Country Life rounds up the best things to see, do and book this weekend: a Georgian tea party, Christmas markets and carols.
Exhibitions
December 4–24 ‘Asprey Presents Rose Corcoran: New Works on Paper’, Asprey, 167, New Bond Street, London W1. A solo exhibition of pieces by the celebrated British wildlife artist (020–7493 6767; www.asprey.com)
December 5–13 ‘Venus’, Patrick Jefferson, 69, Pimlico Road, London SW1. Grace Vane Percy’s silver-bromide, handprinted images celebrating the female form (020 7730 6161; www.patrickjefferson.com)
Lecture
December 4 ‘Eat, Drink and Be Merry: An Afternoon of Georgian History and Hospitality’, Reindeer Antiques, 81, Kensington Church Street, London W8. Historians Lucy Inglis and Dr Annie Gray give a lecture on the era’s social niceties, followed by afternoon tea. Tickets £29 (020–7937 3754; www.reindeerantiques.co.uk)
Christmas events
December 4–7 Padstow Christmas Festival, Padstow, Cornwall. Demonstrations from chefs including Rick Stein, Angela Hartnett and Mitch Tonks, plus more than 100 artisans and producers (01841 533449; www.padstowchristmasfestival.co.uk)
December 6 Christmas Farmer’s Market, Creake Abbey, Fakenham, Norfolk. More than 50 stallholders, plus butchery demonstrations. You can also order your Christmas turkey, three-bird roast, beef and cheese for collection on December 20 (01328 730399; www.creakeabbey.co.uk)
December 9–11 Christmas Candlelight Tours, Haddon Hall, Bakewell, Derbyshire. Explore the Tudor house and learn about Christmases past. Tours held at timed intervals from 6pm each evening, booking essential (01629 810912; www.haddonhall.co.uk)
December 7 Tree Dressing, The Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, near Chichester, West Sussex. Bring a jam jar to turn into a lantern, then decorate the tree as darkness falls. Part of National Tree Week. 12.30pm–4pm (01243 811348; www.wealddown.co.uk)
What to book this weekend
December 10 ‘Carols around the Christmas Tree’, The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Canongate, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh. Listen to the Jubilo choir perform festive favourites in the Great Gallery, plus a short talk on the history of carol-singing. 7pm–8.30pm, tickets £10, including a glass of wine and a mince pie (0131–556 5100; www.royalcollection.org.uk)
