Looking for something fun to do today? Something eye-opening to watch tonight? Something delicious to eat tomorrow? Our guide to things to do this week in London is personally curated, ensuring there's always a diverse range of events for you to choose from. Get stuck in!
What's on all week
VALENTINE'S DAY EVENTS: As you're probably well aware, this Saturday is Valentine's Day, with plenty of ways to mark the day of romance here in London. We've put together a guide to love-themed events happening this week, which are open to everyone, whether you're on a date, out with mates, of looking for something to do on your own.
ROCKY HORROR SHOW: It's less like Valentine's and more like Halloween down in Bromley, as the Rocky Horror Show comes to the Churchill Theatre. See the story of college kids Brad and Janet who break down outside a creepy mansion and meet the charismatic Dr Frank-n-Furter. Age 12+. 9-14 February 2026
WWF WINTER WANDER: Conservation charity the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is encouraging people to organise their own sponsored walk this week, to raise money for its work. To get involved in the Big Winter Wander, complete a 5k or 10k walk in your local area, either on your own or with family and friends. 9-22 February 2026
THE AFRICA CENTRE: The London Archives in Clerkenwell opens a new, free display celebrating the cultural impact of the Africa Centre, which opened in 1961. View posters, photographs, and ephemera telling the Centre's story which has played the role of lecture hall, art gallery, bookshop, restaurant, nightclub, and even its own radio programme. There's a free introductory talk on Tuesday evening. FREE, 9 February-2 July 2026
HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE: Hold onto your towel and head to Riverside Studios for a stage adaptation of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. This is your last chance to follow the zany, intergalactic adventures of Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Marvin the Paranoid Android et al. live on stage for the first time in years. Until 15 February 2026
LOST DAGGER: Twickenham's Strawberry Hill House has an exhibition about a 16th century Ottoman dagger, which is believed to have been owned by Henry VIII. On the death of Strawberry Hill's Horace Walpole, the dagger was sold to Shakespearean actor Charles John Kean who used it as a prop on stage. After his death in 1868 it disappeared without a trace. Until 15 February 2026
ARE YOU BETTER YET?: Fujifilm and Trekstock Cancer Support worked with photographer Michael Leckie to create exhibition Are You Better Yet? on show at the House of Photography in Covent Garden. View portraits of eight people in their 20s, 30s and 40s, and their lives alongside cancer, whether they are facing a diagnosis, undergoing treatment, or navigating recovery. FREE, until 29 March 2026
SKY HIGH AFTERNOON TEA: Duck & Waffle above Bishopsgate has launched its first ever Sky High Afternoon Tea, and it sounds very creative. A hand-painted model of a supersized duck egg is delivered to your table — 40 storeys up. Crack it open to reveal a selection of sweet and savoury bites, including duck liver tartlet with herbs and orange marmalade, Cubano sandwiches with ham, comté and pickles, sticky toffee waffles, and a decadent hazelnut croquembouche. Available every Monday-Friday
PUB OF THE WEEK: The White Horse — aka the Sloaney Pony — in Parsons Green has reopened following a refit, including a new dining space (serving dishes like brick chicken with lemon, garlic & chive butter sauce, and a chateaubriand Sunday roast), plus a refreshed front garden, now with more space for al-fresco dining. We're told the beer's as important as ever; indeed there's a new outdoor bar serving craft brews (though whether this is functioning as early as February we're not sure).
EAT OF THE WEEK: The Clink Restaurant at HMP Brixton — which trains up people in custody to be chefs and front-of-house staff — has just launched its winter menu, with plates including a venison tartare with egg yolk emulsion, pan-seared skate wing with mussels, and poached pear & ginger pudding. It's open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday — plus Sundays for a roast dinner.
Today's events: Monday 9 February
MAKING TROUBLE: Union Chapel hosts a free concert featuring original music created by young musicians from Islington and north London. Making Trouble premieres new songs written and performed by 14–18 year olds, developed in partnership with professional artists and inspired by the chapel’s unique history as a place of music, debate, and social change. FREE, 6pm
KILL BILL: Tarantino's Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair unites Volume 1 and Volume 2 into a single screening, taking place at the Prince Charles Cinema this evening. Over more than four hours, watch Uma Thurman starring in the action film, complete with a new, never-before-seen anime sequence. 6.15pm
THE EVOLVING BRAIN: Evolutionary neuroscientist and neurologist Dr Paul Goldsmith is at Waterstones Gower Street to discuss his book, The Evolving Brain: How to Thrive in a World We Weren’t Made For. He explains that the reason so many people struggle in the modern world is that our brains are designed for survival in a very different world, one with which our ancestors would have been familiar. 6.30pm
THE NUTCRACKER: The Nutcracker is for life, not just for Christmas. The critically acclaimed Varna International Ballet performs Tchaikovsky's fairytale ballet starring the Mouse-king and his mouse-army and the Nutcracker Prince, for one night only at the New Wimbledon Theatre. 7.30pm
2 MUSLIM 2 FURIOUS: Comedy double act Aisha Amanduri and Hasan Al-Habib team up for a performance of their show 2 Muslim 2 Furious 3: Sharia? I hardly know her! at Soho Theatre Dean Street, featuring Sharia-compliant stand-up, and prizes to be won. 20% of artists’ proceeds go to Medical Aid For Palestinians. 8.45pm
Today's events: Tuesday 10 February
TOGETHER THROUGH ART: Mall Galleries hosts Together Through Art, a charity exhibition supporting the Sick Children's Trust. Among the artists taking part are Jonathan Yeo, Kate Morgan, and Matthew Rice, illustrator for Emma Bridgewater, whose work can be viewed for free, either in person at the gallery, or online, and it's all for sale in aid of the charity. FREE, 10-14 February 2026
PRACTICALLY IMPERFECT: Author PL Travers and her fictional creation, Mary Poppins, are the subject of play Practically Imperfect, on at OSO Arts Centre in Barnes this week. Travers lives quietly in Chelsea until Poppins suddenly appears in her office, asking difficult questions and performing the kind of music Travers really wanted in the Mary Poppins film. 10-15 February 2026
LANES, COURTS AND ALLEYWAYS: The lanes, courts and alleyways of the City of London are the subject of a free virtual tour at Guildhall Library. City of London Guide and Lecturer (and self-confessed map obsessive) Jill Finch uses Dr Samuel Johnson's thoughts of 1763 as a starting point to introduce you to some of the area's lesser-known thoroughfares. FREE, 2pm
LEE MILLER: The subject of a retrospective at Tate Britain until the end of this week, Lee Miller was a photographer and photojournalist, working in several genres from fashion to war photography. Today's free Gresham College lecture — given by Miller's son, Antony Penrose — focuses on the latter, particularly her images around the Holocaust, some of the most powerful photographs she ever took. FREE, 6pm
HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD: Showbiz royalty Liza Pulman and Joe Stilgoe pitch up at Wilton's Music Hall for Hooray For Hollywood, performing some of the best-loved songs from musical films including The Wizard of Oz, Wicked, West Side Story and La La Land. 7pm
Today's events: Wednesday 11 February
UCL ILLUMINATED: UCL kickstarts its 200th anniversary celebrations with UCL Illuminated, a light and sound show projected onto the institution's Wilkins Building. Anyone can get tickets, whether you're linked to UCL or not, and it includes an exhibition inside the building telling the story of UCL's two centuries. 11-13 February 2026
SHARE YOUR HEART: Over 70 heart-themed artworks go on display at Saatchi Gallery this Valentine's week, for free exhibition Share Your Heart, in association with children's charity Chain of Hope. Leading artists and public figures have created the artworks, including Youssef Nabil, Gordon Cheung, Philip Colbert, Gray Malin, Gillian Anderson, Olivia Colman, Alison Hammond, and Mel B. All are for sale in aid of the charity. FREE, 11-15 February 2026
IMAGINE FESTIVAL 2026: Southbank Centre's Imagine Festival is back for February half term, celebrating all facets of kids' literature, theatre, dance and music. The programme is packed, catering to all ages and budgets (plenty of events are FREE!), spanning performances and workshops. Highlights include CBBC stars Andy and the Odd Socks performing live on stage. 11-21 February 2026
CHICOS MAMBO'S TUTU: Comedic dance show TUTU is a family-friendly, gender norm-defying performance at the Peacock Theatre, which lovingly mocks the classic tutu, traditionally only worn by women, by introducing the unique TUTU trousers. Age five+. 11-21 February 2026
AFTER MISS JULIE: Liz Francis, Tom Varey and Charlene Boyd star in After Miss Julie, a tragedy about the daughter of a powerful MP striking up a forbidden flirtation with her father's chauffeur. See the play at the Park Theatre. 11-28 February 2026
SEEDS OF EXCHANGE: The exchange of botanical knowledge shared between Canton (now Guangzhou) and London between 1766-1773 is explored in the Seeds of Exchange exhibition at the Garden Museum. It's a chance to view a collection of Chinese botanical art and research for the first time in Britain since it was commissioned over 250 years ago. 11 February-10 May 2026
EXTRA/ORDINARY WOMEN: The real lives of a whole range of women who supported and inspired author Charles Dickens are revealed in Extra/Ordinary Women at the Charles Dickens Museum. Find out about the clues left in Dickens' work which helps us to connect his fictional characters to their real-life counterparts, and view a portrait of the Dickens daughters, Katey and Mamie, on display for the very first time. 11 February-6 September 2026
SCIENCE MUSEUM LATE: It's that time of the month when the Science Museum keeps its doors open late into the evening, and this time the theme is the future of food. Visit the free exhibitions after-hours, take part in workshops and hands-on activities looking at how food makes its way from the field to our plates. Catch comedians performing live, or dance the night away at a silent disco. FREE, 6.45pm-10pm
RAUNCHFEST: How could you NOT be wooed by the ludicrous line-up at Valentine's Raunchfest, compered by purring novelist extraordinaire Christopher Bliss, and with appearances from Britney, Lou Sanders and Jazz Emu. Me-ow! It's on at Hackney's MOTH Club. 7pm
Today's events: Thursday 12 February
LUCIAN FREUD: Opening at the National Portrait Gallery today, Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting is the UK’s first museum exhibition to focus on the artist's works on paper, rather than his paintings. 12 February-4 May 2026
WALLACE & GROMIT: One of the exhibitions we're most looking forward to this year is Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit at the Young V&A. The 50th anniversary of the stop-motion studio is celebrated with models, sets and storyboards from Aardman's archives, many of which have never been on public display before. 12 February-15 November 2026
DINNER IN PRISON: Tuck into dinner whipped up by celebrity chef Cyrus Todiwala OBE, in a special supper club at The Clink restaurant. Located within HMP Brixton, the restaurant is staffed by students who are working towards qualifications while currently serving time in prison, and some of those students cook alongside Todiwala for this event. 5.30pm-8.30pm
50 YEARS OF MENSWEAR: The period between the 1780s and 1830s is in focus in a talk at the Fashion & Textile Museum tonight. Costumier Amy Louise Trend — of costume producer Cosprop, which takes centre stage in the museum's current exhibition — talks about how culture at the time caused coats, waistcoats, breeches, trousers, neckwear, hats, and footwear to evolve, and shape the foundations of modern menswear. 6pm-7pm
MYANMAR WAR: The Frontline Club in Paddington screens Myanmar: War with the Junta, a documentary by Al Jazeera’s Investigations Unit and the Burma VJ Network, about a civil conflict which has raged across Myanmar for five years, killing close to 80,000 people and displacing 3 million others. It's followed by a Q&A to discuss the outcome of controversial national elections held in January and the ongoing human rights crisis in the region. 7pm
Today's events: Friday 13 February
VOYAGE TO THE DEEP: Just in time for February half term (see below), the Horniman Museum unveils new family-friendly experience Voyage to the Deep - Underwater Adventures. Board the Nautilus submarine, crawl through shipwrecks, decipher codes and collect deep-sea specimens. From 13 February 2026. Also today, a free Octonauts trail launches at the museum.
LONDON BOOKSHOP CRAWL: London Bookshop Crawl encourages you to visit as many independent bookshops as possible over the course of one weekend — with events at various shops around the capital (as well as online) to foster a community of book lovers. The aim, of course, is to support London's independent bookshops, while treating yourself to a few new reads. 13-15 February 2026
ART LATES: Been meaning to go see one of Tate Britain's current art juggernauts, Lee Miller, or Turner & Constable, but not had the time? You've got three chances to catch them during a late this weekend; the gallery is open till 10pm tonight, Saturday night and Sunday. This is also your last call to see the mesmerising Lee Miller retrospective (which we gave ★★★★★). It ends on Sunday. 13-15 February 2026
SEURAT AND THE SEA: Get a look at the seascapes of French artist Georges Seurat, at the Courtauld Gallery's new exhibition Seurat and the Sea. 27 paintings, oil sketches and drawings made by Seurat during the five summers he spent on the northern coast of France feature. 13 February-17 May 2026
MEDIEVAL WOMEN: Join guides Laura Agustin and Rob Smith for a Thames-side tour of Southwark looking at the lives of medieval working-class women. You’ll meet six women who lived and worked nearby in the 14th century: scullery maid, victualler, laundress, alewife, sex worker, huckster. The result is a dialogue about what makes history. 1pm
GIN LANE: Author and drinks expert Jane Peyton is at the Foundling Museum to give a talk about the history of gin. Find out how the drink played a part in Britain becoming the world’s dominant naval power, able to establish a vast empire, and how it went from being the cause of many social problems, to a trendy and upmarket drink. 6.30pm
IN THE DARK: Enjoy an hour of music beneath the Cutty Sark... while you're blindfolded. Take a seat and put a blindfold on, then experience 30 world-class musicians showing off their talents all around you, in complete darkness. 7.15pm/9.15pm
MUSICAL IMPROV COMEDY: Acaprov combines musical improv with comedy improv, and it happens at The Green on Old Street on the second Friday of each month. Short-form musical improv (with audience interaction) is followed by a long-form narrative improvised a cappella musical, starting in a location of the audience's choice, and making sense of whatever title the audience choose. Expect body percussion, beat-boxing, sound effects, freestyle rap, singing and dancing. 7.30pm
Today's events: Saturday 14 February
FEBRUARY HALF TERM: With most London schools closed for a week from today, you'll be needing our guide to things to do in London in half term. It's packed with ways to entertain children and teenagers over the coming week, including special events, exhibitions and theatre shows, to family-friendly activities and days out.
CLIMB ALLY PALLY: See London from a whole new perspective as Summit: Ally Pally Rooftop Adventure launches in mid-February. The highest roof-walk in the UK takes you 130 metres above sea level for panoramic views over the capital. From 14 February 2026
QUEEN'S HOUSE REOPENS: Be among the first to see the new layout of the Queen's House in Greenwich. The historic building closed in mid-January for a major rehang, so today is the first opportunity to see the new displays. FREE, from 14 February
THE JOLLY POSTMAN: Get a dose of childhood nostalgia at the Postal Museum's new exhibition dedicated to children's book The Jolly Postman. Janet and Allan Ahlberg's tale comes to life in an interactive and family-friendly exhibition in which you can follow his rounds, delivering letters to the Three Bears' cottage and to Cinderella at the palace. 14 February 2026-January 2027
WRECKAGE AND REPAIR: Show your love — and hate — for certain parts of London, at the London Archives' wreckage and repair workshop, led by artist/illustrator Agustin Coll. Choose overfamiliar landmarks which you're not too keen on, and give them a new lease of life through the power of collage illustration. 11am
DIY ART MARKET: Browse for art prints, ceramics, sculptures, jewellery and other art and craft items, as a Valentine's edition of the DIY Art Market pops up at Copeland Park in Peckham. More than 80 artists take part. 11am-5pm
SHERLOCK HOLMES: Based on the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty is on at Artsdepot in Finchley. It's set in 1901 as a series of mysterious events reveals a crack in the high corridors of power. Age 11+. 2pm/7.30pm
QUEER BOOK CLUB: London LGBTQ+ Community Centre (which sits next to the Tate Modern) hosts its monthly book club this afternoon: you'll need to have read Queer Footprints – A Guide to Uncovering London's Fierce History by Dan Glass. There's a chance to socialise over non alcoholic drinks afterwards. FREE, 3pm-5pm
NOT ANOTHER QUIZ: The Clapham Grand (which recently turned 125 years old) welcomes Jake Bhardwaj and the Not Another Quiz Night team for an evening of chaotic quizzing, featuring music, comedy, interactive bonus rounds, bizarre prizes... and the occasional surprise appearance. Your generic pub quiz this is not. 7pm
Today's events: Sunday 15 February
LONDON WINTER RUN: Places to take part in the London Winter Run have sold out, but if you're in central London this morning, why not line the route and cheer the runners on? They're running 10k on closed roads to raise money for Cancer Research UK. 15 February 2026
CLASSICAL COFFEE MORNING: Start your Sunday on a musical note, with a Classical Coffee Morning at the Royal Albert Hall. Classical guitarist and theorbo (a plucked instrument in the lute family) player Hope Cramsie performs live in the Elgar Room, with a hot drink and pastry included in your ticket. 10am
SOPHIES AND SOPHIAS: Quite niche, this one, but if you happen to be called Sophie or Sophia, you can get free entry to the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe today only. It's to mark the birthday of Sophia Kingdom, wife of Marc Brunel and mother of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and you can claim your ticket by using code SOPHIA1775 to book online. Remember to take proof of your name along to the museum with you. 10.30am-3.30pm
606 CLUB: There are two performances for you to enjoy at the 606 Club today: Canadian jazz vocalist Lauren Bush entertains with a lunchtime set (including numbers from latest record Tide Rises. That's followed by an evening show from the soulful Polly Gibbons. 1.30pm and 8pm
NAKED KILLER: Now that we have your attention... Farringdon's Nickel Cinema screens a VHS of 1992 flick Naked Killer, describe by Cathode Cinema as "An erotic Hong Kong action thriller featuring female assassins who shoot men in the dick." Got a feeling Quentin Tarantino's seen this one a few times... 2pm
WINTER COUPLE: Try your hand at recreating Gordon Bruce's painting Winter Couple, which shows a couple embracing in a snowy park. The London Art Bar in Holborn is the venue for the Pop Up Painting session, in which all materials are provided, and a professional artist is on hand to offer guidance. 3pm-5.30pm
VALENTINE'S COMEDY SHINDIG: Six famous actors take to the stage at Theatre Royal Haymarket to recall one of their dating stories that either went really well or very badly. Then, improv comedians take over, creating alternative ‘Sliding Doors’ versions of the stories, showing what could have happened. 6pm
