5 great spots to ride the Polar Express and see Santa

A play starring Cate Blanchett, a production of "Romeo and Juliet," and a peace concert hosted by Jude Law are among the hundreds of events planned for a 12-week festival celebrating the London 2012 Olympics. The Cultural Olympiad will run between June 21 and Sept. 9, 2012. Book your tickets in advance, later next year. We'll let you know when the mix of free and paid performances become available. Oscar-winning Australian actress Blanchett will star in a new adaptation of "Gross und Klein," with the Sydney Theatre Company. A staging of "Romeo and Juliet" will be set in present-day Baghdad, with Sunnis and Shias instead of Montagues and Capulets. Other highlights include the screening of a series of short new films by Mike Leigh and other acclaimed directors, and art exhibitions by artists such as David Hockney, Lucian Freud, and Olafur Eliasson. Some events will be held outside of London. Actor Jude Law, for instance, will host a Peace One Day concert in Belfast, Northern Ireland. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL London theatre: Once-a-year discounts available London: 5 best December values London: Rent a bike for nearly nothing

Much has been made of the many cringe-inducing moments—both of the predictably horrifying, arm-sawing variety and of the more surprisingly gruesome, extreme-close-up, contact-lens-insertion sort—in Danny Boyle's trapped-hiker film 127 Hours. But where some see a surefire way to lose their appetites for movie popcorn, the state of Utah sees a built-in marketing opportunity. The Utah Office of Tourism recently launched a series of five 127-hour (or roughly five-day) itineraries throughout the state, including everything from cross-country skiing and mountain biking to bird-watching and touring historic towns—and yes, even some hiking. All of which raises the question—does this make you want to see Utah more? Certainly, the state's unique and majestic natural beauty has long drawn both adrenaline-seekers and the adventure-averse, but does associating the landscape with Aron Ralston's tragic/heroic self-rescue increase or decrease its appeal? You tell me, BT reader: Are travel-disaster movies a selling point or a turnoff?

When we went looking for your best shots of Japan, we were impressed by the beauty and diversity of the photos. In the 26 images we selected, you'll be transported to a country packed with cultural experiences—see the famous cherry blossom trees in bloom, sumo wrestlers after a workout, the magnificent Mount Fuji, and unique temples, buildings, and shrines. See the slide show. RECENT READER SLIDE SHOWS Caribbean Sea | Skylines | Mexico STILL IN SEARCH OF... We're collecting your photos of signs. Upload them through myBudgetTravel, tag them, and check back in the coming weeks for a slide show of the best submissions.

London's Christmas season began late last week with a tree-lighting ceremony in Trafalgar Square. Early snowfall has melted, and cheer is in the air. Here are five stylish and affordable ways to celebrate the holidays in the Big Smoke. Watch the paint dry (...no, really) At the National Gallery, artist Ben Johnson will add the finishing brushstrokes to his landscape portrait of Trafalgar Square. You can watch him as he works in an enclosed space on the building's roof. Johnson's painting is inspired by the work of Canaletto, an eighteenth-century artist whose depictions of Venice are on display in a special exhibition in the museum. free, for six weeks, starting from Wed., Dec. 8, nationalgallery.org.uk. A musical night at the museum On Friday Dec. 10, the National Portrait Gallery will stay open late, turning over its halls to various live performances. In the 17th-century galleries, for instance, pianists Will Dutta and Stuart Davies will play Chopin and Liszt. Grab a drink at a the bar, or check out this year's winner's of Britain's annual photographic portrait prize. free, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., npg.org.uk/lateshift. Have a gourmet holiday The German-themed Christmas stalls are easily found under the shadow of the London Eye, the enclosed Ferris wheel on the south bank of the Thames. But turn away from the river and walk around to the other side of the Royal Festival Hall to find much more delectable stalls. The Real Food Christmas markets will be open this weekend, serving all locally-sourced or sustainably farmed food, from fruit preserves to pork pies. A tip: Some of the stalls put items on two-for-one sale at sundown. (Dec. 10-12), Friday through Sunday, realfoodfestival.co.uk. Medieval Christmas The 900-year old Tower of London is always a popular attraction for families. From Dec. 27-31, it's also the setting for a reimagining of the 1284 court of Edward I. Kids will love the Great Christmas Pudding race, with costumed characters racing around balancing fruitcakes on spoons. The exhibition on life in the medieval palace provides historical context. admission includes access to the Tower, the Yeoman Warder guided tour, and standard highlights. adults £18.70 ($29.50); children £10.45 ($16.50), hrp.org.uk. Window-shopping with the locals When it comes to shopping, Oxford Street and Shoreditch draw most of the out-of-towners, but Mayfair's Burlington Arcade remains a treasure visited mostly by locals. Top-hatted, uniformed beadles keep out the riff-raff. Browse a clutch of fabulous independent shops, such as Heming, a jewelry shop since 1745, which has a sparkling shop window display. burlington-arcade.co.uk. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL London: Rent a bike for nearly nothing London shopping: A new mall with spectacular views London: Royal wedding-themed vacations