We bring you our guide to surviving this festive season, whether that’ll be dodging stale sprouts in favour of some culinary delights or just kicking back in the cinema instead of on the sofa! Just call it a Christmas with a little more culture, alot more indulgence and absolutely no leftovers.

LONDON, FRIDAY 20th DECEMBER – THURSDAY 26th December 2013

If you’re in need of some peace and quiet this christmas or have the luxury of not taking the obligatory trip to the parents, then you should take advantage of a well kept Londoner tradition – for those in the know. London’s hotels are fairly quiet over the festive period meaning many of them are offering cut-price rooms, incredible dining options and perfect excuses to be a conspicuous consumer on the cheap.

I’m just here for the books
Claridges, an establishment that needs no introduction, has the most beautiful festive displays in its grand lobby each year. (This winter’s monumental christmas tree has been designed by none other than Dolce & Gabbana.) Immerse yourself in the stylish Fumoir, designed by Thierry Desont and tucked away behind a door adorned with an original 1930s Lalique panel. An art deco gem, this sumptuous bar is steeped in history. Complete the moment by sipping on a cocktail inspired by the era, served in a Lalique glass, a real treat for Christmas eve drinks or a post Harrods sale marathon.

Alternatively if you need a break from pushy pedestrians on a final present dash this weekend check out the newly opened Assouline Shop. The internationally renowned publisher of luxury lifestyle titles has opened its first London boutique within Claridges. Stocking fillers are guaranteed.

Hope your tarts turn out just like Fanny’s
If hotel dining is pushing your buttons and you’ve not read up on those old Fanny Craddock Christmas recipes then take your pick and book now for last minute Christmas Day and Boxing Day feasts. The Connaught, The Savoy and even Soho favourite Dean Street Townhouse will be serving Christmas lunch and are open daily from as early as 7am for everything else!

Don’t give up
By Boxing Day you’ll surely be in need of some solitary time and the Cinema is the perfect excuse to ignore your loved ones whilst spending quality time with them.

This blockbuster won’t disappoint on the 26th, Robert Redford in All Is Lost. A testament to Redford’s ability to hold the screen and reportedly the best performance of his life, the film’s a gripping, visceral and moving tribute to human resilience, charting the solo voyage of an unnamed man in the Indian Ocean, who wakes to find his 39-foot yacht taking on water after a collision with a shipping container left floating on the high seas.

That’s some bad luck. The ever-resourceful sailor soon finds himself staring his own mortality in the face providing a tense and suspenseful film that shouldn’t be missed.

All is Lost, in cinemas Boxing Day, 26th December 2013, check listings for details

He’s behind you. Oh no he isn’t. Oh yes he is!
If you’re staying in town or have time over the weekend check out Jude Law in Shakespeare’s great play of nationhood Henry V. You can think of it as a hyper-masculine panto if you’d like – not half as boring as you might expect and packed with the bloody horrors of war and the turbulence of a land in crisis… Heart warming stuff, then.

Tickets available online here

This ain’t a four pack and carton of curry
Takeaways and alcohol maybe be a part of our average run of the mill weekends but as mostly everything else at this time of year they tend to get upgraded and enjoyed to excess. Why not try upgrading both of these mediocre pastimes substantially next week, (most businesses will be back to normal after Boxing Day) by visiting some of the capitals hardest to book establishments.

Gymkhana is inspired by Colonial Indian gymkhana clubs, set up by the British Raj, where members of high society came to socialise, dine, drink and play sport. This restaurant recreates retro indian takeout dishes with such finesse and attention to flavour that it has become a favourite of every food critic in the city.
You won’t get a table come January so get on it next week. There’s always the bar too.

Check out the Christmas tasting menu here
Gymkhana, 42 Albemarle St, Mayfair, London W1S 4JH

Lounge Bohemia is a downlow speakeasy which could have been featured on any HERO weekend combo but it’s managed to keep itself rather well hidden until now. It’s by appointment and details of it’s where abouts can only be found in the gallery above if you look hard enough. The cocktails here are extraordinary. Service incredible. A hiding hole with great potential if you want to lay low and avoid the in-laws.