Light up gloomy January at Winter Wonderland before it closes

Another year is ending, a new year is beginning. After all the over-indulgence and spending of Christmas, we’re often left with a physical and financial hangover in January. Of course, the cold weather and dark mornings don’t help either. However, there’s plenty on in London over the month to lift your spirits.

For a guide to what’s on in London this Valentine’s weekend, 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’s Berkeley Street at 12pm, ending at Parliament Square at 3.30pm. Free. Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus, Westminster or Charing Cross. For more information, visit the Parade website.

• Now until 2 January : Christmas at Kew

A one mile glittering trail which weaves its way through Kew Gardens with stunning sights lit up upon the way. There will also be vintage rides, festive food and Santa’s Snowflake Grotto. 5-10pm. Tickets: Adults £16, Children £10. Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens), Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB. Nearest station: Kew Gardens. For more information, visit the Kew Gardens website.

• Now until 3 January : Frostival @ London Eye

The Coca-Cola London Eye has a festive makeover for their Frostival celebrations, featuring the Eyeskate ice rink and special Winter experiences on the Eye, including cocktails and other treats. Jubilee Gardens, South Bank, SE1 7PB. Nearest station: Waterloo, Westminster or Embankment. For more information, visit the London Eye website. For Metro Girl’s blog post on the Frostival, click here.

• 3 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 3 January : Dressed By Angels

An exhibition of over 100 costumes from Angels’ archives, worn by Fred Astaire, Noel Coward, Laurence Olivier, Tom Baker, Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett and Meryl Streep, among others, Opening hours vary. Tickets: Adults £16, Children £9. Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, Shoreditch, E1 6QR. Nearest station: Aldgate or Shoreditch High Street. For booking, visit the Dressed By Angels website.

• Now until 3 January : Winter Wonderland

The south east corner of Hyde Park is transformed into a Christmas fair with rides, food and drink stalls, ice rink, Zippos Christmas Circus and Cirque Berserk – an alternative circus show. It’s free to enter, but of course the aforementioned will cost. Nearest station: Hyde Park Corner, Victoria, Knightsbridge or Marble Arch. For more information, visit the Winter Wonderland website. Read about Metro Girl’s previous visit to Winter Wonderland.

• Now until 3 January : Winter Dream pop-up bar

From the team behind last summer’s London Riviera is a new winter pop-up bar, overlooking the River Thames and Tower Bridge. The marquee will be fully heated with a festive photobooth, live entertainment, film screenings and a bar serving Christmas cocktails, mulled wine, hot cider and more. Queen’s Walk, More London (next to City Hall), SE1 2DB. Nearest station:London Bridge or Tower Hill. For more information, visit the Winter Dream Facebook page.

Walk through a room of coloured mist at Ann Veronica Janssens’ yellowbluepink installation

• Now until 3 January : States Of Mind – yellowbluepink

A new art installation by artist Ann Veronica Janssens sees visitors travel through a room of coloured mist. Opening hours vary. Free entry, but queues likely. Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE. Nearest station: Euston or Euston Square. For more information, visit the Wellcome Collection website. Check out Metro Girl’s visit to yellowbluepink here.

• Now until 3 January : Disney On Ice

Your favourite Disney characters take to the ice in a show for all the family. Show times vary. Tickets: £29.50-54.30. The O2, Peninsula Square, Greenwich, SE10 0DX. Nearest tube: North Greenwich. For more information, visit the Disney UK website.

• 8 – 17 January : London Boat Show

Boats of all shapes and sizes on show at ExCel in Docklands. Open 10am-6pm (late nights Thurs until 8pm). Tickets: Adult £10-£15, Children 15 years and under free with an adult. ExCel, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL. Nearest tube: Custom House (DLR). For more information and to book tickets, visit the London Boat Show website.

• 8 – 17 January : London Short Film Festival

Ten day festival celebrating the best in short film-making at venues across the capital, including the ICA, Ace Hotel, Round Chapel, Oval Space, Hackney Attic, and Hackney Picturehouse. For more information, visit the London Short Film Festival website.

• 9 January – 6 February : London International Mime Festival

Festival at various events across London including performances of physical theatre, dance, circus, puppetry and live art. Tickets range from £7-£27.50. Venues include the Barbican, Jacksons Lane, Platform Theatre, Shaw Theatre, Soho Theatre, Southbank Centre, Tate Modern and The Peacock. For more information, visit the London International Mime Festival website.

• 14 – 17 January : Lumiere London

The buildings, gardens and streets of central London are lit up with a series of outdoor 3D light installations. Taking place in the evenings at Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, St James, Carnaby Street, Oxford Circus and Kings Cross. Free. For more information, visit the London.gov.uk website. To find out about Carnaby’s new permanent light art installation being unveiled during Lumiere, click here.

• Now until 17 January : Bump Rollerdisco

Mobile rollerdisco comes to London’s Southbank for the festive season. 11am-11pm. Tickets: Adults £10, Children £7.50, Fri & Sat Club Nights: £12-£16. Under Hungerford Bridge, South Bank, SE1 8XX. Nearest station: Waterloo or Embankment. For more information, visit the Southbank Centre website.

• Now until 17 January : Rekordelig Cider Lodge

Swedish firm Rekordelig are bringing a taste of Scandinavia to the South Bank with a pop-up cider lodge serving hot and cold drinks. Open Sun–Thur 11am–11pm, Fri-Sat 11am–12am. Free entry. Hungerford Car Park, South Bank, SE1 8XX. Nearest station: Waterloo or Embankment. For more information, visit the Southbank Centre website.

• 22 January – 3 April : Easter Rising 1916 Sean Sexton Collection

Exhibition of the role of photography of keys events in the battle for Irish independence between 1840 to 1930s, including the Easter Rising in 1916. Opening hours vary. Tickets: £3/£2.50. The Photographers Gallery, 16–18 Ramillies Street, Soho, W1F 7LW. Nearest station: Oxford Circus. For more information, visit The Photographers Gallery website.

• 23 – 24 January : Adventure Travel Show

For those who like to travel off the beaten track, featuring exclusive expeditions, volunteering opportunities, walking and trekking, safaris, wildlife encounters and more. Open Sat 23 9am-6pm, Sun 24 9.30am-5pm. Tickets: £8-£12 (in advance), £10-£15 (on the door). Kensington Olympia, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, W14 8UX. Nearest station: Kensington Olympia. For tickets, visit the Adventure Travel Show website.

• 20 – 24 January : London Art Fair

Contemporary and modern British art fair in Islington, featuring talks, tour, performances and showcases. Opening hours vary. Tickets: £15 in advance, £20 on the door. Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0QH. Nearest tube: Angel. For tickets and more information, visit the London Art Fair website.

• Now until 24 January : British Museum Of Food

Food wizards Bompas & Parr are opening a new British Museum Of Food, celebrating the history, evolution, science, sociology and art of food. Open Wed-Fri 12-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Tickets: Adults £5, Children £4. One Cathedral Street, Borough Market, SE1 9DE. Nearest station: London Bridge. For more information, visit the British Museum Of Food website. For Metro Girl’s post on the British Museum Of Food, click here.

• Now until 24 January : Richmond Rink

Skate against the backdrop of the stunning 18th century Gothic castle Strawberry Hill House. Open 9am-8pm. Adults: £12 (off-peak), £13.50 (peak), Children: £8 (off-peak) £9.50 (peak). Strawberry Hill House, 268 Waldegrave Road, Richmond, TW1 4ST. Nearest station: Strawberry Hill. For more information, visit the Richmond Rink website.

• 25 January – 3 February : Found & Lost

A new promenade opera will move from room to room after the five-star Corinthia Hotel London. Tickets: £27.50, Under 26 and Concessions: £20, Premium tickets: £35. Corinthia Hotel London, Whitehall Place, Whitehall, SW1A 2BD. Nearest station: Embankment or Charing Cross. For booking, visit the Corinthia-Air website. For more information, read Metro Girl’s post on Found & Lost.

• 27 January – 6 March : Vault Festival

Six week arts festival in the tunnels beneath Waterloo across eight venues, three bars and a restaurant. Ticket prices vary. Entertainment includes live music, dance, drama, comdy and late-night parties. Open Wed-Sun. Ticket prices vary, although venue entry is free. The Vaults, Arch 233, 10 Leake Street, Waterloo, SE1 7NN. Nearest station: Waterloo and Lambeth North. For more information, visit the Vault Festival website.

• Now until 28 January : Jimmy Cauty’s Aftermath Dislocation Principle

Jimmy Cauty’s alternative model village from Banksy’s Dismaland comes to London for two months. A quintessential English chocolate box village it is not! The artist and his team have created a Dystopian city scene of what looks like a post-riot housing estate full of destruction and police cars. Open Wed-Fr- 12-7pm, Sat-Sun 12-6pm. Tickets £4. America Street, Southwark, SE1 0NJ. Nearest station: London Bridge or Southwark. For more information, visit L-13 website.

• 28 – 30 January : London A Cappella Festival

Festival featuring the best of jazz, contemporary and choral a cappella singing. Tickets start from £9.50 for individual shows. Kings Place, 90 York Way, King’s Cross, N1 9AG. Nearest station: King’s Cross St Pancras. For more information, visit the London A Cappella Festival. For Metro Girl’s blog post on the A Cappella festival, click here.

• 29 – 31 January : The France Show

The best of French food, drink, property, travel, and entertainment. Tickets: £12 (in advance), £16 (on the door). Kensington Olympia, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, W14 8UX. Nearest station: Kensington Olympia. For more information and tickets, visit The France Show website.

• 30 January : Winter Pride

Brighten up the dark winter nights with a seasonal edition of the Pride festival, featuring entertainment and live music. 9pm-6am. Tickets: £15-£20. Coronet Theatre, 28 New Kent Road, SE1 6TJ. Nearest station: Elephant & Castle. For more information, visit the Winter Pride website.

Alcoholic Architecture is the world’s first alcoholic weather system, allowing guests to inhale alcohol
© Garage CCC

• Now until 30 January : Alcoholic Architecture

Food wizards Bompas & Parr have created a unique experience allowing people to walk through clouds of alcohol, inhaling cocktails. Tickets for hourly slots: £10 off peak (Mon, Tues and Wed all day, Thurs & Fri before 5pm), £12.50 peak (Thurs post-5pm, Fri post-4pm and Sat all day). One Cathedral Street, Borough Market, Borough, SE1 9DE. Nearest station: London Bridge. For more information and booking, visit Bompas And Parr’s official website. For Metro Girl’s post on Alcoholic Architecture, click here.

• 30 January – 20 April : Painting The Modern Garden

Exhibition of gardens portrayed in art from the 1860s to the 1920s, featuring works by Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Pissarro, Manet, Sargent, Kandinsky, Van Gogh, Matisse, Klimt and Klee. Tickets: £17.60, Under 16s with fee-paying adult go free. Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD. Nearest station: Green Park. For booking, visit the Royal Academy’s website.

• Now until 31 January : 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. Featuring Christmas-themed gifts and costumes from the film franchise. Tickets: Adults £33, Children £25.50. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, WD25 7LR. For more information, visit the Warner Bros Studio Tour website.

• Now until 31 January : The Height Of Winter @ View From The Shard

View From The Shard has a special festive makeover, with wizards Bompas & Parr transforming the viewing gallery into an immersive sensory experience, with ice crystals, frost, snow dunes, glowing crystal benches, grotto and carolling plants. Drinks include Snow White Hot Chocolate, Mulled Champagne and Christmas Candy Floss. Tickets: Adults £25.95. Child: £19.95. The View From The Shard, Joiner Street, SE1 9SP. Nearest tube/train: London Bridge. For more information, visit View From The Shard website. For Metro Girl’s review on a trip up The Shard, click here.

• Now until 31 January : Time Run

A new live quest meets immersive theatre in a new twist on the ‘escape the room’ games. For groups of three to five people, you will join Edwardian inventor Luna Fox on a journey through time. Tickets: £24 (off-peak), £29 (peak). 9-15 Helmsley Place, London Fields, E8 3SB. Nearest station: London Fields. For booking, visit the Time Run website. Read Metro Girl’s post on Time Run for more information and to see the trailer.

• Now until 7 February : Take A View exhibition

Exhibition of the winning and shortlisted images from this year’s Landscape Photographer Of The Year are on display on the balcony at Waterloo station. Open during station hours. Free. Mezzanine level, Waterloo Station, SE1 8SW. Nearest station: Waterloo. For more information, visit the Take A View website.

• Now until 17 April : Alice In Wonderland exhibition @ British Library

Exhibition to mark the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice In Wonderland, including his original manuscript, hand-drawn illustrations, and an Alice In Wonderland pop-up shop. Opening hours vary. Free entry. The British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB. Nearest station: Euston, King’s Cross or St Pancras. To find out more, visit the British Library website. For Metro Girl’s review of the exhibition, click here.

Ballet Productions

• Now until 3 January : The Snowman
  

  The Nutcracker is on at the Coliseum

The Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s production of The Snowman comes to the Peacock Theatre. Performances at 11am, 2.30pm and 7pm. Tickets: £15-£35. Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT. Nearest station: Temple or Holborn. For booking, visit the Sadlers Wells website.

• Now until 10 January : The Nutcracker

Over 100 dancers from the English National Ballet bring The Nutcracker to the London Coliseum. Tickets prices vary. Coliseum, St. Martin’s Lane, Charing Cross, WC2N 4ES. Nearest stations: Leicester Square, Charing Cross or Embankment. For more information and booking, visit the English National Ballet’s website.

• Now until 14 January : The Nutcracker

The Royal Ballet’s production of the iconic Nutcracker comes to the Royal Opera House. Tickets range from £25-£117. Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD. Nearest stations: Covent Garden, Holborn, Charing Cross or Embankment. For more information and booking, visit the Royal Opera House website.

• Now until 24 January : Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty

Matthew Bourne’s dance adaptation of Sleeping Beauty is on this Christmas at Sadler’s Wells. Shows at 2/2.30pm and 7/7.30pm. Tickets range from £12 to £65. Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R. Nearest station: Angel. For more information and booking, visit the Sadler’s Wells Theatre website.

Pantomime Productions

Now until 2 January : Jack And The Beanstalk @ The Beck Theatre. Grange Road, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 2UE. For tickets, visit the Beck Theatre website.

Now until 3 January : Cinderella @ Lyric Hammersmith. Lyric Square, King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0QL. For tickets, visit the Lyric website.

Now until 3 January : Jack And The Beanstalk @ Hackney Empire. 291 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1EJ. For tickets, visit the Hackney Empire website.

Now until 3 January : Aladdin @ Churchill Theatre. High Street, Bromley, Kent BR1 1HA. For tickets, visit the ATG website.

Now until 3 January : Cinderella @ Fairfield Halls. Park Lane, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1DG. For tickets, visit the Fairfield Halls website.

Now until 10 January : Cinderella @ Richmond Theatre. The Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1QJ. For tickets, visit the ATG website.

Now until 10 January : Red Riding House @ Greenwich Theatre. Croom’s Hill, Greenwich, SE10 8ES. For tickets, visit the Greenwich Theatre website.

Now until 10 January : Peter Pan @ New Wimbledon Theatre. 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1QG. For tickets, visit the ATG website.

Now until 23 January : Robin Hood @ Stratford East. Gerry Raffles Square, E15 1BN. For tickets, visit the Stratford East website.

For a guide to London’s open-air ice rinks, click here.

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