With thanks to Country and Townhouse, here are five things to do in London this week:

Ed Vaizey’s take on the new Tracey Emin exhibition, and the wellness trends set to dominate 2021

The turkey’s nearly ready to defrost, the presents almost wrapped – yes, it’s Christmas but not as we know it. The end of this year marks the apex of some pretty life shattering events of which we may not feel or see the full ramifications for years to come. Let us take this time to remember that we have more that unites than divides us – tiers or no tiers, deal or no deal.

Have a great week.

Lucy

FIVE THINGS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS

Wander Art

Tier 3 rules mean many UK galleries are closed for the foreseeable, but the al fresco art world continues to thrive. Wander Art, for instance, is a new outdoor gallery trail around the London neighbourhoods of Mayfair and Belgravia, featuring works from contemporary artists like Yinka Ilori, Fernando Laposse, Richard Woods and Craig&Karl.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is renowned for being one of the world’s best New Year celebrations, and though no live events are able to take place this year the Scottish city will continue to cement its reputation with an online extravaganza. David Tennant and Scottish Makar Jackie Kay (Scotland’s Poet Laureate), among others, are set to feature in a series of free virtual shows running from 28 December to 1 January.

Illuminated Light Trail, Blenheim Palace

Colour-changing neon tunnels, fairy fires and lakeside reflections: just some of the magical light displays you can expect to see at Blenheim Palace’s Illuminated Light Trail. Keep an eye out for new installation Heart of Stars, which scatters shards of light across the lawn to a scented fire garden.

Twinkle of Christmas, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour

Learn how to master the art of gift wrapping, get clued up on eating well during the Christmas season with Daylesford and become an expert festive cocktail mixer by tuning into Twinkle of Christmas: a series of online design masterclasses from Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour.

Dick Whittington

Many theatres have sadly had to cancel and postpone Christmas shows, but you can still get your pantomime fix by tuning into The National Theatre’s live streamed performance of Dick Whittington. Directed by Ned Bennett, the production explores what it’s like to arrive in a small town from a big city today, looking at timely themes of community and togetherness.

Enter now to be in with the chance of winning a River Cottage Cooking Diploma worth £1,200 with celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Learning With Experts.

WHAT’S KEEPING MY SPIRITS UP

CURRY

Just before Monday’s announcement that London was heading for Tier 3, I snuck in the most precious, delicious dinner with my two oldest friends at Fitzrovia’s Pali Hill, a knock-your-socks off newish Indian that brings spirit and modernity to my favourite cuisine. As we lamented lockdowns, our mouths aflame with Pondicherry spicy fried squid, fiery fish curry and a superbly seasoned lamb biryani, we toasted to better times ahead. While Pali has now closed its doors until January, we are lucky that so many other amazing restaurants now do delivery and takeaway. Use them or we may face losing them.

THE GREAT BRITISH BRANDS AWARDS

As we head towards the final dramatic act of Brexit, whatever the denouement, it does mean British brands will be treading a different path and we must do our utmost to support them, as we have some of the most creative, exciting and innovative companies on these shores. This week, along with our eminent judging panel of former culture minister, Ed Vaizey; Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council; Stephen Bayley, co-founder of the Design Museum; Guy Salter, founder of London Craft Week; and luxury journalist Melanie Grant, we chose the winners of our inaugural Great British Brands awards. All will be revealed on 15 January. Sign up to our GBB newsletter here if you want to be the first to know.

ARTISTIC INNOVATIONS

Battered and bruised they may be but our great artistic institutions will not be beaten. The most original arts event I’m looking forward to is Somerset House’s DODGE: Drink, Dine & Dodgems, which opens on 22 January. Combining dodgems as installation art – complete with its own soundscape, top nosh by Jimmy Garcia, gobbled up in a Yinka Ilori-designed outdoor booth, and a DJ set, this is the hot ticket to book to stave off those January blues. For this and more events to look forward to, click here.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE UP TO

Ed Vaizey was glad he decided to sit next to Tracey Emin at dinner in 2009 as he reviews her new exhibition

Photo: © David Parry

Ahead of new Netflix series Bridgerton, C&TH chats to Golden Globe-nominated actress Polly Walker

On these shores… Rebecca Cox brings us the best new UK hotel openings for 2021

From data to infared sauna blankets, Ellie Smith highlights the wellness trends set to be big in 2021

CULTURE RADAR

LISTEN

Ex editor of The News of the World Andy Coulson spent five months in jail. His podcast Crisis what Crisis talks to an impressive rollcall of guests about how they coped with their own disasters.

READ

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, published this year, is the fascinating story of identical twins who choose to tread very different paths.

WATCH

Loved Line of Duty? Try Channel 4’s new French drama The Red Shadows, which stars Nadia Farès as a police officer trying to hunt down her missing sister.

COOK

Our plant-based columnist Bettina Campolucci Bordi shares five of her favourite vegan Christmas recipes for the festive season, including truffled cashew cheese.