30+ Cheery Things To Do In London In January

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Last Updated 07 February 2025

30+ Cheery Things To Do In London In January
See in 2025 in style. Photo: London New Year's Day Parade

NEW YEAR'S DAY PARADE: If you're not busy sleeping off the year's biggest hangover, head into central London on 1 January for London's New Year's Day Parade. Marching bands, dancers, and huge inflatable balloons are part of the entertainment this time round. FREE, 1 January

TWELFTH NIGHT: London's annual Twelfth Night celebrations mix ancient customs with modern festivities, making for a bizarre and eclectic event. Head to the riverside near Shakespeare's Globe to witness wassailing, The Holly Man (or Green Man) being paraded across the river, dramatic performances, and a chance to be crowned King or Queen for the day by finding a bean or a pea in a cake. Like we said, an odd (but fascinating) one. FREE (donations encouraged), 5 January

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: Cirque du Soleil's latest show, Corteo, comes to the Royal Albert Hall. It's a long-running Cirque show taking the form of a festive parade imagined as by a clown, and offers a never-before-seen seating arrangement splitting the Royal Albert Hall in half. Intriguing. 9 January-3 March

RUPAUL'S DRAGCON: More than 200 queens are on the line-up at RuPaul's DragCon at ExCeL Centre, including stars from international franchises of the show. Performances take place on the main stage all weekend following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday. After-parties take place each day too. 10-11 January

ADVENTURE TRAVEL SHOW: Head to the Business Design Centre in Islington to satiate your wanderlust, as the Adventure Travel Show returns to London for the first time in four years. 100 travel organisations will be there, offering you the chance to plan high-adrenaline and off-the-beaten-track adventures. 11-12 January

Cirque du Soleil brings Corteo to London. Photo: MajaPrgomet

MIME LONDON: Previously, London International Mime Festival took place at this time of year, but that's been replaced with a new event, Mime London. The same directorial team is behind it, though, and this year's event consists of nine contemporary visual theatre productions having their London debut at various venues, including Barbican, as well as workshops and an online show. 11 January-1 February

NO TROUSERS TUBE RIDE: The annual No Trousers Tube Ride returns to London's public transport network, with members of the public navigating the Tube minus their trousers. Anyone can take part; just make your way to the meeting point in Chinatown. Note that trousers should be kept on until you enter the Underground... and underwear is very much required at all times. 12 January

SPANISH CABARET: Ever heard of Copla? It's a form of Spanish song originating in Andalusia, telling the experience of LGBTQ+ and migrant communities. Copla: A Spanish Cabaret comes to The Other Palace, with Queer migrant performer Alejandro Postigo deconstructing the traditional songs and sharing their historical significance. Witness Postigo's rebirth as alter ego La Gitana. 14-26 January

THE CONVERSATION: St Martin-in-the-Fields launches The Conversation, a new literary event featuring weekly conversations with 15 of the UK's brightest minds tackling some of the biggest political, social and environmental challenges of our time. All are available to watch in person or via livestream, with Channel 4 News' International Editor, Lindsey Hilsum headlining the first event. 14 January-22 April

SORTING OFFICE: The Postal Museum opens new exhibition Sorting Office, featuring artworks on a mail theme from 12 artists, including Gilbert & George, Lolly Batty and Daniel Beuys. Set in a fictional sorting office, some pieces have already made their way through the postal system, some may enter it in the future, and a few pieces will never reach delivery. 15 January-4 April

LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: January is ideal for snuggling down in the cinema watching films, which is where London Short Film Festival comes in. Taking place at several independent cinemas around the capital, the programme boasts 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. 17-26 January

Canary Wharf is aglow for Winter Lights. Photo: Rikard Osterlund

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, 18 January

AMERICANA MUSIC WEEK: Various Hackney venues host UK Americana Week, a celebration of Americana and Roots Music. Around 75 performers take part in a three-day conference, two nights of live music showcases and the UK Americana Awards. 20-23 January

CANARY WHARF WINTER LIGHTS: Once again the streets, docks, malls and squares of Canary Wharf will be aglow for Winter Lights. So far, 11 temporary glowing installations have been announced for the free illuminations festival. 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, 21-January-1 February

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. Focus is on modern and contemporary pieces, with galleries from all over London and beyond exhibiting. 22-26 January

SOIL opens at Somerset House. Image: A Diversity of Forms, created by Dr Tim Cockerill, bacterial colonies isolated and cultured by Dr Elze Hesse

SCISSORHANDZ: American singer Michelle Visage and *NSYNC's Lance Bass teamed up to produce Scissorhandz, a musical parody tribute to Tim Burton's character Edward Scissorhands. Expect to hear a soundtrack of 90s and 00s hits at Southwark Playhouse Elephant. 23 January-29 March

SOIL: New landmark exhibition SOIL: The World at Our Feet at Somerset House explores the wonder of soil, its links to all life, and the vital role it plays in our planet's future. Works by more than 50 artists, writers, and scientists are on display, including a 13ft-high photo by National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson. 23 January-13 April

BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH: Help the RSPB keep an eye on the numbers of wild birds in London by taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch. If you're lucky enough to have a garden or outside space, spend an hour counting and recording the numbers and types of birds that visit it, then report back to the RPSB. The charity uses the data to spot any patterns, anomalies, or any species that may be in danger. No garden of your own? Head to your local park instead. FREE, 24-26 January

BURNS NIGHT 2025: Scottish poet Robert Burns is celebrated on the anniversary of his birth with Burns suppers and other special Burns Night events. From special suppers to live music to ceilidhs, here's our pick of the best Burns Night events in London this year. 25 January

SNOWDROP SALE: January is snowdrop season with plenty of places to see the flowers in and around London. One place which does snowdrops particularly well is Myddelton House Gardens in Enfield, which holds a snowdrop sale with local nurseries and garden centres selling their wares, including rare and unusual varieties. This year, there's also a Snowdrop Lecture by renowned plantsman "Mr Snowdrop" Joe Sharman, one of the UK's leading breeders of snowdrops. 25 January

Spend an evening with Sir Lenny Henry. Photo: Helen Murray

SIR LENNY HENRY: The Bush Theatre in Shepherd's Bush hosts fundraising event An Evening with Sir Lenny Henry. Henry offers extracts from his play August in England, first performed at Bush Theatre, and takes part in a Q&A led by culture writer and podcaster Nancy Durrant. 25 January

INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK: Get to a gig or two at one of London's smaller venues from 27 January, as part of Independent Venue Week. Participating places include Ye Olde Rose & Crown in Walthamstow, AMP Studios on Old Kent Road and the Half Moon in Putney. 27 January-2 February

PLAY ON!: The Lyric Hammersmith debuts Play On!, a new musical based on Twelfth Night, and set in the New York 1940s jazz scene. It's the story of Vy, a talented songwriter determined to do whatever it takes to succeed in a male-dominated world. 28 January-22 February

LAST CHANCE: A few things are closing this month too. It's your last chance to see:

BIRDS: BRILLIANT AND BIZARRE: The Natural History Museum's current exhibition gives us a closer look at the only surviving dinosaurs. Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre delves into the world of birds, looking at how different species have evolved to survive, and how the way we live is affecting them. Until 5 January

LEHMAN TRILOGY: Sam Mendes' biographical fable of three Jewish immigrants and their pursuit of the American dream, resulting in the 2008 global financial crash. Read our review, then see it at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Until 5 January

Last chance to see Why Am I So Single? Photo: Matt Crockett

ELTON JOHN'S PHOTOGRAPHS: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection are on display at the V&A Museum, spanning subjects including fashion, celebrity, reportage and the male body. Until 5 January

HERE YOU COME AGAIN: Dolly Parton's biggest hits — including Jolene, 9 to 5, Islands in the Stream, and I Will Always Love You — feature in musical Here You Come Again at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, telling the story of a diehard Dolly fan. Until 18 January

FRANCIS BACON: The National Portrait Gallery's Francis Bacon: Human Presence, showcases more than 55 works from the 1950s onwards which show how the artist challenged the traditional definitions of the portraiture genre. Until 19 January

MAKING A RUKUS!: The joy, friendship, resistance and art of Black LGBTQIA+ people in Britain is explored in Somerset House exhibition Making a Rukus! Over 200 objects, including archive materials, contemporary artworks and brand-new commissions, feature — with a programme of public events running alongside the exhibition. Until 19 January

WHY AM I SO SINGLE: Two best friends, Oliver and Nancy, drink, laugh, and cry while attempting to answer the impossible question of why they are so single, at the Garrick Theatre. Judging by the trailers we've seen for Why Am I So Single?, the songs are seriously catchy. Until 19 January