Take a break from Christmas shopping and do something more interesting instead

Now that December is here, it’s easy to get a bit wrapped up in the Christmas rush and forget to take some time out for yourself. But there’s plenty of special events, talks and workshops taking place in the capital this month that will give you a well earned break from modern consumerism. Have a brew and check out Contrary Life’s pick of this month’s cultural and cakey offerings…

Parlour music, greenery and wellbeing at The Museum of the Home

This month, the Museum of the Home will be running a variety of events including a feast of songs in the museum’s Georgian room with singer and storyteller Matthew Crampton and concertina maestro Michael Hebbert (2nd December); a Christmas greenery workshop (7th December), allowing visitors a breather from all the glitter to make some living decorations for the home; a much needed wellbeing and restoration workshop (14th December) where you can create your own organic skincare products; and a talk exploring the origins of Christmas, with mulled wine (18th December).

Bind your own book and hear about Clandestine printers at St Bride’s

The St Bride Foundation has a runs a year round programme of fascinating talks and workshops teaching traditional skills including printing, bookbinding and wood engraving. This month (3rd December), hear a little known story of a clandestine press; and learn the basic skills to bind a book, using a range of materials (7th December).

Eclair decorating at Maître Choux

Celebrate Christmas with your kids by decorating and building your own Christmas tree pièce montée out of mini éclairs at Maître Choux King’s Road. Decorate your edible tree with sugar snowflakes, mini marshmallows, and silver and gold glitter, helped by pastry chefs. Workshops will take place every weekend until Christmas.

A pictorial walk at the London Metropolitan Archives

Discover the London of eighteenth century surgeon and anatomist John Hunter at the London Metropolitan Archives, with a lecture by Medical Historian Sue Weir (4th December). This free talk will be illustrated with images, providing an understanding of how the city informed his life and work.