Unmissable events
Exhibition Until January 6, 2019 The Museum of Architecture’s Gingerbread City (right), V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7. For the third year running, architects, designers and engineers have crafted an entire city from gingerbread, icing and sweets, complete with lighting, inhabitants (gingerbread men) and wildlife (sugar mice). Tickets £6, free for V&A members and children under 12 (020–7942 2000; www.thegingerbreadcity. com)
Until December 22 Annabel Pope solo show, The Osborne Studio Gallery, Motcomb Street, London SW1. The wildlife of Africa is brought to life in the artist’s charming drawings and paintings, inspired by her travels (020–7235 9667; www.osg.uk.com)
Music December 21 Gian-carlo Menotti: Amahl and the Night Visitors, St Mary’s Church, Bampton, Oxfordshire. Bampton Classical Opera performs the muchloved, family friendly Christmas opera, composed for TV and first broadcast in 1951. From 7.30pm, adult tickets £15, children under 16 £5 (01993 851142; www. bamptonopera.org)
December 21 The Unthanks Sing Emily Brontë, Leeds Town Hall, West Yorkshire. The only planned live performance of The Emily Brontë Song Cycle, a new work written and recorded using the author’s piano in her home and based on her poems. From 7.30pm, tickets £21.20 (0113–376 0318; www.leedstownhall.co.uk). A recording of the music will also be available to visitors to the Brontë Parsonage Museum, Haworth, from December 17 to March 31, 2019 (01535 642323; www.bronte. org.uk)
Horse racing December 22 Christmas Family Raceday, Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire. World-class racing combined with plenty of seasonal cheer in the form of a festive parade, candlelit carol singing and and appearance from Father and Mrs Christmas. Gates open 10.45am, adult tickets from £19, free for under 18s (0344 346 3000; www.ascot.co.uk)
Christmas Until December 30 Spectacle of Light, Sudeley Castle & Gardens, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. Follow the White Rabbit along the beautifully illuminated trail through the castle grounds, meeting other characters from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland along the way. Entry from 5pm, adult tickets from £15.75 (www.everymantheatre.org.uk; 01242 705555)
Until December 31 Christmas at Harewood: Dreams of the 1920s, Harewood House, Leeds, West Yorkshire. The Christmas dreamscape runs throughout the house and grounds, with music, events and demonstrations plus Father Christmas himself. Adult tickets £16.50 (0113–218 1010; https://harewood.org)
Theatre Until January 6, 2019 Stick Man, The Lowry, Salford, Greater Manchester. Scamp Theatre brings to life the bestselling children’s book by former Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, with puppetry and live music. Tickets from £14 (0843 208 6000; https:// thelowry.com)