We’re still in the midst of a cold and grey winter, but hey, at least we’ve left January behind us! But until spring rolls around, let’s not despair, because London remains chock full of excellent events to get you through the month. There are plenty of things to brighten your days with, from Mardi Gras parties to romantic Valentine’s Day ideas and heavenly margarita fountains. You won’t want to miss out, so check out the best things to do in London in February 2022 below!
1. Celebrate the Lunar New Year (February 1)
Celebrations for the Lunar New Year in London are the biggest in the world outside of Asia, with people usually flocking in from all over the UK and from around the world. Unfortunately, festivities have had to be rather scaled back this year due to the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19, but there are still plenty of ways you can celebrate. Here are some amazing ways you can ring in the ‘Year of the Tiger’.
2. Enjoy an amazing live gig (all month)
We’ve certainly missed live music over these past two years, but happily, we’ve got an amazing line-up of events returning this month and beyond. From the BRITs Week to The Kooks and Saint JHN, here are some of our favourite picks for February 2022.
3. Pull off a daring robbery at this ‘Money Heist’ experience (from February 4)
After a break over the Christmas period, the infamous masked bandits from Netflix hit Money Heist are back from February 4, planning their new attack and looking for new members. Do you have what it takes to join the infamous gang as they take over the Big Smoke? If you’re up for the challenge, grab your mask and don your red jumpsuit to join the thrilling Money Heist immersive experience. Get your tickets here.
4. Taste delicious reds, whites, and rosés at Eataly’s wine festival (February 4-6)
If you like your wine and you love Eataly – London’s 42,000 square foot Italian food hub – you’re in for something special this month. Starting on Friday, February 4 and lasting all weekend, guests are invited to stroll around celebrating the wines of Italy during a special wine festival. Read all about it here!
5. Hunt down London’s best slice on National Pizza Day (February 9)
Be it hangovers, break ups, or everyday carb-cravings, there’s simply nothing pizza can’t cure. Thankfully, London is properly spoilt when it comes to slices (or entire pies), so we’ve taken on the daunting task of rounding up the best pizza spots in the city. Find them all here.
6. Celebrate National LGBT History Month (all month)
February is LGBT+ History Month throughout the United Kingdom, and London is brimming with places in which to learn about LGBTQ+ history. From museums to interactive treasure hunts and nights out at London’s most iconic LGBTQ+ venues, here are 10 fun ideas to learn and celebrate.
7. Sing your heart out with a live rock band at this epic mass karaoke party (February 11)
The UK’s largest mass karaoke party is coming to London, and you’re invited! Belt your heart out in perfect unison with a massive crowd at Camden’s Electric Ballroom, as a live band performs your favourite rock, 80s, and 90s hits. From Oasis to Nirvana and the Spice Girls to Britney, there’s something for every taste, so find your favourite epic singalong here!
8. Meet a holographic Sir David Attenborough at this free rainforest experience in London (from February 11)
This month, you’ll have the chance to gallop through an augmented reality rainforest right here in London, bumping heads with fascinating wildlife as a virtual Sir David Attenborough guides you through the experience. Sounds pretty wild, eh? The Green Planet AR Experience arrives at Regent Street on February 11, and will give Londoners the opportunity to embark on an immersive journey through the plants. Oh, and the best part? It’s completely free to attend. Read more here.
9. Dine under a canopy of cherry blossoms inside these gorgeous igloos (from February 11)
Fulham’s inherently exuberant venue Neverland has had a romantic uplift. Little Kyoto is arriving on February 11, and with beautiful cherry blossom igloos, we think it may just be the perfect spot to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Check it out here.
10. Have fun on Super Bowl Sunday (February 13)
Whether you’re watching for the football, the puppies, or just the fast food… those are all perfectly good reasons to participate in Super Bowl Sunday. Head to a public screening at BOXPARK or get comfy on your couch with a delicious burger and wings. Just don’t be late for work after pulling an all-nighter!
11-27. Ramp up the romance with these special Valentine’s Day ideas (February 14 & the weekend leading up to it)
From cosy dinners at London’s most romantic restaurants to quirky A-Z date ideas, there are countless special ways to spend Valentine’s Day in the city. To give you some inspiration, we’ve complied a list of lovely activities you can plan for yourself and that special someone:
A romantic Valentine’s Day candlelight concert:
❤️ Candlelight: Valentine’s Day Special ft. “Romeo and Juliet” and more @ Butchers’ Hall
🌹 Valentine’s Vivaldi by Candlelight @ Ely Cathedral
❤️ Valentines Vivaldi by Candlelight @ St James’ Church Piccadilly
🌹 Valentine’s Moonlight Sonata by Candlelight @ St Mary Le Strand Church
❤️ Valentine’s Day Moonlight Sonata by Candlelight @ St Martin-in-the-Fields Church
Romantic dining experiences:
🌹 Find The Dinner: Valentine’s Day Special
❤️ Find the Room: Surprise Meal in a Restaurant with the Perfect Room
Something more upbeat:
🌹 A 1920s-themed speakeasy Valentine’s Day party
🌹 Valentines Boat Party with an After Party
❤️ BucketRace Valentine’s Day Couples Scavenger Hunt
For even more ideas, here are 14 magical places in London for an utterly romantic indoor date this Valentine’s Day. Oh, and on that note… here are 21 of the very best places to kiss in London.
28. Step into the world of Bridgerton at this immersive Regency ball (from February 16)
London’s long-awaited immersive Bridgerton ball is finally making its debut this month, and it’s undoubtedly the most exciting event of the season! This three-hour immersive affair will transport you to 1813 London for an evening of music, mingling, and plenty of other activities, inside a jaw-dropping venue that’s been dressed up to the nines. A string quartet will serenade you with their take on pop classics, and an enchanting light show will bring your favourite Bridgerton moments to life around you. Rumour has it that even Queen Charlotte herself will be attending… Get your tickets here!
29. Let loose at the UK’s biggest bottomless drag brunch (February 20)
This brilliantly boozy bottomless brunch is all your drag (and drinking) dreams come true. Taking over Boxpark Croydon with bottomless cocktails and mouth-watering food, the Bougie Drag Brunch is one of the biggest and best brunches you’ll find in the city, with an epic lineup of drag queens that know how to get a party in full swing. Grab your tickets here!
30. Celebrate National Margarita Day (February 22)
Here at Secret London we’re always looking for excuses to eat and drink, so National Margarita Day is circled in bright red on our calendars. It might be a Tuesday, but honestly, who cares? If you’re looking for ideas, we suggest you head to one of London’s prettiest cocktail bars or go straight for Ziggy Green’s watermelon magarita cocktail fountain.
31. Visit London’s brand new IKEA store (from February 24)
While we might all be waiting in heavy anticipation for the Oxford Street branch to open up, a brand new Hammersmith IKEA will be opening up in the meantime. It’s billed as a “small format store”, one which is dedicated to home accessories, with over 2,000 home furnishing available to buy in store, and the full range available to purchase for home delivery. Read more about the new west London branch here!
32. Experience the vibrant spirit of New Orleans at this epic Mardi Gras party (February 26)
Fancy a dazzling, New Orleans inspired affair where literally anything is possible? This colourful bash is the perfect place to come together and make extraordinary memories as you party in style with your ‘krewe’ and make new mates along the way! Dive into the world of Mardi Gras with mesmerising DJ sets, show-stopping dancing parades, on-site makeup artists, and delicious Southern Comfort cocktails and slushies. Get your tickets here.
33. Get your first Comic Con fix of the year (February 26 & 27)
London Comic Con Spring is returning to Olympia London this February, once again giving fans the opportunity to get photos, autographs, and meet and mingle with their favourite stars of film and TV. Find more info here.
34. Experience the thrills and spills of your favourite board game at a life-sized Monopoly experience
The first of its kind in the world, Monopoly Lifesized has plenty to keep you occupied on your quest for property. Taking the Monopoly board as inspiration, the creative team have turned it into so much more; players will need to participate in physical and mental challenges to move around the massive board, such as building London’s landmarks against the clock, solving murder mysteries, or staging a Mayfair heist. Read all about it here.
35. Discover a new hidden bar in the basement beneath this popular Indian restaurant
The Cinnamon Club, one of the staples of Indian fine-dining in the capital for the best part of two decades, have added a hidden underground cocktail bar to their oeuvre. Sat between the walls of the Grade II listed old Westminster library, you’ll find a brand new drinking den inspired by an Indian bazaar. See more here!
36. See The Ocean at the End of the Lane on stage in the West End
The Ocean at the End of the Lane, a spectacular new stage adaptation based on the best-selling novel by Neil Gaiman, made quite a splash at the National Theatre and now in the West End. Telling the story of a man returning to his childhood home, the production is a breathlessly imaginative work which encompasses magic, ancient forces, and memories of childhood. It will be running until May 14 at the Duke of York’s Theatre, and you can get your tickets here!
37. Dive into these new Netflix releases
Netflix UK is providing plenty more for us to enjoy this February. New seasons of Space Force and Snowpiercer, a Tinder-themed true-crime documentary, and a Kanye West trilogy are just some of this month’s highlights. See more releases here.
38. Try the ‘world’s best dumplings’ right here in London
Taiwanese restaurant Din Tai Fung has brought their secret weapon to London: the world’s best dumplings. With a restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden and a brand new second spot that has just opened in Selfridges, they’ve made a beeline for the most desirable addresses in town. Find more info here.
39-46. Visit an intriguing art exhibition (all month)
There’s one thing you can count on: London will never run out of art exhibitions. Here are some of our top picks of the month:
Art exhibitions opening in February:
🦊 Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature, V&A Museum (opens Feb 12)
🖼️ Surrealism Beyond Borders, Tate Modern (opens Feb 24)
👗 Mad Explosive Spontaneity, Dawn Okoro, Maddox Gallery (opens Feb 24)
Art exhibitions closing in February:
🎤 Shilpa Gupta, Barbican Centre (until February 6)
🤖 Hyundai Commission: Anicka Yi, Tate Modern (until February 6)
☁️ Late Constable, Royal Academy of Arts (until February 13)
🏰 The Credit Suisse Exhibition – Dürer’s Journeys: Travels of a Renaissance Artist, National Gallery (until February 27)
47.-59. See a magical candlelight concert
When it comes to brightening your dark February nights, these illuminating candlelight concerts will do the trick. Whether you prefer the classic compositions of Brahms or the pop tunes of Taylor Swift, you’ll be sure to find something that suits your taste.
🕯️ Candlelight: A Tribute to Ludovico Einaudi at Central Hall
🕯️ Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay at Southwark Cathedral
🕯️ Candlelight: Tribute to Taylor Swift
🕯️ Candlelight: Hans Zimmer’s Best Works at Castle Hotel Windsor
🕯️ Candlelight: Tribute to Ed Sheeran
🕯️ Brahms – A German Requiem by Candlelight
🕯️ Candlelight Vivaldi Four Seasons
🕯️ Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by Candlelight at Freemason’s Hall
🕯️ Classical Masterpieces by Candlelight
🕯️ Candlelight Soul Classics: Four Tops, The Supremes and more
🕯️ Candlelight: Hans Zimmer’s Best Works at Central Hall Westminster🕯️ Candlelight: Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake & More ft. Ballet
60-61. More things to do inspiration…
200 fab and FREE things to do in London
The 500 best things to do in London
All our events are recommended by editors. Tickets purchased through Fever may earn Secret London commission.
Also published on Medium.