Things to do in London this January

1/12
Lizzie Thomson14 January 2019

As we wave goodbye to 2018, the new year arrives with a whole host of fun things to do.

There may be dark, cold days ahead but there's plenty that's worth getting out of the house for.

London is laying on a number of treats to get 2019 started, from Burns Night parties to David Bowie walking tours.

So, start the year the right way with these great events taking place this January.

New Year’s Day Parade

Tolga Akmen/Getty Images

Back for its 33rd year, the annual New Year’s Day Parade will kick off at noon on Piccadilly before following a two mile route to Parliament Street. The street spectacular will include more than 10,000 performers from 20 different countries, featuring Pearly Kings and Queens, dancers and marching bands as well as casts from the West End. This one promises to be a lively affair — although it might be one to miss if your head is sore from the night before.

January 1, across London

Take a Hot Tug

Though the ideal of sitting in a canal mightn't seem the most sensible thing to do in the bitter cold of January, these floating Hot Tugs are actually a tremendously fun way of warming up this winter. Kept toasty by a wood-fired stove, the tubs offer the chance to mess about on the river either at Islington Boat Club or West India Quay. The 12ft tubs hold up to seven people each and are controlled by electric motors, making them ideal for a group of friends wanting to potter about with no particular place to go. Best of all, you can have a drink in them. Your Instagram will never be the same.

Throughout the year, Islington and Canary Wharf, hottuguk.com

Circus 1903 at Southbank Centre

Circus 1903
Alvin Tam

Catch the final few days of Circus 1903 at Southbank Centre before it closes on January 5. This turn-of-the-century-inspired circus promises animal performances with a twist. Instead of real-life creatures, the stage offers life-size elephant puppets designed by the team behind the hit West End show War Horse. Similarly, contortionist Senayet Asefa Amare keeps the fun coming by making startling shapes with her body, while juggler François Borie entertains audiences with everything from straw hats to batons.

Until January 5, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, southbankcentre.co.uk

Burns Night Ceilidh at Cutty Sark Theatre

Celebrate Robert Burns' birthday the best way possible — with a thoroughly Scottish Ceilidh. The Cutty Sark Theatre is throwing the bash in the Sammy Ofer Gallery, underneath the hull of the historic tea clipper. The knees up promises a complimentary dram of Scotch whisky as well as traditional treats including haggis and neaps with tatties.

January 21, King William Walk, SE10 9HT, rmg.co.uk

Miz Cracker at Clapham Grand

David Livingston / Getty Images

Gentlemen, start your engines — RuPaul‘s Drag Race star Miz Cracker is bringing charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent to this event at Clapham Grand. Known for her brilliant blend of comedy and glamour, the season 10 queen will serving up her signature style in her one woman show. The first performance of the evening has sold out but the second one, which starts at 9.15pm, still has tickets available.

January 29, 21-25 St John's Hill, SW11 1TT, claphamgrand.com

100 Figures: The Unseen Art of Quentin Blake

Quentin Blake is perhaps best-known for his imaginative illustrations in Roald Dahl’s children books, but this exhibition explores his role as a prolific figurative artist and January is the last chance to catch it. The show features 100 never before seen pictures created between 1950-2000, depicting Blake's experimentation with materials.

January 27, 2 Granary Square, N1C 4BH, houseofillustration.org.uk

East London Chicken Wing Crawl

negativespacedesign/Pixabay

Move over pub crawls. This year it’s all about alternative crawls, much like this chicken wing-themed event in east London. The two-and-a-half-hour tour will travel to four different venues, sampling their speciality wings on the way. While some the finger-licking goods may be hot, the January weather will be far from it, so it’s best to wrap up warm for this one. All wings are included in the price of a £30.98 ticket.

January 27, for more information and for tickets, visit eventbrite.co.uk

David Bowie From Birth To Stardom: A Double Walking Tour Extravaganza

Anthony Devlin/PA Images

Celebrate David Bowie’s life from birth to stardom on this walking tour on January 12 — which falls just days after the icon’s birthday on January 8 as well as the three-year anniversary of his death of January 10. Starting in his hometown of Brixton the tour will visit the house the musician was born in as well as his very first primary school, along with Jimmy C’s famous mural. It will also journey through Soho, the spot where the star made many of his classic albums and the place that inspired his legendary persona Ziggy Stardust.

January 12, For more information, visit eventbrite.co.uk

Macbeth at the Barbican

The RSC's Macbeth - in pictures

1/7

Christopher Eccleston made his RSC debut in Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth at Stratford-upon-Avon, which has since transferred to the Barbican. The former Doctor Who actor stars alongside Niamh Cusack, who plays his wife Lady Macbeth and Edward Bennett who takes up the role of Macduff. The contemporary production marks director Polly Findlay’s return to the Barbican, following her staging of The Alchemist back in 2016. Be sure to catch the final few weeks of this show which the Standard's Fiona Mountford described as "wonderfully sinister".

Until January 18, Silk St, EC2Y 8DS, barbican.org.uk

Dry January Cheesemonger's Supper

Paul Joseph/Flickr

Those battling through Dry January can get an alternative feel-good fix at this cheese tasting evening. Neal's Yard Dairy is hosting the event above its Borough Market shop and it's a strictly no-alcohol affair. A dairy expert will be on hand to teach guests how to curate the perfect cheeseboard, offering advice on pairings and accompaniments from cured meats and nuts to crackers and chutneys.

January 9, 6 Park St, SE1 9AB, nealsyarddairy.co.uk

...Or just forget Dry Jan

Delightful drinks: Chapel Down cocktails

Dry Jan is all very well and good, but January is the coldest, darkest month – surely the time where the comfort of a good cocktail is most needed. London's bar scene seems in constant revolution; Mr Lyan is always doing something new, the Savoy's American Bar appears to invent cocktails weekly and places like the new, Tarantino inspired Nikki's in Shoreditch are proof that a good time needn't come with a heart attack price. Still, when the nights draw in like black waves, our pick of all of them is The Coral Room in the Bloomsbury Hotel. In magnificent surroundings, it is a hotel bar done perfectly. They've plush seats to get lost in, a menu that manages something new without forgetting the classics, and charming service. If you're taking someone teetotal, they've just launched a 'dry' menu with non-alcoholic spirit Seedlip. Overseen by the ever-endearing Giovanni Spezziga, who also manages the excellent Dalloway Terrace outside, the Coral Room consistently pulls off a simple sounding – but near impossible – trick: everything is just as it should be. Draws a glamorous crowd, too.

16-22 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3NN, thecoralroom.co.uk

TS Eliot Prize Readings

Wordsmiths can settle in for a night of poetry at Southbank Centre, at this event hosted by poet Ian McMillan. The poets shortlisted for the TS Eliot Prize will read their work aloud on the eve of the award ceremony, and this year, for the first time, the list includes five debut collections.

January 13, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, southbankcentre.co.uk

Cirque du Soleil TOTEM at Royal Albert Hall

Another dose of Cirque du Soleil lands at the Royal Albert Hall this January. The show, Totem, journeys through the evolution of mankind exploring different species and the quest for balance. In true Cirque style, this thrilling show is entertaining for all ages with beautifully choreographed routines and breathtaking bar stunts. Expect extraordinary acrobatic performances that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

From January 12, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP, royalalberthall.com

Welcome to the Forest

Waltham Forest is the first ever Mayor’s London Borough of Culture for 2019, and it's throwing an enormous party to kick off a special year-long cultural programme. The free three-day-long event will see Waltham Forest Town Hall transform into the setting for an audio-visual, site-specific film by artists Greenaway & Greenaway — telling the story of the area through the eyes of its community. The sensory explosion will continue on Forest Road, where it will house a neon-lit winter carnival thanks to a partnership with Walthamstow art store God's Own Junkyard.

January 11-13, Waltham Forest Town Hall, E17 4JF​,wfculture19.co.uk

The Chocolate Cocktail Club

Xavier D. Buendia

Following two sold out pop-ups in Brighton and London, The Chocolate Cocktail Club is taking up residence in Brick Lane for five months. The clue is in the name — old cocktail favourites get a chocolatey twist, covering all areas from creamy and rich to refreshing tipples. Beer and wine also get a chocolate makeover and, if that wasn’t enough sugar, each drink will be served with a brownie garnish.

From January 17, 202 Brick Lane, E1 6SA, thechocolatecocktailclub.co.uk

London Short Film festival

Returning for its 16th year, this festival celebrates the work of independent short filmakers from across the world. Combining a mix of screenings, events and panels, the 2019 event will focus on 80s culture and, in particular, the works that saw outsider art cross over into the mainstream. Highlights include the screening of original work by the Duvet Brothers, Gorilla Tapes and Sandra Goldbacher and a live performance from synth group Wrangler.

January 11 - 20, Across London, shortfilms.org.uk

NBA in London

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Watch the Washington Wizards take on the New York Knicks at the O2, marking the ninth regular-season NBA game to be played in the capital. The match is the Knicks’ third game in London, having played against the Detroit Pistons in 2013 and the Milwaukee Bucks in 2015. Just be prepared to fork out a little more for tickets.

January 17, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX, theo2.co.uk

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in