Happy New Year!

The jury is very much still out when it comes to weighing up the pros and cons of Crossrail. As well as the much-publicised demolition of the Astoria, another great loss is that of the Arts Gallery - a space on Davies Street that has exhibited work by the likes of Peter Doig, Gavin Turk, Tom Hunter and Sarah Lucas as well as emerging artists from across London's arts universities.

The positive that comes out of this, however, is the final show at the gallery - an all-encompassing installation by contemporary artist Mike Ballard. Ballard is covering every part of the gallery - walls, floor, celing... - with a kind of wacky potted art history.

Following the near-destruction of the City during the Second World War, the Golden Lane Estate was constructed as a way for London (and indeed the country) to move forward, away from the bloodied past and towards a future of optimism and hope.

The bold architectural design of the estate is not to everyone's taste, but in the eyes of many it is a thing of beauty and a symbol of progress - both social and political.

Over the course of 2009, Patricia Niven has documented the lives of residents who have lived in the Golden Lane Estate since it first opened in the 1950s. This is a fascinating insight into the concerns of the individual, as well as a striking encapsualtion of the feelings of a nation.

From the people who brought you Get Loaded In The Park comes a new year's eve extravaganza designed to rock your socks clean off.

The full line up has now been announced and its a joy: the Klaxons duo Jamie Reynolds and James Righton headline with an exclusive set, taking to the decks at midnight. Annie Mac, Chase and Status and a live show from Golden Silvers are just some of the highlights elsewhere on the night.

Eastern Electrics reliably blow your top with their simply excellent attention to banging tunes at their raves.

Tonight mulletover, Bloc and Man Make Music join forces to veritably tear you apart with noise.

mulletover choose Poker Flat boss Steve Bug to fly their techno flag, Man Make Music bring back Dirtybird's Justin Martin and Bloc get Plastician in to bend your ears.

Mighty fine.

Okay, it's a new year, a new beginning and - with the UK still in the midst of this recession - high time to look after those pennies. Perhaps paying £75 for entry to a new years eve party would be something of a poor start to such a resolution.

But, this is the O2 - hardly your average nightspot, and take another look at that line-up; Deadmau5, Calvin Harris, Dave Spoon and some guy called Eric Prydz popping in for a special appearance.

Infamous carnival crew Sancho Panza team up with Stuart Patterson for a double roomed, full moon NYE loft party.

One room is devoted to all things house, the other features DJs with solid disco credentials such as Phil Asher, Dave Jarvis, Freddy Love, Mastomic and Thor.

There's also a film room and a heated outdoor area with a Slush Brothers Ice Cream Van serving cocktails.

With thirty-three performers in the main room alone (not even counting MCs), the question begs to be asked: how can all of them have a turn at the decks? Although the event runs for a whopping sixteen hours, one can only assume most of the acts are deejaying back-to-back.

Nevertheless, the more the merrier, especially when you have a bill chock-full of DnB, garage, dubstep and breakbeat heavyweights, not least Andy C, Nicky Blackmarket, Grooverider and Mampi Swift. This is the top NYE destination for anyone into London's urban scene.

Marking Wilton's 150th birthday, Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter fims, Dorian Gray) and Deborah Warner recreate their dramatic production of T.S Eliot's The Waste Land.

Abrupt and unapologetic, prophetic and satirical, this poem has been called one of the most important of the 20th century.

Once again the Royal Ballet celebrate Christmas by dusting off their impeccable, classic version of the family favourite. The Nutcracker, E.T.A Hoffmann's story set to the music of Tchaikovsky and choreographed by Lev Ivanov, is a piece of classical ballet that is synonymous with Christmas.

A trip to the Royal Opera House is something you'll never forget and while this classic version is pretty long and might be wasted on toddlers, for younger kids and teenagers, this is the definitive Nutcracker.

This winter, Gagosian presents an exhibition of recent works by one of Britain's leading contemporary painters.

The Davies Street space is graced with works by Howard Hodgkin whose small scale paintings tread the line between the figurative and the abstract whilst all the while fizzing with barely suppressed energy.

Every Friday and Saturday night, Trojka clears some tables and treats diners and drinkers to bands playing the best traditional Russian folk.

Surprisingly relaxing whilst eating your caviar and sipping top quality vodka, the party at Trojka goes on late and you'll be planning that trip to Moscow all the way home.

A classic production of Oscar Wilde's infamous play. Two sly men fall for two witty women, both with a penchant for the name Ernest.

First produced in 1895, this popular comedy has been adapted for film and stage over and over to the delights of audiences everywhere.

Is it art, is it comedy, is it theatre? You decide as the Perrier-winner and BAFTA-nominated artist/comedian Kim Noble takes you on a journey towards his death.

Over four nights Noble will guide audiences through his plans for departing Planet Earth, ensuring that his legacy is looked after by writing audience members into his legally binding Last Will and Testament, providing them with guides to surviving terrorist plots on the underground and, perhaps most touching of all, containers of his sperm will be available to female audience members in a bid to populate the world with genius once he is dead.

Controversial singer/songwriter Pete Doherty is dropping by the Blues Kitchen tonight, and is sure to be accompanied by his notorious attitude. Expect some fireworks, and we don't mean the celebratory kind...

An exhibition themed around Baudelaire's idea of the flâneur this December.

Pop up art space CAMP looks at the wonderful figure of the wondering metropolitan observer, eagle-eyed, lazy and snappily dressed.

The regular Tuesday show at The Comedy Store becomes a special 'Review of the Year' show tonight where six top comedians improvise a topical gig about the best of the year's news, with suggestions given by the audience.

A family treat on the South Bank this festive season sees the Oscar-winning animated version of Prokofiev's wonderful fable projected on the big screen at the Royal Festival Hall while the Philharmonia Orchestra plays along.

An enchanting tale, brilliantly realised, and an ideal introduction for young children to the captivating power of classical music. This is a good choice for highbrow family fun.