All week
MAX & IVAN: Comedy duo Max & Ivan bring their current show, Life, Choices, to Soho Theatre. It was longlisted for Best Show at Edinburgh last year, and tackles topics of fatherhood, friendship, and the future. 15-20 January
CABINETS OF DEATH: The Last Tuesday Society in Hackney hosts Cabinets of Death, an exhibition and cocktail menu put together by immersive experience experts Bompas & Parr. There's a talk to launch the exhibition on Monday, with the exhibition then open to the public from Tuesday, celebrating the spectacle of the ‘Death Cabarets’ found in Paris in the early 20th century and the rituals and motifs surrounding death. A special cocktail menu is available in the Absinthe Parlour. 15 January-18 February
DISNEY100: In 2023, Walt Disney Studios marked its centenary with Disney100, a large-scale exhibition delving into all facets of the company, from films to theme parks, and Cinderella to Star Wars. Props on show at ExCeL Centre include the carousel horse ridden by Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. This week is your final chance to see the exhibition. Until 21 January
FRANS HALS: The National Gallery hosts the first major retrospective of work by Dutch painter Frans Hals in more than 30 years, bringing together 50 of his best portrait works including his most famous picture, The Laughing Cavalier (1624) which is on loan from The Wallace Collection. The exhibition closes at the end of this week. Until 21 January
DAVID HOCKNEY: Also closing this week is David Hockney: Drawing from Life at the National Portrait Gallery. It's a chance to see the artist’s work over the last six decades through his portraits of five sitters: his mother, Celia Birtwell, Gregory Evans, Maurice Payne and Hockney himself. Until 21 January
EAT OF THE WEEK: Covent Garden's Sushisamba has just launched an afternoon tea, featuring wagyu katsu sliders, crispy lobster taquitos, and chocolate cream puffs. The price tag of £65pp probably makes this one for a special treat. It's available every weekday, and you'll need to book.
DRINK OF THE WEEK: Still plugging away at dry Jan — or just embracing full-time teetotalism? Club Soda in Holborn serves booze-free bevvies, including spritzes, wine, beer and mead, seven days a week. Its shelves are also packed with 80+ non-alcoholic drinks to buy and take away. They do various courses and events, too.
Monday 15 January
FREE CUPCAKES: Lola's is giving away free mini cupcakes today to mark Blue Monday — apparently the most depressing day of the year. Just head along to your nearest branch (the earlier, the better, as stocks are limited) to claim yours, no other purchase necessary. FREE
FLEET STREET: Footprints of London guide Marilyn Greene offers a virtual tour around Fleet Street. Hear about the original site of the Temple Bar, and find out why it was originally built, and later removed. Get the lowdown on other points of interest, including buildings and churches, before hearing about the newly positioned Temple Bar near Paternoster Square. 6pm-7pm
NANDINI DAS: Hear from Nandini Das, winner of the British Academy Book Prize 2023, as she discusses writing the book, Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire. She talks to Charles Tripp, Professor of Politics at SOAS, about the book's topic: Thomas Roe, the first British ambassador to the Mughal Empire, and his four years in India. FREE, 6pm-7.30pm
MOSCOW X: Author David McCloskey is at Daunt Books in Marylebone to discuss his new thriller novel, Moscow X, with Middle East historian James Barr. McCloskey is a former CIA analyst, and the novel tells the story of two CIA operatives who enter Russia to recruit some of Putin's men. 7pm
MONDAYS IN LONDON: Looking for something else to do, today or any other week? Take a look at our guide to things to do in London on a Monday — we've gathered together live music venues, comedy and cabaret clubs which keep going on what is usually the quietest day of the week, along with guided walks and tours scheduled on a Monday, and a few special offers too.
Tuesday 16 January
PARENT AND BABY QUIZ: Vauxhall City Farm launches a new pub-style quiz for parents with babies. Take your little one along to test your general knowledge in a child-friendly environment, where it's not a problem if they cry, and you're welcome to feed and change them as needed. Bring your own team, or turn up and be placed in a team — a great way to meet other parents. 11am-12pm
CLIMATE CHANGE: Today's free Gresham College lecture features Professor Myles Allen discussing how climate change is already affecting all of us, through extreme weather events. Though the future isn't entirely predictable, he argues that we'd be better prepared if governments and the insurance industry were willing to pay for better climate risk information. Watch in person at Barnard's Inn Hall, or online. FREE, 6pm
DELICIOUSLY ELLA: Food author Ella Mills, founder of Deliciously Ella, is at the Ham Yard Hotel for a special event to celebrate the release of her brand new book, Healthy Made Simple. She talks to journalist and author Kate Maxwell about the new book, and her career as an entrepreneur, and takes questions from the audience. 6.30pm-8pm
UNLOCKING PAINTINGS: Dulwich Picture Gallery publishes a new book, Unlocking Paintings: A Guide to Historic Art, using the gallery's own collection to explore the story behind works by the likes of Raphael, Rembrandt, and Gainsborough, and the context in which they were created. Today there's a chance to hear about the book from Director Jennifer Scott and Curator Helen Hillyard, and ask your own questions. 7pm
SATELLITES AND CLIMATE: Find out how satellites can be used to combat climate change. TRUTHS is a climate-focused mission led by the UK Space Agency which aims to take measurements of the sun's energy and how it is distributed, and make use of that data. Find out more at a talk at the Royal Institution — watch in person, or via livestream. 7pm-8.30pm
Wednesday 17 January
GLOWBOT GARDEN: Head to Strand Aldwych this week and you’ll encounter a remarkable menagerie of robots. Some of these creatures are as big as double-decker buses, and they respond to you with unique motion, light, and sound. Glowbot Garden — by creative soft robotics studio Air Giants and King’s College London — is a free opportunity for everyone to interact with these inflatable, pneumatically-controlled creations and get a fresh perspective on robotics. FREE, 12pm-8pm, 17-20 January (sponsor)
LONDON ART FAIR: The capital's art scene swings into action for the year at the London Art Fair at the Business Design Centre in Islington, beginning today. The focus is on modern and contemporary pieces, with galleries from all over London and beyond exhibiting. 17-21 January
CANARY WHARF WINTER LIGHTS: Once again the streets, docks, malls and squares of Canary Wharf will be aglow for Winter Lights. So far, 12 temporary glowing installations have been announced for the free illuminations festival, with a market and street food stalls popping up to keep visitors fed and watered. While you're in the area, why not take a twirl on the Canary Wharf ice rink — It's the only one of London's winter ice rinks which stays open right through until February. FREE, 17-27 January
FREUD AND LATIN AMERICA: Latin America is home to some of the most important psychoanalytic centres in the world, and this is the topic of a new exhibition at the Freud Museum in Hampstead. Freud and Latin America delves into why this region is so interested in psychoanalysis, and how Freudian theory has influenced wider culture and society. 17 January-14 July
WORLD WONDERS: Historian and author Bettany Hughes is at Waterstones Piccadilly to celebrate her latest book, The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Learn about the construction of famous sites including the Great Pyramid at Giza, and why they are still considered so important today. 6.30pm
LONDON FASHION: As the Design Museum's current exhibition, Rebel: 30 Years of London Fashion, enters its final few weeks, head to Bell House in Dulwich to hear from Rebecca Lewin, Senior Curator at the Design Museum. Find out about the process of putting together the exhibition, which showcases almost 100 different looks and outfits. 7pm-8pm
Thursday 18 January
CECIL BEATON'S DIARIES: The diaries of photographer and designer Sir Cecil Beaton come to the stage at OSO Arts Centre. One-man show Cecil Beaton's Diaries portrays the side of Beaton which was never shown in his photographs, with the Queen Mother, Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill all mentioned in his memoirs. 18-20 January
ARTWORKS SALE: The Horse Hospital and the Contemporary Wardrobe Collection team up for a sale of artworks, magazines, posters, vintage and modern clothes and books from both their archives. The sale takes place across four days at The Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury. 18-21 January
TUNING: In all our long years, I don't think we've ever listed an event about tuning before — as in the way musicians twiddle with their instruments to achieve the desired pitch. But that's Gresham College for you, always throwing up intriguing talks. This one's hosted by Professor Milton Mermikides, who'll "reveal the mechanics that determine the 12 notes of the piano keyboard and the beautiful spectrum of pitch colours between them". FREE, 6pm
SCOTTISH CEILIDH: Ahead of Burns Night next week, The National Army Museum hosts a Scottish Cèilidh event. Head to the Chelsea museum after-hours for an evening of dancing and music, with focus on traditional Scottish country dances, such as the Dashing White Sergeant, which have names that reference the relationship between Scotland and the British Army. 6.30pm
MAGIC AND MARTINIS: The Sweeties bar up on the 10th floor of The Standard, London hosts a one-night-only Magic & Martinis evening. Sip two-for-one cocktails all night as you watch a show by award-winning performer Troy The Magician. 7pm-11.30pm
ALLAN JONES: Rock and roll journalist Allan Jones is in conversation with Jim Rhesus at the Fighting Cocks in Kingston tonight. He'll be chatting about his career spanning Melody Maker to Uncut, and interviewing Lemmy, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Elton John, and Joe Strummer (whose stage name was suggested by none other than Allan Jones!). 7.30pm
ULTIMATE JEWISH MOTHER: Comedian Rachel Creeger performs her comedy show, Ultimate Jewish Mother, at artsdepot in North Finchley, based on the theory that whatever the problem, Jewish mothers always have the answer. 7.30pm
Friday 19 January
LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: January is ideal for snuggling down in the cinema, which is where London Short Film Festival comes in. Taking place at several independent cinemas around the capital, the programme includes a wealth of new drama, documentary, comedy and animation short films, competition-winning films, and industry events such as Q&As and speed-pitching sessions. 19-28 January
FAMILY KNEES UP: Here's a parent and baby music session with a difference. Instead of playing the usual nursery rhymes, the Baby Knees Up at Big Penny Social features well-known East End songs, performed by Tom Carradine, of Carradine’s Cockney Singalong fame. 11am-11.45am
HYDE PARK TOUR: Speakers' Corner, Peter Pan and a Victorian pet cemetery all feature in this guided walk around Hyde Park, uncovering some of its secrets. Join a Royal Parks guide to learn the history of the Tyburn Tree, the park's role in the first world war, and other fascinating facts. 11am-12.30pm
LIE DOWN AND LISTEN: Head to Dulwich Picture Gallery after hours for a Lie Down And Listen session, and begin your weekend completely chilled out. Lie down and relax, surrounded by the gallery's artworks, as you're guided through a relaxing Tibetan bowl sound healing, and a live classical concert of harp music. 6.30pm/8.30pm
CLUB DE FROMAGE: Cheesy disco night Club de Fromage livens up Friday night at Boxpark Wembley. Think cabaret meets pop party, with pop hits by the likes of ABBA, Britney Spears and Taylor Swift played all night, along with games, dance-offs and singalongs. 7pm-11pm
Saturday 20 January
NETBALL CUP: Watch England go up against Australia, New Zealand and Uganda in the first weekend of the Vitality Netball Nations Cup at Wembley Arena, before the competition moves to Leeds for the second and final weekend. 20-21 January
THE KING AND I: The long-awaited production of The King and I, starring Helen George (Call The Midwife) opens at the Dominion Theatre. Over 50 West End and Broadway performers and a full-scale orchestra join forces for the story of the King of Siam and Anna, a British schoolteacher, in 1860s Bangkok. 20 January-2 March
WASSAIL DAY: London Wildlife Trust hosts a Wassail Day at Dulwich Village Orchard. It's an ancient custom of singing to apple-producing trees in cider orchards, and the event includes an orchard tour, live folk music, crafts and more. FREE, 12pm-3pm
NIRVANA: "Closest you'll ever come to hearing the voice of Cobain in person" is how Loudwire magazine describes the lead singer of cover band, Nirvana Tribute. They're bringing down the house with hits from Nevermind and In Utero at the New Cross Inn tonight. Support is from Alice In Chains UK. 6pm doors
SPACE EXPLORATION: What difference have space, science and technology made to our everyday lives? Has it been worth all the money spent on space exploration when facing so many challenges here on Earth? Professor Anu Ojha OBE from the UK Space Agency discusses these issues at the Royal Institution, with a chance for audience members to handle genuine space artefacts. 7pm-8.30pm
HEART OF BRASS: The No Limit Street Band headline Heart of Brass, a three-storey house party at Queen of Hoxton. They offer a brass spin on feel-good classics, as well as their own original songs, with hip hop and r'n'b on the other floors. 8pm
Sunday 21 January
CHEESE MARKET: Did you know that London has a regular cheese market — and aptly, it's in Chiswick, an area which takes its name from an historic cheese farm or market? Cheesewick happens at Old Market Place on Chiswick High Road, and this month it's an Alpine special. Over 200 cheeses are available from a range of producers, along with bread, crackers, chutneys and the like. 9.30am-3pm
STYLE AND SCANDAL: Starting at Waterstones on Piccadilly, take a guided tour around the St James's area, focusing on its bohemian history. Guide Michael Duncan shares some of the scandalous secrets hidden away behind the wealthy facades, with stories featuring courtiers, politicians and poets. 11am-12.30pm
WALTHAMSTOW FLEA MARKET: Big Penny Social is the venue for the Walthamstow Flea Market, which brings together traders selling vintage furniture, reclaimed industrial fixtures, lighting and salvaged electricals, homewares, curiosities, collectibles, and surprising oddities. It all takes place in a large beer hall, meaning plenty of options to keep your thirst quenched as you shop. 11am-5pm
CAN BEARS SKI?: Theatre show Can Bears Ski? — which has two performances at artsdepot today — is based on the book by poet Raymond Antrobus, who draws on his own experience as a deaf child in a hearing world. Puppetry and music are used to bring to life the story of Little Bear as he learns the different ways to find your place in the world. Aimed at age 3+. 11am/2pm
VERTIGO: 1958 film Vertigo, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart, Kim Novak and Barbara Bel Geddes, is shown at the Castle Cinema in Hackney. It's part of the Cine-Real programme, a film club which exclusively plays films from original 16mm prints. 2.15pm
SUNDAY CONCERT: Finish your weekend with a concert of music by the likes of Haydn, Stravinksy, Gabriella Smith, and Mendelssohn. The Treske Quartet perform at this week's Sunday Concert at Conway Hall in Holborn. 6.30pm-8.30pm
PENG FEMME JAM: An all-women and non-binary house band get things under way at the Shacklewell Arms in Hackney, before everyone and anyone is invited to join in with the jam. 7.30pm
Good Cause of the Week
Across the country, dozens of children are on waiting lists for organ donation. Sadly only 50% of parents when approached about organ donation for children under the age of 18 currently say yes, and with only a small number of children dying in circumstances where organ donation is possible at all, this means the chances for children in need of a transplant are low.
The Waiting to Live campaign was started by the parents of three year old Ralph, who lives in Chingford. Ralph has aggressive liver cancer and needs a triple transplant of liver, pancreas and bowel to survive. This can only come from a child of a similar size.
The Waiting to Live campaign aims to highlight the number of children currently in need of transplant with 230 real life dolls created and placed in key locations across the country, to highlight the children like Ralph who are waiting. Ralph’s doll is currently at Great Ormond St hospital, where he receives treatment. Other hospitals and locations across London are also hosting dolls and supporting the campaign, including Kings’s and Evelina Children’s hospital.
To find out more and register your support for organ donation visit the Waiting to Live website and watch the campaign film. The film features an original song created by London singer-songwriter Chloe Bruce-Gardyne, who was inspired to create the song after hearing the stories of some of the children featured in the campaign.
