Top note: the Spitalfields Music Festival is back with loads of music and music-related events (December 1-9)

On the waterfront: beanbags, blankets and schmoozy Christmas movies at the Floating Film Festival at St Katherine Docks (December 3-9)

Emerging artists: Bloomberg New Contemporaries show takes over the South London Gallery main site + Fire Station in Camberwell (December 5-February 24)

Light up time: get there early - the famous Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree switches on at 6pm on December 6.

Oh crumbs: the V&A's Museum of Architecture opens its Gingerbread City show, with designs by 60 different architects, from December 8.

Music in the round: glorious Temple Church celebrates Christmas in style with its Winter Music Festival (December 10-14)

Pedal power: 2018 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup takes place at the Lee Valley VeloPark (December 14-16)

Horses for courses: the annual Panto Horse Race (with obstacles) kicks off at Greenwich at 1pm December 16 - turn up from 11am for free fun and games.

Big Dip: the 155th Peter Pan Cup Swimming Race in the Serpentine, Hyde Park, starts at 9am on Christmas Day.

Animal magic: acrobats, jugglers, contortionists and life-size elephants by the Warhorse puppeteers appear in Circus 1903 at the South Bank Centre (December 19-January 5)