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!
All week
OTHELLO: David Harewood, Toby Jones and Caitlin Fitzgerald star in an "electrifying" production of Shakespeare's Othello, now in its final week at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Until 17 January
COVEN: So popular, this debut run at the Kiln Theatre has been extended by over a month, new musical Coven tells the story of England's witch trials. Set in Lancashire in 1612, it's about a nine-year-old who accuses her own family of witchcraft, and whose past comes back to haunt her 21 years later. Until 17 January
WINTER LIGHT: Missing the illuminations of London's Christmas lights? The free Winter Light trail at Southbank Centre continues until this weekend, with six installations adding light and colour to the dark winter nights. Liz West's multicoloured Hymn To The Big Wheel blends and casts strobes of multicolour depending on the time of day; two neon works by France-Lise McGurn pay homage to fashion adverts from the 1990s; and Samia Halaby and Rafaël Rozendaal offer vibrant computer-generated art. FREE, until 18 January
THE DELUSION: A video game commission and multiplayer immersive experience is Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley's current exhibition at Serpentine North Gallery, running until this weekend. The Delusion explores themes of polarisation, censorship and social connection, inviting visitors into a post-apocalyptic world. In this imagined future, society has broken into factions, each clinging to its own version of truth, providing a space for players to pause, discuss and reconnect. FREE, until 18 January
EGYPTIAN DESIGN: The British fascination with all things Egyptian between 1775 and the present day is the subject of Sir John Soane's Museum's exhibition Egypt: Influencing British Design, open until Sunday. Find out how the aesthetics of ancient Egypt have been incorporated into Regency homes, Victorian factories and cemeteries, art deco cinemas and more recent houses, shops and offices. Wedgwood ceramics, Liberty fabrics, and an Egyptian-style Singer sewing machine all feature. Until 18 January
AMERICAN STILL LIFE: The Courtauld Gallery is home to the first ever UK exhibition of work by Wayne Thiebaud, now considered to be one of the greatest and most original American artists of the 20th century. American Still Life features his lushly painted still-lifes of quintessentially post-war American subjects, from diner food and deli counters to gumball dispensers and pinball machines. Until 18 January
DRESSING GOWN: Renowned London novelist Ben Aaronovitch is the executive producer of Dressing Gown, a farce-style comedy about a man who attempts to fend off a series of eccentric visitors who test the limits of his sanity, threaten to tip his life into catastrophe... and stop him from getting dressed. It's on at Southwark's Union Theatre. Until 23 January
ALREADY PERFECT: A new musical filled with humour, hope and brutal honesty by Tony Award® winner Levi Kreis is now playing at King's Head Theatre in Islington, with tickets from £10. Here for a limited run, Already Perfect sees Levi come undone in his Broadway dressing room, come face-to-face with his younger self, and — eventually — come to peace with his own story. Until 15 February (sponsor)
DRINK OF THE WEEK: Control Room B cocktail bar at Battersea Power Station is in 'power down' mode for January, which means dimmed lights and booze-free drinks, including the Surge Spritz, made with Everleaf Forest aperitif, falernum & cucumber syrup, hedgerow & rose shrub, and yuzu soda. Alcoholic cocktails are also on the menu, just in case.
Today's events: Monday 12 January
UP THE CALLY: Footprints of London guide Rob Smith leads his Up The Cally walking tour. Begin at King's Cross and head up the Caledonian Road visiting some of Islington's lesser-known spots and hearing stories including the suffragette who starred in Britain's first martial arts film, the former home of a live chimpanzee show, and an experimental island community. 2pm
ARU SULTAN: Ever heard of Aru Sultan? She was a young Central Asian woman brought to England in 1560 by merchant adventurer Anthony Jenkinson, going on to become a lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth I and introducing new fashions to the Royal Court. Hear her story in a free Royal Geographical Society lecture this afternoon. FREE, 2.30pm-3.45pm
BEACH BOYS REVISITED: Celebrate the 60th anniversary of studio album Pet Sounds with the Beach Boys Revisited at Camden's Jazz Cafe. Pianist Rick Simpson takes the album apart and rebuilds it from the ground up in 14 original arrangements, performed live by an all-star band. 7pm-10.30pm
OLD ROPE: Regular comedy night Old Rope (New Material) takes place at the Comedy Store in Leicester Square, with performers trying out new work, hosted by Tiff Stevenson. The lineup isn't announced in advance, but recent guests have included Stephen Merchant, Sindhu Vee, Aisling Bea, Thanyia Moore and Josh Widdicombe. 7.30pm
JESTER JESTERS: Bargain comedy night Jester Jesters lures you into Farringdon's Betsy Trotwood pub with the promise of fresh stand-up material from a stable of up-and-coming comics — all for the low, low fee of £3 (though you can give them more if you want to). 7.30pm-10pm
Today's events: Tuesday 13 January
WOMEN LIFE FREEDOM: London Museum Docklands unveils a new textile art project created by artist Tisna Westerhof and art producer Cristiana Bottigella, in collaboration with the Iranian & Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO). More than 30 women survivors of domestic abuse took part in the creation of Women Life Freedom, resulting in the three collaborative quilts on display. FREE, 13-22 January
ILLUSTRATION CLASS: Illustrator Joey Yu leads an online drawing class inspired by artworks from the V&A Collection. Learn various illustration techniques, whether you're a beginner, or a more experienced artist looking to improve your skills. 2pm-3.30pm
HISTORICAL ARTEFACTS: Should the UK return contested historical artefacts? That's the subject of tonight's Whitechapel Debate at the White Hart. Watch two panels consisting of three people each presenting their side of the argument, and make your own mind up. FREE, 6.45pm-9pm
BECOMING HUMAN: Palaeoanthropologist, TV presenter, explorer and stand-up comedian Ella Al-Shamahi is at Enfield's Dugdale Centre for a work-in-progress look at her new talk, Becoming Human. She shares the humble origin story of humanity as a species, and how we survived and thrived above all other species on the planet. 7.30pm
COMEDY UNLEASHED: Described as "a night of free-thinking comedy with comedians who don’t self-censor", Comedy Unleashed is at Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green, featuring performances by Simon Evans, Intel Lady, Sean Meo, Nicholas de Santo, and Stephen Grant. 7.30pm-10pm
Today's events: Wednesday 14 January
EVENING MUSEUM TOUR: Explore the Charles Dickens Museum after hours on a guided evening tour led by a museum expert. Visit the rooms in which Dickens lived and worked, while hearing stories about events which took place within them. 5pm
LONDON BOYS: Bertha DocHouse in Bloomsbury screens London Boys, a film about second-generation Bangladeshi men in east London who find a sense of identity and a way to overcome racism through their motorbikes. The screening is followed by a Q&A with co-directors Arun Nangla and Laura Pavone. 6.20pm
THE AGE OF FAKES: Psychology lecturer Dr Jon Roozenbeek and founder of media literacy agency Shout Out UK, Matteo Bergamini MBE lead today's Ethical Matters event at Conway Hall. Focus is on how technology has distanced us from the truth, with a sharp increase in fake news and deep fakes, and how we can reclaim the truth. 6.30pm-8pm
SHANTY SINGING: The Colliers Wood Shanty Singers return to the Golden Hinde on Bankside for a lively evening of traditional acoustic shanty songs. Get a drink from the bar and pick up a chorus sheet to join in, while exploring the ship during set breaks. 7pm-10.30pm
FOC IT UP: Femmes of colour are celebrated at FOC IT UP! at Soho Theatre Dean Street, a comedy night celebrating comedians of colour who aren’t cis-men. Kemah Bob curates and MCs the line-up, which tonight includes Desiree Burch, Esther Manito, and Ayoade Bamgboye. 9.15pm
Today's events: Thursday 15 January
IT COULDN'T HAPPEN HERE: Satirical political play It Couldn't Happen Here opens at OSO Arts Centre in Barnes, about a fictional UK Prime Minister and charismatic leader of the Britons First Party who loses the election, but has no intention of resigning. 15-18 January
HAWAI'I: The first big exhibition opening of 2026 is the British Museum's Hawai'i: a kingdom crossing oceans, celebrating the history and art of Hawai'i. Feathered cloaks worn by chiefs, shark-toothed weapons and works by Native Hawaiian artists are among the objects on display, marking more than 200 years since King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu travelled across vast oceans, sadly contracting a fatal illness during a visit to the Royal Military Asylum in Chelsea. 15 January-25 May
PICTURES FROM AFGHANISTAN: Tonight's free Gresham College lecture features Gresham Professor of Law Clive Stafford Smith JD OBE discussing the legal lessons he learned from visiting Afghanistan, and drawing parallels to US involvement in other drawn-out conflicts. Watch in person at Barnard's Inn Hall, or online. FREE, 6pm
THE DREAM: Barbican Cinema continues its Hidden Figures series celebrating the work of Serbian director Mladomir Puriša Đorđević with a screening of The Dream. The 1966-made film is set in 1941, when Europe is occupied and only the Serbian cities of Čačak and Užice maintain their freedom, telling one couple's story of the power of love in difficult circumstances. 6.30pm
COMEDY CORNER: Ali Woods headlines The Old Queens Comedy Corner, a night of laughs at the Old Queens Head in Islington, organised by the Collywobblers Comedy team. Support acts are BBC New Comedy Award Winner Yuriko Kotani, Arielle Souma, Ramsey Smith, Carwyn Blayney and Sion James (host). 7pm
Today's events: Friday 16 January
WORLD PREMIERE PLAY: Opening at the Royal Court Theatre, the world premiere of new play Guess How Much I Love You? is set in a hospital waiting room, touching on themes of impossible choices and enduring love. 16 January-21 February
KINDRED: The Bethlem Museum of the Mind's new exhibition, Kindred, considers how community, memory and relationships shape experiences of mental distress. Works from the museum's collection, including Benji Reid's Holding Onto Daddy, are shown alongside other paintings, photographs and mixed-media pieces to explore loneliness, care and social support. It's one of our art critic's picks of the top exhibitions to see in London in January. 16 January-27 June
MUSIC IN PAINTING: Join art historian Mariska Beekenkamp-Wladimiroff (either in-person at the Foundling Museum or online) as she discusses Dutch genre paintings, and their extra layers of meaning, including the appearance of music and instruments in these 17th century artworks. 3pm
NASHVILLE HONKY TONK: Country music bar Lil' Nashville in Chiswick throws a honky-tonk night, inspired by the parties of Music City. Expect live bands and musicians performing country hits and covers, line dancing tutorials and, if you opt for a VIP package, Southern BBQ food included in your ticket. From 5.30pm
COMPLETE MADNESS: Don your Baggy Trousers and make your way to The Cryer Arts Centre in Carshalton for Complete Madness, a live music tribute show featuring the songs of ska pop band Madness. 7.30pm
Today's events: Saturday 17 January
PALACE GARDENS: The first garden open days of 2026 take place at Hampton Court Palace, giving the public free entry to parts of the gardens which you'd usually have to pay to visit. The Great Fountain Garden, the Kitchen Garden and the Pond Garden are among the areas you can explore for free, though note that you'll still need a paid admission ticket if you want to visit the palace itself, the Maze, or the Magic Garden Playground. FREE, 17-18 January
THEATRE OPEN HOUSE: The New Wimbledon Theatre holds an Open House Day, inviting the public inside to explore, with various events going on throughout the day. Full programme TBC at time of writing. 10am
DAVID BOWIE: The British Library marks a decade since the death of David Bowie with a day of talks and events by musicians, writers, filmmakers, artists and critics. Tickets to attend in person have sold out, but online tickets are still available, including a talk from Harriet Reed and Sabrina Offord of the newly-opened David Bowie Centre in east London. 10.30am
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-4pm
SOANE TWILIGHT TOUR: The ever-popular twilight tours at Sir John Soane's Museum are back, giving you the chance to wander through the eclectic house after hours, led by an expert guide. View some of the many treasures amassed by renowned British architect Sir John Soane by twilight, learning more about some of interesting objects in the collection. 6pm-7pm
POLISH PUNK: Polish 'Oi!' punkers ZBEER bring their brand of fast, loud and raw music to the Fiddlers Elbow in Camden. Though they've been going since 1999, this'll be their first UK show. 7.30pm-12am
MAN/WOMAN/CHAINSAW: Indie band Man/Woman/Chainsaw celebrate the launch of their new single, Only Girl, with a stint guest DJ-ing at alternative club night Scared To Dance. Head to the Shacklewell Arms in Dalston for a night of post-punk, indiepop, new wave and art rock music. 11pm
Today's events: Sunday 18 January
ANOTHER MUSIC FESTIVAL: Curated by violinist Roman Mints, Another Music Festival: Displaced brings three concerts to St John's Waterloo exploring music shaped by exile — from Chopin, Stravinsky and Hindemith to contemporary works and UK/world premieres. Performers include Roman Mints, Katya Apekisheva, Vadym Kholodenko and Sasha Grynyuk. 18-21 January
MUSEUM YOGA: Get up and at 'em early for a yoga session at the Natural History Museum, before it opens for the day. Take your own mat along and move through a series of ancient yogic movements beneath the blue whale skeleton, followed by a live gong bath and access to one of the galleries before it opens to the public. 8am
CHEESE MARKET: Fridge looking a little lacking in cheese since Christmas ended? Rectify that at the monthly Chiswick Cheese Market which brings together cheese makers from across the UK selling their produce, along with chutneys, crackers, olives and everything else you need for the optimum cheese experience. 9.30am-3pm
PETANQUE: Pretend it's midsummer in France by signing up to Sand End Arts & Community Centre's January petanque session. Bring your own boules or borrow from SEACC reception. Registration starts 9.30am
LOST RIVER: Better Streets for Enfield is running a guided walk following a stretch of the New River’s original course, including the attractive Enfield Loop. The walk will also uncover some of the newer, more hidden, sections, revealing how this man made waterway evolved in an increasingly urban landscape. 11am-3pm
FOUNDLING MUSEUM TOURS: Did you know that the Foundling Museum holds special tours on certain Sundays, included in museum admission? The first session today delves deeper into the history of the Foundling Hospital, while the later one takes a closer look at some of the paintings within the museum's collection. 11.30am/12.30pm
ROMAN FORT TOURS: Explore the West Gate of the Roman Fort of Londinium on a tour led by a London Museum guide. Learn about its use and preservation, while also finding out what life was like for the Romans in Londinium. 3.30pm-4.30pm
THEATRESHIP: Board the Docks' floating arts venue Theatreship for The Last Days of Sail, a night of poetry, song and experimental moving image from artists/musicians benjin, Clara Helbig, Kareem Samara and Cirenne. 7pm-10.30pm
