London

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-theatre">THEATRE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-2-819x1024.jpeg" alt="Cynthia Erivo " class="wp-image-17899" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-2-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-2-240x300.jpeg 240w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-2-768x960.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-2-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-2.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure>



Everyone&#8217;s talking about Wicked star Cynthia Erivo landing in London for one-woman show <a href="https://www.noelcowardtheatre.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dracula</a> (4 Feb -30 May) at Noël Coward Theatre, not least because it&#8217;s the toughest gig in the West End this year &#8211; she&#8217;s playing all 23 roles in Kip Williams&#8217; version of the Victorian gothic horror. Jaw drop. 



And you&#8217;ll also want to snap up tickets to see <a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/45213-broken-glass" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broken Glass</a> (2 Feb &#8211; 18 April; Young Vic), the Olivier Award-winning&nbsp;Arthur Miller&nbsp;eerily topical play set in 1930s Brooklyn, which delves into the consequences of turning a blind eye to the rise of fascism in Europe. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exhibitions">EXHIBITIONS </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="718" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/eminmybed-1.width-1200-1024x718.jpg" alt="Tracey Emin My Bed " class="wp-image-17512" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/eminmybed-1.width-1200-1024x718.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/eminmybed-1.width-1200-300x210.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/eminmybed-1.width-1200-768x539.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/eminmybed-1.width-1200.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



If you only make it to one exhibition in Feb, it&#8217;s got to be <a style="font-style: italic" href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=122679X1583220&amp;isjs=1&amp;jv=15.9.1&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Flondon.muddystilettos.co.uk%2Fthings-to-do%2Fbest-art-exhibitions-2026%2F&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tate.org.uk%2Fwhats-on%2Ftate-modern%2Ftracey-emin&amp;xs=1&amp;xtz=0&amp;xuuid=5f9b03522c5ac39f3481cf25d72f889b&amp;cci=94c2c41e4e2b2bc1320e55b896de5c76" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tracey Emin: A Second Life</a> (27 Feb &#8211; 31 Aug; tickets £20) at Tate Modern. One of the key YBAs (young british artists), who were like rockstars in the 90s, Emin was never far from controversy, and this is a unique chance to see loads of her art work from the past 40 years, including Turner Prize-nominated My Bed. 



 <a href="https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2026/lucian-freud-drawing-into-painting" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lucien Freud: Drawing Into Painting</a> (12 feb &#8211; 4 May; tickets £23 ) at the National Portrait Gallery is another must-see, allowing us a glimpse of the artist&#8217;s rarely seen sketches and drawings alongside iconic paintings. A previous Lucian Freud exhibit was the NPG’s most-visited in its history, so best book tickets (£23) asap.



Nibble on some Wensleydale in celebration of the new <a href="https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/inside-aardman-wallace-gromit-and-friends?srsltid=AfmBOoqaGfM9b70Sw2FDXDNLSx7hww2eRfA70VFLiRuNs0vEgoMIRc5z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inside Aardman: Wallace &amp; Gromit &amp; friends </a>(12 Feb &#8211; 15 Nov; tickets £12.50) exhibition at the Young V&amp;A, which marks the 50th Anniversary of the stop-motion studio &#8211; yes, it will include clay models of Shaun the Sheep and Morph (IYKYK). We&#8217;ll also be having a mooch around <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/press/press-releases/announcing-samurai-exhibition" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Samurai</a> (3 Feb &#8211; 4 May; tickets £17) opens this month at the British Museum and spans 1000 years including everything from armour and swords to intricate art work and how the Samurai became part of pop culture today. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-live-music">LIVE MUSIC </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/bg-square-1024x1024.jpg" alt="Forence + The Machine tour " class="wp-image-18130" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/bg-square-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/bg-square-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/bg-square-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/bg-square-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/bg-square-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/bg-square-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/bg-square.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Get ready to scream &#8216;Say My Name&#8217; because <a href="https://www.theo2.co.uk/events/detail/florence-the-machine-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florence + The Machine</a> is taking over the O2 for two nights this month (16 &#8211; 17 Feb) and there are still some tickets available. 



<a href="https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upstairs at Ronnie’s</a>&nbsp;opens a new Monday Classical series on&nbsp;Mon 9 Feb (tickets from £35), where you can catch the Ronnie Scott’s Classical All Stars, led by <a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/muddy-meets-virtuoso-violinist-vocalist-lizzie-ball/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lizzie Ball</a>, perform fresh re-arrangements of Gershwin, Copland and Bernstein. 



Grab some popcorn and settle in to watch David Attenborough&#8217;s latest film <a href="https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/ocean-in-concert/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ocean In Concert</a> (28 Feb; tickets £27) about the importance of our oceans accompanied by a live orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comedy">COMEDY </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="586" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-5-1024x586.jpeg" alt="The Guilty Feminist " class="wp-image-18147" style="aspect-ratio:1.7474402730375427;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-5-1024x586.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-5-300x172.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-5-768x439.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-5.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Russell Howard&#8217;s <a href="https://www.london-theatreland.co.uk/shows/the-london-palladium/russell-howard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Don&#8217;t Tell The Algorithm</a> tour lands at the London Palladium (5-8 Feb), and there are more shits and giggles this month at the Soho Theatre where award-winning <a href="https://sohotheatre.com/events/zoe-coombs-marr-the-splash-zone/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoë Coombs Marr: The Splash Zone</a> (4-7 Feb; tickets £18) takes to the stage with an unmissable &#8216;ADHD stream of consciousness&#8217; about leaning into discomfort.. 



<a href="https://www.museumofcomedy.com/the-guilty-feminist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Guilty Feminist</a>, based on the mega popular podcast (150 million downloads and counting), plays The Museum of Comedy on 13 Feb (tickets from £13.75), and there are more chances to chortle at <a href="https://www.universe.com/events/hackney-comedy-experience-with-nish-kumar-tickets-YHQX60?utm_medium=affiliate&amp;ref=ticketmaster&amp;clickId=3VtWEXXfMxycRzZzAtUzdzxnUku03cW1NX5XUg0&amp;utm_campaign=1234377&amp;utm_source=1234377-Theatreland%20Ltd&amp;camefrom=CFC_BUYAT_1234377&amp;ircid=24023&amp;irgwc=1&amp;afsrc=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hackney Comedy Experience with Nish Kumar</a> (9 Feb; tickets £29.15). 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-talks">TALKS </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="765" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/260225_Davina-1024x765.jpg" alt="Davina McCall " class="wp-image-18145" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/260225_Davina-1024x765.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/260225_Davina-300x224.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/260225_Davina-768x573.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/260225_Davina.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Muddy favourite Davina McCall&#8217;s on stage for one-night only at Cadogan Hall, in <a href="https://cadoganhall.com/whats-on/an-evening-with-davina/book/1208434/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">An Evening With Davina</a> (25 Feb; tickets from £45), where she&#8217;ll be chatting all things life, love and women&#8217;s health. 



Ahead of the release of her bold interpretation of <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/first-look-emerald-fennell-wuthering-heights/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wuthering Heights</a>, Academy-award winning director Emerald Fennell will be <a href="https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=emerald-fennell-conversation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In Conversation</a> (24 Feb; tickets £17) at the BFI Southbank, revealing how she brought her vision to the big screen. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-festivals">FESTIVALS </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/ardi-evans-bpMXpsNgqQs-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="Orchids Unsplash " class="wp-image-18128" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/ardi-evans-bpMXpsNgqQs-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/ardi-evans-bpMXpsNgqQs-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/ardi-evans-bpMXpsNgqQs-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/ardi-evans-bpMXpsNgqQs-unsplash.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



One of the most beautiful annual festivals in the country kicks off in Feb: <a href="https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/orchids-china" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orchids</a> (7 Feb &#8211; 8 March) at Kew Gardens. 2026 is the 30th anniversary of the must-see festival and this year&#8217;s inspo is China, so expect to wander amongst dragons, lanterns and intricate plant sculptures in the Princess of Wales glasshouse. 



Bring some balance back into your life this month and with a visit to the <a href="https://www.kingscross.co.uk/the-equanimity-festival" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Equanimity Festival </a>(6 Jan &#8211; 31 March) at King&#8217;s Cross, which runs for the whole of Feb and includes a cosy yoga and meditation studio in the pop up Slomo tipi tents in Lewis Cubitt Square, plus saunas and hot and cold plunges too. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-books">BOOKS </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/ed-robertson-eeSdJfLfx1A-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="Books " class="wp-image-18136" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/ed-robertson-eeSdJfLfx1A-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/ed-robertson-eeSdJfLfx1A-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/ed-robertson-eeSdJfLfx1A-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/ed-robertson-eeSdJfLfx1A-unsplash.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Bookworms unite for a weekend of pure indulgence at the <a href="https://www.bookshopcrawl.co.uk/london2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">London Bookshop Crawl </a>(13-15 Feb), where the aim is to visit as many independent bookshops as possible across three days. Simply download the bookshop crawl kit (including list of registered bookshops and ID card), then hit the trail with a gaggle of like-minded book-lovers. 



Catch acclaimed novelist Ali Smith in conversation with poet and author Holly Pester at Foyles bookshop for the launch of her new novel <a href="https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/glyph-ali-smith-in-conversation-with-holly-pester" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glyph</a> (5 Feb; tickets £8), 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-valentine-s-day">VALENTINE&#8217;S DAY </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/but-im-a-cheerleader-01-1024x576.jpeg" alt="But I'm a Cheerleader film still " class="wp-image-18149" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/but-im-a-cheerleader-01-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/but-im-a-cheerleader-01-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/but-im-a-cheerleader-01-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/but-im-a-cheerleader-01.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">But I&#8217;m A Cheerleader at the BFI Southbank </figcaption></figure>



Love it or loathe it, it&#8217;s a key part of Feb and there&#8217;s enough good stuff going on in London to make you want to celebrate amour without an inflatable heart or red rose in sight. 



Watch classic romance movie <a href="https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/sleepless-in-seattle-in-concert/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sleepless in Seattle</a> (14 Feb; tickets £36.50) with a live band performing the soundtrack at Royal Festival Hall. If this version of Meg Ryan&#8217;s too schmaltzy, head to the Barbican for My Twisted Valentine: <a href="https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2026/event/my-twisted-valentine-in-the-cut" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In The Cut</a> (14 Feb&#8217; £14), a dark thriller also starring Meg Ryan, only here she&#8217;s cast against type and gets her kit off. And for a movie that doesn&#8217;t involve a male lead, <a href="https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&amp;BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=1608C1B9-6247-4AA7-9CAF-6BFEEAA4E824&amp;BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=485B2C39-54E7-469A-90E3-9D17B4196FD6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galentine&#8217;s Day: But I&#8217;m A Cheerleader</a> at the BFI Southbank (13 Feb), showcasing Jamie Babbit’s cult queer classic, hits the spot. 



Love literature? <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterstones-x-dark-matter-this-is-not-a-love-story-at-piccadilly-tickets-1980381852431" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waterstones X Dark Matter: This Is Not A Love Story</a> (9 Feb; £8; 6.30pm) at Waterstones Piccadilly celebrates love in &#8216;all its thrilling and unexpected forms&#8217; with various authors on the panel, including best-selling writer Lọlá Ákínmádé&nbsp;(Everything Is Not Enough). 



Everyone (solos, couples, mates) is invited to meet Whittington Cats at Barbican Station for a <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/valentines-day-city-walk-tickets-1981487321920?aff=erelexpmlt" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Valentine&#8217;s Day City Walk</a> (14 Feb; £16.96; 11am-1pm), which includes a guided stroll around London hearing about the Big Smoke&#8217;s famous love stories, love letters, love potions, love triangles and even love rats. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-things-to-do-this-month">MORE THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH \</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/winter-olympics-sports/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Try a Winter Olympics-inspired sport in the city</a></li>



<li><a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/10-best-gastro-pubs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eat at London&#8217;s number one gastropub</a></li>



<li><a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/best-saunas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hot stuff: Book a social sauna session </a></li>
</ul>



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Flirty Feb! 30+ fabulous things to do in London this month

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