Free things to do in London this weekend

The bright lights of Canary Wharf's towers provide quite the spectacle after dark, but the business district glows brighter than usual throughout January thanks to the addition of installations from international artists. Winter Lights returns in 2019 with a new set of dazzling artworks, installations and interactive experiences. Visit the Winter Lights website for more information and to see the full programme.

Unleash your inner heathen and delve into paganism at this exhibition of photos of some of Britain's key Neolithic sights. A collaboration between artists Aries, Jeremy Deller and David Sims, expect a projection tunnel, painted murals and short films exploring mysticism, pagan symbology, and a British exploration of identity, time and place. 

If you haven't been totally freaked out by Black Mirror’s ‘Bandersnatch’, head after-hours to the V&A for this late celebrating their exhibition ‘Videogames: Design/Play/Disrupt’. Play newly commissioned video games, take the first steps in designing your own, solve escape games, listen to DJs and find out how we’ll be 1-uping in the future. 

Head to the beautiful Natural History Museum after-hours for this late all about intelligence. Find out if intelligence is just for humans and how we can measure the little grey cells of the animal kingdom. Join live nature talks, pop-up science stations and take a behind the scenes tour of the museum’s zoology collection (£15).

Each year hundreds of re-enactors playing pikemen, musketeers, artillery, cavalry and camp followers of the Royalist side in the English Civil War march in the footsteps of King Charles I to commemorate his execution by Parliament in 1649. The Whitehall March begins on the Mall outside St James’ Palace at 11.00am, from where it will proceed down the Mall and assemble on Horse Guards Parade. Go to get immersed in a slice of British history, or arrive early to chat with the soldiers, try the equipment and find out more about the English Civil War. 

Celebrate Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns by donning a kilt and pounding the streets of London. This 10k run will begin at the Robert Burns Statue in Victoria Embankment Gardens and take in many Scottish themed sights before ending up at a Scottish themed venue. Sign up in advance. Find more Burns Night events in London

Get your fill of Scottish merriment this Burns Night with hot boozy drinks, traditional music and an address to the haggis, all up in Queen of Hoxton's cosy winter wigwam. Find more Burns Night events in London

Looking for a new year pick me up? The Flat Iron Square site, including the outdoor courtyard, multiple in and outdoor bars, wine bar and the music venue Omeara, are hosting a whole programme of wellness activities and pop-ups. And the best thing? They're all free. Join fitnesses classes, yoga and martial arts workshops, health talks, snack on vegan food and slurp down mocktails over seven days. 

Hang out after-hours and discover art, film, music talks and workshops at this regular late-night arty party at Tate Modern. The first late of 2019 takes inspiration from the Pierre Bonnard: The Colour of Memory exhibition and features meditation sessions, Tai Chi in the Turbine Hall, a colour therapy nail bar, and a talk about craft and rainbow palettes with Momtaz Begun-Hossain and knitwear designer Katie Jones.

Get an intimate insight into Sylvia Pankhurst’s socialist suffragette movement at this exhibition of remarkable photographs taken 100 years ago and just a stone’s throw from where they were originally snapped in Bethnal Green. Behind the lens was women’s rights activist Norah Smyth who captured the suffragettes’ fight for justice. It’s a snapshot of an extraordinary moment in women’s social history.   Head along on Friday December 14, when the curators will be celebrating 100 years since (some) British women got to vote for the first time.