And just like that, so begins another year. From Dry January activities to Veganuary-inspired menus, there’s a whole lot going on this month. January 2022 may feel like it was mere weeks ago, but now let’s look forward to a fun-filled month, with our guide to the best things to do in London in January 2023. What will you make of the new year?
1. Recover from your NYE festivities with a month off
Sober October may be the more catchily-named of the alcohol-free initiative-driven months, but Dry January is inarguably the OG. And it also feels like it has the most reason to exist. After all, is there any event more likely to cause you to wake up regretting your drinking decisions than New Years? Well, if you want to go alcohol-free this month, here’s a few ways you can do it!
🍹 Soho cocktail bar, Thin White Duke, has a month-long alcohol-free cocktail special in the form of their Morir Sonando (Die Dreaming). A delicious blend of fresh orange juice, condensed milk, cinnamon, honey, and vanilla, it’s a perfect complement to the bar’s tapas menu from Dominican dynamos Boca Chica.
🍾 Daisy Green is launching a “tea-total” bottomless brunch this January, promising “all the rituals of bottomless (even with the pop of a cork) just without the booze” thanks to REAL and their naturally fermented sparkling teas.
🕹️ NQ64 is a retro arcade bar that brings social gaming fun and delicious game-inspired cocktails together in one place. Dry January doesn’t need to bring a halt to the fun, however, with the bar’s non-alcoholic cocktails including the refreshing and fruity No Uka Uka, and the candied strawberry topped Driver Spritz.
🍸 Grab a free drink courtesy of drinks brand, Everleaf, who are enticing drinkers and non-drinkers alike out to their favourite bars during a time that is notoriously difficult for bars, pubs, and restaurants. Guests can grab one of the non-alcoholic serves from Everleaf at one of the participating bars, and then take a photo of their receipt to get the money back! Among the confirmed bars to participate are Tayer + Elementary and Christina’s as well as plenty more.
2. Or start as you mean to go on and give these places a try
New year, new you, new favourite restaurant? There are tons of new restaurants and venues that have opened recently, or will be opening in January, for you to check out. You may well find your new favourite!
🐶 Pawsitive Café – Afternoon tea for dogs anyone? Oh and delicious Malaysian food? Sign us up!
🍝 Jacuzzi – A four-storey ‘pleasure palace’ restaurant from the Big Mamma group is sure to be London’s hottest reservation in 2023.
🍸 Bruno’s – It’s a cocktail bar ON 👏 A 👏 BARGE. We don’t really need to say anything more, do we?
🦐 Saltie Girl – This Boston hailing seafood bar is legendary, and with the launch of their new lunch menu there’s now twice as much chance to fill your face with their oceanic delights.
🥩 STK Stratford – The third restaurant for the STK Steakhouse London group, promising rooftop views of London, reimagined American cuisine, and world-famous cocktails.
🥂 Petrossian – Following the opening of the French brand’s first London deli, a caviar café is set to hit the capital in mid-January.
🔥 HUMO – A new wood-fired concept restaurant opening this January, focused on a four-metre long grill, with only wood and no electricity or gas utilised as cooking fuel.
🍷 Eline – An all-new Hoxton restaurant and wine shop from ex-Pophams duo, chef Alex Reynolds and wine enthusiast Maria Viviani. Expect seasonal dishes, delicious desserts, and an impeccable wine list.
🍞 Lulu’s – The new little sister restaurant of Herne Hill favourite, Llewelyn’s. Sat right next door, it promises to be a a laid back, intimate spot where you can stop by for provisions, grab lunch to go, or stay longer for dinner and delicious wines.
3. Get prehistoric at this Jurassic experience
Jurassic World: The Exhibition has proven to be such a massive hit with Londoners that back in November it was announced that the experience would be extended through to January. Great news! But, it does also mean your last opportunity to pet baby dinos and come eye-to-eye with ferocious creatures is drawing ever closer. Get on down before January 15, or else you’ll miss your chance!
4. Explore a wintry wonderland full of mystery
It’s set to be Christmas for just a bit longer at the Phantom Peak Wintermas experience. The immersive cyberpunk experience had a festive makeover back in December, bringing with it a blanketing of snow and a picture-perfect Christmas celebration in a seemingly idyllic mining town. Emphasis on the “seemingly”. It won’t be around for much longer, though, set to be replaced by a new Phantom Peak experience! Head on down this January to see what lurks behind the festive façade.
5. Catch up over a bottomless brunch
Regardless of whether you’re going dry for January or not, the lure of socializing that bottomless brunches offer are irresistible. It’s the best way to spend a lazy Sunday: catching up with friends and getting up to speed with all the holiday gossip. Who doesn’t have a juicy story from their work Christmas party, after all? And there’s no better complement to the tea, than brunch and drinks.
6. Find your zen in a Candlelight Sound Bath
London’s happiest, multi-sensory museum, Dopamine Land, is looking to help Londoners relax, unwind, and chase their bliss. Following the success of the venue’s sound bath experience in November of 2022, a number of extra sessions will be held throughout January. The Candlelight Sound Bath will find an experienced practitioner guiding participants through an incredible, sound-driven journey in candlelit environs for the ultimate chill-out experience.
7. Detox from your new year celebrations
The IV Drip Café will be popping up every Sunday throughout January. And it’s the perfect way to recover from the ill-effects of the New Years festivities that are still swimming through our bodies. It’s not the cheapest hangover cure around, but sometimes those pesky hangovers just won’t go away without going all out in your attempts to cure them!
8. See an elephant cross the frozen River Thames
Bankside is celebrating the history of the Frost Fair with a multi-media art trail that takes visitors back in time. Legend tells of frost fairs that would descend upon the River Thames when it froze solid, and of an elephant that once strode across the frozen waters. Augmented reality (AR) installations, street art murals, animations, cinematic film, and AI collaborative digital art will bring this all to life. There will also be plenty of events and workshops, as well as food & drink experiences. Kicking off back in December, the experience will last through to the end of January.
9. Step into a whole new world (cocktail in hand!)
The all-new Avora experience blends immersive theatre and storytelling with delicious cocktails and an eye-catching spectacle. You’ll find yourself foraging for ingredients, marvelling at the sights, and faced with a difficult decision with potentially huge ramifications. What will you choose? Head on down and find out.
10. Join a gym (hey, you wanted to!)
Lots of people will find themselves making New Years resolutions in January (not me, the last time I’m going to take stock and consider my life choices is when the sun sets at 3:30PM and I’m just trying to stay warm with copious amounts of carbs and stew). And one of the most common resolutions is to ‘work out more’. But, where to start? We recommend not blowing your budget, and instead starting slow with one of these cheap gym memberships that will ease you into the grind. Not a fan of the typical treadmills and free-weights style gyms? You could always take up some yoga? Or maybe you could try out a dance or pole class? The world is your (sweaty) oyster!
11. Or head out for a run
Not quite a gym-goer? Or looking for a January workout that also lets you see more of the city? Why not try out one of these London running routes and kick-start your fitness this January? Whether you’re after a shorter route, just a mile or so, or want to go the full hog and go for a full four, or even seven, mile run – London has plenty of opportunities available to you.
12. Head to Leadenhall Market for a mood boosting light and audio trail
Got a case of the January blues? It happens to the best of us, what with the long nights and cold days. Happily the winter solstice is behind us, so the nights will slowly get shorter, with longer days ahead of us. However, until then, why not check out Leadenhall Market’s relaxation and mindfulness installation? From January 7 the Victorian architecture will be accented by new window displays of colour changing LED light from artist-in-residence James Hudson and relaxing audio spots placed around the Market. The light and sound trail makes up part of Leadenhall Market’s ‘wellness month’, during which they hope to help visitors kickstart their year with a healthy mindset and lifestyle.
13. Take your trousers off on the tube (January 8)
London’s annual No Trousers Tube Ride returns again for 2023, so if you don’t fancy seeing a tube full of people in their pants, we recommend staying home! The American-hailing tradition caught on swiftly in London, as soon as it was explained that the Americans meant no trousers when they said ‘no pants.’ The day will see gams freed from their constraints left, right, and centre – but obviously underwear with decent coverage is still required. Find all the details by heading to the Facebook event.
14. Listen to iconic sci-fi and fantasy themes (January 7)
Want to know the ultimate way to listen to some of the most theatrical musical works? In a cathedral, presented by a string quartet, with flickering candlelight illuminating the surroundings. It can’t get much more epic than that. At this candlelight concert, expect to hear works ranging from Also Sprach Zarathustra from 2001: A Space Odyssey (Richard Strauss), to Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (John Williams), the Game of Thrones theme (Ramin Djawad), and more!
15. Check out London’s newest rooftop bar
Florattica, the latest addition to London’s rooftop scene, is a gorgeously floral oasis from London’s busy streets. Cocktails come courtesy of Head Mixologist, Serena Carrino, previously of Nightjar, and focus on floral and herbal attributes. Meanwhile the food is simple, yet refined, with choices for anyone – ranging from oysters to beef tartare, sharing charcuterie boards, and more. It’s the perfect place to hide from all of your responsibilities in the new year.
16. Refresh your décor with a work from the London Art Fair (January 18 – 22 )
London’s art calendar kicks off with this annual celebration of art, now entering its 35th year of exhibition. Full of works by world-renowned artists, you could even grab your very own Keith Haring or Jean-Michel Basquiat! Be sure to secure your ticket to the London Art Fair, even if only to go along and drool at the incredible work. (Which, let’s be real, is all I can afford to do, myself!)
17. Make some art of your own
The January Challenge, from UK-based non-profit 64 Million Artists, is a month-long initiative to encourage people to get creative throughout the month. Intended to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder, participants receive daily creativity challenges that enable them to connect with the world around them in a positive, creative way.
18. Honour the past at this moving photography exhibition
The passage of time can damage and warp many things, especially memory and history. But it’s important that we make sure to always remember and honour the lives lost due to the horrific events committed during the Holocaust. That’s why the Seeing Auschwitz photography exhibition is so necessary. Sadly, the exhibition is coming to a close this January, so be sure to head down before you miss your chance.
19. Attend a special one-off dinner that celebrates southern cooking sensibility (January 18)
London legends of the dining scene, Rita’s, are once again partnering up with Maker’s Mark for a special one-off ticketed dinner. The night will see Lawrence Weeks, Chef Founder of North of Bourbon, travelling over from the US specifically to cook up the meal. He’ll be joining Rita’s Chef Gabe Pryce to cook up a five-course menu of food that diners in London may not be super familiar with. The Live Fast, Cook Slow dinner will celebrate heritage cooking, charcoal, and fire. Sounds right down our alley frankly! Especially since there’s sure to be plenty of bourbon on hand… Grab your tickets here, because you do not want to miss this meal.
20. Marvel at the Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival (January 18-28)
With the sun setting so early this time of year, we need a bit of light and brightness to get us through the nights. Well, London has no shortage of light festivals and trails, but the big arrival on the light festival scene in January is the Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival. The award-winning display will be back from January 18-28, with a breath-taking display across the area.
21. Support your local
It’s no secret that 2022 has been a difficult year for everyone. The cost of living crisis has seen effects reverberating throughout the city, leading to the sad and untimely closure of many bars, breweries, cafes, restaurants, and more. And with January often finding people looking to save some money in the wake of Christmas spending, it can be a difficult time for hospitality venues. So, if you can, head out and support your local – whether that’s your local pub or bar, or a small brewery or café. If you choose to go out less, do you best to go local and small. Be there for them, so they can continue to be there for you in the days, months, and years to come.
22. Surround yourself with the heartwarming works of Charlie Mackesy
The children’s book author has taken over Sotheby’s with his new exhibition – where works are available for sale to the general public. There you can immerse yourself in the world and characters of the award-winning book, ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’. In addition to showcasing his work, Sotheby’s’ Story Café has undergone a stunning transformation thanks to Mackesy’s hand-painted floor-to-ceiling murals. Head down before January 13 to check it out!
23. Love yourself and your body (January 22)
The new year brings with it all kinds of dialogues about body image, with a lot of fat-phobia and toxic conversations often cropping up. In an effort to help people steer clear of this kind of negativity, Anti Diet Riot Club is partnering up with Big Yoga Club for a day of wellness-centric activities focused around body positivity called NEW YEAR, MORE YOU. Taking place at Peckham Levels, the event will include a plus-size clothing swap, vinyasa yoga session hosted by Big Yoga Club, NY vision boarding workshop, radical life drawing by ADRC, and a dance workshop by Curve Catwalk.
24. Celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year (January 22)
2023’s Chinese Lunar New Year falls on January 22, and brings us into the Year of the Rabbit, having left the Year of the Tiger. We’ve got our fingers crossed for the Chinese New Year parade to make a return to the streets of London this year. But there’s still plenty going on otherwise for you to enjoy!
🍸 In honour of the Year of the Rabbit, the Michelin-starred Hakkasan will be collaborating with Hennessy X.O on an indulgent limited edition menu, available from January 10 to February 7. They will also be hosting an exclusive Chinese New Year dinner and cocktails at Hakkasan Hanway Place, which also includes theatrical contemporary performances and decorations on Wednesday, January 18.
🫖 Mariage Frères is celebrating the arrival of the year of the rabbit with a new tea blend for 2023: Lapin, the twelfth and final addition, to its Thé Des Signes® Chinese zodiac collection.
25. Give the planet a breather and go vegan
According to the UK’s Veganuary page, over 620,000 people from over 220 countries and territories tried out the vegan diet during 2022’s Veganuary campaign. This year, restaurants and venues around London are making it even easier for Londoners to give it a go with a whole host of special menus and campaigns. Here’s a few places to keep an eye on, or secure a booking for.
🥕 Holy Carrot has partnered with the American documentary film, Cowspiracy, for a ‘meaty’ four course meat-free set menu. Expect dishes like ‘steak tartare’ and a glazed doughnut with smoked BBQ mushrooms and harissa and bacon jam.
👩🍳 Vegan cooking s
🥐 Ole & Steen is giving their beloved Cinnamon Social a plant-based twist in the form of their Vegan Social, which launches on January 4. That’s not all, though, as they offer up plenty of other vegan delights. We definitely suggest giving the NO-DUJA Toastie a go as well!
🍽️ Give one of London’s best Sunday Roasts the vegan twist, at Camden’s The Farrier. Fight off the January blues with their hearty beetroot, tofu, and mushroom wellington served with all the (vegan) trimmings and the all important unlimited red wine gravy.
🍪 Grab a sweet treat in the form of Chin Chin’s signature hot griddled cookie dough topped with ridiculously smooth liquid nitro ice-cream.
🍔 Byron Burger is mixing it up with their Mex-It-Up burger that is inspired by Tex-Mex flavours – expect vegan chicken breast, chipotle ketchup, smashed avo, and pickled jalapenos.
🍜 London’s retro ramen bar, Ramen Yokocho, is bringing all the flavour to their veganuary detox menu from January 10 onwards across their two sites. Partnering with Clearspring, their limited edition wellness menu includes Vegan Miso Tantan Men Ramen, and an Organic Sea Vegetable Salad with wakame seaweed.
🍴Gaucho will be turning their Sustainable Supper Club vegan throughout the month, offering guests canapés and a three-course menu of plant-powered plates. Head to the link to book.
🍔 Get messy at London’s newest over-the-top burger joint Fat Hippo, where the limited-edition Sloppy Faux, and accompanying Sloppy Waffle Fries will have you reaching for an extra napkin or five.
🤤 Indulge in a seven-course vegan tasting menu at Bōkan 37, where diners can enjoy picture-perfect plates of plant-based produce.
🥞 The Breakfast Club is proving that vegan food can be decadent, naughty, and downright delicious by turning their Berwick Street branch fully vegan for the month. From hangover-curing fry-ups to mouthwatering sarnies, they’ve got you sorted.
26. Jump around at a top-notch London gig
Is there anything more freeing and community-building than losing yourself in the crowd as everyone dances around, or sings along, to a live music performance? Well, London has no shortage of brilliant artists performing throughout January, here’s a few to check out:
🎸 Rats on Rafts (January 5): The Shacklewell Arms – expect a raucous live show from this lo-fi post-punk 4-piece
🎤 Gabrielle Aplin (January 7): Union Chapel – gorgeous vocals, an acoustic guitar, detached longing, and plenty of sing-along choruses
🕺 The 1975 (January 12 & 13): The O2 – love them or hate them, they’re undeniably infectious and put on a hell of a show
🎷 Run Logan Run (January 14): The Jazz Club – frenetic drumming and scorching, growling saxophone; this ain’t your granddad’s jazz band
🎙️ David Cronenberg’s Wife (January 21): The Lexington – darkly humorous storytelling meets droning, punkish South London rock music; not for the faint of heart
🎸 Dirty Honey (January 24): The Garage – dirty old-school West coast (of America) rock gets revved up
🎶PVRIS (January 26): O2 Academy Brixton – alt-indie legend smashing together the worlds of pop, rock, electronic, and hardcore
🥁 Florence + the Machine (January 28): The O2 – rescheduled from November of 2022, the dog days aren’t over yet
🎧 Jessie Reyez (January 31): The O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – having opened for Billie Eilish and collaborated with the likes of Eminem and 6lack, the R&B artists is taking centre stage
27. Grab a posh donut from a donut boutique
Legendary Dutch bakery Roladin officially opens in London this month, and their first ever UK location is dedicated to the most luxurious, gorgeous, decadent donuts you’re likely to ever lay eyes upon. Head on down to ‘Donutelier’ by Roladin and grab one of the donuts that are already taking the internet by storm.
28. Go for a final spin at one of London’s ice rinks
The festive season hasn’t quite died down by the time January rolls around, as many of London’s favourite wintry ice rinks will still be open for at least part of January. So head on down, grab some skates, and go for a glide across the ice. There are still plenty to choose from in the early days of the month!
⛸️ Westfield London Winter Village, open until January 8, 2023
🧊 Glide At Battersea, open until January 8, 2023
❄️ Skate at Somerset House, open until January 15, 2023
⛸️ Alexandra Palace, open all year round
🧊 Canary Wharf, open until February 25, 2023
29. Celebrate the return of the VAULT Festival
Having been sadly cancelled in 2022 (due to concerns around you-know-what), the VAULT Festival makes its triumphant return this year, running from January 24 – March 19. The festival programme will feature over 500 of the best theatre, comedy, cabaret, and late-night shows to be found in London, all in the Waterloo Vaults venues. Expect to laugh, cry, be transported, and be confronted and questioned. It all kicks off with the Big Birthday Bash to celebrate over a decade of VAULT Festivals: a night of cabaret and circus celebration. Head to the website to find out more and secure your ticket.
30. Spice things up with Taco Tuesday
Spice up your January with some of London’s best Taco Tuesday deals. It has the double benefit of being good for your wallet and great for your head – no food can cause immediate happiness quite like tacos!
🍸 Callooh Callay – Taco Tuesday sees both branches of the London cocktail stalwarts offering up six special margaritas in collaboration with Cazcabel. And your first margarita comes with a free taco!
🌮 Tigre Tacos x Hacha Dalston – A collab between taco legends and tequila legends means you know you’re in good hands. Just £20 nets you three tacos and a famous Mirror Margarita.
31. Keep the deals coming and give your wallet a break!
December hit all of our pockets pretty hard in 2022, didn’t it? Well, thanks to these great food deals, you can give your wallets and bank accounts a breather this January.
🍗 The Blues Kitchen is hosting 90-minutes of Bottomless Chicken Wings every Sunday throughout January, from 12pm – 6pm at their London venues. The best part? It’s only £12 per person, or £20 for two! That’s our Sunday meals sorted.
🍽️ Skylight Peckham is cutting the cost of food by 40% from Monday to Friday between 12pm and 7pm. It’s the perfect excuse to catch up with friends over dinner or book a midweek date night! It’s a deal made even more enticing by their all-new dishes throughout January.
🍱 JIJI is offering their bento boxes, which blend Middle Eastern and Japanese flavours, with a glass of wine or a mocktail for just £20.23 (get it?) to usher in the new year – available Tuesdays – Sundays throughout January at lunchtime only.
🦪 Sam’s Riverside, one of London’s top restaurants is running an Oyster Happy Hour from Monday – Thursday between 5 and 7PM, with oysters starting at jus £1 apiece. They’re also offering a Wine & Dine package where just £60 will provide two diners with two courses each and a bottle of wine from Monday – Thursday for lunch or dinner.
🔥 Head on down to Sichuan Fry x Dumpling Shack on their opening day (January 5) to grab a whopping 50% off the food. Try out the cult fried chicken in its new physical location before anyone else does!
32. Take in a flick, or seven, at the London Short Film Festival (January 20-29)
Did you also make a New Years resolution to watch more films this year, instead of mindlessly rewatching Gilmore Girls for the seventeenth time? Make a head-start of it by checking out the London Short Film Festival. Showings range across genres, with shorts coming from all around the world, and venues spread throughout the capital. Head to the website to figure out which showing you’ll be taking in.
33. Celebrate the works and life of Scottish poet Robert Burns (January 25)
Tradition dictates that we should find ourselves eating haggis and reciting Burns’s poems on Burns Night. In turn the night often turns to revelry with plenty of whisky-sipping and merriment. And plenty of London venues will be getting in on the action.
🦇 London’s DC-themed restaurant (but in, like, a sophisticated adult way, not in a ‘comic-books-wallpapering-the-dining-room’ way), Park Row, is mashing up the comic book universe and Scottish tradition. The Castle Wayne Burns Supper will serve up a Scottish-themed supper fit for billionaire Bruce Wayne himself. They’ll also have pours available from a rare and exclusive bottling of Inishtree whisky, of which only 25 bottles are left, from the closed Imperial distillery.
🥃 Speaking of whisky, Glenmorangie’s latest release is just the dram for those celebrating Burns Night. Notes of pine, juniper, and wood smoke make A Tale of the Forest the perfect complement to a cosy night of poem-reciting and haggis-devouring (or polite chewing).
🧾 Glenfiddich’s collaborative terrace with Rosewood London, the Glenfiddich Time:Capsule, will be hosting a Burns Night celebration with Scottish-themed dishes, whisky tastings with Glenfiddich ambassador Alex Walker, and poetry recitals.
💃 The Little Blue Door in Fulham and sister venue The Little Orange Door in Clapham are both throwing special Burns Night parties too, with a three course Scottish-themed supper club and tableside entertainment, followed by the ultimate house party, Little Door & C0-style. The two venues will be hosting Burn Nights festivities on January 26 and 27, respectively.
34. Get cultured and check out an art exhibition
There are few better places to escape the cold than one of London’s many museums and galleries. Take the chance, as you shelter from the elements, to take in some art or learn something new!
EXHIBITIONS OPENING IN JANUARY
🧡 George Westren: On the straight and narrow (January 6-25): Saatchi Gallery – over 40 works were recovered from a skip, and saved from destruction, following a house clearance one year after the death of the artist during the COVID-19 pandemic
💙 Hamid Yaraghchi: Let the Wound Lie Open (Opens January 15): BEERS London – Iranian painter Hamid Yaraghchi investigates the grotesque, exploring the human body’s complexities, difficulties, ugliness, and beauty
💜 Spain and the Hispanic World (Opens January 21): Royal Academy – descend back through history as you explore Spanish and Hispanic art and culture from antiquity to the 20th century
❤️ David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) (Opens January 25): Lightroom – London’s newest artist-led exhibition space launches by surrounding visitors with an immersive journey through sixty years of Hockney’s art
EXHIBITIONS CLOSING IN JANUARY
💚 Izumi Kato exhibition (Closes January 7): Stephen Friedman Gallery – painting, sculpture, and drawing depicting mysterious creatures with bold, clashing visuals
🧡 Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature (Closes January 8): V&A South Kensington – explore the life and inspiration of one of the world’s most loved children’s authors
💙 Strange Clay (Closes January 8): Southbank Centre – anyone who says art is boring or stuffy, take them to this truly weird display of ceramics
💜 Douglas Gordon: Neon Ark (Closes January 14): Gagosian London – an exhibition of new neon works, constantly augmented by works created at on-site demonstrations
❤️ Lucian Freud: New Perspectives (Closes January 22): National Gallery – seven decades of work from one of Britain’s finest figurative painters
💙 Bitter Nostalgia (Closes January 25) : Saatchi Gallery – memory, emotion, and the past are explored in a joint show from South Korean artist Hyangmok Baik and British-Nigerian artist Adébayo Bolaji
💚 David Shrigley: Mainly Multiples, Some Paintings & Other Stuff Too (Closes January 27): Hang Up Gallery – irony and humour infect the exhibition’s limited-edition prints, colour and monochrome originals, ceramics and lithographic prints
🧡 Friends and Relations: Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, Frank Auerbach, Michael Andrews (Closes January 28): Gagosian Grosvenor Hill – bringing together the work of four friends, all fine artists in their own right
35. Get out in the cold and explore some wintry walks
Sure, it may be cold, but there’s something delightful about wrapping up in a big jacket and heading out for a walk anyway. You could simply head out your door and take in the sights of London, or get out of the city and wander through the countryside. Whatever you do, and wherever you roam, there’s surely no better way to cap it off than by finishing your walk at a lovely pub. Bonus points if they’ve got a heated beer garden too!
36. Try an all new, world-first spirit
London’s drinkers, partiers, and brunch-ers will no doubt already be familiar with the Peruvian brand of venues, COYA. Well, they’ve joined forces with their long-time distillery partner, Pisco 1615, to create something incredible: the world’s first bottled, passion fruit flavoured Pisco infusion. The drink will be available for guests to try at COYA venues globally from January 2023. Following that it will be available to purchase from select locations where 1615 currently retails across the globe. Head on down to one of the brand’s two London restaurants to be one of the first to try the spirit.
37. Head to the West End and catch some of London’s legendary theatre
There’s a reason why London seems to pump out amazing actor after amazing actor. The theatre scene is essentially unrivalled throughout the world. Take advantage of living in a city with such a flourishing entertainment industry by checking out a play this month.
NEW OPENINGS
🎤 Zusa (January 4-14): Soho Theatre – comic Mike Wozniak’s latest show describes how Mike’s Great-Aunt Zusa made it from Poland to Luton with a war nipping at her heels
🩰 Swan Lake – English National Ballet (Opens January 12): London Coliseum – a timeless classic in the world of ballet, bringing Tchaikovsky’s work to life
🎪 KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities (Opens January 13): Royal Albert Hall – have your world turned upside down in this brand-new offering from Cirque du Soleil
🎭 The Unfriend (Opens January 15): Criterion Theatre – the sell-out Steven Moffat comedy about new friends with dark secrets comes to the West End
🙊 Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons (Opens January 18): Harold Pinter Theatre – a love story in a dystopian world where your daily words are limited, starring Jenna Coleman and Aidan Turner
💃 Julie Cunningham & Company: how did we get here? (January 19-29): Sadler’s Wells Theatre – watch Spice Girl Mel C in an intimate evening of dance featuring just two other performers
CLOSING SOON
🎭 GOOD (Closes January 7): Harold Pinter Theatre – David Tennant returns to the stage for this production, showing how seemingly decent people could have their lives and motives drastically altered by Nazi ideology
🎶 Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical (Closes January 8): Lyric Theatre – a musical honouring the life of Jamaican reggae superstar, Bob Marley
🕯️ Hakawatis: Women of the Arabian Nights (Closes January 14): Sam Wanamaker Playhouse – the power of storytelling is celebrated in the flickering environs of a candlelit venue
🐋 Life Of Pi (Closes January 15): Wyndham’s Theatre – an epic voyage across the ocean, based on the novel that also inspired a film adaptation
🎤 One Woman Show – Liz Kingsman (Closes January 21): The Ambassador’s Theatre – a show within a show that spoofs the very genre it gets its name from
🎭 My Neighbour Totoro (Closes January 21): The Barbican Theatre – the beloved Studio Ghibli film comes to life on stage in a world first production
38. Take a ‘Winter Wander’ around Wembley Park’s art trail
Wembley Park’s free art trail received seven additions this wintry season, that can be found on the unlikely canvases of Olympic Way, the Spanish Steps, Arena Square, and beyond. The new additions range from digital pieces, lighting installations and displays, and cartoon-like illustrations. Head on down for a visual spectacle!
39. Sing the night away at a new karaoke bar
An all-new private karaoke bar, Lucky Voice Liverpool Street, is set to open on January 29. And they’re promising a night to remember. Home to London’s largest wrecking ball (because of, y’know, the song), the venue also offers up an exclusive 15-person VIP pod with a dedicated waiter all night long. There’s no shortage of choice, either, with guests able to choose from more than 11,000 songs to scream along to. The 4,800 square foot venue can host up to 200 people across the main bar space and 9 private karaoke pods. Which song are you picking?
Keep exploring this wonderful city
That’s not all, though, as our staff at Secret London have been busy writing about all kinds of other places in London. Why not add some of these to your list of places to check out this month (or this year, even!)
🫖 Do You Know The Story Behind London’s Viral Caribbean Afternoon Tea?
🍷 This Epic Sicilian Food And Wine Festival Is Returning To London
🐖 Five Reasons The Pig And Butcher Is The Standard For What Gastropubs Should Be
🤤 A Heavenly Combination Of Thai Food And Live Music Await At This London Bridge Venue
🎂 This Dalston Bakery Has A Build-Your-Own Profiterole Bar
🍹 Late Night Cocktails Await You At One Of London’s Best Mexican Restaurants
More things to do inspiration…
😁 200 fab and FREE things to do in London
📃 The BEST things to do in London
🙃 All our ideas for unusual places to visit in London
Also published on Medium.