We asked Independent Shoreditch for some highlights and advice on how to get the best from Columbia Road flower market this Christmas:

1) Closing time bargains. Although you – quite literally – get the pick of the bunch when the market opens at 8am, swoop in at 3pm for the best bargains. The louder the barrow boys shout, the better the deals.

2) Independent inspiration. There’s a total absence of high street chains on Columbia Road, giving your Christmas gifts the independent edge. Try Nelly Duff for art, Vintage Heaven for antiques, and Treacle for as many cakes as you can carry.

3) Christmas trees to make the neighbours blush. The market is a brilliant place to pick up a Christmas tree because of the variety on offer, from tiny potted trees to Trafalgar Square-worthy wonders. Check your ceiling height before you leave home.

4) Mouth-watering Sunday lunch. If you get peckish, try either Brawn or The Royal Oak. Brawn offers strictly seasonal fare, with as much as possible coming from local suppliers, while The Royal Oak still carries some kudos from its days as an early-morning watering hole for the market’s traders.

5) Strong arm tactics. All the plants and presents can add up. Be prepared to flex your arm muscles on the way home if you’ve over-committed yourself. Or alternatively, hope that Santa has also done his shopping on Columbia Road.

Columbia Road flower market and shops are open from 8am until about 3pm every Sunday. The shops will also be opening late every Wednesday in the run up to Christmas, on 30 November and 7, 14 and 21 of December, accompanied by festivities, seasonal food and live music.

“What a great view,” my ice skating buddy said on Friday night at the launch of the Tower of London ice-skating rink.

We had just enjoyed a winter warmer (for Dutch courage) and a mince pie, had popped on our skates (no laces make it very easy), and were watching the professionals demonstrate how it should be done.

Once the display by Natalia Pestova and Alexei Kislitsyn from the Russian Ice Stars was over, we crept onto the ice – me gripping desperately on to the side, as I had totally forgotten how to skate.

The rink marshals were very encouraging though and were helping the first timers out around the rink as well as ensuring everyone was going in the same direction.

After a couple of laps of the rink I picked it up again, and was able to stop looking at my feet, and look up and to see how beautifully illuminated the Tower of London and Tower Bridge look on a clear London night.

As the group of eight year olds lapped me again (always good for the confidence!), I noticed how popular the rink was with families as well as couples and friends.

They also have an ice-skating related film playing while you skate (which you can see from the viewing gallery) – I have to say the penguins on the screen made it look a lot easier than it is, and I have a new-found respect for the celebrities on Dancing on Ice who seem to pick it up really quickly.

The Tower of London Ice Rink is open until 9 January 2011. Book tickets here

Film London in 90 Seconds is part of the London Boroughs Film Challenge, where locals are asked to submit short films about their council area. Yesterday was Sutton. This is Merton Council’s winning entry for 2009.

Timeless Fun filmmakers Frances Bushe and Chris Sheridan are two young actors, both recently graduated from drama school. Timeless Fun is their first attempt at film-making and it won Film London in 90 seconds for the Merton borough.

Discover more about Merton in London and watch our Merton podcast.

Find out more about Film London in 90 Seconds and sign up to enter this year’s competition.

Tell us what you think in the comments below. And check back tomorrow for Barnet‘s 2009 winning entry.

We’ve had a 53ft inflatable rabbit, a 37ft topiary reindeer (last chance to see!), a giant cupcake and a vintage tea party, all in the space of a few months.

There was the odd smattering of celebrities, with Elton John and David Furnish’s clothes sale, Donatella Versace’s Fashion Fringe initiative, Paul Smith’s bin, Jamie Cullum acapella performance, and even a gig from the Stereophonics.

High fashion came to the piazza in September, with Anna Wintour herself putting in an appearance. OK, so it was a look-a-like, but that didn’t stop the fun at our inaugural Fashion Fete event, complete with Fashion Woof doggie show. How they barked!

Before we bid you farewell, don’t forget you can still nip down to Covent Garden to pick up something hot at our mulled wine hut on East Piazza. Santa will be on duty in his grotto right up until Christmas Eve, so no excuses! And of course all the shops will be open on Christmas Eve for those last-minute purchases.

Have a very Merry Christmas from all at Covent Garden.

But where in London will you be heading to buy your gifts?

Will the prospect of a traffic-free Oxford Street and Regent Street lure you to the West End this weekend? Or would you prefer to shop undercover (and safe from whatever the weather has in store) at Westfield?

Are you a bargain-hunter who’ll be after unique gifts at one of London’s markets? Or an eco-conscious shopper, having a green Christmas?

We’d love to hear your Christmas shopping tips and recommendations, so let us know where we should be shopping in London this year.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without at least one rousing, heart-warming carol singing session!

Even the coldest Scrooge’s can’t fail to feel Christmassy once they hear the opening bars of those famous Christmas tunes.

And this Christmas, London’s hoping to host the world’s biggest ever carol sing-a-long!

To celebrate the world premiere of Disney’s A Christmas Carol in London, and the first-ever co-ordinated Christmas light switch-on across the capital, we’re asking you to help us find London’s favourite Christmas Carol.

The song below with the most votes will be sung at London’s Christmas Carol on 3 November across the city, as London comes together to break the world record for the largest-ever Christmas carol sing-a-long!

Help choose the song that London will sing by voting for your favourite Christmas carol below:

[poll id="10"]