Looking for the best things to do in London in February? 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 February so you won’t miss a thing. The shortest month of the year is always a welcome sight after January, even if it’s still cold outside. If you don’t want to let go of the winter activities just yet, you can sweep the ice at Club Curling or skate on it at the Canary Wharf ice rink. Obvs Valentine’s Day is the big occasion for February but there’s plenty more to get excited about, including Lunar New Year, Pancake Day, Pizza Day, Super Bowl Sunday and National Margarita Day.
1. Check Out the Biggest Ever Tracey Emin Exhibition
Tracey Emin: A Second Life at Tate Modern will look back over her 40-year career and will be the biggest show of Emin’s career. Over 90 works will be on display, including paintings, videos, neons, sculptures and textiles, showcasing the way she uses art and the female body to explore love, passion, trauma and healing.
From Thurs 26th February 2026
Tate Modern, Bankside, London, SE1 9TG
tate.org.uk
2. Watch Cynthia Erivo Take On Dracula
Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Dracula, adapted and directed by Kip Williams, will premiere at the Noël Coward Theatre in February 2026, with Cynthia Erivo starring in the one-actor production. It’ll be Erivo’s first time back on the stage in almost a decade and she’ll be playing all 23 characters in this radical reinterpretation of Bram Stoker’s gothic tale. The show will be the final (and most ambitious) in Williams’ gothic trilogy, following The Picture of Dorian Gray and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
From Weds 4th February 2026
85-88 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4AU
draculawestend.com
3. Journey Across the Universe With This Immersive Light Show
St-Martin-in-the-Field is getting its very own light show this February with Space being projected throughout the church. The artwork, created by Peter Walker, is designed to make us think about our relationship with the planet and our position in the universe by taking us on a journey through space. Imagery showing the story of human exploration will be projected on the exterior of the building, with the sound and light show continuing inside, going from the Big Bang to rocket launches to looking back at the Earth from space.
Tues 17th – Sat 21st February 2026
Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ
stmartin-in-the-fields.org
4. Run Off and See the Circus
Cirque du Soleil has performed annually at the Royal Albert Hall since 1996 and for 2026, the circus troupe is bringing OVO back to London, with a reimagined set design, reinvented music and new acrobatic acts. OVO, meaning ‘egg’ in Portuguese, is a celebration of the insect world, with a love story between a quirky fly and a spirited ladybug and a mysterious egg that sparks transformation at its heart.
February 2026
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP
royalalberthall.com
5. Dine at the Revamped Simpsons in the Strand
Simpson’s in the Strand has had a tough time since it closed during the pandemic – it never found a way to open during the ever-changing lockdown restrictions and in the summer of 2023 it auctioned off a load of its assets, including light fixtures, crockery and its famous silver carving trolley. Thankfully that didn’t spell the end of the restaurant for good, merely a wiping of the slate, with Jeremy King breathing new life into the old dog. The revamped ‘Grande Dame’ restaurant will have two dining rooms, the more traditional Grand Divan and the more relaxed, lower priced Romano’s; two bars, Simpson’s Bar and Nellie’s; and a private ballroom with room for 100.
February 2026
100 Strand, London WC2R 0EZ
jeremykingrestaurants.com
6. See Nan Goldin’s The Ballad of Sexual Dependency
Gagosian is kicking off 2026 by presenting Nan Goldin’s The Ballad of Sexual Dependency in its entirety, to coincide with the photobook’s 40th anniversary. The exhibition will be the first time that all 126 images from the book have been shown in the UK. Created between 1973 and 1986, the photobook, which Goldin described at the time as “the diary I let people read”, is an exploration of gender, intimacy and power, and as well as becoming a defining document of downtown New York at the time, it helped popularise a more candid and personal style of photography.
February 2026
17-19 Davies Street, London W1K 3DE
gagosian.com
7. Catch Sir David Attenborough’s Ocean Film Live in Concert
Released in 2025, Ocean with David Attenborough charts his lifelong journey of ocean discovery. Co-director Toby Nowlan called it “the greatest message he’s ever told,” highlighting rare footage that captures both the beauty of marine ecosystems and the scale of the threats they face, from destructive fishing to mass coral bleaching. This year audiences can dive back into the documentary, only this time on the big screen with a live soundtrack. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra will perform Steven Price’s captivating score live in perfect time with the visuals creating an immersive experience not to be missed.
Sat 28th February 2026
Royal Festival Hall, London
oceanconcert.live
8. Curl the Night Away at Club Curling
Club Curling is back at Coal Drops Yard for some winter sports action and this year, it’s taken inspo from vintage Italian ski culture. You can curl the night away on one of the six lanes in teams of up to six, and children under 12 play for free when accompanied by an adult. There’s also a pop-up lounge bar on site so you can have a tipple while you curl.
February 2026
Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, London N1C 4DQ
kingscross.co.uk
9. Catch the UK Premiere of Deep Azure
Deep Azure, a play by the late Chadwick Boseman, is getting its UK premiere at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse this year. Directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu (For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy), the play is a story of love, grief and justice, and is inspired by the story of university student Prince Jones. It follows Azure, whose fiancé Deep is killed by the police, as she tries to find peace in the wake of tragedy.
From Sat 7th February 2026
Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT
shakespearesglobe.com
10. Go for Wontons at This New Spot From HOKO
After doing a wonton pop-up at Wun’s Tea Room & Bar in Soho in 2024, the HOKO team is bringing it back as a permanent concept. HOKO Wonton Noodles will be opening on the basement level of Seven Dials Market, spotlighting authentic HK wonton noodles. There’ll be two types of hand-wrapped wontons made fresh daily – prawn & pork and tofu & king oyster mushroom – which you can get with served with soup, noodles and a side of broth (made with dried flounder from Macau), or with house-made chilli oil. If you don’t fancy wontons, there’ll also be Cantonese braised beef brisket and tendon on offer, alongside classic Hong Kong drinks like milk tea, iced lemon tea, and red bean ice.
February 2026
Seven Dials Market, Earlham St, London WC2H 9LX
hokolondon.co
