From writing workshops and concerts to drama fun, see what’s on this November/ December:

Writing Ecologies at the Barbican Conservatory

Barbican Conservatory, The Barbican, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
Until 1 February

Explore your relationship with the natural world through a series of writing workshops and talks in the Barbican Conservatory. Whether writing is your career, creative expression, or lifelong dream, we invite you to dive deeply into humanity’s relation to nature and ecology in this unique series of writing salons.

Each session will open with a question-and-answer session with an established author, who will then set a writing prompt, followed by time to write in the lush setting of the Conservatory. Exploring themes of interdependence, activism and healing, these workshops run alongside COP 25 and the Dystopia is Not the Future season. Writers of all backgrounds are welcome.

Bringing together established authors and local writers, the series will finish with the creation of five pieces centred around ecology and shared in a literary day and live performance reading on 1 February 2026.

£10 for a single event in the programme and £40 for all the events. Find out more and buy your ticket for Writing Ecologies at the Barbican.

Sunday school stories protest posters with Union Chapel and Estorick Collection

Choose your own date – Mondays or Tuesdays from November 2025 to March 2026
Estorick Collection, 39A Canonbury Square, London N1 2AN 

Free workshops for Year 9-13 students and young people up to 25 years old focusing on exploring Union Chapel’s 200+ years archive and social justice legacy alongside Islington’s rich history to create Protest Posters.

History Detective volunteers are busy uncovering fascinating stories for these creative workshops, that are in collaboration with the Estorick Collection, offering young people a chance to explore important historical and cultural themes while developing their artistic and critical thinking skills to produce artwork that will be on display in Union Chapel as part of our Your Story Festival of Social Change in 2026. 

Free for young people aged 14-25. Find out more. 

Haydn Chamber Orchestra

Saturday 29 November, 7:30pm
Christ Church , Highbury Grove, N5

The orchestra will be performing Dvorak Violin concerto and Brahms 2nd symphony.
Tickets are £15 (£5 for under 25’s)

The Smallest Theatre in the World: Tour and crafting workshop with The Charles Dickens Museum

Sunday 30 November, 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm
Charles Dickens Museum, 48-49 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LX

Be like Charles Dickens and have a theatre in your own home! Join us for a theatrical tour of the museum, then make a cut-out and keep mini-theatre which can include you as a character!

For ages seven to 11 years. Maximum of one adult with up to three children – all children must be accompanied. Booking is essential. Find out more and book your place.

Family art day

30 November, 14 December (Christmas session), 10am–12noon
Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, 39a Canonbury Square, N1 2AN

Join for a special out-of-hours gallery activity designed for children and families of all ages. 

Go Africa cultural market – Farmers market edition

Sunday 30th November, from 11am
Chapel Market, London N1 9EN 

This isn’t just a market — it’s a movement of connection, culture, and community empowerment. So mark your calendars and bring your friends and family for a Sunday filled with soul, flavour, and festive cheer!  Expect fresh produce, handmade crafts, fashion, delicious food, and live entertainment celebrating community spirit and creativity.  

Hosted by Go Africa Community Hub CIC in partnership with Islington Council and supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, this event champions Black entrepreneurship, culture, and connection. Come celebrate, support, and shop local! 

Free for everyone. Find out more. 

Family art day

30 November, 14 December (Christmas session), 10am–12noon
Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, 39a Canonbury Square, N1 2AN

Join for a special out-of-hours gallery activity designed for children and families of all ages.

Christmas at Wesley’s Chapel and John Wesley’s House

Thursday 4 December, from 12.30pm
Wesley’s Chapel and John Wesley’s House, 49 City Road, London EC1Y 1AU. 

Come and celebrate with us! Everyone is welcome to drop in to Wesley’s Chapel for a community carol service at 12.30pm. Have-a-go carol singing in the courtyard at 2.00pm with festive refreshments. See John Wesley’s 18th century home decorated for Christmas and candlelit in the Georgian style from 2.30-5.30pm. All are welcome. 

Free for everyone. Find out more 

Games afternoon

Saturday 6 December, 2-4:30pm
Whittington Park Community Centre Yerbury Road, N19 4RS

Activities include card and board games, puzzles, dominoes and more. Use their games or bring your own!

Free for all (optional £3 donation)

Book via Eventbrite

Festive wreath making with Octopus Community Plant Nursery

Saturday 6 December, 12 – 3pm
Octopus Community Plant Nursery, Tufnell Park Estate, N7 OEF

Come along to the Community Plant Nursery to create your own festive wreath and nature decorations!  

Free for everyone.

Make a Scene! Drama fun with Scrooge with The Charles Dickens Museum

Sunday 7 December 2025, 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm
Charles Dickens Museum, 48-49 Doughty Street, WC1N 2LX

Our Victorian actor needs your help to put on a scene from one of Charles Dickens’s most famous books! Learn performance skills and take an on or offstage role in ‘the smallest theatre in the world’ at Charles Dickens’s own home.

For ages nine to 12 years. Maximum of one adult with up to three children – all children must be accompanied. Free event, booking essential. Find out more and book your place.

Persian rug exhibition and sale at Union Chapel

Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December, 10am-2pm
Union Chapel, 19b Compton Terrace, London N1 2UN 

Exhibition and sale of heirloom antique Persian carpets from 19- 21 Century from Valizadeh family’s private collection

The opportunity to view and purchase from an exquisite private collection, a diverse collection of handmade rugs from a variety of regions in different sizes. All carpets are hand knotted in Iran and are either wool, silk or a mixture of both.

Free entry, purchases can be made by cash, card or bank transfer. Find out more. 

Santa cruises – boat trips along Regents Canal

Sunday 7, Sunday 14 and Sunday 21 December (see link below for times)
Islington Boat Club, 16-34 Graham Street, London N1 8JX 

 A trip along the Regents Canal with Skipper Santa and his Elf! During the journey you can enjoy a complimentary hot chocolate with marshmallows and a mince pie or gingerbread biscuit. All child passengers receive a Christmas goody box/bag that the real Santa will leave on the roof of the boat during the journey. Santa’s Elf will get them for you! 
The narrowboat is fully enclosed so will be cosy and dry regardless of the weather outside.

Under 16’s must be accompanied by a fare paying adult. Perfect for all the family, kids tickets only £8. Find out more and book. 

In The Frame exhibition

Friday 12, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December
The Bomb Factory – 103 Kingsway, London WC2B 6QX 

In The Frame Exhibition marks the culmination of a ten-week creative programme for students at The Bridge, Integrated Learning Space. Supported by Arts Council England, the project has given students the opportunity to work with a professional art therapist to develop pieces for public exhibition.

Their work will be showcased alongside that of ten professional artists, celebrating the therapeutic power of the arts and breaking down barriers between young creatives and the wider art world. 

Free for everyone. Find In The Frame on Instagram for more information @Intheframeldn 

Voices rising: songs of solidarity and celebration

Wednesday 17 December, 20:00 – 21:00 (doors at 19:15)
The Parish Church of Christ Church Highbury with St. John and St. Saviour, 159 Highbury Grove, London N5 1SA 

Join us for Voices Rising: Songs of Solidarity and Celebration – an uplifting evening of singing, conversation, food and drink. 

This year two choirs, Sing for Freedom and the Mixed Up Chorus are singing for a better world, and will be performing a programme of Protest Songs. Our programme represents the diversity of our communities, bringing together powerful music and words from around the globe. The concert will be followed by an opportunity to enjoy food and drink provided by the choir community, whilst connecting with friends old and new. 

Doors open at 7.15pm and the bar will be open before the concert, which will start at 8pm. 

Find out more and book your tickets.Ticketed £10-£25