Six fantastic things to do this winter for spontaneous north Londoners

Kenwood House is an English Heritage house, boasting impressive interiors and a world-class art collection, including a couple of Rembrandts, and acres of gardens to explore. As if that’s not enough wilderness for you, you’re a stone’s throw away from Hampstead Heath, where you could start your wintery walk, finishing off with a wander through the grand (free-to-enter) manor house.

Hampstead Lane, NW3 7JR. Open daily, 10am-4pm. Free. 
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Nearest station: Camden Town Tube (Night Tube available on Fridays and Saturdays)

Budding Bob Dylans will be keen to check out the best-known floor singers’ night in London, which takes place every fortnight at Cecil Sharp House. A treasure trove of traditional songs, tunes, ballads, shanties and folk harmonies, it’s open to all levels of experience and promises a fun, welcoming vibe to all. The organisers always encourage new visitors, all you have to do is put your name down on the door and decide if you’d rather take a place in the chorus or right up front, in the spotlight.  

Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 7AY. Every Tuesday, 7.30pm. £5.
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Nearest station: Angel Tube

There’s something really thrilling about watching comedians trying out new stuff. It’s raw and a bit chaotic in the best possible way. Here at this beloved comedy night – which has been running since 1986 – you can catch up-and-comers as well as seasoned professionals delivering five-minute sets. There’s up to 16 comedians on the bill each show, which means you’re basically guaranteed to enjoy at least some of the acts! And for £5, that’s a pretty excellent deal.
115 Upper St, N1 1QN. 8pm every Thursday. From £5 advance, £6 on the door.
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Nearest station: King’s Cross St Pancras Tube

If you’re on the hunt for a new winter sport, curling may just be your next big thing. Welcome to Club Curling: a pop-up outdoor arena boasting six synthetic curling lanes on which you can curl your heart out with friends and family for up to 45 minutes.
Stable St, London N1C 4DQ. Daily, noon-9pm until Mar 2, 2025. £9, kids free, recommended booking in advance.
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Nearest station: Turkey Street Overground (Weaver line)

Enjoy more than 40 colourful gardens across a 30-acre estate this winter. It’s a wonderful place for a brisk walk any day of the week (and free to visit, of course) – but right now, there’s a holly maze that adds an extra sense of wonder to things, a warming cactus house and the mini zoo which houses all kinds of furry friends.
Bullsmoor Lane Middlesex, EN1 4RQ. Daily, free. Adults £10, children £6.
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Nearest station: Warren Street Tube

With its ramshackle window displays, rickety tables and eco-friendly tickets – which are usually just playing cards – there’s a quirky feel to the Camden People’s Theatre, which was set up by a collective of artists in 1994. It’s a quality reflected in its experimental programming which consistently includes adventurous new work at low ticket prices. This season look out for Living with Drones – a live journalism show exploring stories from Gaza, comedian Jessica Durand’s one-woman show set around her fixation with World War One Downton Abbey fan fiction, and storyteller James Rowland’s affecting monologue about life and the passage of time. 

Hampstead Road, NW1 2PY. Various show times across January and February. Tickets from £8-£12.
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