things-to-do-in-london-in-january

Things to Do in London in January 

What happens after Christmas in London? The start of a new year brings tons of exciting things to do in London in January. As the festive decorations come down, the city still has a lot to offer. But in fairness, it’s not nearly as colourful as what you see in December. 

Lingering festive activities are Hogwarts in the Snow and ice skating at several locations around London. Club curling at Coal Drops Yard gives something bright and fun to do in January that makes the short periods of daylight a little more tolerable.

For those who love culture, the Royal Opera House hosts an inspiring line-up of performances. My monthly favourite cultural events are the candlelight concerts. Of course, they continue to occur in iconic venues in January.

Whether you’re a Londoner or a visitor, you can find the city’s most intriguing offerings for the month. In this list of things to do in London in January, you’ll discover activities for New Year’s Day, ways to embrace the winter chill with outdoor events, pubs that have cosy experiences even during Dry January and more!

things-to-do-in-london-in-january

You’ll find Things to Do in London in January organised below by:

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Things to Do in London in January: Candlelight Concerts

I have attended several of these concerts and highly recommend them for date nights, special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries or just a fun night out! You can read more about my first experience at the Tribute to Coldplay. I’ve also attended the Tribute to Taylor Swift, Hans Zimmer Candlelight Concert and Christmas Movie Soundtracks.

This Month

  • New Year’s Extravaganza by Candlelight, 1 Jan
  • Tribute to the Weeknd, 3 Jan
  • Tribute to A.R. Rahman, 10 Jan
  • Tribute to Justin Timberlake, 17 Jan
  • Magical Movie Soundtracks, 17 Jan
  • Hip-Hop on Strings, 24 Jan
  • A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, 24 Jan

On-going Concerts

  • Rhapsody in Blue by Candlelight, 16 Jan-20 Mar
  • Ed Sheeran Meets Coldplay, 16 Jan-23 May
  • Hans Zimmer’s Best Works, 16 Jan-13 June
  • Tribute to the Beatles, 23-31 Jan
  • Queen vs ABBA 23 Jan-14 Feb
  • Music from the Movies 29 Jan-30 April

Candlelight Concert- things to do in london

SEASONAL ACTIVITIES

January in London can be a bit grey. Occasionally it may snow. So if you’re visiting London during this time- keep your eyes on the forecast! You’ll find there are some outdoor activities that are very popular. However, it’s a better month to enjoy events that are based inside for obvious reasons.

Hogwarts in the Snow Harry Potter Studio Tour in London for Christmas

January Events

  • New Year’s Day Proms at the Barbican
  • New Year’s Day Parade
  • Serpentine New Year’s Day Races
  • Bankside Twelfth Night Celebrations 4 Jan
  • Hogwarts in the Snow until 18 Jan
  • Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival 20-31 Jan
  • London Art Fair 21-25 Jan
  • London Short Film Festival 17-26 Jan
  • Club Curling at Coal Drops Yard until 2 Mar

Ice Skating

  • Glide at Battersea Power Station until 4 Jan
  • Hampton Court Palace until 4 Jan
  • Skate at Somerset House until 11 Jan
  • Canary Wharf until 22 Feb

Royal Opera House

  • Christmas until 5 Jan
  • Nutcrackers until 5 Jan
  • Tea & Tour until 15 Mar
  • Architecture Tour until 15 Mar
  • Behind the Scenes Tour until 31 Mar

Afternoon Tea: Things to Do in London in January

grinchmas-christmas-afternoon-tea-on-a-bus-in-london

January is the perfect time for indulging in a themed afternoon tea. It’s one of my favourite British traditions. While the special ones you see launched just for the holiday season are fun, you’re sometimes rushed through them due to all the other Christmas events happening.

While it’s typically a month to cut back on calories, if you do have room for a treat, afternoon tea in January can make a rainy day a perfect time to catch up with a friend.

National Gallery Highlights Tour & Afternoon Tea

  • Immerse yourself in masterpieces crafted by renowned artists like Leonardo, Monet and Van Gogh
  • Indulge in an afternoon tea experience at the National Gallery’s own restaurant, Ochre
  • Must be booked for party of 2

Themed Teas

  • Elf Afternoon Tea at The Waldorf Hilton
  • Jurassic Afternoon Tea, The Ampersand Hotel
  • Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at Sanderson
  • Peter Pan Afternoon Tea at The Shard
  • Secrets & Spies Afternoon Tea at Raffles

Things to Do in London in January: Upcoming Shows & Exhibitions

Royal Albert Hall

  • Cirque de Soleil OVO 9 Jan-1 Mar
  • Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring in Concert 30 Apr-9 May
  • Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone in Concert 25-27 Sept
  • Black Panther in Concert 9 Oct
  • Home Alone 2: Lost in New York in Concert 12 Dec

Museums

  • Marie Antoinette Style at the V&A Museum until 22 Mar
  • Hawai’i: A kingdom crossing oceans at the British Museum 15 Jan-25 May
  • Samurai at the British Museum 3 Feb- 4 May

IMMERSIVE Experiences

Read this article for a full list of on-going Immersive Experiences in London.

Hotels

If you haven’t booked your hotel yet for your London trip, here’s an interactive map to get you started! It’s based on the most central location in town.

Cosy Pubs for Dry January

In January many of London’s restaurants, pubs and bars offer Dry January mocktails and specials. So, they are still very much worth visiting.

Below is a list of pubs in London that are fantastic for their atmosphere. They’re pubs that we visit often after work or when out and about for the day.

Things-to-Do-in-London-in-winter

Cosy Pubs in London

  • The Churchill Arms
  • The Dove in Hammersmith
  • The Holly Bush in Hampstead
  • The Spaniards Inn, Hampstead
  • The Ship & Shovell
  • The Mayflower
  • The Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich
  • The Market Porter in London Bridge
  • Thomas Cubitt in Belgravia
  • The Enterprise in Holborn
  • The Bull & Last in Highgate

@sunny_in_london

Unique London Pub Near Charing Cross Underground Station | Pubs in London | Ship and Shovell #londonpub #charingcross #pubs @☀️Sunny in London🇬🇧

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