As we bid farewell to 2024, we're looking forward to what's planned in London for 2025. The capital's expecting new venues, museums, exhibitions and theatre shows, hotels, cultural experiences, and a couple of public transport biggies... Here's what's on the agenda:
New Bridget Jones film: February 2025
Establishing skyline shot? Tick. Bustling Tower Bridge? Tick. Dreamy views from Hampstead Heath? Tick, tick, tick — and that's all just in the trailer for Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy. As with the three previous films, the whole thing looks like the sort of cinematic love letter to London we haven't seen for quite a few years — and it's out just in time for Valentine's Day. Check if it's being shown at your nearest independent cinema.
The first performances at Sadler's Wells East: from February 2025
Dance organisation Sadler's Wells lifts the curtain on its new venue on the East Bank at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in February. Immersive dance production Our Mighty Groove is the inaugural show at Sadler’s Wells East, starring young performers from east London.
The venue consists of a 550-seat flexible theatre, plus six studios for creating and developing dance productions, and has a strong focus on nurturing local talent. A restaurant, bar and cafe are also promised.
New restaurants at 22 Bishopsgate: February 2025
22 Bishopsgate is the skyscraper which houses Horizon 22, the tallest viewing gallery in Europe (at least, it is until 1 Undershaft is constructed, but that's another story). Though the gallery's been open since September 2023, other parts of the building have still been in progress, including the restaurants.
In February 2025, Gordon Ramsay's empire takes over levels 59 and 60 of 22 Bishopsgate, opening Lucky Cat, which will become London's highest restaurant, and Bread Street Kitchen & Bar. Like dining with a view? Sign up now to get updates on the launch.
Centenary of the Charles Dickens Museum: February-June 2025
On 9 June 1925, The Dickens House opened its doors... though these days we know it as the Charles Dickens Museum. 48 Doughty Street is the only surviving London house in which Charles Dickens lived, and is where he completed The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. 100 years on, the museum marks its centenary of being open to the public with a special exhibition (5 February-29 June) featuring previously unseen items, as well as some of the museum's greatest treasures.
Roundhouse Three Sixty: April 2025
Camden's Roundhouse launches a brand new music and culture festival, Roundhouse Three Sixty, in April 2025. It merges the best of the venue's previous festivals (In the Round, The Last Word, and Roundhouse Rising) into one month of performances spanning music, spoken word and culture. Performers announced so far include ballroom collective Vogue Rites, Gambian singer and multi-instrumentalist Sona Jobarteh, and singer-songwriter Tom Odell.
Silvertown Tunnel opening: Spring 2025
Good news: A new way to cross the Thames becomes available in the spring. Bad news: you'll have to pay to use it... and you'll also now have to pay for another, previously free, crossing.
The Silvertown Tunnel is an underpass for road vehicles, linking North Greenwich with the western end of Silvertown in the Royal Docks. It's not open to cyclists or pedestrians. It'll cost a minimum of £1.50 per crossing, which increases in peak times, though various discounts and exemptions will apply, including a 50% saving for low-income drivers in 12 east and south-east London boroughs, and fee-waiving for taxis, blue badge holders, and wheelchair-accessible private-hire vehicles registered with TfL.
The same charges will also apply to the Blackwall Tunnel, which was previously free. Full details here. Find other big changes coming to London's transport in 2025.
The Traitors Live Experience: Spring 2025
Take your turn at the famous Round Table, as The Traitors: Live Experience opens in London in the spring. No details yet on dates or location, but we're promised a blindfolded Traitors selection, and missions designed to test physical and mental endurance akin to those on the TV show.
AI Elvis: From May 2025
Elvis has re-entered the building! AI experience Elvis Evolution sashays into Immerse LDN at ExCeL Waterfront in May, using holograms to bring Elvis Presley back to life. The 110-minute show tells the King of Rock 'n' Roll's life story, replicates seminal performances and provides the occasional 'never seen before' moment.
Kingston 2025 cultural festival: May-October 2025
The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames is holding a six-month cultural festival to mark the 1100th anniversary of the crowning of Athelstan, first King of a united England, in the town in 925.
Kingston 2025 includes public events and art installations, many of which will be free. Keep an eye on the website for full details closer to the time.
V&A East Storehouse opens: May 2025
Along with Sadler's Wells East (above), another addition to the new East Bank cultural campus in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is V&A East Storehouse. We've had a sneak preview, and it is seriously impressive. The four-level complex is home to over a quarter of a million objects, most of which have hidden away in storage until now. Walk over a glass floor, beneath which glimmers the inlaid marble of the 17th century Agra Colonnade. Look up to see two concrete chunks from the Robin Hood Gardens hovering over your head.
Impressively, that's just onepart of what the V&A team is cooking up in Hackney this year. The David Bowie Centre is due to open on 13 September 2025, housing 90,000 items related to the Thin White Duke — including stage outfits, hand-written lyrics and instruments. How? The V&A took custody of the David Bowie Archives, from Bowie's estate in 2023.
This is followed by the V&A East Museum, expected to open in 2026.
Chancery Rosewood Hotel opening in former US Embassy: Summer 2025
Following a spate of rather important buildings being transformed into hotels (already open: Great Scotland Yard, the Old War Office. Upcoming: Admiralty Arch, the BT Tower), the former US Embassy becomes the latest place where you can bed down for the night.
The Chancery Rosewood in Mayfair will have 139 rooms and suites, a ballroom, various meeting and event spaces, a wellness centre and restaurants and bars. Opening is expected to be sometime in summer 2025.
Women's Rugby World Cup final: September 2025
It's a big year for women's rugby, kicking off with the Women's Six Nations in March. Some of the matches are held in the UK, including England vs France at Twickenham on 26 April.
Even more exciting, England is hosting the Women's Rugby World Cup later in the year, with matches taking place in York, Exeter, Sunderland and other cities around the country. Twickenham Stadium has the honour of hosting the final for that tournament too, taking place on Saturday 27 September, preceded by the tournament's Bronze Final, which sees the runner-up teams of the two semi-final playing each other to determine who takes third place. The next phase of tickets goes on sale on 25 February 2025, though you can register your interest now.
Sumo wrestling at the Royal Albert Hall: October 2025
As we reported in December 2024, Sumo wrestling is returning to the Royal Albert Hall for the first time in almost 35 years. In October, an official sumo tournament brings elite wrestlers from Japan's top divisions to compete in around 20 bouts each evening across five days. Tickets go on sale in early 2025.
Jane Austen's 250th birthday: December 2025
16 December 2025 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of author Jane Austen. She's more closely associated with Hampshire than London, but we wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of special events or celebrations happening here in the capital too.
We already know that the Jane Austen Society is offering a talk at the National Portrait Gallery (7 February) about the use of portraiture in Austen's novels. London Walks offers occasional tours of Jane Austen's London, and it's worth checking out Austentatious, an improv comedy group who put a hilarious spin on Austen's output. Keep an eye on our London event listings for other updates throughout the year.
New Piccadilly line trains: by the end of 2025
It's been a looong time coming, but looks like we're finally getting those new Piccadilly line trains towards the end of the year. We don't know any more than that at the moment, and as is always the way with these things, that could all be delayed. In the meantime, why not ogle these snaps of the new carriages being rolled off the production line at the factory in Goole. Get the full lowdown on this, and other big 2025 transport news, here.
Museum of Shakespeare: Late 2025 or early 2026
You may remember, back in 2023, it was announced that a Museum of Shakespeare was opening in Shoreditch in 2024, spearheaded by immersive experience experts Bompas & Parr. The observant among you will have noticed that it didn't open in 2024 after all. Organisers are now working towards an opening date of late 2025 or early 2026. One to keep an eye out for this year.
Somerset House at 25: throughout 2025
It's been a quarter of a century since Somerset House — formerly home to the General Register Office — reopened to the public as a cultural events space. Somerset House at 25 marks the anniversary with an events programme spanning exhibitions, a major new dance show by director and choreographer Sir Wayne McGregor, and new art commissions. Regular events including Now Play This and the London Design Biennale are back — and next winter's Skate at Somerset House ice rink has already been announced.
Railway 200: throughout 2025
2025 is a bumper year for special anniversaries... including the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. Events are planned across the country for Railway 200, including exhibitions, open days, gala runnings on heritage railways, and industry events, with a special map so you can keep up with what's going on.
Here in London, that includes a commemorative exhibition at the Honeywood Museum in Carshalton (from 27 March), an open day for girls and women at Old Oak Common (18 February), and a Railway 200 Special train departing from King's Cross and making its way north along the East Coast Main Line (4 October).
Once this thing picks up steam, we expect more events to be announced, so keep an eye on the website.
350th anniversary of Royal Observatory Greenwich: throughout 2025
Throughout 2025, celebrate 350 years of the Royal Observatory with astronomy live streams, stargazing demos, author talks, family activities, and various other as-yet-unannounced events and activities. It was 1675 when King Charles II founded the Royal Observatory "in order to the finding out of the longitude of places for perfecting navigation and astronomy". 2025 also sees the launch of a refurbishment programme at the site, to include new galleries, and accessibility improvements
Big new exhibitions in London in 2025
MAKING EGYPT: The Young V&A's second major exhibition is Making Egypt, telling the story of the north African country from Ancient Egypt to the modern day. Objects on display range from a 3,000-year-old wooden funerary boat to a Lego model of the Great Pyramids of Giza. Naturally given its location, it's child-friendly — and opens just in time for February half term. From 15 February 2025
LEIGH BOWERY!: Artist Leigh Bowery is the subject of a retrospective at Tate Modern. Experience some of his 'Looks' alongside his collaborations with artists including Michael Clark, Charles Atlas, Nick Knight, Nicola Rainbird, Mr Pearl, and Lucian Freud, offering an insight into the creative scenes in London, New York and beyond during Bowery's lifetime. 27 February-31 August 2025
DRESS CODES: The written and unwritten rules of dressing at the royal court are explored in Dress Codes at Kensington Palace, which showcases a rare survival of Queen Elizabeth II's childhood clothes, debutante dresses, court suits and clothing worn by members of the Royal Family such as Princess Margaret and Diana, Princess of Wales. From 13 March 2025
EDVARD MUNCH: There's more to Norwegian painter Edvard Munch than The Scream, as evidenced in the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition, Edvard Munch Portraits. View intimate portraits of his family, friends, lovers, and other acquaintances at the first UK exhibition to look at this side of his work. 13 March-15 June 2025
SPLASH: Pamela Anderson's Baywatch swimsuit and a collection of 1980s Speedos are among the items floating into Design Museum's Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style. Find out how design has shaped our relationship with swimming, through swimwear, beach huts and saunas. 28 March-17 August 2025
MUDLARKING: The London Museum Docklands hosts Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London's Lost Treasures, showcasing artefacts sourced from the Thames foreshore, including a Tudor knitted hat, a medieval gold ring with an inscription, and a Viking-era dagger. 4 April 2025-March 2026
EDWARDIAN ELEGANCE: This exhibition at the King's Gallery (Buckingham Palace) showcases over 300 objects from the Edwardian era, many displayed for the first time, detailing the lives and tastes of two of Britain's most fashionable royal couples: King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and King George V and Queen Mary. Notable artists include Carl Fabergé and Edward Burne-Jones. 11 April-23 November 2025
BLITZ CLUB: Design Museum delves into the vibrant music, fashion, and design that influenced London's iconic Blitz Club, exploring its cultural impact through immersive displays and stories from those who were part of the extraordinary scene. 19 September 2025- March 2026
LEE MILLER: Tate Britain hosts a major exhibition featuring the works of photographer Lee Miller, providing a comprehensive retrospective of her artistic journey. View 250 vintage and modern prints, showcasing her significant influence within the worlds of fashion, war photography, and surrealism, including photos captured in Egypt during the 1930s, as well as her collaborations with prominent figures in the art scene. 2 October 2025-January 2026
CECIL BEATON: Explore the life and work of designer and writer Cecil Beaton at the National Portrait Gallery, in a display featuring over 200 works including photographs, diaries, and costumes. Beaton, renowned for his contributions to photography and fashion, documented influential figures from the 20th century. 9 October 2025-January 2026
WES ANDERSON: The first retrospective exhibition of Wes Anderson's work, opening at Design Museum, showcases the evolution of his films, from his early experiments in the 1990s to his acclaimed recent projects. Get a look at a curated collection of original props, costumes, and insights into Anderson's unique filmmaking style, celebrating his influence on contemporary cinema. View the artistic backdrops of films including The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom. 21 November 2025-May 2026
TURNER AND CONSTABLE: The lives and careers of two significant British artists, J.M.W. Turner and John Constable, are celebrated in an exhibition at Tate Britain, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of their births. Featuring their best-known works and personal items, the exhibition explores their rivalry and shared connection to nature. Highlights include Turner's revolutionary landscapes and Constable's expressive cloud sketches. 27 November 2025-April 2026
New theatre shows opening in London in 2025
CLUELESS THE MUSICAL: As if! An all-singing, all-dancing musical version of 1995 film Clueless — about a popular high school student who tries to set her friend up with the hottest boy in school — opens at Trafalgar Theatre. 15 February-24 June 2025
THE LITTLE PRINCE: Apparently the bestselling children's book of all time, The Little Prince has been translated into a stage spectacular of dance, aerial acrobatics, and video mapping technology. It's at the London Coliseum for a short time, and is likely to sell out. 12-16 March 2025
JUST FOR ONE DAY: Following its London debut at the Old Vic in 2024, Live Aid musical Just For One Day comes to Shaftesbury Theatre, telling the story of the epic fundraising concert 40 years on, through music by Bob Dylan, David Bowie, The Who, U2, Queen, Madonna, The Police, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Diana Ross. 15 May 2025-17 January 2026
THE GREAT GATSBY: Tony Award-winning musical The Great Gatsby transfers from Broadway to the London stage, based on the classic American novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in 1920s New York, it's the story of the fallout of one millionaire's unrequited love. 11 April-7 September 2025
GIANT: John Lithgow reprises his role as children's writer Roald Dahl in Mark Rosenblatt's play Giant, addressing the author's complex legacy amidst controversies surrounding his antisemitic views. The play runs at Harold Pinter Theatre. 26 April-2 August 2025
BAT OUT OF HELL: Bat Out of Hell returns to the UK, featuring the music of Jim Steinman and Meatloaf. The show stars Glenn Adamson, Sharon Sexton, Rob Fowler, and Katie Tonkinson, promising a spectacle of rock 'n' roll with an eight-piece rock band. 21 May-7 June 2025
HERCULES THE MUSICAL: Disney's Hercules is a musical adaptation of the animated film based on the classic Greek myth, opening at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. It follows the journey of Hercules, who must discover his true identity and save the world from Hades. Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, the show features music by Alan Menken and new lyrics by David Zippel. 6 June 2025-January 2026
101 DALMATIANS: Lock up your puppies! 101 Dalmatians The Musical comes to the Eventim Apollo over the school summer holidays, offering a lively, family-friendly take on Dodie Smith's book about one woman's plot to kidnap many, many dogs. 18 July-30 August 2025
