What's On

QUEEN'S PARK: Find out how to improve personal health and wellbeing at the Beethoven Centre, in Third Avenue, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm on December 6.

The free Mind and Body event will offer a range of activities and therapies, information and advice on health, weight loss, nutrition and diet, money matters, volunteering.

Christmas lights will be switched on across the borough as the festive season gets underway.

Here's our guide of Christmas events in and around Westminster.

NORTH PADDINGTON: Budding young performers will put their dancing shoes on for the annual winter show at Paddington Arts, in Woodfield Road.

Audiences can expect a mixture of dance, steel pan bands, singing, poetry and multimedia at the event, which starts at 7pm on December 8 and 9.

WESTMINSTER: Westminster residents who want to trace their family history are invited to events at three libraries in January.

Westminster library services has teamed up with Family History Detectives to provide free access to computers and online resources including www.ancestrylibrary.com.

NORTH PADDINGTON: Paddington Academy, in Marylands Road, will be transformed into a huge market place from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, with stalls selling cakes, cards, gifts, Christmas crackers, clothes and much more.

Santa Claus himself will also put in an appearance with his reindeer, while year 10 students will put on entertainment for children including games and face painting.

BAYSWATER: Christmas is coming early to Bayswater, with a late night shopping extravaganza on December 1.

The event starts at 4pm, when the choir from Connaught House School will treat the crowd to Christmas music.

WESTMINSTER: Parents who have concerns about their child's eating behaviour, physical activity levels or weight are invited to join a free 10-week family-focused programme.

The Kickstart course, run by a paediatric dietician, nutrition assistant and physical activity instructor, centres on nutrition education, cooking skills and physical activity for children aged six to 12.

VICTORIA: Anyone thinking about changing their job or career is invited to a talk at Victoria Library, in Buckingham Palace Road, at 6pm on November 21.

Career change coach Cheryl King, of IdealLife Coaching, will lead the interactive session, focusing on how taking a different approach to looking for jobs could lead to a more enjoyable and rewarding career.

BELGRAVIA: A lunchtime Christmas carol service will be held at St Peter's Church Eaton Square, from 1pm to 1.50pm on December 15.

The service, organised by the Victoria Business Improvement District for businesses in the SW1 area, will be a short ceremony focusing on charity and volunteering in the community.

PADDINGTON: Father Christmas is coming to Sheldon Square to switch on the Christmas lights on December 1.

DJ Danny and the Edward Wilson School choir will provide the entertainment while the event sponsor, Novotel London Paddington, will lay on hot chocolate, mince pies and mulled wine.