An ice panther at the Ice Sculpting Festival

2014 is here! January is normally a bit of a boring month, as we recover from the over-expenditure and over-indulgence over the Christmas period. With many cutting back on spending, it’s no surprise there isn’t as many events on in the capital as usual.

For a guide to open air ice rinks open in London, click here.

• 1 January : New Year’s Day Parade

Hundreds of thousands of spectators will line the streets of London to watch 10,000 performers from around the world. Starts from Piccadilly at 12pm, ending at Parliament Square at 3.15pm. Free. Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus, Westminster or Charing Cross. For more information, visit the Parade website.

• 4 – 12 January : London Boat Show

Boats of all shapes and sizes on show at ExCel in Docklands. Tickets: Weekday adult £10, Any day adult £16 in advance. £20 at the gate. Nearest tube: Custom House (DLR). ExCel, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL. For more information and to book tickets, visit the London Boat Show website.

• 4 January – 9 February : Cirque Du Soleil’s Quidam

The newest touring production from the Cirque, about a young girl called Zoe who slides into an imaginary world. Tickets range from £20.00 to £95.00. Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP. Nearest tube: South Kensington, Knightsbridge or High Street Kensington. For more information and booking, visit the Cirque Du Soleil website.

• 5 January : Twelfth Night Celebration

Theatre company the Lions Part host their annual celebration of the new year, ‘mixing ancient seasonal customs with contemporary festivity’ in the Bankside area of London. Free. 2.30pm onwards. For more information, visit the Lions Part website.

• Now until 5 January : Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland is open the first week of January

Winter Wonderland does exactly what is say on the tin – the south east corner of the park is transformed into a Christmas fair with rides, food and lots of mulled wine, as well as Christmas gifts. It’s free to enter, but of course the aforementioned will cost. There is also an open air ice rink for those who fancy a twirl and Zippos Cirque Berserk – an alternative circus show. Nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge or Marble Arch. For more information, visit the Winter Wonderland website. To read about Metro Girl’s visit to Winter Wonderland last year, click here.

• 6 – 9 January : Rooftop Film Club at Kensington Gardens

The pop-up Rooftop Film Club sets up camp at Kensington Gardens, featuring screenings of The Notebook, Dirty Dancing, Blue Jasmine, Top Gun and more. Tickets: £21.50 (including glass of wine or bottle of beer and hot snack). 99 Kensington High Street (entrance on Derry Street), Kensington, W8 5SA. Nearest tube: High Street Kensington. For more information and tickets, visit the Rooftop Film Club website.

• 7 January : Candlelight evening opening at Sir John Soane’s Museum

The former home of 19th century architect Sir John Soane is a treasure trove of sculptures, painting and antiquities which he collected over his lifetime. Once a month, the museum is open on the first Tuesday of the month for an evening candlelight opening Bookings are not taken in advance, with tickets only issued to the first 200 people. Open from 6-9pm, however tickets are issued at 5.30pm. Sir John’s Soane Museum, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP. Nearest tube: Holborn. For more information, visit the Sir John Soane website.

• 9 January – 1 February : London International Mime Festival

Festival at various events across London including performances of physical theatre, dance, circus, puppetry and live art. For more information, visit the London International Mime Festival website.

• 10 – 12 January : London Ice Sculpting Festival

Three day festival featuring temporary creations by some of the world’s top ice sculpting teams, with masterclasses and the opportunity to sculpt yourself, a snow pit and winter market. Free. Takes place across Wood Wharf, Montgomery Sq, Jubilee Place and Canada Place, Canary Wharf, E14 5AX. Nearest tube: Canary Wharf. For more information, visit the London Ice Sculpting Festival website. For Metro Girl’s blog post on the 2013 festival, click here.

• 10 – 19 January : London Short Film Festival

Ten day festival celebrating the best in short film-making at venues across the capital, including the BFI, Curzon Soho, ICA and Hackney Attic. For more information, visit the London Short Film Festival website. For an interview with two film-makers screening their work at this year’s festival, click here.

• 15 – 19 January : London Art Fair

Contemporary and modern British art fair in Islington, featuring talks, tour, performances and showcases. Tickets: £13 in advance, £17 on the door. Opening hours vary. Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0QH. Nearest tube: Angel. For tickets and more information, visit the London Art Fair website.

• 17 – 19 January : The France Show

The best of French food, drink, property, travel, and entertainment. Tickets in advance £10, on the door £13. Earls Court, Warwick Road, SW5 9TA. Nearest tube: Earls Court. For more information and tickets, visit The France Show website.

• 22 – 25 January : London A Capella Festival

Festival featuring the best of jazz, contemporary and choral a cappella singing. Tickets start from £9.50. Kings Place, 90 York Way, King’s Cross, N1 9AG. Nearest tube: King’s Cross St Pancras. For more information, visit the London A Capella Festival.

• 25 January until 27 April : The Sunflowers

Two of Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers paintings have been reunited – shown together for the first time in 65 years. The masterpieces will be displayed side-by-side so visitors can compare and contrast. Free, but expect to queue at busy times. Room 45, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN. Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square or Charing Cross. For more information, visit the National Gallery website.

• 28 January – 4 March : Vault Festival
  

  Quidam, the new production by Cirque du Soleil, is on at the Royal Albert Hall

Six week arts festival in the tunnels beneath Waterloo. Free entry to bar, but event tickets start from £7.50. The Vaults, Arch 233, 10 Leake Street, Waterloo, SE1 7NN. Nearest tube: Waterloo and Lambeth North. For more information, visit the Vault Festival website.

• 29 January : Science Museum Lates

Late night opening for adults only. This month’s theme is the Large Hadron Collider, featuring the Collider exhibition, live music, pub quiz, comedy and silent disco. Free. 6.45-10pm. Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2DD. Nearest tube: South Kensington. For more information, visit the Science Museum website.

• Now until 2 February : Hogwarts In The Snow

A must for all Harry Potter fans. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter has been given a festive makeover with props and decorations from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Featuring Christmas-themed gifts and costumes from the film franchise. Tickets: Adults £29.00, Children £21.90. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, WD25 7LR. For more information, visit the Warner Bros Studio Tour website.

• Now until 9 February : Take A View – Landscape Photographer Of The Year

Over 100 entries from the annual competition are on display in the Lyttelton Exhibition Space at the National Theatre. Entrance: Free. Open Monday – Saturday 9.30am-11pm, Sundays 12-6pm. Upper Ground, Southbank, SE1 9PX. Nearest tube: Waterloo. For more information, visit the National Theatre website.

• Now until 2 March : Isabella Blow – Fashion Galore! @ Somerset House

Exhibition celebrating the life of the late Isabella Blow, an icon of the fashion and art world. Featuring items from her clothing collection and photographs of her interesting life. Tickets: £12.50. Open 10am-6pm, or until 9pm on Thursday. Recommend buying tickets in advance, but some are also sold on the door. Embankment Galleries, Somerset House, The Strand, WC2R 1LA. Nearest tube: Temple. For more information and tickets, visit the Somerset House website.

There’s still time to check out the festive pantomimes and ballets on this month too…

Now until 16 January : The Nutcracker @ Royal Opera House. Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD. For tickets, visit the ROH website.

Now until 26 January : Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake – New Adventures @ Sadler’s Wells. Rosebery Avenue, Farringdon, EC1R 4TN. For tickets, visit the Sadler’s Wells website.

Now until 11 January : Dick Whittington at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, E15 1BN. For tickets, visit the Stratford East website.

Now until 12 January : Peter Pan at Richmond Theatre. The Green, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1QJ. For tickets, visit the ATG website.

Now until 12 January : Aladdin at the New Wimbledon Theatre. 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1QG. For tickets, visit the ATG website.

Now until 19 January : Dick! Come Again: Bigger, Longer, Harder at the Leicester Square Theatre. FOR ADULTS ONLY! 6 Leicester Place (off Leicester Square), WC2H 7BX. For tickets, visit the Leicester Square Theatre website.

For a guide to what’s on in London this Valentine’s Day, click here.

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