Lucy Devine

Trotting leisurely through the tube station on a weekday afternoon at 3pm used to be fab – the perfect time between lunch and rush hour when the station was so quiet you could run up and down the escalators like a five year-old or swing your shopping bags around your head, if you wanted to. But if you've found yourself feeling as though the tube is always busy these days, it's not just a coincidence.  There are more people than ever taking the tube and recent figures have revealed that Oxford Circus station has closed 113 times this year due to severe overcrowding. That's more than twice per week. With Christmas well and truly in swing, it's only going to get busier, with more shopping bags, more suitcases and London's favourite: confused, dawdling tourists.  So there's a strong possibility you'll soon be complaining about one of these annoying things that happen on the Underground all too often:  1. When you’re wearing your fave peep toe sandals and someone won’t stop staring at your naked toes.  2. When someone gets their manky naked feet out on the tube.  3. When someone with a suitcase bigger than their house tries to squeeze it through the small ticket barrier and gets stuck. 4. When someone has their bag blocking the left hand side of the escalator. 5. When you politely ask them to move their bag and they say: 'Where am I supposed to put it?' 6. Spending £20 in one day because you forgot to tap out on your way home.     7. When walking from one platform to the other 

We all have that friend who gets Christmas-ready too early. You’ve barely had a chance to Instagram your pumpkin spice latte and they’ve already cracked open the Quality Street and made a batch of mince pies. They’ll have a short break for Halloween - they’re crazy about that too - but once the fake blood has been delegated to the loft, there’s really no holding back. As far as they're concerned, November is Christmas Eve - but lucky for them, London’s on the same wavelength. Here are five activities to get you excited in November (even if you need the encouragement). 1. Make your own advent calendar Head down to Oxford Street’s John Lewis for a three-hour craft session with The Makery. For £40, it’s slightly more expensive than the 'Frozen' calendar you’ve been eyeing in Poundland, but at least you can keep refilling when you fancy stealing a choccie 15 days early. There's only a few places left too, so get booking. 2. Go for a festive afternoon tea Afternoon tea is a treat anytime of year, but what better way to welcome Christmas than (elegantly) stuffing our faces with minced pies and mini yule logs? All washed down with mulled wine or champagne, if you’re feeling fancy. 3. Go to the theatre Skip the cinema this month, because there are loads of Christmas shows starting in November. 'Jack and the Beanstalk' runs from November 21 at Hackney Empire or for something more festive, 'The Snowman' starts on November 25 at the Peacock Theatre in Holborn. 4. Visit 400 Years of Chri