Festive family fun

8:55am Thursday 8th December 2005

Lee Valley:
Step back in time for a Victorian Christmas weekend, at the Lee Valley Ice Centre, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton on December 17 and 18 from 11am to 4pm.

Visitors can pick up themed crafts and watch the London Racers professional ice hockey team play a match (Sunday December 18).

The weekend features disco nights, figure skating and junior ice hockey. Details from Lee Valley Ice Centre on 020 8533 3154, or www.leevalley.org.uk.

Cool Yule:
For an alternative take on the Christmas season the Cool Yule festive celebrations are a must.

Concerts at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Purcell Room provide an eclectic mix of performances between December 13 and 22.

The line-up features Kiki & Herb; Edinburgh Fringe regulars Pluck; live electronica with John Metcalfe, Louisa Fuller, Andy Gangadeen, Ali Friend and Chris Worsey; English folk storyteller Frances M Lynch, pianist Mark Troop, HipHop with Sola Idowu, aka Weird MC or Da Rappatainer.

Ring the Royal Festival Hall, box office 08703 800 400 or visit www.rfh.org.uk.

Storytelling:
Spend a Sunday afternoon listening to classic tales around the Christmas tree.

A special storytelling area at Fortnum and Mason will feature a Christmas tree for children to sit around whilst Shakespearean actors narrate a shortened version of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol.

Afterwards children can join the adults for festive afternoon tea. Storytelling sessions take place on Sunday afternoons until December 18 and cost £15 (children) £22 (adults), tickets are available on the door.

Horse show:
Gallop along to Olympia for the London International Horse Show, from December 13 to 19.

World Cup Dressage Qualifier Anky van Grunsven (NED) will be riding in the show which includes amazing horsemanship and beautiful horses.

Attractions include the King's Troop, The Flying Frogs, the Metropolitan Police Horse Activity Ride, plus the Shetland pony Grand National and Christmas Circus finale.

Tickets £17 to £40.Visit www.olympiahorseshow.com.

Spitalfields Festival:
Lift up your voices at the Spitalfields Winter Festival from Monday December 12 to 21. The festival includes the Choir of New College, Oxford, a programme of works composed between the 12th and 15th centuries, a Community Carol Service and more.

Details; www.spitalfieldsfestival.org.

Santa Land:
Children and adults who have been good can visit Earls Court's Santa Land, from now until December 23.

The event features glittering trains bound for Lapland, a 14-foot ice mountain, magic ribbon trail and gifts at the grotto. Visit www.santaland05.com.

Ice skating and climbing:
If you have a head for slippery heights try Outdoor Ice Climbing on the eight metre high ice wall at Somerset House. The wall, a column of pure ice features three ice climbing faces of escalating difficulty which visitors climb with the aid of crampons, ice picks and ropes.

The Outdoor Ice Wall is open for one hour ice climbing sessions (including climbing equipment and tuition) from 10am to 10pm until January 29.

Visit www.somerset-house.org.uk.

Ice rinks are located at the Tower of London, Natural History Museum, Somerset House, Kew Gardens, Hampstead Heath and more. www.viewlondon.co.uk.