Not quite singing along to Mariah Carey yet? Still haven't busted out the festive knit?
If the Christmas spirit hasn't quite banished your inner Grinch yet then never fear, we've got a host of activities to get you in the mood.
Countdown to Christmas
Pop Up Cinema(01 of07)
There really is no better way to get in the festive mood for Christmas than going to see an old classic. Enter the cinema through a magical Narnia wardrobe, and trample through ferns and fake snow to reach the magical, fairy-lit seating area. Boasting everything from Home Alone to It's A Wonderful Life, and serving mulled wine on site, the only thing missing are the mince pies. Tickets here. (credit:Pop Up Screens)
Ice Skating At The National History Museum(02 of07)
Take to the ice in front of the beautifully-lit National History Museum to get your toes tingling and heart racing. With the trees draped in lights, German market-style chalets surrounding the rink and a Christmas tree as the centre piece in the middle of the ice, there's no excuse not to get into the festive spirit. Don't forget to warm your cockles with a glass of mulled wine or cup of hot chocolate in the cafe after your session. Tickets here. (credit:Natural History Museum)
The Shard(03 of07)
Pop up a few storeys to view London in all it's panoramic glory. The Shard is currently promoting its Monopoly set, so there's a giant board on the floor - entertaining enough in itself. It is pricey however (from £25), but it'd make great Christmas present for your other half - as you get to enjoy it too. Although it's not specifically Christmassy, you can't help feeling festive when you look across at the twinkling city landscape. Stick it out on the viewing gallery and use the information telescopes to learn more about the capital, or brave the elements upstairs, where you can wander around the perimeter of London's tallest building. Tickets here. (credit:The View From The Shard)
Winter Wonderland(04 of07)
Of course, no Christmas list would be complete without a Winter Wonderland trip. Best of all, it's actually free to wander around, it's the games, bratwurst and mulled wine which can set you back. Check out the classic Hyde Park version (pictured), or the trendy version in Victoria Park, complete with free clubbing nights. (credit:Hyde Park Winter Wonderland)
Check Out The Christmas Lights(05 of07)
Kill two birds with one stone and check out the Christmas lights while you're doing your present dash. Regent's Street, Bond Street (pictured) and Covent Garden boast the best. A sure-fire way to banish your inner Grinch - and all for absolutely nothing. (credit:PA)
Christmas Markets(06 of07)
There's a whole host of Christmas Markets popping up across London, including at the Tate Modern (pictured), Barbican, Southbank, Canary Wharf - to name a few. They're totally free, until you start glugging the mulled wine and munching mince pies, that is. (credit:Tate Modern Christmas Market)
Pennethorne's @ Somerset House(07 of07)
Forget the Somerset House skating and hunker down in Pennethorne's for a lazy afternoon of cocktails, cheese and cured meats. The newly-opened bar-cum-cafe is a delightful refuge from the busy Strand and offers artisan coffees, wines and specialist breads and pastries.
But it's the evening menu which is the show-stopper. The mushrooms on toast are to die for; seeped in madeira and enriched with cream, they're gobsmackingly good and sumptuously succulent. The potted spicy aubergine is thick, creamy and packed with punchy Eastern flavours - a veer off the Italian - French - English theme but delicious nonetheless.
Opt for the selection of cheeses to sample the best of what Pennethorne's has to offer, and let your tastebuds go into overdrive. Bypass the smell of the Vacherin - because it really is the best; gooey, creamy, salty - it's difficult to tear yourself away. Gorge yourself on the intense-yet-surprisingly-delicate Monte Enebro goat's cheese and pair with the fig and apricot bread - you won't ever look back.
To top it all off, sample Pennethorne's surprisingly reasonably cocktails. The signature espresso number packs a fiery punch, but it's by wandering off-piste and letting the wonderfully knowledgeable and amenable maitre'd craft one for you that make things really interesting. (credit:Pennethorne's)
But it's the evening menu which is the show-stopper. The mushrooms on toast are to die for; seeped in madeira and enriched with cream, they're gobsmackingly good and sumptuously succulent. The potted spicy aubergine is thick, creamy and packed with punchy Eastern flavours - a veer off the Italian - French - English theme but delicious nonetheless.
Opt for the selection of cheeses to sample the best of what Pennethorne's has to offer, and let your tastebuds go into overdrive. Bypass the smell of the Vacherin - because it really is the best; gooey, creamy, salty - it's difficult to tear yourself away. Gorge yourself on the intense-yet-surprisingly-delicate Monte Enebro goat's cheese and pair with the fig and apricot bread - you won't ever look back.
To top it all off, sample Pennethorne's surprisingly reasonably cocktails. The signature espresso number packs a fiery punch, but it's by wandering off-piste and letting the wonderfully knowledgeable and amenable maitre'd craft one for you that make things really interesting. (credit:Pennethorne's)