All weekend
BURNS NIGHT EVENTS: Scottish poet Robert Burns is celebrated on the anniversary of his birth this Sunday, with Burns suppers and other special Burns Night events going on all week to celebrate. From special suppers to live music to ceilidhs, here's our pick of the best Burns Night events in London this year. Around 25 January
CANARY WHARF WINTER LIGHTS: Once again the streets, docks, malls and squares of Canary Wharf are aglow for the 10th anniversary of free light trail Winter Lights. Expect the usual mix of lit artworks dotted throughout the vicinity. 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 rinks which stays open right through until February. Note that Winter Lights gets VERY busy on weekends, so try to visit on a weekday evening if you can. FREE, 20-31 January
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, and selling their artworks. 21-25 January
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 this weekend. 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 RSPB. 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. FREE, 23-25 January
LONDON WINTER WALK: There's still time to sign up for one of the capital’s most joyful (and accessible) urban adventures. London Winter Walk offers a variety of routes ranging from a family-friendly 5k to a full marathon. Soak up incredible views of the capital as you loop around the River Thames, enjoy en route refreshments (and encouragement!) and look forward to a hot meal and euphoric vibes at the finish line. 24-25 January (sponsor)
AIRFIX MODEL CLUB: The monthly Airfix Model Club at the RAF Museum is a chance to build one of the kits alongside other enthusiasts. This month's model is the Supermarine Spitfire, and the event is open to children aged eight+, accompanied by an adult. 24-25 January
GO EAST VINTAGE: Flea market Go East Vintage pops up in a Victorian warehouse on Tanner Street in Bermondsey for the weekend, with curated stalls of vintage and antique furniture, lighting, homeware, art, vinyl, fashion and jewellery. 24-25 January
LOVE LETTERS: Over 500 years of devotion, longing, sacrifice, heartache and passion go on display in new, free exhibition Love Letters at The National Archives in Kew. Be among the first to get a rare glimpse of letters, poems, drawings and wills which tell the stories of forbidden relationships, and the love lives of royalty. Jane Austen's will and King Edward VIII's signed Instrument of Abdication are among the fascinating items you can see. FREE, 24 January-12 April (sponsor)
DIRTY LOOKS: Barbican's current exhibition Dirty Looks challenges conventional beauty in fashion, showcasing how dirt and distress have shaped modern aesthetics. Featuring notable designers like Hussein Chalayan and Alexander McQueen, the exhibit explores the shift from pristine to imperfect styles in fashion. Until 25 January
NATURE'S SONG: Last chance to see Rory McEwen: Nature's Song, the Garden Museum's exhibition about Scottish botanical artist and musician Rory McEwen. View his depictions of flowers, leaves, butterflies and decaying vegetables, and see how they changed the genre of botanical art, making the centuries-old genre more modern. Until 25 January
CONNECTION AND IDENTITY: Connection and Identity at the Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval College features two large-scale light and sound installations by Peter Walker inviting us to "contemplate what it means to be human". Connection is inspired by Michelangelo's hands from the Creation of Adam, while Identity features eight illuminated columns suspended within the Painted Hall, evoking DNA structures. Until 25 January
QUEEN'S HOUSE GREENWICH: Advance notice that after this Sunday, the Queen's House in Greenwich closes for a couple of weeks for a rehang. It reopens mid-February with new displays featuring new works by Sharon Walters, Shorsh Saleh, Remiiya Badru and others exploring stories of connection, identity and reimagined histories — so this week is your last chance to see it in its current configuration. FREE, until 25 January (reopens 14 February)
Saturday 24 January
PECKHAM FARMERS' MARKET: The brand new Peckham Farmers' Market launches today, coming to Bellenden Road each Saturday offering a variety of fresh produce, street food, coffee, wine and live music. Traders include Wild Country Organics, Danefold Farm and Astons Bakehouse. 9.30am-3pm
STORY FESTIVAL: The Young V&A holds a Story Festival, a day of free events and performances for children of all ages and their families. Performers from renowned institutions including Chickenshed Theatre and Little Angel Theatre take part, with live bands, puppets and a special performance for children with sensory needs. FREE, 11am-3pm
ZOO HISTORY TOUR: As part of the Zoological Society of London's 200th anniversary, themed tours of London Zoo are offered throughout 2026. This month it's 'Leaps and Bounds', focusing on the zoo's firsts, including the world's first aquarium. Tour tickets are free but must be booked in advance, and you'll still need to pay admission to the zoo to take part. 11.30am-12.30pm
SICKLE CELL LEGACIES: The Wellcome Collection holds a free panel discussion about the legacies of sickle cell disease, which is particularly common in people with an African or Caribbean background. Experts reflect on the hidden legacies in research and the disconnect between the sickle cell community and the NHS. Audience members are welcome to share their own thoughts and experiences too. FREE, 1pm-2pm
WORLD OF WASPS: Today's the final day of UCL's Grant Museum of Zoology's free family-friendly exhibition World of Wasps, which reveals the hidden world of the much-misunderstood creatures, using UCL research to delve into their homes, lives and relationships. VR, projections and specially commissioned artworks are use to bring it all to life. FREE, 1pm-5pm
ORIGIN OF THE PIECES: Musician, composer and host of the podcast On the Origin of the Pieces, Steve Petty is at Wilton's Music Hall — along with some special guests — for a live show asking why music makes us feel the way it does. Tony-Award winners, choirs, comedians — and even the occasional musical astronaut — are on the line-up. Kids' show 2pm/ main show 7pm
PAWS AND POURS: Wine bar Humble Grape in Islington hosts a wine tasting social for dog lovers. At Paws & Pours, take part in a 45-minute guided wine tasting, featuring four wines, each paired with a dog breed. Bring your own pooch along too — dog treats are provided, and you can stick around to meet other dog owners after the tasting. 2pm
MUDLARKING TALK: Artist and mudlark Nicola White is at London Museum Docklands to give a special talk related to the current Secrets of the Thames exhibition. She shares some of the most important items she's found during her years searching the Thames foreshore, and the insights they've provided into the lives of soldiers, sailors and other historic Londoners. 2pm-3.30pm
FRIENDS MUSICAL PARODY: PIVOT! Beloved TV show Friends comes to the stage at the New Wimbledon Theatre in the form of a musical parody show. An original musical score accompanies the escapades of the world's most famous six-some as they navigate life in New York City. 2.30pm/7.30pm
JIMMY: After being served up rave reviews last time round, Adam Riches brings his one-man show Jimmy back to the Park Theatre, depicting tennis player Jimmy Connors' epic comeback at the 1991 US Open, in an incredible feat of mental and physical theatre. Trust us, it's ace, and today's shows are the final performances of the run. 3pm/7.30pm
IN MY HEAD: Emotional play In My Head follows seven young adults growing up in Tottenham, experiencing social issues such as mental health, sexual assault and rape, addiction, identity and gang culture. It aims to bring awareness to what young people face, and signpost audience members to professional help such as Young Minds UK and Lives before Knives. See it at Enfield's Dugdale Centre. 6.30pm
WHITE HART LANE: Jacksons Lane hosts The Ghost of White Hart Lane, a moving play about Rob White, the son of former Spurs and Scotland football star John White. John died aged just 27 in 1964 when he was struck by lightning, and the play is based on a book of the same name written by his son, who was just five months old when he died. 7.30pm (and until 31 January)
WHITE ELEPHANTS: Last chance to see White Elephants, a play inspired by Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants, at Canal Cafe Theatre in Little Venice. It's set in a small town railway station and bears witness to a number of interactions taking place over the course of eight decades. 7.30pm
CHURCHILL COMEDY CLUB: The monthly Churchill Comedy Club brings together comedians from the TV and the UK comedy circuit to perform at Bromley's Churchill Theatre. Exact acts haven't been announced, but expect a double headliner show including top comedians, plus resident host Carly Smallman. 8pm
Sunday 25 January
ANTIQUES FAIR: The first Adams Antiques Fair of the year takes over the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster, with 130 dealers from across the UK selling jewellery, silver, decorative pieces and collectables. A queue tends to form ahead of doors opening, so arrive early if you want first dibs. 10am-4.30pm
WHITEHALL MARCH: In late January 1649, King Charles I was led from St James's Palace to Banqueting House on Whitehall, in front of which he was beheaded, thus drawing a gory line under the English Civil War. For the past half century, The King's Army, a royalist branch of the English Civil War Society, has commemorated what they call "His Majestie's horrid murder", and today, they return for their 54th parade. FREE, from 11.30am
FAMILY ZOO SHOW: Take the kids along to Stanley Arts in South Norwood for The Zoo That Comes To You, which uses puppetry, live music and playful characters to bring animals to life and allow them to tell their stories of the challenges they face in a rapidly-changing world. Suitable for age five+. 11am/2pm
ZONE OF INTEREST: Ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day on Tuesday, the Imperial War Museum screens Jonathan Glazer's Oscar-winning film The Zone of Interest, which depicts the life of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig, living a fairly normal life against a backdrop of intense suffering inside the camp. Screening followed by a panel discussion and Q&A. 1.30pm-5pm
FANTASTIC FICTIONS: As part of this year's London Short Film Festival, Fantastic Fictions is shown at Curzon Soho. The programme of six short films spans several genres, telling stories including a barber who discovers his local politician is a donkey, and a spy taking an unexpectedly tender road trip with a ghost. 3pm
SMITHFIELD MARKET WALK: Join a London Museum guide for an adults-only walking tour around Smithfield Market, close to (but not visiting) the site of the new London Museum, which is due to open later this year. Hear about history from plagues and public executions to Henry VIII, and visit one of London's oldest churches along the way. 3pm-4.30pm
GREEN CRIME: Criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw is at Conway Hall in Holborn, taking a deep-dive into some of the worst environmental crimes of our time, and the people who commit them. Hear about a world of murder, ecosystem destruction and corruption, and the people trying to bring the criminals to justice. 3pm-4.30pm
SILENT SHERLOCK: A double-bill of Buster Keaton comedies is on offer at Barbican Cinema this afternoon, screened with live piano from John Sweeney. Hunker down and watch Sherlock Jr (1924) and Cops (1922). 3pm
SOBER COMEDY: It's a Dry January special of Sober Comedy London at Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green. Sally Anne Hayward, Josh James, Stefano Paolini and Slim are the comedians taking to the stage in an alcohol-free environment. 3.30pm-5.30pm
DANISH SONGS: Acclaimed Danish soprano Else Torp and British pianist, Miles Lallemant perform a special recital of traditional Danish songs at Dulwich Picture Gallery. The music harks from the era of Anna Ancher and the Skagen Painters, tying in nicely with the gallery's current exhibition. 6.30pm-8pm
