London events in January

London galleries and museums churned out hundreds of excellent exhibitions and art shows in 2025. And our critics were on the ground to see a lot of them. Lucky for you, there’s the chance to catch the tail end of a few of these shows in January 2026. From Dirty Looks at the Barbican, to Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World at the National Portrait Gallery, and Secret Maps at the British Library, see these exhibits in Jan before it’s too late. 

Low and no-alcohol is bigger than ever, and London has never had so many options for having a tipple, without actually having a tipple. So if you’re thinking of doing Dry Jan, that doesn’t mean you’re going to be stuck with a month of watching MAFS on the sofa every weekend. You still go out! And we recommend heading to one of London’s best alcohol-free bars, from Raven Records, to Club Soda, there’s loads to choose from. 

Immersive theatre legends Punchdrunk returned in 2025 with a ‘stealth based exploration game’ based on ‘videogame mechanics’ that saw audiences deployed in teams of four onto an alien planet to try and find out the fate of the titular landing vehicle, which has disappeared mysteriously. It closes on February 1, so January is your last chance to play. 

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 capital’s 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.

RECOMMENDED: The best day trips from London

Trying a plant-based diet this January doesn’t have to be boring. Whether you’re after a lavish night of culinary theatre, a delicate Middle Eastern spread, a Michelin-star winning tasting menu, or brisket at a vegan smokehouse, creative chefs are showing off their prowess with plants across the city, creating pitch-perfect imitations of meaty comfort food classics, or dreaming up new vegetable-based delights.

In 1824, the young King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu travelled across oceans from their kingdom, Hawaiʻi, to seek an alliance with the British Crown. This winter British Museum will shine a light on the lesser-known story about the historical relationship between Hawaiʻi’ and the United Kingdom, showing artefacts and treasures created by Hawaiian makers of the past and present. You’ll be able to see everything from feathered cloaks worn by chiefs, to finely carved deities, powerful shark-toothed weapons, and bold contemporary works by Kānaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) artists.

Burns Night always falls on January 25, the day Robert Burns was born in South Ayrshire way back in 1759. With this year’s celebration falling on a weekend (Sunday, to be exact), you can probably expect this year’s festivities to be even more raucous than usual. Whether you want to get sweaty at a ceilidh, pipe in a haggis, or have a classy time at a whisky tasting or indulgent Burns supper, read on for all sorts of suggestions for a kilt-raising good time this January.

This is your last chance to see Toby Jones as the slippery Iago and David Harewood as Othello in the production directed by War Horse co-director Tom Morris at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. While we called this slick production overly-polished, we though Jones and Harewood were both exellent. 

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 life’s 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. 

When the Royal Academy was founded in 1768, its members included two women, yet there would not be another female academician until Dame Laura Knight was elected in 1936. Despite this institutional exclusion, women artists in Britain continued to train, practice and exhibit during this period, particularly in the field of landscape watercolours. The Courtauld Gallery’s upcoming exhibition seeks to bring to light some of these women artists. Focussing on 1760-1860, the showcase will take you through the work of 10 artists over 100 years of landscape drawings and watercolours including some of the first ever depictions of the ethereal Lake District. 

Is there anything more wonderfully wintry than wrapping up warm, pulling on some ice skates and gliding around a frosty slab of ice with your loved ones? Each winter, London fills up with pop-up rinks, from the legendary Somerset House to the newer Glide at Battersea Power Station. At all, you’ll find festive vibes ramped up to the max, especially come December – and a lot of fellow Londoners vying for a spot on the ice. Book in advance to guarantee you can show off your best ice moves (or your ability to stay upright, at the very least). Here are some of the best rinks to soar across this winter.