Valentino: Master of Couture, Somerset House

Fans of Valentino’s exquisite dresses will be in seventh heaven, as this new exhibition displays more than 130 of his stunning pieces. Not only will visitors walk along a specially designed catwalk to view gowns worn by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Sophia Loren and Grace Kelly, but they will also learn more about the Italian designer and the painstaking process involved in creating one of his masterpieces. Tickets are £12. 29 Nov-3 Mar

Roman Festival of Light Celebrations, Guildhall Art Gallery and London’s Roman Amphitheatre

Head to the Guildhall Art Gallery and London’s Roman Amphitheatre for a free family fun day in celebration of Saturnalia, the ancient Roman festival which honoured the god Saturn. Visitors will make their own Roman-style hats, lanterns and mosaics before handling a selection of real artefacts which evoke the carnival spirit of this ancient winter festival. 12pm-4pm, 2 Dec

Great Christmas Pudding Race, Covent Garden

For the 32nd year teams will compete in this frenetic charity race around Covent Garden, in which participants must safely carry Christmas Puddings over a tricky but entertaining obstacle course. As well as enjoying the spectacle, onlookers can watch live entertainment and special guest appearances, or browse the area’s unique shops. 11am, 1 Dec

Jason Mraz at The O2

American pop/folk singer Jason Mraz brings his world tour to London for just one night, treating audiences to renditions of hits such as “I’m Yours” as well as tracks from his new album “Love is a Four Letter Word”. Mraz will be supported by the multi-talented English musician Gregory Page. Tickets are £37.25. 1 Dec

The Courtaulds at Christmas, Eltham Palace

Inject a bit of 1930s glamour into your Christmas at Eltham Palace, where you can experience the thrill of setting up a grand house for the festive season. Costumed characters will be roaming the building, and you can also get involved by singing carols and learning about period Christmas decorations. Tickets are £9.60, which includes entry to the house and grounds. 11am-4pm, 2 Dec

Disney fans are in for a festive treat at Harrods, where Disney Princesses are the stars of its magical Christmas window display.

The Knightsbridge department store has asked internationally renowned designers such as Valentino and Versace to create new gowns for some of Disney’s best loved characters, and the results are fantastic in every sense of the word. In each of the store’s main windows you’ll see spellbinding scenes that feature princesses such as Cinderella dressed by Versace, Snow White by Oscar de la Renta and Mulan by Missoni. Modern yet true to the Disney films, these captivating dresses really bring the characters to life, and it’s easy to lose track of time as you stand in front of the magical display. The gowns will be on view throughout the festive season, after which they will be auctioned for charity.

Those inspired by these sparkling windows can then head up to Harrods‘ first floor, which is home to equally beautiful gowns by the world’s leading designers. Budding princesses will also love the Disney pop-up shop on the fourth floor, as it contains everything children need to recreate their favourite films. There’s even a treat for mums at the Cinderella Slipper salon, which carries a sparkling selection of shoes in both child and adult sizes.