The What, Where, When: 23 November

What: West End VIP (Very Important Person) Day
See: An absence of traffic as Regent Street and Oxford Street open exclusively for tourists and shoppers. Also live music.
Where: Oxford Street and Regent Street, London WC1
When: 24 November


What: Lace Exhibition
See: Victoria Brown will be exhibiting artworks inspired by her family's connection to the Nottingham lace industry and Louise West will exhibit contemporary three dimensional lacework.
Where: The Lace Market Gallery, New College, Nottingham. www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk
When: 23-25 November


What: Lace Works: Contemporary Art and Nottingham Lace
See: Highlights from the Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery's historic lace collection provide a rich context for six contemporary artists whose work is inspired by lace: Lucy Brown, Joy Buttress, Nicola Donovan, Cal Lane, Theresa Whitfield, Timorous Beasties.
Where: Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery. www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk
When: 23–25 November


What: Journeys in Lace: Part Two
See: Students from Nottingham Trent University's School of Art and Design have used the university's lace archive as inspiration for new art works.
Where: Bonington Gallery, Nottingham Trent University. www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk
When: 23-25 November


What: Children's Trust Christmas Fair
See: Festive event featuring a skating rink, Christmas elf hunt and Santa's grotto plus trade stalls selling gifts and food
Where: Tadworth Court, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 5RU. www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/christmasfair
When: 24 November


What: Variety Scotland Annual Ball A seasonal fundraising evening raising awareness and funds for children's charity.
Where: Glasgow Hilton Hotel, 1 William Street, Glasgow G3 8HT. Scotland@variety.org.uk
When: 24 November



What: Northern Children's Book Festival
See: Over 30 authors and illustrators in libraries across the region. Includes Northern Star, a search to find the North East's next budding children's author.
Where: Preston Hall Museum and Park, Yarm Road, Stockton on Tees TS18 3RH. www.ncbf.co.uk
When: 24 November


What: Make a Wish Winter Ball Held by Make-A-Wish Foundation UK which grants wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses.
Where: The Dorchester, Park Lane, London W1K 1QA.
When: 24 November

What: Birmingham International Tattoo
See: The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines and bands from Norway, The Netherlands and across the UK. Joining them are a gymnastic display team, dog display, the field gun run and dancers. Culminates in a spectacular grand finale featuring over 1,000 performers.
Where: Birmingham National Indoor Arena, Birmingham B40 1NT. www.birminghamtattoo.co.uk
When: 24 November


What: Winter Fair
See: Christmas markets, ice rink and panto.
Where: Performance Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead NE8 2JR. www.newcastlegateshead.com/winterfestival
When: 24 November

What: RSA Open Exhibition
See: Contemporary artwork by members and non-members including paintings, prints, sculptures, photographs and mixed media. All work is for sale.
Where: Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2EL
When: 23-25 November

What: German Christmas Market
See: The Christkindelmarkt opens on Millennium Square with a scenic winter village made up of more than 40 traditional wooden chalet stalls from Germany offering Christmas gifts, food and entertainment.
Where: Millennium Square, Leeds. www.festiveleeds.com  
When: 24-25 November 


What: Festive Gift Fair
See: A range of crafts, gifts and entertainment in this seasonal fair.
Where: The Pavilion Theatre, Westover Road, Bournemouth BH1 2BU. www.bhlive.co.uk
When: 24-25 November


What: British Academy Children's Awards Black tie dinner recognising excellence in feature film, various genres of children's television, learning and interactivity.
Where: London Hilton, Park Lane, London W1K 1BE. www.bafta.org
When: 25 November


What: Stir Up Sunday The day people traditionally make their Christmas puddings, allowing time for the flavours to develop. Based on Anglican term for the last Sunday before Advent.
When: November 25


What: Knoll International Annual Sample Sale
See: Exclusive offers and purchase iconic pieces of furniture at deeply discounted prices such as a Saarinen Womb Chair, previously priced at £5064, on sale for £1,499. The famous Barcelona Chair will be selling for £999, instead of its usual retail price of £5,712. Design lovers will jump at the chance to own classics by Mies van der Rohe and Harry Bertoia.
Where: Knoll International, 91 Goswell Road, Clerkenwell, London EC1. www.housetohome.co.uk
When: 24 November


What: GOSH Dickens Day
See: Fundraiser in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital brings together children to celebrate Dickens' influence on legal reform, education and hospitals.
Where: Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 0AE
When: 25 November

What: London Evening Standard Theatre Awards A celebration of the best performances of the past year.
Where: The Savoy Hotel, The Strand, London, WC2R 0EU
When: 25 November


What: Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability Art Exhibition
See: Art exhibition demonstrating the role Occupational Therapy Art. Ceramics, sculpture, photography on display and available for purchase.
Where: Assembly Room, Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, West Hill, Putney, London SW15 2SW. www.rh.org.uk
When: 23-25 November


What: Parliament Week
See: A tour of Parliament followed by the opportunity to sleepover on Saturday night.
Where: The Houses of Parliament, London, SW1A. www.parliamentweek.org
When: 23-25 November