Find out what’s on within the capital this month, together with Winter Lights at Canary Wharf, the London Short Film Festival and the launch of the Vault Festival.
Lightopia
Happy New Year! 2023 is right here finally after a difficult 2022 for a lot of. While the price of dwelling disaster is sadly wanting set to rumble on for some time but, there are some free occasions to maintain your entertained. January is famously a darkish and chilly winter month, so anticipate some illuminations, such because the vastly in style Winter Lights pageant in Docklands, to brighten up proceedings. Meanwhile, London’s equal to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Waterloo’s Vault Festival is returning to the arches for the eleventh 12 months.
There’s additionally nonetheless some festive out of doors ice rinks on round city, take a look at this information for extra info.
Look out for the 
for family-friendly actions.
- 1 January 2023 : New Year’s Day Parade
Hundreds of 1000’s of spectators are anticipated to collect to observe 10,000 performers from around the globe. 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 extra info, go to the Parade web site. 🐻
- Now till 2 January 2023 : Gingerbread City
The Museum of Architecture returns with one other Gingerbread City. Over 100 architects, artists, designers and engineers create 5 miniature cities made completely of gingerbread and icing. There are additionally each day gingerbread house-making workshops. Open Mon-Sat: 9am-9pm, Sun: 9am-6pm. Tickets: Adults £15, Under 12s £10. 6-7 Motcomb Street, Belgravia, SW1X 8JU. Nearest station: Hyde Park Corner or Knightsbridge. For extra info, go to the Gingerbread City web site. 🐻
- Now till 2 January 2023 : Lightopia Festival
The award-winning pageant of lights is return to the capital, however this time to south London’s Crystal Palace. Talk a winter stroll by way of a light-weight show with illuminations, interactive shows and installations. Open 5pm-10pm (final entry 8.30pm). Tickets: Adults £19.50/£24.50, Child 3-15yrs £13/£16.50. Crystal Palace Park, Thicket Road, Crystal Palace, SE19 2GA. Nearest stations: Crystal Palace or Penge West. For extra info and reserving, go to the Lightopia web site. Check out Metro Girl’s gallery of the pageant. 🐻
- Now till 2 January 2023 : Winter Festival Brent Cross
Take a break out of your Christmas procuring on the Winter Festival, that includes Santa’s Grotto, ice rink, enjoyable honest rides and food and drinks. Open Mon-Fri 4pm-9pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-9pm (From 17 December onwards, opening instances prolong to 12pm-9pm each day). Entry: £3. Brent Cross Shopping Centre, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP. Nearest station: Brent Cross. For extra info and reserving, go to the Winter Festival Brent Cross web site. 🐻
- Now till 2 January 2023 : Winter Wonderland
The south-east nook of Hyde Park is remodeled right into a festive honest with rides, food and drinks stalls, ice rink, the Magical Ice Kingdom, the Giant Wheel, Bar Ice, Real Ice Slide, Zippos Christmas Circus, Cirque Berserk, Ice Sculpting Workshops, Santa Land, Bavarian Village, and extra. Open each day 10am-10pm. Tickets (have to be pre-booked) Standard £5, Peak £7.50, Off-peak free. Entrance price waived in case you spend over £25 on points of interest, rides or video games prematurely. Nearest station: Hyde Park Corner, Victoria, Knightsbridge or Marble Arch. For extra info, go to the Winter Wonderland web site. 🐻
- Now till 3 January 2023 : Christmas @ Kenwood
The fabulous grounds and buildings at Kenwood shall be lit up in a Christmas mild path. There will even be festive food and drinks. From 4.30pm-9.30pm. Tickets: Adults £29.50, Children £22.50. Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath, NW3 7JR. Nearest stations: Highgate or Hampstead. For tickets, go to the Christmas at Kenwood web site. 🐻
- Now till 3 January 2023 : The Magic of Christmas
London Zoo are internet hosting a sequence of festive occasions alongside the same old animal enclosures. Meet Santa, go to the Polar Post Room, take pleasure in Christmas festivities, animal crafts, Christmas-themed animal talks, marshmallow toasting and extra. Open 10am-4pm. General entry: Adults vary from £26.50-£33, Children 3-15yrs £17.25-£21.45. Additional prices apply for some actions. London Zoo, Regent’s Park, Marylebone, NW1 4RY. Nearest station: Regent’s Park or Camden Town. For reserving, go to the ZSL web site. 🐻
- 6 – 8 January 2023 : RuPaul’s DragCon UK
Meet your favorite Drag Race icons from the UK and overseas, resembling Lawrence Chaney, The Vivenne, Tia Kofi, Yvie Oddly, Baga Chipz, Danny Beard, Cheryl Hole, Jaida Essence Hall, Jinkx Monsoon, Kita Mean, Krystal Versace, Michelle Visage, and lots of extra. Featuring catwalks, reside performances, a DJ set from RuPaul, panel discussions and extra. Open Fri-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Tickets from £60, Children age 8yrs and underneath free. ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, E16 1XL. Nearest stations: Custom House or Prince Regent. For extra info, go to the RuPaul’s DragCon UK web site. 🐻
- Now till 8 January 2023 : Winter Festival @ Southbank Centre
Winter market, The Curling Club, pop-up food and drinks experiences, together with Jimmy’s Lodge igloos and festive exhibits, resembling Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol and Hey Duggee – The Live Theatre Show. Times and costs differ. Free entry to winter market. South Bank, SE1 8XX. Nearest stations: Waterloo, Waterloo East or Embankment. For extra info, go to the Southbank Centre web site. 🐻
Wetlands are superb
- Now till 8 January 2023 : Illuminature @ WWT
Explore nature after darkish on this distinctive illuminated path across the London Wetland Centre. Open 4.30pm-9pm. Tickets: Adults £18.50, Children £14.50, underneath 4s free. WWT London, Queen Elizabeth Walk, Barnes, SW13 9WT. Nearest station: Barnes Bridge. For extra info and reserving, go to the WWT web site. 🐻
- Now till 8 January 2023 : Christmas at Kew
Follow a magical path round Kew Gardens, by way of tunnels of sunshine, previous dancing waterfalls, illuminations and the Fire Garden, and a light-weight show on the Palm House. 4pm-10pm. Tickets: Standard advance grownup: Off peak £21.50/Peak £28, Children: Off peak £14/peak £18. Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens), Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB. Nearest station: Kew Gardens. For extra info, go to the Kew Gardens web site. 🐻
- 13 January – 5 March 2023 : Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities by Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil carry their present Kurios to London. The present tells the story of an formidable inventor. Times differ. Tickets begin from £51. Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP. Nearest stations: South Kensington, Knightsbridge or High Street Kensington. For extra info and reserving, go to the Cirque Du Soleil web site.
- Now till 15 January 2023 : Hogwarts within the Snow
Visit your favorite Harry Potter units, such because the Forbidden Forest, Diagon Alley, Hagrid’s Hut, the Hogwarts citadel and the Great Hall, which have been remodeled with snow for the festive season. Tickets from £49.95. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, WD25 7LR. Nearest station: Watford (then a shuttle bus to studios). For extra info and tickets, go to the WB Studio Tour web site. 🐻
- Now till 15 January 2023 : The Great Christmas Feast
Experience Charles Dickens’s basic story A Christmas Carol like by no means earlier than, with Victorian feasting, mixology, reside music and theatre. Tickets: Dining from £129.50, Experience-only from £49.50. The Lost Estate, 9 Beaumont Avenue, W14 9LP. Nearest stations: Earl’s Court or Baron’s Court. For tickets, go to the Great Christmas Feast web site.
- 16 January – 5 February 2023 : London International Mime Festival
Festival at varied occasions throughout London together with performances of bodily theatre, dance, circus, puppetry and reside artwork. Workshops additionally out there. Tickets vary from £13.50-£45. Venues embrace the Barbican, Jacksons Lane, The Place, Shoreditch Town Hall, Peacock Theatre, and Little Angel Theatre. For extra info, go to the Mime London web site. 🐻
- Now till 17 January 2023 : The Witches of Oz
An immersive eating and theatrical expertise as you head to the Emerald City on this Wizard of Oz-inspired extravaganza. Over 18s solely. Dress code: Emerald glam. Doors open 6.30pm, Show begins 7.15pm. Tickets: General £20-£35, Dining £45-£59. The Vaults, Leake Street, Waterloo, SE1 7NN. Nearest stations: Waterloo, Lambeth North or Waterloo East. For extra info, go to the Vaults web site.
- 18 – 22 January 2023 : London Art Fair
Contemporary and trendy British artwork honest in Islington, that includes talks, tour, performances and showcases. Open Wed-Thur 11am-9pm, Fri Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm. Tickets: £19.50 (day cross). Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0QH. Nearest station: Angel. For tickets and extra info, go to the London Art Fair web site.
- 18 – 28 January 2023 : Winter Lights Festival
Over 20 mild installations and interactive artwork have been dotted round Canary Wharf for 2 weeks. 5pm-10pm. Free. Canary Wharf and Canada Square, Docklands, E14. Nearest station: Canary Wharf. For extra info, go to the Canary Wharf web site. 🐻
- 20 – 29 January 2023 : London Short Film Festival
Ten day pageant celebrating the very best in brief film-making at venues throughout the capital, together with the Curzon Soho, ICA, Genesis, Rio Dalston, Rich Mix, BFI Southbank, Garden Cinema, and Fold. For extra info, go to the London Short Film Festival web site.
- 21 – 22 January 2023 : Lunar New Year @ Museum of London Docklands
Family occasion to have a good time the Lunar New Year, together with arts and crafts, workshops and performances. 11am-4pm. Free entry. Museum of London Docklands, No.1 West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, E14 4AL. Nearest station: West India Quay or Canary Wharf. For extra info, go to the Museum of London web site.
- 24 – 29 January 2023 : The Decorative Fair – Winter Fair
Get the prospect to satisfy makers and crafts and store for furnishings, lighting, ornament, artwork, textiles, jewelry and luggage. Open Tues 12pm-8pm, Wed-Thu 11am-8pm, Fri-Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm. Tickets: £10. Evolution London, Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ. Nearest stations: Battersea Park, Queenstown Road Battersea or Battersea Power Station. For tickets, go to the Decorative Fair web site.
The Vault Festival returns to Waterloo
- 24 January – 19 March 2023 : Vault Festival
Eight week fringe arts pageant returns to Waterloo for the eleventh 12 months. Head to the tunnels beneath Waterloo. Entertainment contains reside music, theatre, movie, dance, comedy, immersive experiences and late-night events. Ticket costs differ. The Vaults, 10 Leake Street, Waterloo, SE1 7NN. Nearest station: Waterloo and Lambeth North. For reserving, go to the Vault Festival web site.
- Now till 29 January 2023 : The Carpenters’ Line
New exhibition explores the artwork of woodworking from the densely forested Hida area of Gifu Prefecture in Japan. Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 12pm-6pm. Free entry. Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High Street, Kensington, W8 5SA. Nearest station: High Street Kensington. For extra info, go to the Japan House London web site.
- 31 January – 4 February 2023 : Space, The Universe and Everything
A surprising sound and light-weight expertise telling the story of human exploration transforms each the outside and inside of St Martin-in-the-Fields church. 6pm-9.30pm (hour lengthy expertise). Tickets: £10, underneath 16yrs £5. St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, WC2H 4JH. Nearest stations: Charing Cross or Embankment. For extra info and reserving, go to the St Martin-in-the-Fields web site. 🐻
- Now till 31 January 2023 : Avora – A New World Cocktail Experience
Step into an immersive cocktail expertise, that includes theartical units, a proficient forged of actors and distinctive cocktails. Over 18s solely. Open Tues-Wed: 6pm–10:45pm, Thur 6pm-11:45pm, Fri 4pm-11.45pm, Sat 12pm-11.45pm, Sun 2pm-7.45pm. Tickets: £47 (contains 3 cocktails). Rosewood Building, Hackney Road, Hoxton, E2 8GY. Nearest station: Hoxton. For tickets, go to the Avora web site.
- Now till 31 January 2023 : Frameless
Explore a brand new option to have interaction with artwork in an immersive, multi-sensory expertise. Visitors can journey by way of 4 galleries, arising near masterpieces from the likes of Cezanne, Kandinsky, Monet, Dalí, Van Gogh, Canaletto, Rembrandt and Klimt, amongst others. Opening hours differ. Tickets from £15, Kids underneath 5 yrs free. 6 Marble Arch Place, Marylebone, W1H 7AP. Nearest station: Marble Arch. For tickets, go to the Frameless web site.🐻
- Now till 5 February 2023 : The Museum of the Moon
British artist Luke Jerram is returning to the Painted Hall following his in style ‘Gaia’ set up of the Earth with a to-scale set up of the Moon, internally lit. Late-night occasions are additionally going down through the exhibition interval. Tickets: Adults £12.50, Children 16yr and underneath free. Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9NN. Nearest stations: Greenwich, Cutty Sark or Maze Hill. For extra info, go to the ORNC web site. 🐻
- Now till 19 February 2023 : The Horror Show!
New exhibition explores a few of Britain’s most provocative artists from the previous 50 years of inventive riot, that includes 200 artworks and historic artefacts. Open Tues-Wed, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm, Thu-Fri 10am-9pm. Tickets: £16.50. Embankment Galleries (South Wing), Somerset House, The Strand, Aldwych, WC2R 1LA. Nearest station: Temple. For extra info, go to the Somerset House web site.
- Now till 25 February 2023 : Dalí Cybernetics – The Immersive Experience
Salvador Dalí’s strange artworks are delivered to life in an immersive exhibiton. Open: Mon, Wed, Thu – 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 9am-7pm. Tickets: Adults £24.90, Children £15.90. The Boiler House. 152 Brick Lane, Spitalfields, E1 6RU. Nearest stations: Shoreditch High Street or Aldgate East. For tickets, go to the Immersive Dalí web site. 🐻
- Now till 26 February 2023 : Club Curling
Try your hand at curling because the winter sports activities pops up at King’s Cross for the festive season. Visitors can take pleasure in a 45-minute curling slot on one of many six artificial ice rinks, earlier than having fun with a cocktail on the bar. Open each day 11am-9pm. Tickets: Adults £7, Children underneath 12 free. Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross, N1C 4DQ. Nearest station: King’s Cross St Pancras. For extra info and reserving, go to the King’s Cross web site. 🐻
- Now till 27 February 2023 : Van Gogh – The Immersive Experience
Step into the world of the inventive legend Vincent Van Gogh in an immersive exhibition. Open Mon, Wed-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-7pm. Tickets: Adults £22.90, Children £13.90. Commercial 106, 106 Commercial Street, Spitalfields, E1 6LZ. Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street or Liverpool Street. For tickets, go to the Van Gogh Experience web site. 🐻
- Now till 5 March 2023 : When Flowers Dream
An exhibition from artist Tanya Schultz (Pip & Pop) that includes installations produced from sugar, sweet and diverse craft supplies. Opening instances differ relying on season. Tickets included with gardens entrance. Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, Kew Gardens, Brentford Gate, Kew, TW9 3AB. Nearest station: Kew Gardens. For extra info, go to the Kew Gardens web site. 🐻
- Now till 23 March 2023 : Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds – The Immersive Experience
An immersive expertise impressed by the basic story. Travel again in time to Victorian London and the Martian invasion of 1898. Experience immersive theatre, digital actuality, augmented actuality, holograms and different cutting-edge know-how. Overs 12 solely. Times differ. Tickets: £40-£130. The Old Metal Exchange, 56 Leadenhall Street, City of London, EC3A 2BJ. Nearest station: Aldgate or Fenchurch Street. For reserving, go to the War of the World’s web site. Check out Metro Girl’s overview of the present.
- Now till Spring 2023 : Sculpture within the City 2022/2023
Free public artwork exhibition, bringing 19 modern items to the streets and areas of the City of London. Free. At varied websites across the Square Mile. Nearest stations: Fenchurch Street, Monument or Liverpool Street. For extra info and a map of the artworks, go to the Sculpture within the City web site. Check out Metro Girl’s weblog put up on the exhibition. 🐻
- Now till July 2023 : Scenes within the Square
Check out bronze sculptures of iconic movie characters round Leicester Square. Eight interactive characters, resembling Laurel & Hardy to Wonder Woman shall be positioned within the sq. for 4 months. Free. Leicester Square, Westminster, WC2H 7DE. Nearest stations: Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus. For extra info, go to the Leicester Square web site. Check out Metro Girl’s gallery of the exhibition. 🐻
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