January in London: Escape the post-holiday blues with budget-friendly theater, delicious deals, and vibrant cultural events like Burns Night and Lunar New Year celebrations. đđ
Find your perfect January in the city, whether it’s fitness, cozy pubs, or exploring hidden gems.
1. Be dazzled by the Canary Wharf Winter Lights
The bright lights of Canary Wharf’s towers are quite the spectacle after dark, but the business district will glow brighter than usual in January thanks to the addition of sparkling illuminations created by artists from around the world. The Winter Lights festival returns for its ninth edition with a new set of dazzling artworks, installations and interactive experiences, plus some old favourites from previous years.
Thereâll be 11 immersive illuminations dotted across the area, including some intriguing sounding sculptures like a âtowering stack of bathtubs pulsing with light and soundâ, an orbiting pylon emitting a âtornadoâ of light, luminous saris fabric, an iridescent mirage on Montgomery Square and a 20m-wide sink hole encircled by light. Thereâll be sweet treats and hot drinks to warm you up between the installations.
2. See Lightroom transform into an otherworldly spectacle for just ÂŁ19
Tom Hanks narrates an epic experience that offers a unique new perspective on humankindâs past and future voyages to the moon. See this exciting Apollo Remastered collaboration with Tom Hanks, Christopher Riley and 59 Productions with an insight into the impending return of crewed surface missions by going behind the scenes of the Artemis programme, including interviews between Hanks and Artemis astronauts. With a musical score by Anne Nikitin, Lightroomâs powerful projection and audio technology will transport you to another world.
3. Rethink your relationship with art at the London Art Fair
Londonâs established winter art fair opens with over 120 galleries showing modern art, photography, sculpture and everything in between. This yearâs London Art Fair will feature large-scale installations and thematic group displays from some very influential artists, including Tracey Emin and Francis Bacon. A new partnership with the Sainsbury Centre will also introduce an immersive ‘Living Art’ experience, which hopes to encourage visitors to rethink their relationship with art.
4. Head out of the city on a winter day trip
London might always be bustling with fun things to do and, come winter, a jam-packed calendar of unmissable events, but sometimes you just need a break from it all. When the capitalâs hustle and bustle leaves you feeling a little drained, you can find some escape from the crowds and hordes of tourists by getting up and getting out just for a day. In dire need of crisp country air, a relaxing spa day or a gorgeous, long walk? These day trips from London are all under two hours from Zone 1 and will give you the relief you need this winter.
5. Try some of the best mocktails in London
In a city brimming with bars, breweries and prosecco-based pop-ups, it would seem that drinking in London without actually, erm, drinking is an impossibility. Leave your beer goggles at home for one night, however, and youâll see the selection of non-alcoholic cocktails and booze-less blends available in the capital is pretty extensive. In some venues, the alcohol-free offerings are even more creative and tastebud-seducing than their liquor-rich counterparts. Donât believe us? Have a sip on one of these teetotal tipples…
6. Exclusive ÂŁ23 deal: Three courses and wine at 100 Wardour Street
100 Wardour Street is your go-to spot for an after-work unwind, offering a perfect mix of dining, drinks, and dancing. Dive into a vibrant atmosphere of neon lights and chic interiors while savouring a three-course meal with modern European classics. Enjoy starters like Burrata with Datterino tomatoes and Korean Fried Chicken, followed by mains such as Baked Cod with sundried tomatoes or Josper Grilled Spatchcock Chicken. Wrap up your meal with desserts like Baba Mignon or Medjool Date & Dark Chocolate Mousse. Plus, with a complimentary glass of wine included, this is an offer you wonât want to miss!
7. Dig deep into the world of soil at âSOIL: The World At Our Feetâ
Soil â itâs not something you really think about, unless youâre doing the gardening. But this new exhibition at Somerset House will change all that, shining a light on its important role in our world, including the part it plays in our planetâs future. Top artists, writers and scientists from across the globe are all involved in the thought-provoking exploration, which aims to stop you thinking of soil as mere dirt and start considering it as something far more powerful instead.
8. Take a bracing winter walk in London
Yes, it’s cold out. It’s also quite wet. The leaves have fallen from the trees and turned the pavements into a slimy, slippery ice rink. But we’re lucky to have some amazing, huge, parks in London, and walking around in them on a crisp winter’s day is genuinely one of lifeâs great joys. Whether you’re a Royal Parks stan or a fiend for Hampstead Heath, there are loads of parks to choose from. So, get out there.
9. Enjoy a sherry-fuelled feast at Isaac McHaleâs new restaurant
Isaac McHale is already responsible for one of Shoreditchâs most renowned restaurants with the two Michelin-starred The Clove Club, so we expect big things from the Scottish chefâs next project, a âconsidered yet informalâ Ă la carte spot inspired by his love of southern French and simple Spanish cooking, which opens round the corner on Kingsland Road in January. Bar Valetteâs menu promises an array of bar snacks inspired by San Sebastianâs pintxos bars, plenty of hearty sharing dishes suitable for long, boozy dinners with friends, and one or two Clove Club signatures. Itâll also offer an extensive list of French and Spanish wines, plus craft ciders and rare bottles of sherry. You need only look at the perpetual queue outside Tollingtonâs to see how eagerly London has embraced Iberian bar culture of late, so weâd imagine the latest opening to service this trend will be popular from the get-go.