London events in January

What is living if not a sort of time travel? Annie Ernaux’s Booker-nominated book ‘Les Années’ is an artful autobiography that traces her journey from childhood in postwar France to old age in the post-9/11 era. Elegantly adapted by director Eline Arbo, the English-language stage version The Years transfers to the Harold Pinter Theatre after an acclaimed run at The Almeida in the summer. Arbo’s adaptation bucks cliches about ‘memoir plays’ by having the story’s protagonist diffused into a five-strong collective of black and white-clad women. Deborah Findlay, Romola Garai, Gina McKee, Anjli Mohindra and Harmony Rose-Bremner form a superb ensemble – charismatic, fierce and playful, in an unflashy production that is still, at times, incredibly moving.

100 Wardour Street is your go-to spot for an after-work unwind, offering a perfect mix of dining, drinks, and dancing. Dive into a vibrant atmosphere of neon lights and chic interiors while savouring a three-course meal with modern European classics. Enjoy starters like Burrata with Datterino tomatoes and Korean Fried Chicken, followed by mains such as Baked Cod with sundried tomatoes or Josper Grilled Spatchcock Chicken. Wrap up your meal with desserts like Baba Mignon or Medjool Date & Dark Chocolate Mousse. Plus, with a complimentary glass of wine included, this is an offer you won’t want to miss!

Grab your friends for the ultimate after-work catch-up in Soho for an exclusive £23 at 100 Wardour Street, Only through Time Out Offers.

2024 saw London galleries churn out hundreds, maybe thousands, of exhibitions. From blockbuster painting shows at huge museums to minimal installations at under-the-radar galleries, this city has seen it all – and Time Out’s been there for the whole ride. Our art critic Eddy trudged along to countless shows over the year and reviewed more than 120 of them in this very publication. And the good news? You can still catch several of his favourite ones in January, if you’re quick about it. Click through to check out his roundup of the best dozen art exhibitions in London in 2024, and find out what you absolutely must squeeze in over the first few weeks of the year.

London might always be bustling with fun things to do and, come winter, a jam-packed calendar of unmissable events, but sometimes you just need a break from it all. When the capital’s hustle and bustle leaves you feeling a little drained, you can find some escape from the crowds and hordes of tourists by getting up and getting out just for a day. In dire need of crisp country air, a relaxing spa day or a gorgeous, long walk? These day trips from London are all under two hours from Zone 1 and will give you the relief you need this winter.

RECOMMENDED: The best day trips from London

In a city brimming with bars, breweries and prosecco-based pop-ups, it would seem that drinking in London without actually, erm, drinking is an impossibility. Leave your beer goggles at home for one night, however, and you’ll see the selection of non-alcoholic cocktails and booze-less blends available in the capital is pretty extensive. In some venues, the alcohol-free offerings are even more creative and tastebud-seducing than their liquor-rich counterparts. Don’t believe us? Have a sip on one of these teetotal tipples...

Designed by the legendary Tom Dixon, Sea Containers Restaurant offers an all-day dining experience along the Thames, blending the elegance of transatlantic travel with fresh, local ingredients. The three-course menu celebrates seasonal flavours, with dishes like Butternut Squash Soup, Atlantic Prawn Cocktail, Flat Iron Steak, and Seabass with celeriac. Finish with indulgent ice cream, sorbet, or a rich chocolate brownie, paired with a glass of prosecco. Perfect for any occasion!

Enjoy all-day dining with stunning views of the River Thames until March 31, only through Time Out Offers.

Burns Night always falls on January 25, the day Robert Burns was born in South Ayrshire way back in 1759. With this year’s celebration falling on a Saturday, you can probably expect this year’s festivities to be even more raucous than usual. Whether you want to get sweaty at a ceilidh, pipe in a haggis, or have a classy time at a whisky tasting or indulgent Burns supper, read on for all sorts of suggestions for a kilt-raising good time this January.

While January is usually a pretty quiet month, London’s gig scene is still ticking away in the background. Sure, it may not be as busy as usual, but there are still some absolute belters that are worth peeling yourself from the sofa and turning off The Traitors for. From rousing post-punk to headsy jazz and emo rap, there’s a show for whatever mood you’re in this Jan. Here, we’ve rounded up the ones that we really want to check out, from Mount Kimbie’s Phonox residency to a rare live date from GothBoiClique. See you front right, ready to mosh away those January blues.

Endless baskets of mouthwatering dim sum await you! Imagine indulging in all the dumplings, rolls, and buns you can handle, crafted by a Chinatown favourite with over a decade of culinary excellence. Savour Taiwanese pork buns, savoury pork and prawn soup dumplings, and luxurious crab meat xiao long bao. To top it off, enjoy a chilled glass of prosecco to elevate your feast. Cheers to a truly delightful dining experience at Leong’s Legend!

Enjoy unlimited dim sum in Chinatown from £23.95 with Time Out Offers.

You’ve probably heard all about Versailles’ dazzling Hall of Mirrors and its gorgeous, well-manicured gardens – maybe you’ve even seen them IRL. But do you know about the role the French royal court played in not just spreading scientific knowledge, but making it fashionable, too? The Science Museum’s latest exhibition, ‘Versailles: Science And Splendour’, will uncover that lesser-talked-about side of the palace’s history, diving into the royal family’s relationship with science, women’s impact on medicine, philosophy and botany at the royal court, and showcasing more than 100 items that reinforce those stories – many of which have never been displayed in the UK before. 

Yes, it's cold out. It's also quite wet. The leaves have fallen from the trees and turned the pavements into a slimy, slippery ice rink. But we're lucky to have some amazing, huge, parks in London, and walking around in them on a crisp winter's day is genuinely one of life’s great joys. Whether you're a Royal Parks stan or a fiend for Hampstead Heath, there are loads of parks to choose from. So, get out there. 

Nostalgists love to talk about returning to ‘simpler’ times. But as Tim Fehlbaum’s riveting September 5 reminds us, humans have always found new ways to fuck things up. Taking a big step back thematically – and forward artistically – from his 2021 dystopian fantasy The Colony (aka Tides), the Swiss director keeps things ultra-taut in his media drama: most of the movie takes place in an airless control room. When the action begins, a jokey ABC Sports team is gearing up for a day of volleyball coverage at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Then word comes in: the Palestinian terrorist group Black September has taken the Israeli team hostage. Thanks also to meticulous production design and outstanding editing – glory to every director who sacrifices ego for a precise, 94-minute cut – thoughts of modern technology, social media, and contemporary politics are both pushed aside and ever-present in our minds. More often than not, September 5 feels like a great 1970s thriller that could only have been made in the 21st century.

Ready to spice up your cooking game? Dive into a hands-on 2-hour dim sum masterclass with Ann's Smart School of Cookery, where you'll craft delicate dim sum, zesty hot and sour dipping sauce, and savoury pork wonton soup from fresh, local ingredients. Enjoy expert tips from pro chefs and take home the recipes to impress friends and family or indulge solo.

Learn the art of making this southern Chinese delicacy for just £39, down from £129, only through Time Out Offers.

Things are kicking off in January with ‘Brasil! Brasil! The Birth of Modernism’, an ultra-colourful look at how modernism took hold over in that bit of South America. It will feature over 130 artworks from the 1910s to the 1970s by ten Brazilian artists, including quite a few you might have seen in Raven Row’s very good and very recent exhibition ‘Some May Work As Symbols: Art Made in Brazil, 1950s-70s’.

Is there anything more wonderfully wintry than wrapping up warm, pulling on some ice skates and gliding around a frosty slab of ice with your loved ones? Each winter, London fills up with pop-up rinks, from the legendary Somerset House to the newer Glide at Battersea Power Station. At all, you’ll find festive vibes ramped up to the max, especially come December – and a lot of fellow Londoners vying for a spot on the ice. Book in advance to guarantee you can show off your best ice moves (or your ability to stay upright, at the very least). Here are some of the best rinks to soar across this winter.

Isaac McHale is already responsible for one of Shoreditch’s most renowned restaurants with the two Michelin-starred The Clove Club, so we expect big things from the Scottish chef’s next project, a ‘considered yet informal’ à la carte spot inspired by his love of southern French and simple Spanish cooking, which opens round the corner on Kingsland Road in January. Bar Valette’s menu promises an array of bar snacks inspired by San Sebastian’s pintxos bars, plenty of hearty sharing dishes suitable for long, boozy dinners with friends, and one or two Clove Club signatures. It’ll also offer an extensive list of French and Spanish wines, plus craft ciders and rare bottles of sherry. You need only look at the perpetual queue outside Tollington’s to see how eagerly London has embraced Iberian bar culture of late, so we’d imagine the latest opening to service this trend will be popular from the get-go.