Scandicrimbo: how to have a very merry Scandinavian Christmas in London

Get Nordic fever this winter with cinnamon buns, Scandi music and cosy Swedish hospitality
Scandi-shop: Scandinavian Christmas Market

Get cosy in a Scandinavian winter lodge

Cider Lodge at Southbank Centre Winter Festival

South Bank, Nov 11-Jan 4

There ain't nothing like winter in Sweden (so we're told) and this is just what the Rekorderlig Cider Lodge will be invoking at the Southbank Centre's Winter Festival. Expect traditional fire pits, Scandi furniture, authentic grub and hot cider. As well as the lodge, this season the South Bank will be populated by a Christmas Tree Maze, bustling markets, giant illuminated bunnies, festive concerts and theatrical performances.

Hungerford Car Park, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, southbankcentre.co.uk

Try Swedish Christmas dinner

Fika

Brick Lane, Dec 1-23

This Swedish bar and kitchen will be serving up Glögg (mulled wine) elk and beef meatballs, Skagenröra (dill, prawn and egg mix) and Christmassy snaps this winter.

161 Brick Lane, E1 6SB, fikalondon.com

Nordic Yulefest

Dalston, Dec 6-21, every Sat & Sun for brunch and dinner sessions. Private hire available on request Dec 1-19.

For a more luxurious setting, settle into a sheepskin-covered corner of this Nordic retreat, lined with silver birch trees with edible marzipan piggies hiding in their midst. Fika has provided the catering for this venue too and dishes on the four-course menu include gravadlax and apple-stuffed ham. Wash it all down with hot chocolate cocktails and Glögg.

1 Kingsland Road, E2 8AA, nordicyulefest.com

Swedish Christmas Restaurant and Bar

Farringdon, Nov 14-Dec 21

What better use for the old Guardian Media building in Farringdon than a Skandilicious food hub? Drink Glögg and scoff from a Julbord, the Christmas version of a Smörgåsbord, featuring gravadlax, Swedish meatballs and a variety of herrings. Post meal, retire to the Loft Bar, where seasonal cocktails promise to make life “a bit Sweder”.

119 Farringdon Road, EC1, skandilicous.co.uk

Scoff a cinnamon bun

Nordic bakery

Golden Square

This Soho bakery does a fine line in kanebulle: sticky cinnamon buns, which are a traditional Scandinavian Christmas-time treat. We'd recommend the bestselling classic version: a golden sticky glaze gives a crunchy bite into layer upon layer of robustly spiced dough. Goes well with black coffee.

14A Golden Square, W1F 9JG, nordicbakery.com

Forget carols, listen to a Norwegian DJ

Alesso

Dec 18-19, O2 Academy Brixton

The Stockholm DJ/producer hit number one last year with his joint single with Calvin Harris and Hurts, Under Control. Now he has a debut solo album on the way. The perfect antidote to all those Christmas jingles.

O2 Academy Brixton, SW9 9SJ, O2academybrixton.co.uk

Things to do in London this Christmas

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Go Christmas shopping, Scandi style

Scandinavian Christmas Market

Rotherhithe, Nov 21-23

Were you left with severe withdrawal when Borgen ended? Would you kill for a snowflake-patterned knitted jumper just like The Killing's Sarah Lund's? Do you sometimes resort to gnawing angrily on a clog because you can't get hold of a smörgåsbord to sink your teeth into? Then visit the Finnish and Norwegian churches in Rotherhithe, and the street in between, to discover a haven of traditional and modern Scandinavian crafts, food and drink. Read more in our guide to

Albion Street, SE16 9JB, scanevents.co.uk/christmasmarket

Watch some Nordic noir

Nordic Film Festival 2014

Hackney Picturehouse, Arthouse Crouch End, Institute of Contemporary Arts, The Proud Archivist, Nov 26-Dec 7

A mix of brand new and classic films from Nordic countries. Highlights include opening film I Am Yours starring Ola Rapace from BBC4's Crimes of Passion and a screening of Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case from Danish filmmaker Andreas Johnsen. It focuses on the period when dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was detained for alleged tax evasion.

Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, E8 1HE, Arthouse Crouch End, 159A Tottenham Lane, N8 9BT, Institute of Contemporary Arts, 12 Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH, The Proud Archivist, 2-10 Hertford Road, N1 5ET day-for-night.org/nordic-film-festival-2014-programme

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