Looking for things to do in London in January? Add these fun events to your calendar.
Once the magic of Christmas has subsided and the decorations have been packed away, you might think London in January sounds a little bit, well, depressing.
Though you couldn’t be more wrong: Winter in London cannot be beaten. The capital springs into action with a whole host of events to brighten things up, from exciting new restaurant openings to fun workshops and fitness pop-ups.
Beat the January blues with these brilliant things to do in London in January…
Things to do in London in January
Enjoy a Winter Light Trail Walk
Light trails have exploded in popularity in recent years, and so the capital is full of them this month. What better way to shake the post-Christmas blues than with even more sparkly lights?
Christmas lights at Kew Gardens are a more grown up affair, running until the 8th. Or the Southbank Centre’s Winter Lights are always a winner – a neon canopy and colourful artwork illuminate the nearby Thames, perfect for an evening stroll before popping in for a drink or two.
Canary Wharf, though, is going above and beyond. Between 18th and 28th January, the area will be decked out in lights and interactive artwork for you to explore. It’s free to explore and you don’t need to book a ticket.
Get Your Skates On
You might think that once Christmas is over the capital’s ice rinks shut for good… but you would be very wrong. It seems that Londoners just can’t get enough of ice skating and so many rinks stay open throughout January.
Westfield London Winter Village’s magical offering will stay open until January 8, 2023. Whereas Skate at Somerset House will open until January 15, 2023. Or, if you’re looking to skate after this time, the rink at Alexandra Palace is open all year round. And it’s a goodun.
Attempt Veganuary (and Discover a New Favourite Restaurant!)
It’s no secret that London is home to plenty of impressive vegan restaurants, and we’ve even written a guide to our favourite vegan spots for you – so there’s really nothing stopping you from taking part in Veganuary.
Standout spots include Mildred’s in Soho and The Spread Eagle’s epic winter warmers. Of course, there are plenty of places for vegan afternoon tea too, if you’re feeling fancy-schmancy.
Pick Up a Bargain in the January Sales
If you’re anything like us, you’ll agree that the best thing about January is the ridiculous sales. Who doesn’t love snapping up a bargain?
That said, the thought of battling shoppers on Oxford Street fills us with dread – head somewhere like Camden Passage or Seven Dials for a spluttering of cool indie shops and stalls instead. Thank us later.
Catch a Film at BFI Southbank
Throughout January
Sight and Sound has announced the top 100 films of all time. And, to celebrate, BFI Southbank will be showing them all between January and March.
That’s right – brighten up those January blues with a blockbuster film or two. We won’t spoil the entire list for you, but January sees the likes of Get Out and Spirited Away return to the big screen.
You can find out more about the showings here.
Check Out David Hockney’s Brand New Art Experience
From 25th January
The zany world of David Hockney is being brought to life in a brand new London venue, Lightroom.
Bigger & Closer (Not Smaller & Further Away), will utilise giant walls and a top-of-the-range sound system to project images of the artist’s work to about the size of a four-floor building. Which will be narrated by the main man himself.
The immersive exhibition will feature work from throughout Hockney’s entire career, spanning Yorkshire through the LA years, and into the present with work from his current home of Normandy.
Drink Your Way Through London’s Best Mocktails
Who said dry January needed to be boring? Not us – London is filled with plenty of bars serving up killer mocktails to rival the boozy stuff.
We’ll be honest, pretty much every bar you walk into is guaranteed to have a dedicated alcohol-free section. Though a special shoutout goes to the Habanero Lowball at Nine Lives and the decent-sized mocktail menu at Mr Fogg’s Apothecary in Mayfair.
We also popped into Le Magritte at The Beaumont last month and happened to notice that the mocktail menu looked pretty cool, in case you’re in the mood for something a little bit swankier.
Listen to Sci Fi Music by Candlelight
7th + 8th January
Londoners have gone gaga for candlelight concerts in recent months, so what better way to kick off 2023 than with a sci-fi candlelight performance.
Situated in the stunning venue of Southwark Cathedral, expect to hear the likes of 2001: A Space Odyssey by Richard Strauss, a suite from Batman vs Superman by Hans Zimmer, and John Williams’ Main Theme from Jurassic Park played by a gorgeous string quartet.
Celebrate Chinese New Year
22nd January
Chinese New Year falls on 22nd January in 2023 and, in case you were wondering, Chinatown in London is the best place to be.
Not only are you surrounded by some of the best Chinese restaurants in the city, but this is where the festivities will take place. Expect parades, music, and mesmerising decorations to line the streets.
Wrap Up Warm and Take Off on a Winter Walk
Heading off on a winter walk is free, easy, and good for you. What more could you possibly want. It’s lucky then that London boasts so many brilliant parks for you to pootle around.
Or, if you’re looking to rack up some serious steps and get your New Year’s resolutions off to a great start, these beautiful walks in London are a good place to begin. And, if you’re open to heading a little further afield, here are ten brilliant walks near London.
Hot chocolate in hand is totally optional but highly recommended.
Catch Cirque du Soleil’s Kurios
From 13th January
Cirque du Soleil are returning for their annual Royal Albert Hall slot with their debut of Kurios.
This steampunk-inspired show follows the Seeker as he delves inside his cabinet of curiosities and tries to find an invisible world where craziness awaits. And, as ever with Cirque du Soleil, expect jaw-dropping acrobatics and impressive theatrics to feature heavily.
Watch Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons
From 18th January
No, not a massive typo, Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons is a brand new dystopian love story starring Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) and Aidan Turner (Mr Poldark himself).
Opening at the Harold Pinter Theatre, this production is sure to warm your heart on a cold January evening as it explores the words we use, and what happens when we run out of them.
Take Part In an Immersive Experience
London is loving an immersive experience as of late. From a SAW experience that sees you battle with gruesome tasks to the Lara Croft offering that will let you unleash your inner hero, there are so many to choose from.
That’s why we have written an epic guide to help you. Because sometimes you need to switch off from the real world and enter into one filled with dinos instead, right?
We’ve also been down to the Avora experience in Hoxton as a team in recent months and can confirm it’s every bit as fun to drink your way through a far off planet as it sounds.
Shop, Dine, and Drink at Battersea Power Station
Ever since Battersea Power Station got a totally pimped up makeover it has become one of the hottest spaces in the capital. From the shopping opportunities to the abundance of drinking and dining venues, there’s so much to enjoy.
A couple of standouts are Control Room B, a brand new bar that has just opened up in one of the power stations previous control rooms (yes, the original controls are very much part of the design), Megan’s incredible fine dining options, and Tozi Grand Cafe, which we just so happened to get a sneak peak of (and we were seriously impressed).
Not to mention the viewing platform that sees you soar high above the capital. Lift 109 is a Willy Wonka-esque glass elevator that shoots up to the top of the northwest chimney where you can take in 360-degree views of London.
Spot the Museum of the Moon
Throughout January
In case you didn’t catch it last time, the gorgeous Museum of the Moon has returned to London until the 5th of February 2023.
The exhibition features a giant moon in a 1:500,000 scale that recreates the true surface of the moon from 120dpi NASA imagery. Which is fancy talk for it looks real AF.
The moon is sitting in the Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich – a fittingly beautiful setting for the exhibition. You’ll need to book a £12.50 ticket in advance.
You can find out more here.
Practical Tips for Exploring London in January
Is January a good time to go to London?
It’s a hotly-debated topic as to when the best time to visit the capital is. January is as good as ever, with less tourists making for a more enjoyable experience. Though, on the flipside, you’ll have to put up with the good ‘ol rainy weather.
Bring a brolly (that’s an umbrella!) and you’re good to go.
What is London like in January?
One word: cold. Wrap up warm and you’ll be absolutely fine. See our London packing list for inspo.
