All weekend
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 you'd usually have to pay to visit. The Great Fountain Garden, the Kitchen Garden and the Pond Garden are among 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
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. We've been and give it ★★★★★ Until 18 January
IT COULDN'T HAPPEN HERE: Satirical political play It Couldn't Happen Here is on 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
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See Shakespeare performed by candlelight this winter
Theatre-lovers are in for a treat this weekend, as a Shakespeare classic opens in an incredibly atmospheric setting.
From Saturday, set sail to a remote island with The Tempest being performed in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse — London's only candlelit theatre, located at Shakespeare's Globe — for the first time.
Award-winning theatre maker Tim Crouch is at the helm, bringing his own experimental take to Shakespeare's story of four lost souls: exiled Duke Prospero, his daughter Miranda, spirit Ariel, and Caliban, the island's original inhabitant. See the space of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse used in unusual and unexpected ways, as the tale is brought to life through incredibly imaginative storytelling.
Expect a story of past wrongs, desire and revenge, rescue and redemption, all played out in a beautiful part of the iconic Shakespeare's Globe — an ideal and enchanting escape from the London winter.
The Tempest is on at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe, 17 January-12 April 2026. Tickets for the entire run are available now, but some performances only have limited seats remaining.
Saturday 17 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 slots 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
BAUHAUS LANTERNS: Take the kids along to Walthamstow's William Morris Gallery for a free family creative workshop. Make your own colourful glowing lantern inspired by Collier Campbell’s Bauhaus textile design using recycled plastic cups, battery-operated tealights, and coloured tissue paper. Suitable for age four+. FREE, 1pm-4pm
OTHELLO: David Harewood, Toby Jones and Caitlin Fitzgerald star in an "electrifying" production of Shakespeare's Othello, and today is your final chance to see it at Theatre Royal Haymarket. 2.30pm/7.30pm
NEON NAKED LIFE DRAWING: Try life drawing with a twist at the Old Queen's Head in Angel. In Neon Naked Life Drawing, the human models are decorated with neon paint which becomes invisible under UV light. Reactive art materials are provided for you to recreate the scene in front of you, experimenting with creative techniques as you go. 3pm-4.30pm
DAYTIME PARTY: It's over-30s only at the Club de Fromage daytime party, at the Lower Third on Denmark Street. This is an '80s special, so expect to hear tunes by the likes of Queen, Whitney Houston, Blondie and Kate Bush... and still get home at a reasonable hour. 3pm-7pm
BLINKING BUZZARDS: The UK Buster Keaton Appreciation Society — also known as the Blinking Buzzards — holds its quarterly meeting at the Cinema Museum in Kennington. The afternoon includes a screening of The Passionate Plumber (1932), the first of three films that Keaton made with Jimmy Durante. You'll need to be a member to attend, but membership is just £5, available on the door. 4pm-7pm
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 the renowned British architect Soane by twilight, learning more about some of the objects in the collection. 6pm-7pm
THE SHITE FEMINIST: Irish comedian Rachel Galvo blames her 15 years in an Irish Catholic girls' school run by nuns for the fact that she's a shite feminist. Hear all about it in her latest show at Soho Theatre on Dean Street tonight. 9.15pm
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
Sunday 18 January
INDIAN SUNDAY ROAST: East Dulwich Indian restaurant KOKUM is now serving an Indian-inspired Sunday roast each week, with dishes including tandoori roast chicken, roast shank of lamb, roast gobi and roast kingfish steak, all served with roasted spiced potatoes, pickle, naan, papad and salad. EVERY SUNDAY
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 lacking in cheese since Christmas ended? Rectify that at the monthly Chiswick Cheese Market which brings together makers from across the UK selling their produce, along with chutneys, crackers, olives and everything else you need for the optimum fromage experience. 9.30am-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 collection. 11.30am/12.30pm
BILLY JOEL: Whether Vienna Waits For You or you're in a New York State of Mind, head to the Cryer Arts Centre in Carshalton for a tribute to the music of Billy Joel. A five-piece band performs the hits and classic album tracks from his breakthrough in the 70s, through the huge global chart success of the 80s and into the 90s. 3pm
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
BREWERY COMEDY: Pete Heat headlines a night of live comedy at Brockley Brewery, offering a preview of his current WIP. Also taking to the stage are James Trickey, Yuriko Kotani, Eoghan Collins, Samira Banks and a special guest TBC. 7pm
MAGIC OF MOTOWN: Tribute show The Magic of Motown brings its 20th anniversary tour to the Churchill Theatre in Bromley. Expect sparkling costumes and choreographed dance routines accompanying songs by the likes of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Supremes and others. 7.30pm
