Here’s a couple of almost-Yule-themed, sort-of-science events for you to try over the nearly-holiday-weekend.

Frankincense & Myrrh: a Hospital’s Herbal Health

The Old Operating Theatre, Museum & Herb Garret, Saturday, 2-3pm, free

Discover the medicinal secrets of Frankincense and Myrrh, Snail water, Venetian Treacle, and many other forgotten remedies of herbal physic.

Nature Live event: Living in the Freezer

Natural History Museum, Sunday, 12.30, free

Hear scientists talk about their experiences living and working in Antarctica. That should inspire you to head outside and take a turn around the NHM’s charming ice rink.

A Dickens Christmas Pie

The Old Operating Theatre, Saturday 2-3pm, Free

Festive fun at the surgical museum. Jean Haynes “talks of the celebrated list of Dickens’ medical characters, from Bob Sawyer, the student surgeon, to Mrs Gamp, a pre-Nightingale nurse”. Mince pies and other refreshments are provided.

Guided walk at Brent Reservoir, Winter birds

Brent Reservoir, Sunday 10 am, Free

Roy Beddard and John Colmans guide visitors around this little-known North London conservation area for a touch of twitching.

Image from Ewan-M’s Flickr photostream

The apothecary shop: holiday herbal

Saturday, 2-3pm

Looking for an alternative Christmas gift? Head over to the Old Operating Theatre near London Bridge for lotions, potions and unguents based on old-school herbal medicine. Activities for children abound, including the chance to be an apothecary’s assistant.

Dust from space

Natural History Museum, Sunday 12.30-1.30pm

“Did you know extraterrestrial dust is on our streets, in our homes and even on our clothes? Find out more about this mysterious substance, how it gets here, where it’s from, and hear how it is helping us understand our own origins.” Sounds suspiciously like a tie-in for the Golden Compass film.

A trio of free events over the next couple of days, from our calendar.

Extreme animals

Grant Museum of Zoology, 24 November, 10–4, Free

UCL’s small but perfectly formed zoology museum presents a family-friendly event this weekend. They invite you to ‘meet some of the biggest, smallest, heaviest, lightest, cutest, ugliest, oldest, newest, weirdest and wildest animals’, while putting on educational activities for kids.

Blood, guts, children and power

Meet Holborn Tube Station, 24, 25 November, 11–1, Free

Take a tour of London’s medical quarter courtesy of the Wellcome Collection. The guided walk takes in Holborn, Bloomsbury and St Pancras, visiting historical sites such as the Royal College of Surgeons and Coram’s Fields. Note that pre-booking is advised.

Going underground

Natural History Museum, 25 November, 12.30 and 2.30, Free

There aren’t any real caves in South Kensington, unless you count the Tube station. Nevertheless, you can learn all about their formation and exploration at these afternoon talks from museum curators.