Fancy escaping it all? Our guide to ‘not Christmas’ activities

The lights are on, the shoppers are out in force and we’re even learning about ‘Hygge’: Christmas is in full swing, and it’s difficult to escape it. But what if you want to get away from it all, even for one night?

Zaha Hadid at the Serpentine Gallery

The Serpentine was one of the first permanent buildings in the UK to use the designs of the pioneering architect Zaha Hadid when its Sackler Gallery opened in 2013. Now they feature a major retrospective of Hadid’s early drawings and designs made in her formative years. Buildings designed by the architect and her firm now adorn cities around the world, ranging from the aquatics centre used for London’s 2012 Olympic Games to a 57,500 square meter complex in Baku, Azerbaijan.

When: until 12th February, 2017

Nearest tube: Marble Arch, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner

David Bailey: NW1 at HENI Publishing (Soho)

After living in Camden and Primrose Hill for nearly 30 years, photographer world-renowned photographer David Bailey decided to capture on camera the crumbling buildings, archways and advertising hoardings of his local area before they disappeared. The result is a fascinating insight into another era of these areas of North London in a crisp and arresting array of black and white photographs. To coincide with the release of the book ‘NW1’ publishers HENI are holding an exhibition of Bailey’s works at their gallery.

When: until 31st January, 2017

Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus

A rooftop view (Tower Hill)

Getting away from the Christmas rush can now be achieved: vertically. A superb place to admire London’s winter skyline, and those early sunsets, can be found in the SkyLounge, the Double Tree Hotel’s 12th-floor bar and terrace. Sights in the 360-degree view include the Tower of London, the Shard and St. Paul’s cathedral. If you’re there earlier in the day the hotel also serves up brunch.

Nearest tube: Tower Hill

Nordic Dining (Shoreditch)

The Queen of Hoxton is transforming itself this winter into a “Nordic Viking feasting and drinking hall in the clouds” – think Scandi chic, though with a touch more decadence. Drinks include ‘Thor’s courage’ and ‘Bjork’s wild brambled wine’ which are actually warming and adventurous cocktails, while the bar itself is suitably decorated to depict a Viking drinking hall. In the winter it is certainly a warming proposition.

Nearest tubes: Shoreditch High Street, Liverpool Street

Design Museum (Kensington)

Away from the shoppers and omnipresent Christmas themed attractions, the Design Museum recently opened the doors to its new site at the bottom of High Street Kensington. With three times more space, the museum now boasts an array of exhibitions under the iconic roof of the old Commonwealth Institute. These include its first permanent display ‘Designer, Maker, User’ which explores the design process from three different perspectives through an examination of almost 1,000 items from the 20th and 21st-centuries.

Nearest tube: High Street Kensington