London events in February
February 2019 in London is going to be great. We've said goodbye to January and now London is beginning to brighten up. Use the - slightly - longer days to enjoy the month's brilliant batch of events and celebrations. Get loved-up or celebrate being single on Valentine’s Day in London or welcome in the Year of the Pig on Chinese New Year. There are heaps of brilliant events, fun pop-ups and exciting new exhibitions to wander around. Here are our February 2019 highlights. February in London is also the month of Kew Garden's Orchid Festival, London Fashion Week Festival, the London Classic Car Show and Craft Beer Rising.
Hey, and while you’ve got your diary out, remember that it's never too early to start planning for March either.
RECOMMENDED: The definitive London events calendar.
Our February 2019 highlights
Valentine’s Day in London
Whether you’re blissfully in love or a superbly happy singleton, Valentine’s Day in London (Thursday February 14 2019) has a lot to offer. Here’s your guide to the city’s most romantic restaurants, soppy spots, Valentine’s Day gift ideas, sexy hotels, best bars and dreamy events.
Galentine's Day Modern Calligraphy Workshop
Give Hallmark the heave-do and brush up on some decorative handwriting with your best buddies. You can post your creations via snail mail afterwards too. Who said love was dead?
My Bloody Galentine with Verve and Bloody Good Period
Bloody marys will be flowing and swag bags will be dished out to all guests at this charity brunch dedicated to ending period poverty. Sounds pretty bloody good to us.
Love Hounds
Get together with fellow pup lovers and their pooches at a dog day afternoon of games and gifts to raise money for animal rescue charities.
Cycle Speed Dating
Take speed dating up a gear and go on mini-dates with other cycle-minded Londoners. Who knows? It could start a chain of wheely exciting experiences.
Tainted Love with the Embers Collective
The Embers Collective are kicking Cupid to the kerb this February, swap soppy tales for stories and songs about tainted love.
London Fashion Week Festival
Got a passion for extremely beautiful (and pricey) fashion? Go front row for a show and listen to talks from industry experts at this event for fashionistas.
Lone Design Club London Fashion Week Fringe Concept Store
Swap the catwalk for Lone Design Club's pop-up concept store and bag some sweet threads from ethically focused indie-labels.
Brick Wonders
What can you do with 500,000 Lego bricks? Turn them into 50 iconic landmarks, obvs. Your inner child will be left amazed (or incredibly jealous).
#BuyBlackLondon
Support businesses owned by black Londoners at this pop-up, which is raising money for young people in Ghana. They'll be selling all sorts of goods from bath bombs to vegan food and skincare products.
‘Pinter Seven’
The last part of the epic season of all of Harold Pinter's short plays. Go see former Pinter protégé Danny Dyer as he shows us 'ow it's done.
Nelson Mandela: The Official Exhibition
Although it's been five years since his death, the legacy of South Africa's father lives on. Immerse yourself in Madiba's life and come away feeling inspired by his actions.
Patternity x Vintage Classics: Patterns of Life
Pattern appreciation is the key to this colourful day of workshops and meditation.
Myths and legends family festival
Hear magical myths and captivating storytelling at this family celebration of worldwide folklore. Stick around for the mask and puppet-making workshops.
‘Home, I’m Darling’
Laura Wade's domestic bliss satire finally makes it to the West End. Kather Parkinson makes a great wannabe ’50s housewife Judy. Prepare for a lot of jive dancing and swing skirts.
Pie and pint Sundays at Rochelle ICA
A pie and a pint - can you name a more iconic duo? That's the new Sunday night special at the Rochelle Canteen at the ICA: a weekly changing pie plus a pint of lager or stout, for a tenner.
Ealing Music & Film Festival
Watch rock-opera classic ‘Quadrophenia’ or catch the London Mozart Players in concert at this genre-spanning festival.
LGBTQ History Workshop
Learn about London's queer history from these centuries-old archives. This is part of a series of Saturday LGBTQ+ History Workshops.
Don McCullin
Harrowing images of war and conflict by a true master of the form. McCullin knows how to hit you right in the feels. It might not be easy to see, but it's damn good.
Soho Vegan Market
Chomp on tasty plant-based treats from London's top vegan vendors. If you thought veganism was just boring old veggies then the Soho Vegan Market will prove you wrong. We've got our eyes on Jake's Vegan steaks.
Silent disco at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium
Haven't you heard? Darling, it's better down where it's wetter take it from SEA LIFE London Aquarium. Rave and dance with the fishes at this silent disco.
Tracey Emin: A Fortnight of Tears
Giant selfies and overwrought paintings by probably our most famous living artist. Whatever you think of Emin, you can't deny that she knows how to express emotion brilliantly.
Chinese New Year in London
The Year of the Pig is coming in 2019 and, as usual, Chinese New Year in London (Tuesday Feburary 5 2019) will be one of the most exciting events in February, full of colour, noise and a whole lot of dragons.
The Dumped Dumpling Experience
Down in the dumps? You certainly will be when you embark on the dumped dumpling experience. Breaks up suck, but a plate of steaming, hot dumplings are forever.
Spanish Calcotada Festival
Drop chargrilled veg and red wine into your gob from a slightly risky height for this traditional Catalonian food fest. Is this going to be messy? Yes. Will it be fun? Most definitely.
Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
An incredible treasure trove of objects and manuscripts that show just how continental our country's roots really are. A delightfully academic riposte to Brexit.
Grace Wales Bonner
Check out this multi-sensory installation by fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner broadly based around a series of 'shrines' created by Kapwani Kiwanga, Eric N. Mack, Paul Mpagi Sepuya and Wales Bonner herself.
‘Leave to Remain’
Check out this new musical with songs by Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke. It's an intense gay love story with a catchy soundtrack.
‘My Name is Lucy Barton’
See Elizabeth Strout’s 2016 novel ‘My Name is Lucy Barton’ shaped into a twisty, turny stage monologue. It achieves a cryptic, feverish intensity propelled by a genuinely phenomenal performance from movie star Laura Linney.
Nicolas Deshayes: ‘Swans’
Feast your peepers on glistening ceramics inspired by toilets. These are oddly sexy and delightfully tactile sculptures. Get ready to make a splash.
London's Coffee Revolution Running Tour
Need a caffeine boost to get your legs in action when going for a run? This coffee-based running tour might be the one for you.
Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams
A really beautiful journey through the work of one of the best fashion houses ever. It's like walking through a dream come true.
London Classic Car Show
See this impressive showcase of metal and motors. Feast your eyes on over 700 classic cars in a retro environment with music, talks and even a bit of celebrity spotting.
Hot Gin Roof
Wave goodbye to Dry January at Hot Gin Roof where you can knock back a variety of delicious Sipsmith Gin cocktails.
‘Songs for Nobodies’
Head to this poignant musical stuffed full of songbook standards. You'll get to see a truly stunning performance by Bernadette Robinson.
Cirque du Soleil: ‘Totem’
Check out Cirque du Soleil's annual stint at the Royal Albert Hall. It's got some jaw-dropping set pieces and the acrobats will gobsmacked at some of the tricks they do.
Designing Time Out
Ever wanted to know what it takes to design a Time Out cover? Join Tom Hislop, Time Out's Global Creative Director, who'll tell you what it's really like to create the magazine's visuals today.
Craft Beer Rising
February can be miserable, but this should make you hoppy: a three-day festival showcasing bevvies from 175 of the world’s best breweries.
The Magic of the London Marathon
Over the course of an 11 mile (not 26, thankfully) guided running tour, you’ll learn about the first ever London Marathon in 1981; Marathon heroes; Marathon villains; World records for stupid costumes; Celebrities who crumble and more.
‘Birds, birds, birds’
Hosted in The View in Epping Forest, this interactive exhibition combines bird-inspired artwork by local artists with eggs and taxidermy from the museum's collection.
Behind the Scenes Tours at Tower Bridge
Find out what happens behind closed doors on this Tower Bridge tour. You'll get access to parts of the bridge that aren't ordinarily open to the public.
Videogames
Videogames will encompass both the design and culture of its namesake since the mid-2000s, looking at exceptional artwork and animation, player communities and political conversations that define this era of gaming.
‘Bloomberg New Contemporaries’
The annual showcase of talented young artists is back from George Stamenov to Heidi Maribut and Yushi Li, this one's not to be missed.
‘I am Ashurbanipal: King of the World, King of Assyria’
There's not much time left to enter this Assyrian king's world of war, blood, savagery and intellect. It's an exhibition rammed full of stunning objects.
WaterAid presents ‘The Water Effect’
Today, one in nine people around the world still don’t have water close to home. WaterAid is raising awareness of this crisis with this display of portraits focusing on people whose lives are directly impacted by the global water crisis.
‘The Favourite’ Costume Display at Hampton Court Palace
See costumes created for Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz in one of the locations used for Yorgos Lanthimos’s baroque drama.
Deptford Heritage Festival
Deptford is hosting its third annual community festival, with this year's events focusing on the life of civil rights activist Kath Duncan.
A Home Away from Home: The India Club
The India Club is one of the city’s most fascinating post-colonial relics: a bar, lounge and Indian restaurant (one of the UK’s oldest) that’s hardly changed in 65 years. Catch this immersive oral history consisting of interviews with club regulars over the decades plus archive photos and documents.
The Book of Mormon
Brace yourself for a shock and expect riotous musical silliness from the ‘South Park’ creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Catch it before shuts up shop in March.
James Acaster: ‘Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999’
Another chance to catch the best comedy show of 2018 before Acaster takes his cold lasagne off tour. Who knew he could get any better?
‘When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other’
Cate Blanchett brings her star power to this avant-garde S&M epic. The play is baffling, but Blanchett and Stephen Dillane are terrific.
‘Good Grief, Charlie Brown!’
Over his tens of thousands of strips, Charles M Schulz combined simple line drawings and emotional non-sequiturs into little bundles of heart-wrenching modern truth. This show, looking at the history of ‘Peanuts’ and the art it inspired is brilliant.
Time Out 50: 50 Years, 50 Covers
Time Out is 50 this year. Since our pocket-sized first issue in 1968, we’ve published almost 2,500 magazines in London and other great cities around the world. Now, you can see our best ever magazine covers at this show.
‘I'm a Phoenix, Bitch’
Imagine a metaphysical glitter cannon of trauma being fired straight at your chest and you’re halfway to understanding the vast, agonising intensity of Bryony Kimmings’s new solo show.
‘Fiddler on the Roof’
Musical theatre legend Trevor Nunn stages a classic.
Miroslaw Balka: ‘Random Access Memory’
Check out two giant radiators by a brilliant Polish artist. This show is aggressive, oppressive and a lot better than it sounds.
Miroslaw Balka: Random Access Memory
The artist's White Cube solo show features a huge installation made up of two metal walls heated to 45 degrees - also known as the maximum temperature the human body can tolerate. It will also warm you up just as the mercury starts to plummet in late January.
Orchid Festival
Kew Gardens' celebration of the orchid returns for its 24th year, this time with a focus on the plant life of Colombia. See the botanical garden's tropical greenhouse filled with a colourful animal display including a toucan in flight, a hanging sloth and swimming turtles all made up of hundreds of stunning orchids.
‘Counting Sheep’
This immersive protest/party puts audience members right in the middle of the 2014 Kiev Uprising. It's full of folk singing, documentary footage, and chances to get involved.
‘Cats on the Page’
A delightful mini history of felines in literature. It's like catnip for anyone with a penchant for kitties and it's going to be purrr-fect (sorry).
Festival of New Masculinity
This brand new festival will be debating the pressures of modern masculine identity with a focus on male mental health. There's a packed programme of events including brunches, workshops led by the trans community, panel talks on music and mental health, live podcasts and secret gigs.
‘Company’
Check out Marianne Elliott’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s 1970 musical comedy where the lead role of terminally single 35-year-old New Yorker Bobby (a man) has been gender-switched to Bobbie (a woman), played by Rosalie Craig.
Hyon Gyon
Korean shamanism and intense emotions of rage, sorrow and anguish inspire the artworks of Hyon Gyon. This is the first time a European gallery has staged a solo exhibition of her art.
Bill Viola / Michelangelo
What do a contemporary video artist and a Rennaissance master have in common? Find out at the opening exhibition of 2019 at the Royal Academy.
Superbugs: The fight for Our Lives
Check out twelve real bacteria colonies, an interactive exhibit examining the microscopic world of bacteria and personal stories of those waging war on superbugs at this exhibition.
Hendrix Talks
Hey there voodoo chile. If you can't get enough Jimi, head to the Handel & Hendrix Museum for this series of talks focusing on how Jimi Hendrix used the guitar and changed the way we think about music.
Bedrooms of London
This sobering exhibition of new documentary photography by Katie Wilson captures the homes of some of London’s 700,000 kids who live below the poverty line.
‘Caroline, or Change’
Catch this moving, magical story of injustice in 1963 Louisiana. ‘Caroline, or Change’ is a magical, playful musical that's deeply moving, set to an incredible score combining blues, opera, Motown and church music.
‘The Anatomy of Melancholy’
This show is a touching look at 200 years of art inspired by sadness. It’s not just nice painting, it makes an important point about mental health to boot.
‘Welcome to the UK’
A riotous satire on the UK's immigration policy. It's massively (and unexpectedly) funny.
Diane Arbus: ‘In the Beginning’
Diane Arbus's photographs remain some of the most striking, tender and unnerving portraits ever taken. This new show at the Hayward Gallery focuses on the earlier years of the iconic photographer's career (1956 - 62), presenting almost 100 images, many of which have never been displayed in Europe before.
Pierre Bonnard: ‘The Colour of Memory’
It's been 20 years since UK art fans last got a chance to enjoy a major exhibition of Pierre Bonnard's delectably, delicately coloured artworks. This blockbuster exhibition focuses on the French artist's preferred practice of working from
Pierre Bonnard: ‘The Colour of Memory’
See this survey of gorgeous, lush, modern figurative painting. It’s not all about light and joy, there’s also melancholy here to make your heart ache.
‘All About Eve’
Gillian Anderson is playing the ultimate Broadway icon in ‘All About Eve’. Fasten your seatbelts because this one's going to be a belter.
