Your Friday morning essential read. Five local feel-good highlights, including exclusive special offers and events. Prepared with love by the team at Camdenist

 EXPLORE: Our interactive advent calendar 

This week we're being as helpful as Santa's very own elves and providing you with effortless Christmas inspiration in the shape of this 

interactive advent calendar

.

It's stuffed full of ideas for successful gift-buying, memorable eating, drinking and seasonal socialising, plus all the festive fixtures like carol singers, grottos and trees. Easiest of all, everything can be found under the winter weather-proof Grade I listed roof of

St Pancras International

station which, as every savvy local should know, is the one-stop-shop for the likes of Fortnum & Mason, Hamleys, Hatchards, Reiss, L'Occitane and many more retailers in one simple hit. It's also a truly beautiful setting for dining, from the majestic Searcys Champagne Bar to a colourful coffee at E L & N or a full-on party at the atmospheric Betjeman Arms pub. Don't worry, more info on all those ideas and plenty more can be uncovered behind our 24 little digital doors. 

 VISIT: Kenwood's Christmas experience 

Hampstead Heath's majestic 17th century stately home plays host to the inaugural

Christmas at Kenwood

festive lights event starting tonight and running until 9th Jan. You follow a route through an illuminated winter wonderland of fairy lights, lasers and other twinkly installations, then recharge with hot or cold drinks in the market square or VIP terrace bar. The whole family are welcome, and Camdenist readers can get

10% off standard and VIP tickets

by

using the code LOCAL10 at the checkout

 before the end of November, (i.e. Tuesday night), when booking tickets for any date.

 EVENT: Jellicoe #1 celebrated in music 

100 years ago, radical priest Father Basil Jellicoe arrived in Somers Town, inspiring the St Pancras Housing movement and building a community. In 2003, actor/director Rob Inglis directed and produced Jellicoe the Musical. This Wednesday (1st Dec) you can watch some of the original cast retell the story as part of a celebration of the lives of both Inglis, who passed away this year, and Father Jellicoe. Taking place in the St Pancras Old Church, the event is a fund-raiser for A Space For Us, Somers Town's forthcoming museum. 

 OUTDOORS: Jellicoe #2 commemorated in landscape 

Another acclaimed Jellicoe, this time the landscape architect and garden designer Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, has been honoured with the long-awaited opening of Jellicoe Gardens in King's Cross. Delivered with the support of the neighbouring Aga Khan Network, the new public green space blends tranquil Persian influences with the English country gardens for which Camden resident Sir Geoffrey made his name, You can fine this oasis of calm by Handyside St. Read the full story.

 MUSIC: Local gig highlights this week 

Tomorrow, dance all night for a good cause at The Star of Kings on York Way, as Frankie Says Dance is presenting a line up of disco, funk and house DJs in support of children's cancer charity Neuroblastoma UK. Or if punk rock, indie and metal is more your thing, join a host of acts including dad 'n' daughter duo Voodoo Radio who will be filling Camden Town's Fiddler's Elbow with their 'summer of '76' sound on Sunday, as part of the latest CMDN Live all-day live rock fest.

On that note...

Camdenist presents 'the night', a print and online series championing the culture, businesses & communities that shine after dark is coming soon. 

Email us to find out more 

about partnership and editorial opportunities, including the chance to be among the first join our live music reviews team.

 THIS WEEK'S ONE-CLICK POLL Camden High Street is about to be inundated with new fast food chains, with Wendy's, Leon, Taco Bell and two more branches of KFC and Subway all opening up soon. Good or bad news? 

LAST WEEK WE ASKED:

After last year's muted festivities and fears over a lack of traditional essentials this time around, it seems like Christmas has panic-begun earlier than ever before. How do you feel about that?

Luckily for locals we've gone and done all the heavy-thinking about Christmas on your behalf (see advent calendar story above) as 41% of voters say they can't really stand it - particularly starting in November. Many of you are feeling charitable though, and after the damp squib of 2020, fingers crossed there's a lot more cheer this year. Those 21% with the tinsel up already are certainly going for it.

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