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London’s museums and art galleries are offering frantic Christmas shoppers the perfect sanctuary to escape into this year, with a range of festive exhibitions and events on offer.

From concerts to Christmas markets to candlelit tours, there’s plenty of incentives to free up your weekend and bring joy to your mind away from the hustle and bustle. Here’s our guide to what’s going on in the cultural quarter.

Christmas at the National Gallery

The crowning jewel of Trafalgar Square will have a series of events and activities designed around the star theme. Inside the gallery there will be a star trail, so visitors can track down paintings containing stars, and there will also be a series of films showing about stars in art. Workshops and talks include a look at JMW Turner’s The Evening Star and a class on how to make a star decoration, and there will be a pop-up festival of Christmassy films too.

Until January 6; nationalgallery.org.uk

The V&A

Visitors to the V&A can experience the magic of a Victorian Christmas with a spectacular array of events taking place in the museum. There will be a trail of Christmas objects to find amongst the exhibitions, as well as a lunchtime carol series and tours around the Christmas exhibits. There will be displays of Victorian Christmas cards as well as a celebration of pantomimes, crowned by a special promenade performance, Victoria and Albert’s Christmas Carol.

Until January 6; vam.ac.uk

Royal Observatory, Greenwich

The night sky over Christmas offers up some real delights - not just reindeers driving a sleigh through the sky. If you want to know what’s really going on up there, there will be a planetarium show presented live by a Royal Observatory astronomer, which promises an astronomy-inspired twist on the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Throughout December; rmg.co.uk

Dulwich Picture Gallery

A stroll through the beautiful Dulwich Park is enough to make anyone feel Christmassy, but if you pop down to Dulwich Picture Gallery, the spirit is truly alive with a winter lights trail and artisan market. Winterlights sees the 19th century building illuminated with dazzling lights after dark, and some nights will even see a magician performing in the grounds. There will be Christmas storytelling in their enchanted cottage too, and a pop-up choir.

Until 18 December; dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

Charles Dickens Museum

Charles Dickens’ house in Bloomsbury is dressed for Christmas, and there’s plenty to do that will make a change from watching Oliver Twist over one too many mince pies. The museum offers various costumed walking tours around Dickens’ London, as well as performances of A Christmas Carol. There will be candlelit evenings in the museum as well as the chance to see their latest exhibition, The Ladybird Life of Dickens.

Victorian Christmas celebrations at the Charles Dickens Museum 6 show all Victorian Christmas celebrations at the Charles Dickens Museum 1/6 Sarah Jackson celebrates Victorian Christmas at Charles Dickens Museum, London Rex 2/6 Mark Shaer dressed as Jacob Marley rehearsing for a performance of Another Christmas Carol which is part of the Victorian Christmas celebrations at the Charles Dickens Museum in London Philip Toscano/PA 3/6 Victorian Christmas at Charles Dickens Museum, London Stefan Wermuth/Reuters 4/6 Julian Bird dressed as Scrooge and Sarah Jackson as the Ghost of Christmas past rehearsing for a performance of Another Christmas Carol which is part of the Victorian Christmas celebrations at the Charles Dickens Museum in London Philip Toscano/PA 5/6 Sarah Jackson dressed as the Ghost of Christmas past rehearsing for a performance of Another Christmas Carol which is part of the Victorian Christmas celebrations at the Charles Dickens Museum in London Philip Toscano/PA 6/6 Sarah Jackson celebrates Victorian Christmas at Charles Dickens Museum, London Rex 1/6 Sarah Jackson celebrates Victorian Christmas at Charles Dickens Museum, London Rex 2/6 Mark Shaer dressed as Jacob Marley rehearsing for a performance of Another Christmas Carol which is part of the Victorian Christmas celebrations at the Charles Dickens Museum in London Philip Toscano/PA 3/6 Victorian Christmas at Charles Dickens Museum, London Stefan Wermuth/Reuters 4/6 Julian Bird dressed as Scrooge and Sarah Jackson as the Ghost of Christmas past rehearsing for a performance of Another Christmas Carol which is part of the Victorian Christmas celebrations at the Charles Dickens Museum in London Philip Toscano/PA 5/6 Sarah Jackson dressed as the Ghost of Christmas past rehearsing for a performance of Another Christmas Carol which is part of the Victorian Christmas celebrations at the Charles Dickens Museum in London Philip Toscano/PA 6/6 Sarah Jackson celebrates Victorian Christmas at Charles Dickens Museum, London Rex

Throughout December; dickensmuseum.com

Natural History Museum

It’s a classic but a goodie - the Natural History Museum’s Christmas ice rink is back. Pop down for some atmospheric romantic skating action (try not to fall over in front of your beloved) or take the family down on the weekend for some fun. It’s open until 9pm every night so plenty of time to get your skates on.

Until January 8; nhm.ac.uk

Tate Britain

Look up in awe at Shirazeh Houshiary’s amazing upside down Christmas tree and take your kids along for some great family fun. There’s a collage-making workshop in the family studio and a special New Year storytime on January 2. Over on the South Bank, there will be a Christmas market outside the Tate Modern.

Until January 3; tate.org.uk

The National Trust’s Red House

William Morris’s house is the perfect place for a gothic narrative poem by candlelight. Theatre company Palimpsest will perform their immersive show If I Can, telling the stories of the influential artists of the time.

Until December 18 (performances Friday - Sunday); nationaltrust.org.uk/red-house

Tower of London

The Tower of London ice rink is a pretty spectacular place to enjoy a spin on the ice, and there will also be a reenactment of a medieval Christmas for all history lovers (whether they still gave each other socks every year back then is yet to be revealed).

Throughout December; hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london

Geffrye Museum

Feel even more at home this Christmas by exploring 400 years of Christmas in English homes. The Geffrye Museum has a free exhibition exploring how families have amused and antagonised each other on December 25 throughout the ages. There are plenty of other events too, including a workshop for greenfingered gardeners to make a 19th century inspired festive decoration, and a concert by candlelight. There will also be a late night Crafty Fox Market, and a ceremony bidding farewell to Christmas taking place in January.

Until January 8; geffrye-museum.org.uk

Kew Gardens

Kew is already a place of botanical beauty, but it now turns into a wonderland after dark with a Christmas light trail. There will be a scented Fire Garden inspired by the Twelve Days of Christmas, and even a chance to pause under mistletoe lit by candlelight.

Kew Gardens Festive Illuminated Trail 2016 - In pictures 12 show all Kew Gardens Festive Illuminated Trail 2016 - In pictures 1/12 The Palm House is illuminated at Kew Gardens Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 2/12 The Hive Instillation is illuminated during a preview for Christmas at Kew Gardens Andrew Matthews/PA 3/12 "Five Golden Rings" part of the "Fire Garden" at the launch of "Christmas at Kew" at the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens Matt Dunham/AP 4/12 Eleanor Crucial-Felix plays on a light installation with her mother Isadora at Kew Gardens Eddie Keogh/Reuters 5/12 A woman poses in a tunnel of LED lights at Kew Gardens Jack Taylor/Getty Images 6/12 The Palm House is illuminated at Kew Gardens Jack Taylor/Getty Images 7/12 A fire display in the 'Fire Garden' at Kew Gardens Jack Taylor/Getty Images 8/12 The Hive Instillation is illuminated during a preview for Christmas at Kew Gardens Andrew Matthews/PA 9/12 A light installation is seen on the Palm House at Kew Gardens Eddie Keogh/Reuters 10/12 A tunnel of lights at Kew Gardens Eddie Keogh/Reuters 11/12 Youki Crump from Kew Gardens, looks up at The Hive Instillation as it is illuminated during a preview for Christmas at Kew Gardens Andrew Matthews/PA 12/12 A fire display in the 'Fire Garden' at Kew Gardens Jack Taylor/Getty Images 1/12 The Palm House is illuminated at Kew Gardens Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 2/12 The Hive Instillation is illuminated during a preview for Christmas at Kew Gardens Andrew Matthews/PA 3/12 "Five Golden Rings" part of the "Fire Garden" at the launch of "Christmas at Kew" at the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens Matt Dunham/AP 4/12 Eleanor Crucial-Felix plays on a light installation with her mother Isadora at Kew Gardens Eddie Keogh/Reuters 5/12 A woman poses in a tunnel of LED lights at Kew Gardens Jack Taylor/Getty Images 6/12 The Palm House is illuminated at Kew Gardens Jack Taylor/Getty Images 7/12 A fire display in the 'Fire Garden' at Kew Gardens Jack Taylor/Getty Images 8/12 The Hive Instillation is illuminated during a preview for Christmas at Kew Gardens Andrew Matthews/PA 9/12 A light installation is seen on the Palm House at Kew Gardens Eddie Keogh/Reuters 10/12 A tunnel of lights at Kew Gardens Eddie Keogh/Reuters 11/12 Youki Crump from Kew Gardens, looks up at The Hive Instillation as it is illuminated during a preview for Christmas at Kew Gardens Andrew Matthews/PA 12/12 A fire display in the 'Fire Garden' at Kew Gardens Jack Taylor/Getty Images

Until January 2; kew.org

London Transport Museum

The London Transport Museum will offer kids the chance to meet the only man who travels by sleigh, with a Santa’s grotto. There will also be a giant train set as well as an elf trail for families to follow around the museum’s Victorian Christmas-themed galleries.

Throughout December; ltmuseum.co.uk

The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

The ticket ballot to go to this year’s lectures on energy and fuelling the future is now closed, but science fans can get the next best thing with behind the scenes tours showing how the Lectures take shape.

Until December 15; rigb.org

The Star in its Stable of Light

This neon sculpture created by Ian Hamilton Finlay in 1976 is on display opposite the traditional nativity scene at the west end of the cathedral.

St Paul’s Cathedral, EC4. Until Feb 2; stpauls.co.uk

Music and Readings for Christmas

Traditional words and music with accompaniment by the cathedral choir and orchestra. Tickets from £10.

Westminster Cathedral, SW1. December 20 & 21, 7.30pm; ticketmaster.co.uk

Five Go Jiving

Grab your dancing shoes and jive away the afternoon of Christmas Eve on London’s greatest sprung floor.

Festival Hall Ballroom, SE1. Sat, 12.30pm; southbankcentre.co.uk

Maíno’s Adorations

Visit this free display of two magnificient nativity paintings by the Spanish baroque master Juan Bautista Maíno, on loan from the Prado.

National Gallery, WC2. Until Jan 29; nationalgallery.org.uk

Shadows, Stories and Secrets

Explore the hidden parts of the museum with free drop-in events for all the family, 11am-4pm.

British Museum, WC1. Dec 22; britishmuseum.org

Presepio: An Italian Nativity Scene

Visit a traditional Neapolitan nativity scene, with figures dating back to the 18th century, on show in the reconstructed Santa Chiara chapel in the museum’s Medieval and Renaissance galleries.

V&A, SW7. Until Jan 6; vam.ac.uk

DOLLYMan

A free alternative Christmas party at the gallery hosted by jazz-classical-rock group DOLLYman.

National Portrait Gallery, WC2. Fri, 6.30pm; npg.org.uk

Christmas Spectacular

Join the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra for a series of family events designed to prolong the festive spirit. Music includes a Tchaikovsky classic and surprises such as Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter.

Royal Albert Hall, SW7. Dec 27 to Dec 30; royalalberthall.com

Festive Physics

A free interactive show (four sessions between 11.30am and 3.30pm) exploring the science of Christmas, including the secret of crackers.

Science Museum, SW7. December 21; sciencemuseum.org.uk

Treehugger

In a bid to promote conservation over consumerism, this artwork allows you to hug a virtual reality giant sequoia tree and be wowed by the gift of nature.

Southbank Centre, SE1. Until Dec 28; southbankcentre.co.uk

Glorious Handel by Candlelight

The Mozart Festival Orchestra dons 18th-century costume to play an afternoon concert of Handel’s greatest music, including excerpts from Messiah.

Barbican Hall, EC2. Dec 28; barbican.org.uk

Abstract Expressionism

The RA is opening its blockbuster show specially on Christmas Eve to offer respite to jaded shoppers, and until 8pm from Dec 27 to 30, and 10pm on Dec 30.

Royal Academy of Arts, W1. Until Jan 2; royalacademy.org.uk

Visit standard.co.uk/arts for the latest news and reviews from London’s arts scene

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