pie or Pumpkin Pie and see it off with a Pickleback indluded in the price. Oh, and wanna know something totally unexpected? There's a whole vegan menu, too, though you'll have to chow down in the fumes of meat - there's no escaping that at Bodean's. The Camden and Covent Garden restaurants take a slightly different approach to Thanksgiving this year, offering a special Pilgrim Sandwich (£18.50), which promises "all the best bits of Thanksgiving in a bun." They're not wrong, either: Smoked turkey breast, crisp streaky bacon, cornbread stuffing, hash browns, cranberry sauce and gravy, all served with seasoned fries. There's also a pumpkin tartlet on offer, at £6. Choose wisely, friends, and give your thanks to our American brothers and sisters. Various Locations. Book Now Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

London’s Most Exciting Children's Party Venues and Experiences Your child is counting down the days, hours and milliseconds to mark the moment they hurtled into the world. However, you’re not sure you can face another, sweaty softplay party and aren’t in love with having your rugs marinated in birthday cake and jelly, Luckily, London has you covered with a gaggle of fun and imaginative parties to celebrate every flavour of child, from museum sleepovers, Shrek adventures, sushi and pancake parties, pampering, slime, bears, treetop adventures and football. So put down the limp balloon and read our guide to London's best kids' birthday parties. _________________________________ THE ULTIMATE BIRTHDAY SLEEPOVERS Natural History Museum Sleepover What kid doesn’t fancy a sleepover with a giraffe, or camped beneath a giant, blue whale? Children aged 7-11 can experience Dino Snores birthdays, exploring the Museum by torchlight; getting creative with a dinosaur t-shirt workshop and enjoying a science show until midnight, when it’s time for a special bedtime story and sleep, surrounded by its incredible creatures. The following morning after breakfast, they’ll have the museum to themselves for a fact-filled trail until it opens to the public at 10am.   Dino Snores, Natural History Museum,  Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD.  £80pp, including breakfast. Science Museum AstroNights Sleepover  Read our review Budding scientists (aged 7-11) can spend the night with chums at one of its galleries, exploring the museum out-of-hours. Inspired by its Turn it Up: The Power of Music exhibition, these evenings will include hands-on workshops, shows and activities that delve into music’s magic. The following morning after breakfast, the party can enjoy its hit Wonderlab and IMAX experiences before the museum opens to the public at 10am.  Science Museum,  Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD. Dates vary, £70pp standard, £100 VIP IMAGINATION SPARKING CELEBRATIONS Shrek’s Adventure Read our review Send your sprogs to the Land of Far, Far Away for an immersive adventure, meeting characters like Donkey, Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots and the big green Ogre himself. Then make your friends green with envy, with a unique birthday party in Shrek's Swamp with a gaggle of Shrek-themed party games like pin the tail on Donkey, feed hungry Shrek and Connect 4 Gingys. The party package includes entry and full Shrek's Adventure tour, exclusive Shrek’s Swamp birthday room hire, dedicated host, Shrek party games and evites. Shrek’s Adventure , Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB.  £29.99 per child. Two adults go free. Additional adults £15 each. Discover Children’s Story Centre Read our review If you’ve ever wondered how it feels to climb inside a child’s imagination, Discover Children’s Story Centr e is it. The party package includes three hours, exploring Story World’s two floors filled with caves, fairy worlds, hidden ships and puppet castles, plus the Story Garden, where they can find Baba Yaga’s hut held up by chicken legs, climb Hootah’s castle and slide out of the Stratford Sputnik. It also includes entry to their immersive exhibition downstairs, plus a party lunch in Hootah’s room. Discover Children’s Story Centre,   383-387 High St, London E15 4QZ.  £345 for  10 Children and 11 Adults, including a visit to the exhibition and food in a room for 45 minutes. Packaway Parties For a cost-effective, stress-free and big impact party at home, we recommend Packaway Parties . They provide imaginative, themed parties, delivered straight to your door. The 14 themes include  Harry Potter, Lego, Roald Dahl, Pokemon and Encanto . The standard, £120 package includes decorations, games, costumes, props, prizes, certificates and a full party plan. Personalised invitations, eco-friendly party bags, tableware and themed sweet shops can also be added to your party package. And you can be smug about throwing a killer party, with zero stress, which is also better for the environment - each box contains high quality, reusable items with a plastic-free goodie bag.  Packaway Parties . From £120 for a standard party package.  Use code  PACKAWAY2024 and receive a free eco-friendly party bag for the birthday child. FOODIE PARTIES Kids ’N' Sushi Party Budding sushi masters are invited to celebrate their big day by learning how to make Kappa Hosomaki rolls (Cucumber), Pink Alaska Uramaki rolls (Salmon, avocado, cream cheese, and lumpfish roe) and Shake Nigiri (Salmon) during the 90-minute, hands-on class. As well as learning a new skill and creating sushi masterpieces, each guest receives soft drinks during the class and a goodie bag at the end with a certificate, bandana, rolling mat, chopsticks, chocolate fish and Japanese number and phrase sheet.  Sticks 'N' Sushi,  Multiple locations including 100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ. £40 pp. Biscuiteers Budding bakers and icers can head to the Little School of Biscuiteers to learn tips and tricks from the Grand Icing Hall while they decorate their own collection of biscuits. The experience includes biscuits and all the icing and decorations children will need to make a collection to take home in signature, hand-illustrated, Biscuiteers boxes. They'll have their own expert icer on hand to teach and guide, and each bijou biscuiteer will receive a Biscuiteers apron and certificate of 'Biscuiteers Icing Brilliance' to take away. There are a range of biscuit designs to suit any occasion, and they can make the day extra special with a bespoke cake.  While the iccle icers are busily biscuiting, parents can browse their Biscuit Boutique and receive 10% off shopping in store Biscuiteers , Notting Hill or Belgravia locations. £49 for one hour with 4 guests. Pizza Express Pizza Making Party Kids are encouraged to make a mess, tossing their very own dough before being let loose on the ingredients. Expect a lively combination of pizza making fun with games to keep everybody happy. Each two-hour party includes invitations, unlimited squash, pizza, games and plenty of time to enjoy their creations before devouring gelato. Pizza Express . Multiple locations. £14.95 per guest. Minimum number 8. Stack and Still Pancake Parties From just £13.95 per child, each guest gets a Double Stack to decorate however they like using three toppings from the kids' menu, plus unlimited drinks, Peel & Stick stickers, gold and blue party balloons and the birthday child receives a special birthday stack: a Double Buttermilk stack with Whipped Cream, Funfetti, Sauce and (of course) candles. Stack and Still. Multiple locations. £13.45 per child. PAMPERING PARTIES Lush Birthday Party Your dedicated Party Host will look after the kids, with the option of two different themes: Fun and Games or Treat Yourself.  Every party booking includes a selection of games, product making and activities tailored to the birthday girl or boy; a Lush making kit of their choice, and an exclusive party product for each of the guests. The guest of honour can also choose from three of the party exclusive products and receive them in a special Party Animal gift to take home. Lush . Multiple Locations. £25pp Snazzy Party Bus Snazzy Party Buses rock up to your chosen location and offer a gaggle of themes, from Spa Parties - including a makeover and pedicure area - to crafty and disco bashes, with options including UV Painting, Slime Making, Loom band parties and Teddy bear building parties plus karaoke, Just Dance and a light up floor area. Snazzy Party Bus. From £299 for 7 guests. Sweet Spa Party See our review This Bexleyheath spa includes a gaggle of impossibly cute kids’ party options, where they are welcomed with pink lemonade in champagne flutes and can enjoy activities like face mask making, jewellery crafting, foot spas in unicorn bubbles, 100 varnish choices, glitter, gems, eye make up, hand massage, file and polish.  Guests wear matching dressing gowns, fluffy headbands and flip flops - with flower crown for the birthday girl - plus personalised welcome sign. Afternoon tea can also be included. Sweet Spa Party, 44 Pickford Ln, Bexleyheath DA7 4QT. From £200 for four children. CREATIVE PARTIES Gootopia Slime Celebrations Give kids the slime of their lives with a slime-making party at Gootopia venues in Brixton, Lewisham, and Wandsworth. Children will enjoy a slime show, make a giant, stretchy slime, plus two tubs of individual slime to take home, with options of glow in the dark goo, a variety of colours and scents. There is also a party room for food and cake, plus optional goodie bags. Gootopia . Lewisham, Brixton and Wandsworth locations. From £299 for up to 15 children. 1 hour 30.  Build-a-Bear Parties Providing the ultimate party gifts, these popular parties allow guests to create their own furry friends to take home. The party chiefs take the stress out of celebrations, by leading the games with packages that fit your budget, with a toy making workshop to make cuddly friends they can keep, a special heart ceremony, games, bear ear party hats and photo prop opps. The guest of honour also recieved a plush, light-up cupcake gift and t-shirt. Build-a-Bear. Multiple locations. From £17 per child. Kids Art! Parties For crafty kids, these guys bring the creativity to your home, a venue of your choice or a KidsArt ! studio. They provide all art materials and can theme the party to your choice. All guests create one artwork with tuition  Kids Art! Party. Multiple locations. £20 per child, plus studio hire (£30 per hour for Finchley studio; other studios, priced on request).  Extra £5 per child if children work with clay or extra £10 per child if children work on canvas.  Minimum 8 children. ACTIVE PARTIES Go Ape Parties Treat your cheeky monkeys to a Go Ape party for treetop adventures at one of their  36 UK locations across the UK, soaring across zip wires, crossings and wobbly bridges.  Tackle tree to tree crossings on two to three different loops with a zip wire to bring you back down onto the forest floor at the end of each loop. You can make the day even more special by hiring a forest shelter or private party room. Go Ape, Multiple locations From £20 pp. 1 adult to 2 children under six or 8 children over six Chelsea Football Party Soccer sprogs can be man of the birthday match with a private stadium tour; five-a-side football, and a Chelsea gift and certificate for each child. Chelsea Football Club , Stamford Bridge, Fulham Rd., London SW6 1HS.  £25 per child. Get the Kids Climbing the Walls Get the kids climbing the walls for their birthday at London’s Parthian Climbing centre in Wandsworth. The 25,000 square foot beast is the first indoor climbing facility in the UK to feature an exact replica of  The Titan  Olympic bouldering wall, which will be used at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. They offer a range of kids’ sessions and courses for ages 3 and up. There are instructors for little ones taking on their first climbing experience, as well as the National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme (NICAS) for a progressive syllabus. They also host kids’ parties, for 1.5 hours of climbing activities and games. Parthian Climbing Centre , 52 - 58 Garratt Ln, Wandsworth, London SW18 4TF Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter

There's a lot more to the Happiest Place on Earth than meets the eye! A visit to Orlando's Walt Disney World is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the memories will last forever. But for all the incredible things you'll see at the world's most visited holiday resort, there's plenty you'll miss. Some of it is even designed specifically so you'll miss it. Clever, huh? Check out these incredible facts about The Most Magical Place on Earth and if you can make it to the end without formulating a plan to go there right now , you're stronger than us. _____________________ Every American flag you see at Walt Disney World is a FAKE Considering how much the Americans worship their flag, it's incredible to learn that every flag you see at Disney World has been purposefully designed with a mistake. That's right, they're all missing a stripe, or a star, and technically aren't flags at all - they're pennants . And the reason for this is because of America's strict flag etiquette. There are national flag codes that are strictly adhered to throughout the 52 states, such as flying at half mast during a time of national mourning. But Walt Disney World is a magical place where outside issues are left at the door, and the last thing guests want is to be reminded of a national tragedy, and as these aren't American flags, they're allowed to be flown at full mast every day of the year, no matter what's happening in the real world. Disney has a colour called Go Away Green - and it's specifically designed to make things disappear Wherever you go in Walt Disney World, there's plenty to see, from incredible set designs to rides, characters, shops and restaurants. But there's plenty they don't want you to see, too, like doors for cast members, utility boxes and construction projects. Y'know, all that boring stuff that doesn't happen in the most Magical Place on Earth. So, they paint it Go Away Green , which is a colour that tricks your eyes into thinking it's not there. It would take 81 years to stay in every single room at the Walt Disney World resorts There are plenty of Walt Disney World super fans who return year after year to experience the magic of Walt Disney World, but it's unlikely anyone will tick off every room in Disney's various resorts and hotels. There are 36,000 in total, which means you'd have to spend 81 years at Disney, staying in a different room every night to pull off the feat. Walt Disney World was originally intended to include a city with 20,000 inhabitants Yep, that's right. Living at Disney World might not have been a pipe dream, after all. EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow and was dreamt up by Walt Disney as a showcase for a new way of living. He intended to open the city as a liveable vision of the future, and invite families to come and live there. Unfortunately when Walt passed away, the idea was deemed to be too ambitious, but Imagineers paid homage to his vision by incorporating the futuristic architecture and technology into what is now the EPCOT section of the park. There's a whole world beneath your feet When Mickey, Donald or any other cast members need a break, they can't just stroll through the park for a sandwich and a cup of coffee. That's why there's a huge network of underground tunnels that allow them to move around 'behind the scenes.' The tunnels are colour coded so cast members know where they are, and there's a fleet of golf buggies to help them navigate the huge park. These tunnels are known as Utilidors and they're also big enough for an Ambulance to drive through in case of an emergency. There are other tunnels, too - a hugely impressive system called an Automated Vacuum Collection (AVAC) collects all of the rubbish from the park and whooshes it along at 60mph to a processing plant, where it is crushed and sent to landfill or a recycling centre. You're never more than 30ft from a rubbish bin Ever noticed all that rubbish overflowing around the park? No! Of course you haven't, and that's because there are bins every 30 feet throughout Disney World. Additionally, certain products such as chewing gum aren't sold anywhere on Disney property - just one of the ways they keep the whole resort looking perfect despite the millions of visitors it attracts every year. In fact, Disney makes a habit of tricking your eyes Go Away Green isn't the only technique Disney employ to trick your eyes - they've plenty more visual magic on show all over the resort. One of the most impressive illusions is called Forced Perspective . Take Main Street USA, for example, where the buildings are nowhere near as tall as you might think. The windows on the upper floors are progressively smaller than the windows on the lower floors, which tricks the eye into thinking they're further away than they are. The same technique is used on Cinderella's Castle, where windows, bricks and shingle get smaller towards the top of the building. And the reverse is also true - there are buildings such as the American Adventure in EPCOT, which needs to be tall enough to house the theatre inside. But buildings from that era were never higher than two stories, so the windows on the top floors are bigger than those on the lower floor, making it look smaller to the naked eye. Disney created a world that caters for ALL of your senses Disney knew that in order to truly transport us into another world, he'd have to bombard every one of our senses. That's why he introduced ' Smellitzers ', which are spread throughout the park and emit aromas to trick your brain with their smell. They're not just air-fresheners, though - that would be much too simple. The Imagineers were concerned that pumping out smells would lead to them getting lost in the air, or mixing with other aromas and becoming contaminated. Smellitzers propel the scent towards guests and then, just when they've had a whiff, suck the air back in using a powerful exhaust. Disney tested over 3,000 scents before choosing the ones that are used throughout the park and they're often used when you least expect it, just to create a nostalgic feeling. Is that popcorn you can smell, or is Disney playing tricks on you? The technology behind Smellitzers is a Disney secret, but he was a true pioneer. Back when Walt Disney World opened, smell technology was a new thing, but nowadays it's widespread - in fact, when you walk around a shopping centre, many of those smells such as fresh leather in a shoe shop, or baked bread in a sandwich shop, are being pumped through the air vents. Mickey Mouse has around 136 outfits - which is more than Minnie Mouse When you're expected to look your best every day, it's important to have a large wardrobe. But for Mickey Mouse it's not just about having a change of clothes in case of a spillage - he needs a different outfit for every zone he enters. It's no secret that Disney pays close attention to the little details, and it simply wouldn't do to have scuba diving Mickey strolling through Frontierland. That's why he has so many outfits, and if you read on you'll find out the lengths Disney go to, just to make sure you're never jolted from the magic by seeing the 'wrong Mickey.' Disney World includes 4,000 acres of 'empty' land Rumour has it that Walt Disney was riding a rollercoaster at Disney Land in California and as he reached the top of a big dipper, he spotted the lights of a 7Eleven on the distant horizon. This was an abomination for a man who had built a park where the outside world could be forgotten. So, when plans were being drawn up for Disney World, an extra 4,000 acres were bought and now serve as eco habitats for wildlife. The result is that it there is no point in the park where it's possible to see outside of Disney World. You won't find a structure higher than 199 feet tall inside the park Why not? Well, it's all linked to the USA's aviation rules, which state tat buildings 200 feet or taller must have flashing lights atop them to warn planes of their presence. Walt Disney felt that flashing lights would be a distraction from the magical world he was creating, so he ordered that no structure be made higher than 199 feet. Cinderella's Castle is more like a fortress It might look quaint and delicate with all its intricate towers, but don't let that deceive you. Walt Disney World's incredible centre-piece is built to withstand 125mph winds - handy when you consider that Florida's weather can be a bit temperamental. That's not the only clever trick designed to beat the local climate - there are lightning rods hidden all over the park to keep guests safe in a storm. One of these is as soon as you enter the Hollywood Studios section of the park, where you're met with a huge 'statue' of Mickey Mouse called 'Crossroads of the World'. Well, Mickey's right ear is made out of copper, so he'll heroically take the full brunt of a lightning strike. What a hero! The Tower of Terror is 'Morocco Red' for a reason Ever notice that the Tower of Terror, which sits in Hollywood Studios, is a similar colour to the Morocco pavilion in EPCOT? It's just another example of Disney's incredible attention to detail. The tower is exactly that - a large tower - and that meant it was visible when you look across the Moroccan area. It would look out of place if a large, concrete slab was visible behind the low rise buildings of ancient Morocco, so the Imagineers painted the tower red, and it fits perfectly with the skyline visible from EPCOT. Walt Disney World has more employees than every other Disney resort combined More than 75,000 people are required to make Disney World such a magical place - that's 5,000 more than the total number of employees at Disneyland Resort in California, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghain Disney Resort. For comparison, that's roughly the same as the population of Inverness. It would take you 52 years to do one day of Disney World's laundry It's no surprise that 75,000 people produce a lot of laundry, but when you consider that many cast members have various costumes and all need to be in perfect condition, that's a lot of washing. Every single day, around 285,000lbs of clothing is sent to the Disney World Laundry. If you were to try and tackle that using a regular, household washing machine, it'd take around 52 years to get through it all. The park attracts over 58 million visitors a year That's a lot of people. In fact, Walt Disney World's annual visitor count is roughly the same as the population of Italy, and Magic Kingdom accounted for around 12 million of those visitors in 2021. That makes it the most popular holiday resort on the planet and Magic Kingdom the most visited amusement park by some distance. On average, 210 pairs of sunglasses are lost every day in the park Keep hold of your belongings, folks! Walt Disney World could open a shop to rival Sunglasses Hut with all the lost items handed in every day. At a rate of 210 pairs a day, they could have collected up to 1.7 million pairs of sunglasses since they opened in 1971, and that's not the only thing being handed in to lost property. Thousands of cameras, phones and hats are also dropped by visitors. Just think of all those once-in-a-lifetime photographs that'll never find their way back to their owners. Walt Disney World is officially a city You might be forgiven for thinking that Walt Disney World was in the city of Orlando, but it's actually a fully incorporated city of its own. It's part of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special taxing district which has its own authority that has the powers and responsibility of a county government. There are two cities within the district - Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista - all of which is owned by Disney. As such, you'll see fire, police, traffic cops and the like all with badges featuring Mickey Mouse. They're not just costumes - they're genuine departments who work for the local authority, Disney! The district does have a few full-time residents, all of whom are Disney employees. Perhaps it's not surprising when you consider that the resort spans 27,000 acres, which is the same as TWO Manhattan islands. The Beatles officially split up at Disney World It's remarkable that such a happy place could be the site of an event that sent shockwaves around the world, but it's true - John Lennon was enjoying a stay at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort when he signed the documents that would seal the dissolution of the world's most famous band. Former Presidents of the USA donate their outfits to Disney World The Hall of Presidents features animatronics of every former leader of the USA, and meticulous attention has been paid to the little details in their costumes. Older Presidents wear suits that have been made using only materials and sewing techniques that were available at the time of their stint in power. But since Walt Disney World opened in the 70s, Presidents have donated their own suits for their models to wear, so you're looking at the real deal. Walt Disney never got to visit his greatest creation Despite being heavily involved in the creation of Walt Disney World, Walt Disney never got to see his vision come to life. Sadly, he died five years before it opened its doors and his brother, Roy O. Disney, oversaw the completion of the project. It was Roy who decided to call the park Walt Disney World as a tribute to his brother. Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Insta?

Stretch your money that little bit further with some wallet-saving Black Friday deals your kids will love Black Friday, eh? What a weird concept. Everybody decides to make stuff cheaper, just because it's a Friday. But in the midst of a cost of living crisis, we're not about to turn our noses up at a bargain, so why not check out the best Black Friday deals for families? Your kids (and your wallet) will thank us for it... ALTON TOWERS Kids Stay and Swim Free There's more to Alton Towers than The Smiler and Nemesis Reborn (though those two are worth the trip on their own). Yep, it's also got a pretty solid offering for younger kids, including CBeebies Land where youngsters can meet Postman Pat and shoot for the stars with the Octonauts, and a waterpark featuring lazy rivers, flume rides and even the Master Blaster watercoaster. If the waterpark tickles your fancy, Black Friday has come at the right time - book a stay at the Alton Towers Resort and not only do the kids go free, they'll also get free entry to all the aquatic excitement they can handle, plus nine holes on the Extraordinary Golf Course (that's crazy golf to you and me). You want MORE? Fine, they'll also chuck in free parking and a buffet breakfast. Deal ends December 2nd. Get it now CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES 20% off 2025 breaks Time Well Spent devotees will know that we love Chessington's crazy mix of wild rides and wild life - the resort is home to over 1,000 animals including lions, penguins, Western Lowland Gorillas and Rothschild's Giraffes, while also offering up animal-themed rides including Mandrill Mayhem (the world's only Jumanji rollercoaster), Mamba Strike and Croc Drop. The rooms are pretty awesome, too, with crazy themed rooms including Gruffalo Room, Oreo Room, Capri-Sun Room and the Jumanji Room. Why? Cos kids love it, that's why! And you'll love it, too, but you probably won't admit it. If you're thinking of heading to Chessington World of Adventures in the Spring, you'd better get your skates on and nab this 20% off deal before it runs out. It does what it says on the tin - all the same stuff, but 20% cheaper than normal if you visit between March 22 and May 23. Deal ends December 2nd, Get it now THORPE PARK Free Fastrack passes What do we love? ROLLERCOASTERS! What do we hate? QUEUING FOR ROLLERCOASTERS! Let's be honest, nothing kills the excitement of riding Collosus than spending two hours watching everyone else riding Collosus. Thorpe Park boasts some of the finest 'coasters in the UK, from the leg-dangling terror of Nemesis Inferno to the UK's only horror themed rollercoaster, SAW, which drops its riders at a beyond vertical angle, which seems a little excessive if we're being completely honest. Nevertheless, whether you're hoping to watch your toes flapping about over the heads of fellow park goers or begging for mercy as Collosus reaches its peak, you can do it without queuing if you grab a free fastrack pass this Black Friday. Book an overnight stay in the Shark Cabins and you'll get two full days in the park, a whole day of fastrack entry, free parking, a buffet breakfast and 10% off snacks and merch in the resort shops. Oh, and you'll get an hour of fastrack on day two, so you can revisit the scene of your scariest moments. Deal ends December 2nd. Get it now LEGOLAND WINDSOR Get a second day free You'd have to be a total blockhead to pay full whack for a visit to Legoland in Windsor, when you could bag TWO days in the park for the same price. You'll stay in one of the resort's themed bedrooms - choose between the Woodland Village, Castle Hotel and pirate-themed Resort Hotel, each with separate kids' sleeping areas - and spend your days riding The Dragon or shooting around the Minifigure Speedway. Your room will include a free treasure hunt and special, LEGO gift for kids, plus you'll enjoy a free hot breakfast before getting early access to the park before the great unwashed are allowed to join you, VIP access for two days! Deal ends December 2nd, Get it now WARWICK CASTLE 20% off short breaks Have you ever met a kid who doesn't want to live in a castle? They don't exist! And while we can't promise you can move in for good, you can give your little ones a taster with an overnight stay at this pad that dates back to 1068. You'll stay in a room fit for a King, naturally, and there'll be themed evening entertainment to match. Spend the day exploring the activities in the castle grounds, which include Zog meet and greets, a Zog children's playground, birds of prey displays and even a chilling tour of the castle dungeons, before retiring to your quarters for a good night's sleep. Of course, there'll be a cooked breakfast waiting for you when you wake and you'll get free parking and WiFi throughout - something even King Henry II couldn't boast. Deal ends December 2nd, Get it now Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

Earlier, quieter, tantrum-dodging fireworks nights in or near London 2024 Fireworks sound like the perfect family experience. But the reality is often tired and grumpy children, wailing or sleeping through zingers and screaming at the bangers. So hurrah to our best kids fireworks displays below, which all offer earlier , tantrum-dodging displays, in or near London, with many providing quieter fireworks, plus kid-pleasing entertainment , from face-painting and fairground rides to kid’s performers. There are also plenty of hot toddies to warm and loosen up the grown-ups. BOOM. _______________ Battersea Park Fireworks Family Night Fireworks = Good. Tired, grumpy children after an 8pm display = Bad. Enter stage left, Battersea Park Fireworks with their special Family Night on 3 November . The event kicks off at a much more tantrum-friendly 5pm, with fireworks at 7pm. And as well as food and drinks, there will be an Octonauts adventure, a kid's disco in the Big Top, rides in Whizzbang Wonderland; face-painting performers and an extraordinary show, set to music, by the team behind London's annual NYE show. Battersea Park Fireworks , London SW11 4NJ. 3 November. 5pm. £13.10 per adult. £8.80 per child. Under 5s go free Coram’s Field, Bloomsbury Not only is this fireworks show brilliantly early - the event kicks off at 3.30pm with fireworks at 6pm - it is also free . The seven-acre Bloomsbury spot hosts its annual, family fireworks event on 5 November,  with food stalls, dance and musical performances, and a mini funfair alongside the sky sparkles. Coram’s Fields , Guildford Street, 5 November. Free Beckenham Fireworks in the Park This family-friendly firework stalwart has been exploding since 1946 and offers a quieter, earlier display for young children at 6pm, followed by a main display at 7.45. Both are set to music. There will be 18 food stalls offering everything from Malaysian Blue Rice Bowls and Polish sausage Hot Dogs to Churros and chocolate. And rides will run from doors opening at 4.30pm until the end of the display. Beckenham Fireworks. Croydon Road Recreation Ground (Beckenham Rec) 319 Croydon Rd, Beckenham. November 2nd. Doors open 4. 30 pm , quiet display at 6pm, full display at 7.45. Tickets £15 per aduls, £5 per child (5-14) Dulwich Fireworks Display These guys have their zingers lit specifically for little ones. This family event is just one pound for kids under 16, and kicks off at 5pm with mulled wine, real ale (for the kids’ plus ones) plus live musical performances of popular kiddie songs as well as adult bangers. There’s a barbecue, burgers, Indian, pizza and kids’ stalls and an early 7pm display. Boom. Dulwich Fireworks. Dulwich Sports Club, Giant Arches Road, London, SE24 9HB. Adults £12.50. £1 for under 16s. 5pm-7.30. 2 November Morden Park Fireworks Display Not only does this bad-boy kick off at a brilliantly child-pleasing 5.15pm with fireworks at 6.45pm, set to music. There is also a funfair, food and drink stalls, plus a second show for older banger fans, with louder displays. Morden Park Fireworks , Morden Hall Roa, London, SM4 5JD. £9 per adult. £6.50 per child. Under 4s go free. 2 November. 5.15pm to 10pm Fireworks Spectacular at Kent Life Heritage Farm On 2 and 3 November Kent Life will launch its farmy, family firework behemoth. Kicking off at a much more civilised 3pm, kids can enjoy the bulging activities at the farm, from indoor and outdoor play areas, tractor rides, vintage buildings, and animal feeding sessions. Then they can launch themselves into fairground rides, glow sticks (a licensed bar for the adults - boom) and an early 6pm fireworks display. Kent Life Fireworks Spectacular , Kent Life, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3AU. 2 and 3 November. £18 adult. £15 children (2-15). Under 2s go free. Doors open at 3pm, fireworks at 6pm Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

Meet Father Christmas on boats, trains, biomes, caves and secret woodland worlds Although his job mostly involves sitting in a chair and being jolly until The Big Night, Santa does have to park that juicy, red behind into a lot of grottos each December. And if you’re overwhelmed by the choice of Santa tête-à-têtes, Time Well Spent ’s elves have rounded up the UK's best Santa experiences for you, from meetings in extraordinary, elven worlds to magical portals to follow festive wishes and meet the Big Guy, snowy, three-day experiences, trains, boats, underground caves, pods 450 ft above beaches and tropical biomes. It's all below-ho-ho. __________________________________ Lapland UK Read our review Pure Christmas magic, which leaves visitors of all ages in no doubt that Father Christmas exists and resides within the ancient elven civilisation at Lapland UK . This extraordinary, immersive experience starts when your child opens the icy cold, wax-sealed invitation from the Big Guy, inviting them to Lapland to help the elves make their toys. Deep in Ascot's snow-covered, Enchanted Forest, the elf folk present the Small People with special elven passports, enabling entry through the secret doorway to Lapland, where they will discover a jaw-dropping world full of elven characters, the toy factory, real reindeer and huskies, Mother Christmas’s Kitchen, The Elven Village complete with ice rink, elf emporium, restaurant and Elva’s Post Office for a magical, four-hour experience in an astonishingly detailed and sprawling world. Finally, deeper in the forest, past the magical sleigh, they head to Father Christmas’s wooden cabin and see their own names handwritten on the Good List, before meeting St Nick himself, in front of a roaring fire - he knows plenty about each child and will present them with a toy and a special bell, only awarded to his best elves. Lapland UK , Whitmoor Forest, Swinley Rd, Winkfield Row, Ascot SL5 8BD. Tickets from £59 pp in November and from £89 pp in December. Opens on 9 November until 24 December Santa Breaks at Aviemore Resort Three days brimming with Christmas magic, including the UK’s only free-range reindeer herd, Santa’s grand arrival, real snow, plus a visit to his woodland grotto and elves’ workshop. There is also a Christmas panto, festive family movie pass, a gaggle of daytime and evening Christmas entertainment. And on top of that, there’s a hearty Scottish breakfast each morning, special, festive dining experiences every day and splash fun in the indoor pool with flume and wave machine. Magical Santa Weekends , Macdonald Aviemore Resort, Highland Resort, Aviemore, Inverness-shire, PH22 1PN. Select dates between 29 November - 23 Dec Father Christmas at The Eden Project There are few places as other-worldly and exciting as the Eden Project, so it’s no surprise that Father Christmas has set up camp there this December. Little ones can meet him and his newest helper Elfie, who is fresh out of Elf Training Camp. Elfie is keen to help, but accidentally causes havoc. Children discover how he learns to be brave and teams up with Father Christmas to deliver a Christmas miracle. During each 40-minute session, kids will check out Santa’s Eden camp, including elf bunk beds, bedside stories and letters from children before meeting Father Christmas himself, leaving with a storybook of Elfie's adventures, plus a chocolate treat. Eden Project. Bodelva, Cornwall, PL24 2SG. Select dates from 22 November - 24 December. From £12-£16 for a child with one adult plus admission. Take Europe's Steepest Cable Railway to Santa's Zipmas Grotto For a grotto experience with a difference, head to Zipmas at Zip World , North Wales, which can only be accessed via Europe’s steepest cable railway. Santa’s grotto is so special and secret, it can’t be reached by foot, so you must descend deep below ground on a special cable car, surrounded by twinkling lights. On arrival, you will encounter three magical chambers, housing a light maze, Santa’s Workshop and beautifully lit tunnels to the final chamber, where the Big Man will be awaiting you in his cost cabin, warmed with his log burner. You can also meet the elves, create slate baubles, or have a go at Zipmas’s Grotto Golf experience – the world’s only adventure golf set in a cave. Zipmas , Llechwedd, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3NB. 22 November - 24 December. From £20 per adult, £23 per child Santa in the Sky at Brighton i360 Father Christmas is very at home in the sky - after all, he spends most of Christmas Eve up there on his sleigh. So he’s inviting families to visit him and his elves 450ft above Brighton beach inside the Brighton i360 glass pod. It includes a 25 minute pod journey, meeting with Santa and a gift for every child. Afterwards, you can also enjoy a festive themed cream tea in their beachfront building. Brighton i360 , Lower Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2LN. Tickets £6.85 - £12.95 per child. £19.95 per adult Santaland at Winter Wonderland The capital’s annual, Christmas mecca returns for its 16th year on 17 November with an entire land dedicated to the big guy himself. Santaland has kid-friendly rides, the Santa Express Train and the chance to meet the Father Christmas, as well as firepits for marshmallow toasting, the apline, Explorer’s Rest and a Santaland Chill Out area for little ones.The event includes a Magical Ice Kingdom made from more than 500 tonnes of ice and snow, plus an apres ski ice bar; ice rink, a real ice slide; wintry Cirque Berserk circus show; Zippos Christmas Circus Show, ice sculpting workshop; open air Christmas markets and a Bavarian Village. There are rides for all ages, from Ice Mountain to a ride around a Christmas tree in giant baubles. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland , Hyde Park, London. 21 November - 5 January. Off peak tickets are free and peak tickets are £7.50 Santa's Winter Wonderland at Snowdome Play and slide in a real snow wonderland, complete with sledges, snow slides, snow tubes and proper, falling snow. Then join Santa and friends for their all new, Santa in Wonderland stage show. Explore Santa’s Village, meeting his real , furry animal friends before finally visiting the Big Man’s home and leaving him a letter in the magical, talking post box. SnowDome , Leisure Island, River Drive, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7ND. 16 Novemnber- 5 January Santa's Special Trains - Epping Ongar Railway For turbo- Polar Express vibes (in Essex) head to the glorious Epping Ongar Railway to board Santa’s Special Train. Grab some festive drinks and nibbles and listen to the brass band while awaiting the magical train, then head over the footbridge for photos with the man in red and a view of the steam train’s grand arrival. Once onboard, children can write their letters to Santa and will be entertained by his elf friends, while waiting for Father Christmas to waddle through each carriage, meeting the children and giving them presents. Epping Ongar Railway , Station Approach, Chipping Ongar, Ongar, Essex, CM5 9BN. Select dates from 23 November to 24 Dec. The Father Christmas Experience at Marsh Farm Marsh Farm never disappoints in the Santa stakes. Small People must first head to the Elf Academy, where they will learn the crucial magic required to be inducted as honorary elves. Once they’ve received their elf passports, they stop off at Mother Christmas’ kitchen, for treats to fuel them through the adventure, which includes an audience with the Mr FC himself, a trip to the Teddy Bear market and a visit to Elfville’s Toy Shop, where they can exchange their Magical Snowy (elf dosh) for any toy on the shelves. This year, they have added rides, a Santa train and ice rink. Marsh Farm, Marsh Farm Road, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5WP. From 16 November to 24 Dec. Tickets from £30pp Christmas with Shrek For a swampy twist on the traditional grotto, head to Shrek’s Adventure, where the Big Green Ogre dons the famous red suit to take children on a festive, fairytale adventure from Far Far Away on a flying bus, guided by Donkey. They’ll encounter Puss in Boots, Pinocchio, Princess Fiona, Cinderella and the Muffin Man along the way, before their happily ever after, culminating in an audience with Santa Shrek for photos and sweet treats. Check out our Shrek’s Adventure review to find out more. Shrek’s Adventure tickets. Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1. Dates TBC Chelsea Christmas Grotto Sloane Square’s Chelsea Christmas Grotto launches a new Christmas experience, in partnership with festival events juggernauts, Underbelly. Follow the Christmas trees to Santa’s fancy grotto - scented by luxury fragrance maison, Diptyque.The Big FC will read them a story in a 25 minute session and each child will receive a gift from his elves.Afterwards, the family can explore the winter wonderland, featuring festive food and drink, twinkling winter terrace and a Bavarian Curling Rink. Chelsea Christmas Grotto . Sloane Square, London SW1W 8EG. 19 November - 24 December excluding 18 and 24 December. Tickets £15pp. Noir Kringle - The Black Santa's Grotto Experience Amazingly, Noir Kringle is London’s only diverse Santa experience, launched in 2018 to give children and parents the opportunity to visit a magical Christmas grotto where Father Christmas and all of his elves are Black. Noir Kringle events have been sell out hits every year since, for families who value the importance of positive Black representation, inclusion, and diversity. Mr Kringle loves rum coke and sorrel for Christmas Eve and his cosy workshop is full of the sounds, smells, and spirit of Christmas that encapsulate Black British culture. Noir Kringle , Crooked Billet Yard, Shoreditch, London, E2 8AF. Dates TBC Set Sail with Santa If a Santa rendezvous on dry land doesn’t float your boat, perhaps a Santa boat will? Santa’s embracing some self care away from the North Pole on a cruise around Poole, and you can join him for some mulled wine, mince pies and carols while you sail around Brownsea Island, Sandbanks Peninsula, Studland Bay and more. Santa meanders around the boat, meeting the little ones and dishing out gifts. After leaving your 1.15 hour Christmas cruise, you can wander around the Quay and admire the Christmas tree and festive shops. Santa Cruise , The Quay, Poole BH15 1BQ. from 30 November -24 December. Tickets from £16pp Winter's Tail at Chessington World of Adventures Follow the jolly elves as they guide you through a snowy wonderland with real falling snow, to Santa’s cosy cabin for an audience with the Big Guy. Afterwards, children head to his Toy Workshop top explore where he builds his gifts and can choose their own present to take home. Kids can also help the elves make (and eat) festive treats in the Magical Cookie Kitchen as well as enjoying The Wild Christmas Panto and a host of live entertainment to get them in the Christmas spirit, from carols to audiences with Mrs Christmas to real reindeer. And on top of that, they can enjoy some family favourite rides, like Room on the Broom and Adventure Tree, as well as lions, gorillas, sharks and rays at the zoo and Sea Life aquarium. Chessington World of Adventures .Leatherhead Rd, Chessington KT9 2NE. 23 November - 31 December Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

The Capital's Unmissable Art Shows this November 2024 November is filled with light (thanks to Anthony McCall) dark (hello Tim Burton and Serial Killers) and icons, from Marilyn and Barbie to Batman. There are also some brilliantly eccentric robot installations, Oasis exhibitions, trippy journeys through spiritual worlds, cartoonish hospitals and Japanese food art, among our top 16 London exhibitions this November, below: __________________________ Geumhyung Jeong: Under Construction Geumhyung Jeong’s brilliantly eccentric solo show sees the artist playing Frankenstein, performing with assorted disembodied robotic body parts, strewn around the gallery, to assemble, manipulate and perform choreographed parts alongside the animatronic creatures. ICA , The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH. Until 15 December. Tickets £6 pp Lost in Light Immersive light and sound installation giants - and the brains behind Four Tet’s immersive gig settings - Squidsoup have filled three floors of a 26,000 sq ft former Shoreditch rave venue with their best suspended light and soundscape installations. 118 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3PJ. Until 5 January 2025. Tickets from £23 per adult or £12 per child Batman Unmasked: The Exhibition Follow the Bat Signal and explore a never-before-seen collection of the Caped Crusader's original props, vehicles, and costumes. The new Batman exhibition has nine themed rooms, including the famous Wayne Manor library (and secret bookcase door) The Joker's Room and The Batcave. Batman Unmasked . 45 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7BN. Until 30 December. Tickets from £22 The World of Tim Burton We whispered Beetlejuice three times, and the UK premiere of The World of Tim Burton has been announced at London's Design Museum. Fittingly, the alchemist of whimsical goth horror’s exhibition launches just before Halloween, on 25 October, riding the crest of the hype-tsunami around the freshly released Beetlejuice 2 movie. The show will showcase his work beyond the silver-screen, as an illustrator, painter, photographer and author, as well as key collaborations with designers. Drawing from Burton’s personal archive and representing his creative output from childhood to the present day, this collection of drawings, paintings, photographs, sketchbooks, moving-image works, sculptural installations, set and costume design focuses on the recurrent visual themes and motifs found in Burton’s art and film worlds. This will be the final stop in a decade-long world tour for this exhibition and will be its only ever showing in the UK. The World of Tim Burton , Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High St, W8 6AG. 25 October 25 2024 - 21 April 2025. Tickets from £19.69 pp, Kid’s £9.85 Serial Killer: The Exhibition Go behind the police tape, inside the dark minds of monsters like Dahmer, Manson and Bundy at Serial Killer: The Exhibition . Now open at The Vaults  beneath Waterloo Station, this exhibition features crime scene recreations in seven immersive rooms, audio stories, VR headsets and more than 1000 original artefacts which belonged to some of the most notorious serial killers from history, from John Wayne Gacy’s paintings to Dahmer’s glasses. As well as exploring their methodology, typologies and psychological profiles, you’ll discover how investigative techniques have evolved over the years and, crucially, take time to honour the victims, who are poignantly named and pictured in the exhibition. Serial Killer: The Exhibition - London. The Vaults, Leake St, London, SE1 7NN. Tickets from £21pp. Until 5 January Marilyn: The Exhibition Read our review This UK premiere will offer a rare and unprecedented glimpse into the private world of the silverscreen icon, when it opens for a limited run at Arches London Bridge this October.    From love letters, satin robes and timeless outfits to vintage shoes, make-up and accessories, this meticulously curated collection features 250 extraordinary objects from the exclusive private collection of Ted Stampfer, the world's largest collector of Marilyn's historical objects. The eternally fascinating, Hollywood superstar's most personal belongings were locked in storage for almost 40 years before being dispersed across the globe, after being released to the world’s biggest auction houses. Finally, this vast and extraordinary collection has been reunited for this show, revealing the woman behind the world’s most famous smile. Marilyn: The Exhibition . Arches, London Bridge,  8 Bermondsey St, London SE1 2ER. Until 23 February 2025   Looks Delicious! S hokuhin sanpuru  – the Japanese concept of placing unexpectedly realistic food replicas in restaurant windows - has been celebrated, in this feast for the eyes. Audiences can admire 47 of these skilfully-created models up close, with dishes ranging from Okinawan goya chanpuru  (bitter melon stir fry) to the indigenous Ainu ohaw (soup with salmon) from the northern island of Hokkaido. The free show explores the history, materials, processes and future potential of the craft. Japan House , 101-111 Kensington High St, London W8 5SA. Until 16 February. FREE Definitely Maybe: A View from Within The Oasis reunion didn’t get much attention, so to mark it, Town Hall Hotel is showing a FREE exhibition of photographer Michael Spencer Jones' work with Oasis, including their first three album covers (including Definitely Maybe), as well as never before seen images of the band.  Town Hall Hotel, 8 Patriot Square, London E2 9NF. Until 31 December. FREE Turner Prize 2024 Work by the four shortlisted Turner Prize artists will go on display from 25 September , ahead of the 40th year of the awards ceremony, which has made stars of everybody from Damien Hirst to Grayson Perry. Delaine le Bas and Jasleen Kaur explore their Glaswegian Sikh and Roma heritages via immersive installations; Claudette Johnson examines the marginalisation of Black people in Western art, through striking figurative portraits, and Pio Abad reflects on colonialism, with drawings and sculptures of artefacts from Oxford museums. Tate Britain , Millbank, London SW1P 4RG. 25 September - 16 February 2025 Monet and London - Views of the Thames A world away from his water lilies and sunny gardens, Monet and London will realise the Impressionist’s unfulfilled ambition of showing this extraordinary group of paintings of London - just 300 metres from the Savoy Hotel where many of them were painted. They demonstrate that some of his most remarkable Impressionist paintings were made not in France but in London, depicting views of the Thames with his trademark light, atmosphere and radiant colour. The Courtauld Gallery, The Denise Coates Exhibition Galleries. Until 19 January. £16pp Barbie: The Exhibition The wonder doll (and society’s) evolution is charted in this luminous exhibition, which opened this month, to coincide with Barbie’s 65th birthday. Exploring her story through a design lens including fashion, architecture, furniture and vehicle design, her plastic-fantastic universe has engulfed the Design Museum, showing changing attitudes to women’s careers - Barbie has had more than 250 jobs -  race, sexuality, fashion and body image. Highlights include a rare first edition of the very first doll released by Mattel in 1959, the first Black, Hispanic and Asian dolls to bear the Barbie name, as well as dolls that reflect today’s diverse, multicultural society, including the first Barbie with Down Syndrome, the first to use a wheelchair, and the first to be designed with a curvy body shape. Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG. Until 23 February 2025. Adult from £14.38. Children from £7.19 Anthony McCall - Solid Light at Tate Modern The Godfather of immersive exhibitions, Anthony McCall brings his extraordinary, Solid Light show to Tate Modern on 27 June, inviting visitors to bring artworks to life through movements and interactions. Beams of light projected through a thin mist create large, three-dimensional forms in space, which slowly shift and change. As you move through these translucent light sculptures, you’ll create new, airy sculptures. Occupying a space between sculpture, cinema, drawing, and performance, McCall is known for his innovative installations of light. In 1973, his seminal work Line Describing a Cone redefined the possibilities of sculpture and this show is set to be the Tate’s next big blockbuster. Anthony McCall: Solid Light. Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG. Until 27 April 2025. Tickets £10 pp. Entheon at Illusionaries  Illusionaries , Canary Wharf's new multi-sensory art space, invites us on a journey through three immersive rooms and installations, designed to engage the senses through soundscapes, animation, projection and colour. The UK premiere of the Entheon show sees international artists Alex and Allyson Grey explore the human condition, with kaleidoscopic pieces, showing the interconnectedness of the physical and spiritual worlds. Alex and Allyson are also the co-founders of Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM), a non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering creativity, spirituality and contemplation through art.  Entheon . Illusionaries, Crossrail Pl, London E14 5AR. Until 30 November NAOMI in Fashion at V&A The V&A will transform into the ultimate catwalk for a celebration of supermodel Naomi Campbell’s 40 year career, from 22 June. The show features more than 100 stunning outfits as well as iconic shots by some of the world’s biggest photographers, telling her extraordinary story and celebrating her creative collaborations, activism and far-reaching cultural impact. Victoria & Albert Museum , Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL. Until 6 April 2025 Fragile Beauty  Sir Elton John and David Furnish are sharing their extraordinary private collection of more than 300 rare prints from over 140 photographers, for V&A’s new, summer blockbuster. The show features photographers including Cindy Sherman, Ai Weiwei and Robert Mapplethorpe and includes portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Miles Davis. It spans from the Fifties to the present day, covering the civil rights movement and AIDS activism to 9/11 and has eight themes, from the male body to fashion and celebrity. The show will be the gallery’s largest temporary exhibition of photography to date. Fragile Beauty : Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection in partnership with Gucci. Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL.  Until 5 January 2025. Tickets £20 pp. The Vinyl Factory: REVERB The Vinyl Factory explores the intersection of art and sound with a major new multimedia exhibition at 180 Studios. Bringing together more than 100 artists and musicians working across visual arts, music, film and live performance, the show features 18 installations, including audio visual pieces and sonic experiences. There will also be a chill out space to listen to vinyl, plus live performances, talks and UK premieres of many ambitious new artworks. The Vinyl Factory , 180 Studios, 180 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1EA.Until 10 November  Jason and the Adventure of 254 Artist Jason Wilsher-Mills presents his major (and FREE) solo exhibition, which transforms the gallery into a cartoonish hospital ward, full of surreal humour and kaleidoscopic colour, exploring his experience of becoming disabled as a child. The joyful show is perfect for all ages - you are invited to touch everything. Highlights include a giant installation of a figure in a hospital bed, Seb Coe with a TV for a head, huge calliper boots and penny arcade inspired dioramas. Wellcome Collection ,  183 Euston Rd, London NW1 2BE.  FREE. Until 12 January 2025 Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

The Top Kid's, Food & Drink and Adult's Advent Calendars of 2024 Count down to Christmas with our guide to the most original and delicious advent calendars of 2024. From musical Gruffalo calendars, to advent doll's houses, luxury beauty calendars housed within jewellery boxes, gardener's calendars and hot chocolate treats, it's all here. __________________ KIDS The Gruffalo Musical Advent Calendar This magical advent calendar plays three songs from The Gruffalo’s Child movie, while magnetic characters dance on its ice rink, in front of a wintry forest backdrop. Open the doors to reveal pop-up scenery, stickers and three skating figures (Gruffalo, Gruffalo Child and snake) for the Music Box base as you count down to Christmas. It’s also filled with 3D pop-up card models and a range of stickers to decorate the festive scene. BUY FROM DANILO. £24.49 Polly Pocket Advent Calendar This wonderfully original advent calendar is housed in a giant pink gingerbread house playset, with numbered doors opening up to 25 different Christmas rooms in the house, filled with festive surprises to play with. The set houses 24 toys, from Christmas trees to cake rings, snowmen and furniture. There are also two dolls to live in the calendar house and the best bit is that it can be played with all-year round. BUY FROM JOHN LEWIS. £14.69 Pokemon Advent Calendar This fabulous Pokemon Holiday Calendar by Jazwares is bulging with 16 Battle Figures and eight accessories, for a festive Pokemon toy for every day of the Christmas countdown . All Battle Figures have a pearlescent finish that is exclusive to this calendar. It’s comes in a lovely, sturdy advent box and is the perfect way for little Pikachus to count down to the big day. BUY FROM JOHN LEWIS . £24 Pinball Machine Advent Calendar This planet-friendly, limited edition Pinball Machine Advent Calendar by Build Your Own has pieces and instructions behind each door on the countdown to Christmas. Over December, you will gradually assemble the pieces to construct a fully functioning Pinball Machine that the whole family can enjoy on Christmas Eve and beyond. Load your swirly glass marbles into the spring-loaded launcher and let the game begin. Will your marbles whizz along the top ramp or spin around the vortex cone? Use the elastic-band powered flippers to keep your marbles in play for as long as possible and get the highest score. There are five targets to aim for in this fast-paced action-packed game, which is easy to assemble using slot together techniques, with no glue, no mess and no fuss. BUY FROM BUILDYOUROWN £19.99 GROWN-UPS AYU Cosmetics Advent Calendar This stunning advent calendar doubles as a beautiful, velvet lined jewellery box with mirror  and pull out drawer, and houses 12 full-sized AYU Cosmetics products. On each day in the twelve night countdown, you will discover numbered boxes containing full size luxury gifts like Illuminating Face Cream, Glamour Lengthening Mascara, Liquid Blush (Pink or Peach), Cream Shadow Stick, Concealer Brush, Buffer Foundation Brush, Lip Gloss, Lip Balm (New & Exclusive), Kajal Eye Pencil, Eye Shadow Palette, Individual Eyeshadow, Brush Soap (New & Exclusive). You also have peace of mind, knowing that make-up artist Suzie O’Neill’s award-winning brand is fully vegan, never tests on animals and only uses wood from regenerated forests for the handles of their brushes. A truly stunning countdown to the big day. BUY FROM AYU COSMETICS. £127.73 Bimble & Bolt Runners Advent Calendar Perfect for passionate runners, park run joggers and fitness lovers of all kinds, this advent calendar sells out every year. It's bulging with the team’s brand-new Soft Stepper running socks, along with a mix of running accessories, energy boosters, hydration essentials, and snacks. With a total combined retail value of over £60, this calendar is packed with everything you need to elevate your runs.  BUY FROM BIMBLE & BOLT. £39.99 Yankee Candle Advent Book This gorgeous calendar is packed with 24 days of festive fragrances, hidden behind each door. It includes: Silver Sage & Pine, Cinnamon Stick, Wild Orchid, Amber & Sandalwood, Bayside Cedar, Vanilla Bean Espresso, Vanilla Cupcake, Black Cherry, Red Raspberry, Clean Cotton®, Spiced Banana Bread, and Soft Wool and Amber Accessory as well as a Constellation sliver plated glass Tea Light Holder. BUY FROM YANKEE CANDLE . £49.99 Border in a Box Advent Calendar The perfect Christmas countdown for green fingers, this unique calendar has 24 packets of seeds behind each door, containing a mixture of flowers, vegetables, herbs and even a Christmas Tree. The seeds have been selected to cultivate a diverse and vibrant garden, from fragrant herbs to colourful flowers, delicious vegetables and your own Norway Spruce tree. The pack contains twine to hang the 24, numbered seed envelopes, which feature a pretty, hand drawn wreath design, and 24 mini pegs. BUY FROM NOTONTHEHIGHSTREET £49.99 FOOD & DRINK Popcorn Shed Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendars Popcorn Shed have two moreish advent calendars to pop open over December. The Signature Gourmet calendar has the beautiful festive design of a snow-capped, Popcorn Shed shop, bulging with 24 flavours, including Salted Caramel, Pop N Choc, Peanut Butter Caramel, Pecan Pie, Berry-licious and Cookies & Cream. The Vegan Gourmet calendar is equally delicious, in an emerald green box, festooned with  trees, crackers and holly and containing 24 treats, in Butterscotch, Cocoa Caramel, Cherry Pie, Gingerbread, Chocolate Orange and Christmas Pudding flavours. The only tricky part is limiting yourself to one window... BUY FROM POPCORN SHED. £25 Wonderland 12 Cocktails of Christmas This gift pack of easy but impressive cocktails is guaranteed to put the merry into Christmas. The 12 cocktails use Brewdog's spirits and are cunningly designed with extra space in the can, for the perfect shake and pour. The fizzy offerings in the box simply need to be chilled and poured. The treats include perfectly made classics, like the Mojito, Cosmo and Margarita along with some inspired twists on bar favourites, like their wonderfully festive Chocolate Orange Espresso Martini, or the Watermelon Margarita. No shaking, mixing, or messing up recipes, just perfect, bar-quality cocktails straight from the fridge - a lovely gift which will disappear worryingly quickly, if your recipient is anything like us... BUY FROM BREWDOG . £40 Cocoba Hot Chocolate Advent calendar An ingenious antidote to the traditional choccie calendar, this bad-boy contains an assortment of 24 hot chocolate bombes, spoons, and drinking chocolate flakes, all crafted from premium chocolate. It’s excellent value, in a chunky and suitably merry box, with everything you need to make the perfect, velvety winter cocoa. BUY FROM COCOBA . £62.95 TWG Tea’s The Twelfth Night Advent Calendar This luxurious calendar is a unique take on the advent countdown, with 12 of the finest teas included. The beautifully presented calendar is a gorgeous way to warm you through the countdown, with a dozen Christmas teas behind each door, including Christmas Jewel Tea; Magic Christmas Tea; Night in Paris Tea; Night in Shanghai Tea; and Night in New York Tea. BUY FROM TWG TEA . £70.98 We have been gifted samples in order to provide honest and accurate tried and tested reviews. But we never feature anything we don't recommend. Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

Remarkable Immersive Theatre and Victorian Banquet Experience Bursts with Christmas Spirit Even the steeliest Scrooges will wrap themselves in mistletoe and dispatch urchins to buy fat geese after experiencing The Great Christmas Feast , a remarkable immersive experience which combines theatre, cinematic live music, food, drink and blockbuster sets, loaded with festive magic. The Lost Estate’s critically acclaimed retelling of A Christmas Carol has sold out for the past six years, so our expectations are high, as we head through the red velvet draped entrance for its launch event, into snowy, cobbled Victorian streets and through the secret, Christmas tree-flanked front door into the home of Charles Dickens himself. The theatre and feasting space transports us to Christmas Eve in Victorian London, 1843. With 5000sq ft of sets made by Darling & Edge - the legendary immersive designers behind Gingerline, Secret Cinema and Crystal Maze - the story unfolds around us before the show begins. The room is vast, yet intimate, atmospherically lit by flickering table candles and dangling street lights. The festive smells of roast duck and mulled wine hang in the air; classical Christmas music sets the tone, we’re surrounded by Christmas trees, artfully piled old books with four stages dotted around us, featuring sets like Scrooge’s velvet bed or Charles Dickens’s desk. Our china tea cups are filled with mulled cider, quickly followed by excellent Victorian cocktails - I have the First Edition 1843 - a fresh, citric Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne, Cognac and Yellow Chartreuse long fizz - and my partner kicks off with an Old Curiosity, their festive take on the Old Fashioned, infused with toasted pecans, burnt orange and winter bitters. Then the gong sounds, the lights dim and Charles Dickens bursts into the room - actor Alex Phelps reprises this role, as well as Scrooge and 18 other characters in this powerful, one-man performance, which recognises Dickens’s famous solo readings of his works, with us playing the role of his specially invited audience to preview his new, ghostly Christmas tale, over dinner at his home. Phelps fizzes with energy and captivating charisma, taking over the entire space, bouncing between tables to share wine with diners, and leaping through characters, aided by clever sets, dramatic lighting, spine-tingling effects and extraordinary live music from acclaimed musicians, who are the beating heart of the experience. His youthful Dickens reimagines the stuffy, mutton-chopped character that many imagine, and is perhaps closer to the jolly philanthropist, and occasional magician that he was. Stand out moments include a beautiful scene, with Phelps as Ghost of Christmas Present, fanning snowflakes around himself as he spins around in a green velvet coat; or the dramatic lightning-lit moment, when he sees a terrifying glimpse of his future. Phelps artfully moves the audience, recreating the family mourning Tiny Tim and then fills the room with cheer, forcing the room to join a rowdy Victorian dance, or bringing up audience members to act out scenes with him - many diners are dressed in period attire for the occasion and most are in their Victorian best. The show is divided into three acts, with an extravagant Victorian course for each, provided by Dickens’s housekeeper Ursula, otherwise known as Executive Chef Ashley Clarke, who is known for his delicious work with Gordon Ramsay Group, Smokestak, and Temper Soho. These are masterful. We begin with an explosion of Christmas flavours, via a dreamy Ham Hock Terrine with Pickled Beets, Samphire, Chutneys and Pickles, mopped up with great, Dickensian hunks of malt and white sourdough with truffle and sea salt butter. This is followed by a rich and tender Confit Grassingham Duck leg, with flesh which falls from the bone. The artichoke purée, mulled cabbage, and duck jus trimmings are excellent, and the standout is the crispy and fluffy thyme and garlic roast potatoes, which our forks greedily fight over. I lack a sweet tooth, but seemed to grow several for the dessert - it’s a Christmas miracle. The Twelfth Night Cake is Christmas on steroids - crispy, gooey, bursting with brandy and accompanied by a sublime plum pudding ice cream. These are all washed down with a lovely Rioja from Dickens’ well stocked wine cellar. The production is outrageously ambitious and with so many balls in the air, you would expect (and forgive) them for dropping one. But this is not the case, they triumph in every element - from the theatre to the food, drink, atmosphere, music and sets. We reluctantly return to the cold, dark streets of West Kensington, warmed by the festive magic of Dickens's hospitality and brimming with Christmas spirits of every form. The Great Christmas Feast , 9 Beaumont Ave, London W14 9LP. Until 12 January 2025. Tickets from £105 pp Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?