Looking for something to do on New Year's Day? Get your 2026 off to an excellent start with these events taking place on 1 January (note: it's worth checking opening times before you travel, as they may differ from usual as it's a bank holiday).
ICE SKATING: What better way to shake off a fuzzy head than by going ice skating! Twinkly lights, elegant gliding — it'll have you feeling right as rain quick-sharp. London's seasonal ice rinks are open into the new year.
GO FOR A WANDER: Take your pick from our series of weekend walks — wherever in London you are, and however energetic you're feeling, there's something for you. Alternatively, the Snoopy Sculpture Trail is still in situ around Fleet Street, and likely to be a little less busy this side of Christmas.
WEST END SHOW: Much of the West End is up and running on New Year's Day, including The Mousetrap, Matilda The Musical and Hercules. Browse shows and see what's cooking.
DUVET DAY: Can't be bothered with the outside world? Stock up on leftover mince pies, kick back and work your way through the videos on our YouTube channel.
WINTER WONDERLAND: Today's the final day of this year's Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, offering you the chance to ride the fairground, take to the ice, ride the ice slide or catch the circus. You still need to book in advance for entry to the site. 11am-9.30pm
NEW YEAR'S DAY PARADE: Floats from all over the world feature in the London New Year's Day parade, (now officially known simply as the London Parade), alongside pearly kings and queens, pop stars, Carnaval Del Pueblo and a Hamleys bus. The parade begins on Piccadilly, before making its way down to Whitehall. FREE, from 1pm
NYD CEILIDH: More into doing the dancing yourself than watching others at the parade? The Ceilidh Liberation Front are at Southbank Centre for a New Year's Day Ceilidh, a family-friendly event which requires no prior experience. Simply turn up, pick up the steps and get dancing. FREE, 1pm
LONDON BRIDGE TOUR: Unseen Tours guide David leads a walk around the London Bridge area. Visit some of Borough’s mysterious alleys, Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral, the Clink prison and a secret archaeological dig, before ending up at one of the city's oldest pubs. 2pm
LEYTON ORIENT: Kick off 2026 with some live football: Leyton Orient clash with London rivals AFC Wimbledon at the BetWright Stadium in Leyton, and at time of writing there are plenty of tickets left in the East Stand. KO 3pm
HAIR OF THE DOG: No doubt plenty of us will be partaking of a cheeky hair of the dog drink — but in this case Hair of the Dog are a blues band featuring Papa George, playing the Cavern in Raynes Park. 3pm
NEW YEAR'S DAY PROMS: Barbican's usual New Year's Day Proms concert is a celebration of classical music, including Nessun Dorma, Auld Lang Syne and Land of Hope and Glory, performed by the London Concert Orchestra. 3pm
BALLET NIGHTS: World-class dance meets live music at Ballet Nights at Cadogan Hall. Gareth Haw, Principal of the English National Ballet, Liudmila Konovalova, Prima Ballerina of the Vienna State Ballet, and Kevin Poeung, Principal of Northern Ballet, all perform to a soundtrack of both classical and contemporary music. 5pm
NEW YEAR'S NOISE: Dalston's Cafe OTO starts the year as it means to go on, with a veritable feast of New Year's Noise — courtesy of 4046 Group (based around a DIY electronic noise box) plus Milky Eyes, Jackson Burton and others. Bear in mind the sounds here really are 'noise' (we'd recommend listening to a couple of tracks first) so it'll either blast your hangover away, or leave you with another one. 6.30pm
AMY WINEHOUSE: Camden's Jazz Cafe hosts a tribute to singer and local resident Amy Winehouse. Hear some of London's finest musicians performing her albums, Frank and Back to Black one after the other. 7pm
