It’s the worst month of them all, but there’s still plenty of incredible things to do.
(Bloomberg) — January may be the most depressing time of the year in London. The holiday lights get taken town, credit card bills roll in, out-of-office messages get turned offand all the “let’s circle back to this” conversations get circled back to. But there are still ways to make the start of the year great in the British capital. There’s a joyous Shakespeare adaptation at London’s newest West End theater; Canary Wharf transforms from a business hub to a festival of light; the parades and parties to celebrate the Lunar New Year are back; and, of course, there’s new bars to try and exhibitions to marvel at as well. Here are the 10 best things to do in London this month.
Indulge Without Risking a Hangover
There’s more ways than ever to be alcohol-free for Dry January, and some of London’s top bars are getting on board. Cozy cocktail spot Mr Fogg’s, known for its Victorian armchairs and bright decor, has teamed up with Caleño, a distiller of nonalcoholic spirits, to create a menu celebrating South American flavors, including riffs on a lavender daiquiri and an espresso martini. Bowie-themed Soho hotspot The Thin White Duke (one of our food editor Kate Krader’s favorites!) is also mixing up zero-proof cocktails, and Dishoom restaurants are offering “teatotal tipples” year-round, including a sober Negroni and a refreshing take on a spritz.
Bathe Yourself in Artful Illumination
The Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival, which transforms one of London’s main financial hubs into a technicolor playground after dark, is back for the first time since 2020. There are 20 light-up installations to view, including Permafrost—Sleeping Giants, which brings giant mammoths to life in bright colors, and Tom Lambert’s Out of the Dark, a kaleidoscopic explosion of moving colors. From Jan. 18 to 28, between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Ring in the Year of the Rabbit
London throws has some of the biggest festivities outside of Asia to mark the Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan. 22 this year. The parade kicks off on Charing Cross Rd. before making its way through Shaftesbury Ave. and Chinatown, and there’s a show with traditional Chinese dances in Trafalgar Square. Taiwanese restaurant BAO is offering Lunar New Year feasts, complete with special year of the rabbit sweet red-bean buns—they’re shaped like bunnies with little sunglass decorations. Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant Hakkasan is going big for the celebrations: Its year of the rabbit menu, for £128 ($155), includes smoked roast duck, stir-fried wagyu beef and steamed John Dory. And Cantonese dim sum favorite Yauatcha is offering a “Bunny Sour” and a rabbit-shaped dessert. Make sure to dress in red for the occasion to ensure a lucky start to the year.
See a Show at the Vault Festival
With a theme of “reclaiming joy,” the independent festival of live performance brings over 500 shows to the labyrinth of tunneled areas around Waterloo, including theater, comedy, cabarets and late-night parties. See a show here before it gets big and transfers elsewhere. Catch the tech-bros-behaving-badly Brilliant Jerks by Joseph Charlton (BBC’s Industry), which got its start at Vault, before it moves to the Southwark Playhouse later this year. For £49 ($60), you can get four tickets, four drinks and 10% off any other tickets for the rest of the festival. From Jan. 24 to March 19
Have a Dram and a Dance on Burns Night
Celebrate the life (and birthday) of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, on Jan. 25. Skylight is welcoming guests in both its London locations for a high-spirited cèilidh (“kay-lee”) fueled by folk music, a special Highlands dance performance and whisky. The Ham Yard Hotel, in the heart of Soho, is hosting a dinner with Scottish favorites and whisky pairings by Bruichladdich, a whisky company from the remote island of Islay. For its Burns Night celebration, Home House in Marylebone is honoring the 18th century poet with a four-course meal (including haggis) set to the tunes of a piper.
Consider Something New for Your Wall …
Head to the Business Design Centre in Islington for the London Art Fair to view a compelling lineup of modern and contemporary art that, for a price, you can take home with you. Works from Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and Roy Lichtenstein will be on sale, as well as pieces by up-and-coming-artists from Britain and beyond. There will also be talks from artists, curators and collectors on topics ranging from artists shaping the metaverse to the role of museums in the modern day. From Jan. 18 to 22
… and the Prolific Artist Who (Basically) Started It All
As Pursuits art columnist James Tarmy said when he named Cezanne at the Tate Modern one of the best London museum shows to see this winter, this vast and impressive exhibition makes the case for Paul Cezanne as the most important modernist in art history. (Sorry, Picasso.) The more than 80 works on display, from portraits to still lifes to landscapes, illustrate his inspirations and growth as a painter. Through March 12
Clink Glasses at a Refreshed London Institution
Two new bars opening Jan. 23 will bring even more over-the-top glamour to the the Dorchester hotel, which is undergoing its first renovation in decades. On the ground floor of the Mayfair institution, the Artists Bar will feature Champagne poured tableside near one of Liberace’s legendary pianos and a portrait of the late Elizabeth II rendered in mother of pearl buttons. James Bond fans can head to the Vesper Bar, named after 007’s love interest in Casino Royale (and the cocktail), to get whatever they want shaken, not stirred.
See a Stunning Shakespeare Adaptation
Journey into the Forest of Arden in this joyful, fresh and exceedingly fun take on Shakespeare’s romantic comedy As You Like It directed by the stellar Josie Rourke. Rose Ayling-Ellis makes a fantastic West End debut playing Celia; as a deaf actress, she uses British Sign Language for her lines (there’s subtitles over the stage), adding a fascinating layer to the way the characters in the play frequently talk across and misunderstand each other. There’s also a live piano player who interacts with cast members, bringing music and heart to the show. Through Jan. 28
Escape From London Entirely
The whole world of day trips outside the city are quieter this time of year—and especially magical with rain or snow instead of other tourists. Go for a wintery walk in the New Forest; you can be enjoying its fantastic nature escape and marveling at the wild ponies that roam free under the trees in less than two hours’ travel. With little cottages that look straight out of the Nancy Meyers film The Holiday, the Cotswolds are perfect for sitting by the fire and cozying up with a good book.
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