Looking for the best things to do in London in January? We’ve got you covered
You’re in plenty of time to book tickets to the best events in London, from theatre shows to art exhibitions, and there are always pop-ups opening across the city, but our handy guide features the best of what’s on in London in January so you won’t miss a thing.
After all the excess of the festive season, January can feel like a slog but the cold temps and empty bank accounts don’t have to get you down, especially as you can still squeeze in some ice skating and light trails at the start of 2026. If you’re embarking on a health kick by ditching the booze and the animal products, it doesn’t have to be boring with these 0% drinks and vegan restaurants. And with cheap eats and great value set menus, plus a ton of great free things to do in the city, you can still go out even if you’re on a budget.
1. Brighten Up Your Evenings at Winter Lights Festival
The long January nights are being put to good use in Canary Wharf with the return of the Winter Lights Festival. For twelve nights, a host of luminous installations by internationally-renowned artists scattered across the neighbourhood will be making the darkness a bit easier to bear. The tenth anniversary edition of the festival will have the theme ‘Dreamscape’, so you can expect some surreal and ethereal installations.
Tues 20th – Sat 31st January 2026, 5pm – 10pm
Canary Wharf, London, E14
canarywharf.com
2. Get 50% Off Your Bill at Chet’s
Created in collaboration with Kris Yenbamroong of LA’s NIGHT+MARKET, Chet’s at The Hoxton, Shepherd’s Bush, is doing Thai food like nowhere else in the city. Blending vibrant Thai flavours with classic American diner vibes, Chet’s, headed up by chef Carolyn Or, has you covered with punchy, playful dishes from morning to night. We’ve teamed up with Chet’s to get our INSIDERS 50% off your bill at brunch, lunch and dinner from Sundays – Tuesdays throughout January. Get involved here.
From Sun 4th January 2025
65 Shepherd’s Bush Grn, London W12 8QE
chetsrestaurant.co.uk
3. Go Bargain Hunting at the Giant London Flea
The Big London Flea is back in town this summer and this time it’s not just big, but giant. The Giant London Flea market is taking over the multi-storey car park at the Olympic Park in Stratford in January and will feature over 150 vintage traders. You’ll be able to shop everything from furniture, records, homeware, and lighting to prints, maps, clothing, artworks and one-of-a-kind finds. It’s just £2 entry, so get down there for some new year bargain hunting.
Sun 11th January 2026, 10am – 5pm
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Multi-Storey Car Park, Hackney, London E15 2GZ
@hackneyfleamarket
4. Try Your Hand at Winter Sports at the Curling Emporium
Walthamstow’s Big Penny Social is bringing back its curling experience this winter, so grab your mates, grab some stones and slide your way to winter sports glory. Stay warm in between games by hitting the bar for spiced mulled wine and boozy hot chocolates.
Throughout January 2026
1 Priestley Way,London, E17 6AL
bigpennysocial.co.uk
5. Dance at Annie Mac’s Beyond Midnight Residency
Annie Mac’s Before Midnight parties have been a massive hit since she first started them in 2022 and now she’s bringing them back to London with a residency at HERE at Outernet. Happening on the last Friday of the month from January – June 2026, the parties will run from 7pm – 12am, making them perfect for everyone who loves a good dance but also loves their sleep. As well as Annie on the decks, you can expect special guest appearances and one-off B2B sets at the Outernet residency, with a no phones policy being added to make sure the vibes on the dancefloor are immaculate.
Fri 30th January 2026
Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 8LH
@clubbingbeforemidnight
6. Explore Japanese Craft at This Exhibition
With the Hyakkō: 100+ Makers from Japan exhibition, Japan House London is exploring the country’s rich culture of craft, with more than 2000 works across glass, metal, leather and wood, from 120 makers on display. The exhibition will explore how makers reference tradition in their works whilst also adding their own individual expressions, and how the craft of the everyday has come to be appreciated.
Throughout January 2026
Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA
japanhouselondon.uk
7. Eat at Georgian Restaurant DakaDaka
DakaDaka, a modern Georgian restaurant and natural wine bar, is landing on Heddon Street in 2026. After our recent trip to Georgia – where we fell hard for the food, wine and the country itself – we’re buzzing to finally have a date for this one. The debut London project from Berkeley Square Hospitality, DakaDaka comes from Giorgi Mindiashvili and Mitz Vora, who’ve been behind some of our favourite spots in Tbilisi. Their first UK outpost puts Georgian cooking front and centre, with open-fire grilling, native ingredients, and seasonal British produce reimagining the country’s rich culinary traditions. On the drinks front, you’re looking at an extremely good line-up of 100 Georgian natural wines, alongside beers and cocktails built around ChaCha (a grape-based spirit that definitely deserves a warning label).
From Sat 17th January 2026
10 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BX
@dakadaka.london
8. See Denise Gough and Billy Crudup on Stage
Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth (who wrote screenplays for some little movies called Forrest Gump and Dune) and Olivier Award-winning director Thea Sharrock are teaming up for a stage adaptation of classic Western High Noon. Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly starred in the 1952 film about small town sheriff Kane and his wife Amy, who have to decide what to do about deadly outlaw Frank Miller, who’s headed straight for them. Billy Crudup and Denise Gough will be taking the lead roles for the stage version, with the themes of justice and peace, and duty and desire, as relevant in the present as they were back in the 1800s.
Throughout January 2026
Harold Pinter Theatre, Panton St, London SW1Y 4DN
highnoontheplay.com
9. Swerve Dry Jan at the New Guinness Brewery
Spread over multiple spaces across Mercer Walk, Langley Street, Neal Street and Shelton Street in Covent Garden, the new Guinness Open Gate Brewery is bringing brewing back to an area that first started making beer in 1722. The 54,000 sq ft venue is home to a microbrewery producing limited edition beers (including lager, pale ale, and porter) and running tours, where you can also pour your own pint and step into an immersive Guinness heritage experience.
Throughout January 2026
Covent Garden, London
opengatelondon.guinness.com
10. Get Your Skates On in Canary Wharf
Ice ice baby! That’s right, the ice rink in Canada Square Park is staying open well into the New Year and beyond Valentine’s Day, so you’ve got plenty of time to get your skates on. The rink is covered and adorned with hundreds of fairy lights so you can practise your pirouettes whatever the weather and when you’re done you can grab a well-deserved drink from the bar.
Throughout January 2026
Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AB
icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk
