London’s best pop-ups

Somerset House is ringing in 2025 with a bang. The Palladian masterpiece has partnered with queer pan-Asian performance collective The Bitten Peach for a new year celebration that will run all the way until 2am. As well as stonking views of London’s world-famous fireworks display from Somerset House’s Terrace, there’ll be after-dark ice skating in the building’s spectacular courtyard, DJ sets curated by NiNE8 Collective, a Whispering Angel lounge where you’ll find limited edition cocktails made with the wine of the moment which you can soak up with piping hot fondue served at The Chalet by Jimmy Garcia. On top of all that, the main event of the night (aside from the countdown to midnight) will be a feast of performances covering cabaret, burlesque and drag from The Bitten Peach, which will feature everything from fire breathing to belly dancing. It’s going to be one hell of a way to start the new year.   

Want to ring in 2025 in style? The Langham’s cocktail bar Artesian is throwing a shindig that should fit the bill. Its New Year’s Eve party promises ‘sophisticated cocktails’, free-flowing champagne, canapés and late night snacks. The whole thing will be soundtracked by DJs who’ll be trying to keep you on the dancefloor until well after the midnight bells toll.

Coq d’Argent’s New Year’s Eve bash is stuffed with goodness. Come for the six-course tasting menu that includes tasty French cuisine, like champignon sauvage, fletan and petits fours, stay for the private fireworks display and live music and dancing. If you want to join the party but can’t justify £175 for a big dinner, the restaurant is doing £50 bar tickets so you can still be part of the fun but not break the bank.

If your perfect NYE involves a sit-down dinner and a banging soundtrack, look no further than Claro at St James’s. The Eastern Mediterranean restaurant will be serving up some of its signature dishes, including winter squash steak and wild mushroom gnocchi, but will also have a DJ on hand to keep the atmosphere high throughout the night.

London’s a global city when it comes to the cuisines on offer, but it can feel like there’s just too many to choose from. Thankfully, Café KOKO has launched a dining experience battle between two of our favourites, to make your decision about where to eat a little easier. Every Friday night, Don KOKO will feature limited edition Mexican and Italian dishes from rotating guest chefs, all curated by KOKO Electronic’s DJ roster. Opening night will see singer and producer SG Lewis’s pepperoni, hot honey, burrata and red onion pizza slice battle food content creator @whatwillycook’s shredded chicken and crushed scampi fries taco, but the reasonable menu is jam-packed with juicy options, plus margaritas, spritzes and palomas, too.