We all know London can be a really hectic place at the best of times, but with Christmas coming up order and lucidity can go right out of the car window! Start trying to organise a seasonal day out with the family and, if you’re not careful, within the time it takes to hard boil an egg you could be drowning in a glossy puddle of flyers and leaflets advertising this and that -Call the ambulance! There’s a lady here under 15 tons of paper! She… she seems to be clutching fistfuls of enticing free coupons!… some of these have expired- A grisly end I think you’ll agree. Therefore, to try to ease this overtly merry maelstrom, Show and Stay^® have compiled a festive rundown of the top five events in the capital you should look out for this Christmas. Set your ship by our star this Christmas and you won’t go far wrong; (sings) “Just let Show and Stay^® be your guide!”

5. A treacherous donkey ride to The English National Ballet brings in our fifth place event this year. Playing their Christmas run at the London Coliseum from mid-December, the English National Ballet will be performing that festive classic The Nutcracker from December 17th - 30th. Before then, between 3rd - 14th December the company will be performing Sleeping Beauty whilst the emotive tragedy Manon will start off 2009 with a run from 2nd - 11th January. So, if you’re looking to take part in what has been a staple Christmas event for the last 50 years, The annual National Ballet run at the Coliseum is definitely the place to go. Come on: Tchaikovsky, beautifully choreographed dancing and The Sugar Plum Fairy - it’s Christmas in pumps and a tutu.

4. Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh brings us hurtling into fourth place this year with… Tales for Winter at the Globe Theatre. Shakespeare’s regular (and therefore the home of English drama) is holding a series of four storytelling evenings, each hosted by a most distinguished teller of tales! With Clare Muireann Murphy and Jan Blake on the bill, these enchanted evenings are bound to be a huge success with story-lovers and theatre-goers from all over. Starting on November 22nd and running every Saturday for four weeks until December 13th, these Tales for Winter are certain to be the perfect escape from those hollowing and frost-bitten evenings. Be warned though, thanks to some of the content of the stories, we advise that this Christmassy production is only suitable for adults and older children (about 12+).

3. Bronze medal this year goes to the Three Wise Men for suggesting Santa’s Secret Village. Perfect for children of all ages, Santa’s Secret Village is a remarkable event hidden away in the midst of the Cologne German Market on the South Bank. Come and meet Father Christmas himself as he prepares for his big night. Children will be delighted to hear the kind old saint reel off magical and mystical stories from Christmases passed; and they’ll even get a special early present! Oh, and don’t forget Mrs Claus too - fiendishly beavering away in her gingerbread kitchen to get sweets and chocolates ready for the 25th. Running on the 21st and 23rd of December, Santa’s Secret Village is the perfect event to get kids ready for a truly magical Christmas.

2. Following yonder star all the way to second place this year is nothing other than… Christmas Pantos! The ancient art of the pantomime is an important tradition every year and this festive season promises to be no different! With star-studded productions of Treasure Island, Mother Goose, Jack and The Beanstalk and Cinderella to name just but a few, the captial really is the place to catch the best in Christmas family theatre. -Oh no it isn’t!- Oh really? well just check out this site for a rundown of the best pantos on this year. Have a look at the The Big Panto Guide and see what takes your fancy!

1, Okay, so dropping down the chimney at number one is… Carols in Trafalgar Square. Yes, that’s right, you can do all manner of weird, wacky and wonderful events for Christmas this year but if you want to experience a real festive tradition then head down to Trafalgar Square any evening between the 8th - 19th December. The great square is beautifully illuminated with Christmas lights and will boast the huge Norwegian Christmas tree standing by Nelson’s Column (a huge 20m tree is given to Britain every year by the Prime Minister of Norway as a little thank you present for helping them out during WW2). Charity choirs come from all over the country to raise money for good causes and everyone is encouraged to join in the singing. A truly magical experience, the carols in Trafalgar Square are a sure-fire reminder of what the season should all be about. Every evening between 5 and 9pm, there really is nothing else like it.

So, I hope this little rundown has made choosing your Christmas activities a little easier. By way of preparation, we’re all off now to make mince pies and drink egg nog - Merry Christmas… for next month! Until then, here’s a little Christmas cheer to tide you over: