It is a truth universally acknowledged that January is the saddest month of the year (sorry, January babies), but don’t worry; there are plenty of mood-boosting activities in London ready to turn those frowns upside down and blitz your January blues. Forget the sorrows of Blue Monday (January 15), or the weary bank accounts that haven’t seen a new deposit for a solid five weeks: we’ve compiled a list of activities for a range budgets and interests that’ll have you smiling in no time.
1. Let feel-good hormones flow at Dopamine Land
This place is dedicated to making you feel happy, so it’s an absolute must visit this January. Dopamine Land, the happiness-inducing, multisensory museum, originally opened mid last year for a limited run, but it’s been so popular, its dates have been extended again, and again, and again. At the South Kensington venue, you’ll find a series of rooms that combine traditional media and innovative technology to create colourful installations, moving projections, and nostalgic games. ‘Floor is lava’ room, a shadow puppets game, or a dip in a ball pit anyone?
The creative production teams behind Dopamine Land specifically designed the experience with decompression spaces and stimulant rooms, so your body can prepare adequately for spikes of dopamine you’ll experience. Throughout the museum, an array of stimuli that activate each of your five senses are used, so visitors can discover exactly what triggers their individual happy hormones and cure those January blues.
2. Unleash your inner child at London’s highly-anticipated, multi-sensory Bubble Planet
Let your inner child loose this winter at an international immersive world that finally arrived in London last month. The installation is filled with – you guessed it – a whole lotta bubbles, created using a plethora of techniques. In this space, not only will you encounter regular bubbles, but the experience employs VR technology, interactive elements, and mirrored effects to create something incredibly innovative.
Over the course of an hour at Bubble Planet, you’ll saunter between 11 rooms themed around different types of bubbles, each more enchanting than the last. While we don’t want to give away everything you’ll experience, we can reveal there’ll be a hot air balloon flight simulationroom; a VR experience room, where you see the world from inside a bubble; and a room filled to the brim with oversized balloons. Sounds pretty damn moody-busting to us!
3. Forget Dry January and enjoy a bottomless brunch with pals
If you like your brunches with a side of booze, there are many options that we can help you out with. Whether you opt for a themed brunch that celebrates your favourite stars, like Cardi B or Lady Gaga, or just fancy a standard brunch where the booze keeps coming, it’s up to you. Check out our Secret London list of the best bottomless brunches in London for inspo.
4. Feel the magic at a Candlelight Concert
Since arriving in London, Candlelight has illuminated some of the city’s most unique and gorgeous locations – hello Southwark Cathedral and Glazier’s Hall – with the soft glow of thousands of candles. And what better way to improve your mood this January than by listening to a string orchestra playing some tunes in these gorgeous locations? Plus, some of them will be playing the songs of some pretty well-known music legends…
💃🏾 Now, Queen Bey made one hell of a name for herself last year with her sellout ‘Renaissance World Tour’, which smashed all hit records and sold out across the globe. Now, the team at Candlelight will be taking on some of her biggest hits at the mighty Glazier’s Hall – including ‘Crazy in Love’, ‘Halo’ and ‘Drunk in Love’. Cop your tickets here.
🐇 Speaking of music legends, Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny has made quite the name for himself over the last few years, and he was actually the first non-English language act to be Spotify’s most streamed artist of the year. A string quartet (once again at the spectacular Glazier’s Hall) will be taking on some of his biggest hits, including ‘Tití Me Preguntó’, ‘Callaíta’ and ‘La Canción’. Get a hold of your tickets here.
🎸 “Because maybeeeeeee, you’re gonna be the one that saves meeeeeeee, and after alllllllll, you’re my wonderwalllllllllll!” We all know how this one goes. Yep, that’s right – the legendary Brit-Pop band Oasis will be given the whole Candlelight treatment at Glaziers Hall, with hits on the bill including ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’, ‘Little By Little’ and ‘Champagne Supernova’. Grab your tickets here.
5. Get lost in the world of Seoul at the Delight Media Art Exhibition
The Delight Media Art Exhibition has transformed the restored railway arches of Borough Yards in London Bridge since the end of 2023, and due to popular demand, the exhibit has extended its stay in the capital. This glorious exhibition, which will now be open until April 14, brings a plethora of multi-media artworks to the capital – many for the first time. The pieces, produced by Korean artist Gyoungtae Hong, span 12 different immersive zones, and incorporate various mediums, including lighting, video mapping, augmented reality, and hi-tech sound too.
There are over 25 different forms of media content on display, best accessed via an app you can download, and thanks to floor-to-ceiling projections and the 360-degree installations, you’ll feel almost as if you’re within the artworks themselves. Definitely a way to stave off those January blues!
6. Stretch your legs and let your mind wander
Simple, but effective! Don’t underestimate the power of a stroll to cure any January blues. Whether you’ve got a destination in mind or you’re just out for an aimless meander, London and its surrounding areas are full of different sights to see, whether history, riverside views, landmarks or green spaces is your thing.
🚶🏽♂️Best London walks
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🚶🏽♂️Best running routes in London
Or, alternatively…
🚲 Hop aboard two wheels an explore some of the best cycling routes the city has to offer.
7. Up the magic ante at the spellbinding Disney100: The Exhibition
Now if you’re looking for a way to beat the January blues, then this one surely has to be up there, right?! The ultimate tribute to 100 years of the iconic brand – and the world’s biggest Disney exhibit we’ll have you know – this fantastic art exhibition allows visitors to step behind the scenes of the stories we all know and love; it unveils rare Disney props, costumes and moving stories.
It’s only running until Sunday January 21, so you’d best get in there quick, but this is one you really don’t want to miss out on. Alongside the recognisable films, Disney100: The Exhibition also honours the likes of Mickey, Minnie and co; the world-renowned theme parks; and the latest additions to the Disney family – namely characters from Pixar, Star Wars, and MARVEL too.
8. Step into the world of the Wild Wild West at the Moonshine Saloon
Now if you’re not doing Dry January this year and are wanting to improve your mood with a few cocktails, then you should really make your way to Moonshine Saloon. Cowboys and cowgirls, ramblers and gamblers, and all kinds of shady characters fill this intriguing spot, so leave your morals at the door, because you’ll be operating away from the prying eyes of the Sheriff. Once you step off the modern-day pavement, you’ll enter a Wild Western street (the set design is impressive), and perhaps even embody a specific character in the evening’s tale. Got to look the part if you’re going to blend in, right?
While you’re here, you’ll be side by side with live actors who’ll welcome you into the illicit Moonshine empire. Roll the dice – quite literally – as you try your hand at a selection of dice and card games, or simply chat with the local cowboys and cowgirls who frequent this here spot. The bartenders will transform your bring-your-own booze into four personalised Old West cocktails; and as you’ve brought your own liquor, you’re now officially part of the covert liquor operation led by the self-styled King of the Moonshiners, Clyde Cassidy!
9. Hit the gym and improve your mental health
January is now here, which for many of us means hitting the gym again and trying to get our fitness game back after all the mince pies and turkey dinners we’ve eaten… plus, it’s good for the old mental health and for fending off those January blues. And luckily for us, our beloved capital isn’t all about exclusive, members-only gyms for the rich and famous. There are plenty of places which offer fantastic bang-for-you-buck, from The Gym to and Fitness4Less to Better Health and Boom Cycle. You can find out more in our roundup here.
So, there you have it dear reader. January doesn’t have to be all that depressing! Get yourself involved with this nine different activities and help stave off the January blues! We’re certainly signing up…